NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .
Links to TEN-plus reports, analyses, interviews and commentary: from Agence France-Presse, Middle East Monitor, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Anadolu Ajansi, Consortium News, Middle East Eye, and Unapologetic; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials as highlighted. (Scroll down for IRAN 3-7-26 and MEDIA.) — MCM
– – –
* Frequent war updates and photos from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor are HERE, HERE and HERE. AP reports in Spanish are HERE. *
– – –
Iran’s top diplomat says Iran, not Trump, will elect new leader. From AFP. “We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC’s “Meet the Press” today. “This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.
– – –
Iran to intensify attacks against Israel, U.S. as of tonight, military official says. From Middle East Monitor. Beginning tonight, Iran’s military will double its use of strategic missiles carrying heavy warheads and intensify drone attacks against Israel and the United States, an Iranian military official said today, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .
– – –
Bahrain says Iran hit desalinization plant, stoking fears of attacks on civilian sites, by Jon Gambrell, Sam Metz and Kareem Chehayeb | AP DUBAI — Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant on Sunday, raising fears that civilian infrastructure may become fair game in the war, as Iran’s president vowed to expand the country’s attacks on American targets across the region in the face of intense U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.
– – –
Israel hits Iran’s oil depots as clerics say consensus reached on Ayatollah successor. From NPR. Israel targeted Iran’s oil facilities for the first time early today; videos showed huge flames lighting up the sky. Tehran responded by hitting a desalination plant in Bahrain. Iranian state media reported officials were close to announcing a successor for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in Israeli strikes at the start of the war. READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM MARCH 7 The impact of Iran’s attacks on the UAE. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR The UAE, billed as a global luxury destination, has received the bulk of Iran’s attacks in the region so far. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
– – –
FROM MARCH 7 How the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran is realigning the politics of the Middle East. Reported by Michael Levitt, Adrian Ma and Daniel Ofman | NPR Ma speaks with author and journalist Kim Ghattas about the impacts the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran will have on the broader region. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
– – –
Australia considering military aid to Middle East but will not deploy troops. From Anadolu. ISTANBUL — Australia said today it is considering offering military aid to Middle Eastern countries hit by Iran’s counter strikes but will not deploy troops to contribute to a war effort, according to media reports. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same Anadolu report in French, and HERE for others.
– – –
FROM MARCH 7 Watch: The World This Week w/ Ray McGovern. Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News, and CN columnist Patrick Lawrence speak with former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, about “a week that changed the world, perhaps forever” and what may be in store. The discussion first aired Friday evening on CN Live! Click HERE for video.
– – –
FROM MARCH 6 Iran is gearing up for a long war of attrition against Israel and the U.S., by Marco Carnelos | Middle East Eye In essence, Iran is aiming to inflict “death by 1,000 cuts.” There no more red lines containing Tehran’s response after the assassination of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As has been observed in other similar situations, the West might . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM MARCH 3 Israel dragged Trump into a war with Iran he cannot win. Now what? From Unapologetic. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, discusses Iran’s response to the U.S.-Israel war against it and the potential ramifications for the security of Gulf states. Click HERE for video.
.