For now, links to nine reports, interviews, analyses, and commentaries: from the Cradle, CNN, Reuters, National Public Radio, Middle East Monitor, Informed Comment, and Truthdig; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE so far, and down for IRAN 8-1-26.) — MCM
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Pentagon orders U.S. troops to devise ‘creative options’ for ‘punishing Iran: report. From the Cradle. The U.S. military has asked its forces to devise “creative and unconventional” options and attack plans aimed at “punishing” the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to an exclusive CNN report released today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from CNN.
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Iran says no talks are underway or meeting plans with U.S. after Trump calls off attacks. From Reuters. Iran said on Monday that no talks were underway with the United States and there were no plans for any meetings, contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump, who had cited talks he said would take place that afternoon as justification for calling off attacks. READ MORE . . .
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Trump calls off strike against Iran, says a deal is close. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Steve Inskeep | NPR President Trump backed away from a threatened attack on Iran again, claiming regional diplomacy has opened a path to a deal. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Iran expert on Tehran’s view as Trump says there’s a pending deal. A Martínez of NPR speaks with Iran expert and analyst Karim Sadjadpour about the view from Iran as President Trump says there is potential to wind down the war. Cick HERE to listen and, later, read.
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How Iran is widening its pressure campaign to force U.S. concessions, by Samia Nakhoul | Reuters BEIRUT — Iran is betting it can outlast Washington by turning the Middle East’s trade routes, shipping lanes and energy infrastructure into pressure points that steadily raise the cost of confrontation, according to Gulf officials and analysts. READ MORE . . .
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FROM AUG. 2 Iran denies seeking halt to U.S. attacks, agreement to reopen Strait of Hormuz. From Middle East Monitor. Iranian military officials on Sunday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran had asked for a halt to a planned US attack as a “lie,” as sources denied reports of an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. READ MORE . . .
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FROM AUG. 1 How long will U.S. be gaslighted by Israeli ops? Land blockade of Iran floated. By Juan Cole | Informed Comment ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Telegraph reports in the wake of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s almost furtive visit to the White House on Tuesday that he pressed on Donald Trump the idea of a land blockade on Iran. The Telegraph is owned by . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM JULY 28 U.S. media: Maybe Iran didn’t want nukes after all, by Matt Bivins | Truthdig Over his decades as Iran’s religious and government leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had consistently rejected nuclear weapons. He ruled that these ridiculously violent explosives . . . READ MORE . . .
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TO BE CONTINUED