Links to FIVE reports: from Anadolu Ajansi, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and the Associated Press; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for IRAN 2-7-26 and LEBANON,  GAZA and MEDIA.) — MCM

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NEWER  Iranian FM says uranium enrichment to continue ‘even at cost of war.’ From the Cradle. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said today that the Islamic Republic will not give up uranium enrichment, as Israel and the U.S. are demanding – stressing that Tehran will continue to pursue a peaceful nuclear program even at the cost of war. READ MORE . . .

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Iranian president says talks with U.S, ‘a step forward,’ dialogue key to ‘peaceful solution,’ by Rania Abushamala | Anadolu  ISTANBUL —“Dialogue has always been our strategy for achieving peaceful solutions,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said today, stressing that Iran’s approach to the nuclear issue is based on “the rights guaranteed under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same Anadolu report in French, and HERE for others.

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Iran doubts whether U.S. taking negotiations seriously: foreign minister. From AFP.  TEHRAN — Iran has reason to doubt the United States is serious about resolving the current crisis in relations through negotiations, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said today. READ MORE . . .

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Iran insists on right to enrichment, ready for confidence. From Reuters. DUBAI — Recognition of Iran’s right to enrich uranium is key for nuclear talks with the U.S. to succeed, Foreign Minister Abbas ​Araqchi said today. READ MORE . . .

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Iran’s top diplomat strikes a hard line on U.S. talks, saying Tehran’s power comes from . . .  by Jon Gambrell | AP  DUBAI — Iran’s top diplomat insisted today that Tehran’s strength came from its ability to “say no to the great powers,” striking a maximalist position just after . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. [ NOTE: For this update AP has done a new headline and relegated most of the diplomacy element to the second half of its report in favor of the news that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to an additional 7 years or so in prison. ]

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Links to one report, two articles of commentary, and a video commentary, all from Middle East Eye; other published material is accessible by clicking on its name below. (Scroll down for LEBANON 2-3-26, and up or down for IRAN, GAZA and MEDIA.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 5  Lebanon says ‘toxic’ chemical spray by Israel constitutes environmental crime. From Middle East Eye. “This is an environmental and health crime against Lebanese citizens and their land,” Lebanon‘s President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday, calling the spraying over southern towns a “blatant violation” of Lebanon’s sovereignty. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 7  U.S. pressure to disarm Hezbollah is pushing Lebanon to the brink, by Paul Khalifeh | Middle East Eye  Israel has never fully respected the November 2024 ceasefire deal that ended the 66-day war with Hezbollah. Since then . . . Click HERE to read and for video commentary by Maya Saad of Middle East Eye.

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FROM DEC. 11  Why Lebanon’s army cannot defend the nation after a year of ‘ceasefire,‘ by Hala Jaber | Middle East Eye  The bombing of residential buildings in Mahrouna, Jbaa, al-Majadel and Baraachit in early December — flattening them into ash, families fleeing with seconds to spare from homes that had stood for generations — was a reminder that Israel’s definition of ceasefire is unilateral. READ MORE . . .

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Links to TWO reports: from Middle East Eye and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for GAZA 2-7-26.  Scroll up for IRAN, LEBANON and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal rejects foreign rule in Gaza. From Middle East Eye.  “We adhere to our national principles and reject the logic of guardianship, any foreign intervention, or the return of a mandate in any form,” Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal said at a conference in Qatar’s capital, Doha. READ MORE. . .

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Rafah crossing reopens, allowing limited travel as Palestinians claim delays and mistreatment, by Samy Magdy and Melanie Lidman | AP  CAIRO — A limited number of Palestinians were able to travel between Gaza and Egypt today, after Gaza’s Rafah crossing reopened after a two-day closure, Egyptian state media reported. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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Links to FOUR reports: from the Guardian, Newsweek, the Independent, and le Journal de Montreal; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (MEDIA 2-7-26 is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 8  Bad Bunny to meet political moment as Maga fumes over Super Bowl show, by Lauren Gambino | The Guardian  LOS ANGELES  — At a moment when masked federal agents are sweeping through American cities, rounding up long-settled immigrants, legal residents and even U.S. citizens, Bad Bunny’s presence on the grandest stage in U.S. sports offers a striking contrast – a joyful celebration of pride and solidarity for millions of Latinos. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 7  Why Donald Trump isn’t attending Super Bowl LX, by Kate Nalepinski | Newsweek  President Donald Trump’s move to skip the Super Bowl intersects with a cultural and political clash over the NFL’s halftime show headliner, Bad Bunny. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 4  Trump was told to skip the Super Bowl so he wasn’t booed mercilessly: report, by Rhian Lubin | The Independent  NEW YORK — President Donald Trump was advised against attending the Super Bowl because aides were concerned the crowd would “likely aggressively boo him,” according to a report. READ MORE . . .

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Super Bowl: Donald Trump boude la grand-messe du football à cause des artistes de la mi-temps. De l’Agence QMI | Le Journal de Montreal. Le président américain a confirmé dans un entretien accordé au New York Post qu’il ne ferait pas le déplacement pour assister à la grande finale de la NFL. READ MORE . . .

Links to THREE reports and ONE article of commentary: from the Cradle, Middle East Monitor, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (Scroll down for GAZA 2-6-26 and IRAN and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Trump plans first ‘Board of Peace’ meeting despite nonstop Israeli violations of Gaza truce. From the Cradle. The U.S. government plans to convene the first meeting of the so-called Board of Peace on Feb 19, Axios reported on Friday. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli settlers storm Gaza to ‘plant trees’ in bid to establish Jewish settlement. From the Cradle. Hundreds of Israeli settlers held a protest and briefly entered Gaza today as part of a broader effort to establish Jewish settlements on the ruins of Palestinian cities in the devastated enclave. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 5  Israel bulldozed Gaza war cemetery containing graves of British, Australian and allied soldiers. From Middle East Monitor. The graves of British, Australian and other allied soldiers killed during the First and Second World Wars have been destroyed by Israel in Gaza, satellite images and local testimony confirm. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 6  Epstein was not a conspiracy, it’s just western empire doing what it has always done, by Raja Abdulhaq | Middle East Eye  From its inception in 1492, American empire has been defined by the systematic displacement, enslavement and extermination of indigenous populations in favour of the expansion of European capital. The genocide in Gaza is the contemporary expression of this. READ MORE . . .

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Links to FIVE reports: from Reuters, Middle East Eye, National Public Radio, and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for IRAN 2-6-26, and up or down for GAZA and MEDIA.) — MCM

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If U.S. attacks, Iran says it will strike U.S. bases in the region, by Jaidaa ‌Taha and Enas Alashry | Reuters  CAIRO — Iran will strike U.S. bases in the Middle East if it is attacked by American forces that have massed in the region, its foreign minister said today, insisting that this should not be seen as an attack on the countries hosting them. READ MORE . . .

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Iran says missile programme ‘never negotiable’ in talks with U.S. From Middle East Eye. Iran‘s missile programme was “never negotiable” in talks, the country’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said today to Al Jazeera as talks continued between the Islamic Republic and the U.S. in Oman. READ MORE . . .

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Thousands of Iraqis volunteer to defend Iran against U.S. attack, by Alex MacDonald | Middle East Eye  Almost 5,000 Iraqis have signed a pledge to help defend, Iraq’s neighbor Iran “without any compensation” in the event of a U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic, according to a statement. READ MORE . . .

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What’s next for the U.S. and Iran following preliminary talks? Reported by Jane Arraf and Scott Simon | NPR  U.S. and Iranian envoys have held talks aimed at averting possible U.S. strikes on Iran. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 6  Iran–U.S. talks end with no deal, new sanctions against Tehran. From the Cradle. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Omani-mediated negotiations between Tehran and Washington were held in a “good atmosphere,” despite no agreement being reached and the imposition of new sanctions on Tehran. READ MORE . . .

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Links to THREE reports: from National Public Radio and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Scroll down for MEDIA 2-5-26.  Scroll up for GAZA and IRAN.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 6  ‘A party and a protest’: What to expect from Bad Bunny on Super Bowl Sunday. Reported by Adriana Gallardo, A Martínez and Lilly Quiroz | NPR  Puerto Rican superstar, Bad Bunny, made history at the 2026 Grammy Awards when he became the first artist to win album of the year for a Spanish-language project. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 6  Trump posts racist meme of the Obamas — then deletes it. Reported by Deepa Shivaram | NPR  In the first week of Black History Month, President Trump posted a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on social media — a video clip showing the Obamas’ faces on apes. The post was later deleted. Click HERE to listen and read. Click HERE and HERE for Feb. 6 report from AP / AP in English and Spanish.

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Links to two reports: from the Cradle and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (Scroll down for IRAN 2-5-26 and IRAN and WEST BANK so far.) — MCM

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Washington imposes ‘terrorist-grade sanctions’ on Francesca Albanese, ICC judges: report. From the Cradle. White House officials have used “terrorist-grade sanctions” to target officials from the International Criminal Court and UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, freezing assets and disrupting war crimes investigations, Reuters reported today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Links to NINE reports: from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for IRAN 2-5-26, and up or down for GAZA and WEST BANK.) — MCM

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NEWER  America’s military leader in the Mideast joins U.S.-Iran talks in Oman, by Jon Gambrell | AP  MUSCAT — Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Oman today, negotiations that appeared to return to the starting point on how to approach discussions over Tehran’s nuclear program. But for the first time, America brought its top military commander in the Middle East to the table. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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U.S.-Iran nuclear talks begin under shadow of military escalation.  From Middle East Eye. The United States and Iran began talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme today in the Omani capital Muscat, with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting a delegation led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. READ MORE . . .

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Trump has no ‘clear guidance’ for Iran as nuclear talks resume: report. From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have no “clear guidance” on what Washington hopes to accomplish in any potential attack against Iran, sources told NBC News today. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from NBC News.

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U.S. Treasury head admits creating ‘dollar shortage’ in Iran to spark Decembers protests. From the Cradle. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Thursday that Washington helped spark recent protests and riots in Iran by creating a U.S. dollar shortage, leading to the collapse of a major and runaway inflation. READ MORE . . .

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Epstein trained as an Israeli spy, FBI document says, by Peter McNamara | Middle East Eye  A 2020 FBI document included in the Epstein files alleges that billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was “trained as a spy” under former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. READ MORE . . .

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Iran and U.S. to hold talks in Oman about Iran’s nuclear program. Reported by Greg Myre and Leila Fadel | NPR  The stakes are high as the U.S. and Iran begin negotiations Friday on Iran’s nuclear program. If they can’t reach a deal, President Trump could order a military strike. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Former National Security adviser on the nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran. Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan about the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran ahead of Friday’s talks in Oman. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Iranians face intense crackdown by security forces ahead of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. Reported by Arezou Rezvani | NPR  As the U.S. and Iran prepare to hold nuclear talks in Oman today, people in Iran are facing an intense crackdown as security forces track down anyone who was involved in the anti-government protests. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Links to three reports: from Middle East Monitor and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (Scroll down for WEST BANK 2-3-26. Scroll up for GAZA and IRAN.) — MCM

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Epstein trained as an Israeli spy, FBI document says, by Peter McNamara | Middle East Eye  A 2020 FBI document included in the Epstein files alleges that billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was “trained as a spy” under former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 4  Israeli army damages Palestinian school in West Bank raid. From Middle East Monitor.  Israeli army forces raided a school on Wednesday in the northern West Bank, damaging its facilities, seizing equipment and blocking access, the Palestinian Education Ministry said, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 5  What is the Ibrahimi Mosque and why does it matter? by Daniel Tester | Middle East Eye  The ancient Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, occupied West Bank, is among the holiest sites in Islam, Judaism and Christianity. It has been administered by Palestinians and used as a mosque for more than 1,400 years. READ MORE . . .

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