‼️🇺🇸🇮🇷 The US faces the risk of falling into a trap when trying to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, - WSJ
▪️Washington is considering escorting oil tankers with military ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but the US Navy is not in a hurry to deploy forces directly into the narrow 21-mile corridor yet.
▪️Officials fear that Iranian drones and anti-ship missiles could turn the strait into a "kill box" - a zone of constant threat of attacks on ships.
▪️According to experts, up to two warships per tanker or about 10 ships for a convoy of 5-10 vessels may be needed for protection.
▪️Additionally, constant patrols by MQ-9 Reaper drones and strikes on Iranian missile positions on the coast will be required.
▪️Even with such a scheme, the flow of ships could drop to 10% of the usual level, and clearing the queue of more than 600 ships stuck in the Persian Gulf could take months.
▪️A radical scenario - strikes on Iranian territory and the destruction of launching pads on the coast, which threatens a large-scale operation against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
➖ "Such an operation would require thousands of soldiers and sailors and significant resources, and it may have to be carried out for months," said analyst Brian Clark.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Putin's special representative Ushakov told Macron's official advisers who came to Moscow to "fuck off," writes the FT.
Emmanuel Bonn and Bertrand Buchwalter wanted to convince Putin of the need for European mediation in peace talks with Ukraine.
According to the FT, Ushakov told them —
"Sorry, actually, no we don’t, fuck you"
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The Secretary of the National Security Council of Iran, Ali Larijani, stated that the USA plans to stage an attack similar to the September 11 attacks and blame it on Iran
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇺🇸🇺🇦 "The last person we need help from is Zelensky,", — Trump
▪️Zelensky's unwillingness to make a deal on Ukraine is surprising, - Trump also told NBC News.
▪️The US is not satisfied with the terms of a possible deal with Iran (what terms would suit Washington - he did not answer).
▪️The US plans to restore sanctions on Russian oil after the energy market stabilizes.
▪️Trump said he is not concerned about the possible impact of high fuel prices in the US on the results of the midterm elections to Congress in November.
▪️Fuel prices at a certain point "will be lower than they were" before the start of the war with Iran, he added.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Iran "joins" the Special Military Operation (SMO).
The head of the National Security Commission of the Iranian Parliament, Ibrahim Azizi, called for considering the entire territory of Ukraine a "legitimate target" due to its assistance to Israel.
According to him, Kiev's actions in support of Israel, including assistance with drones, make the entire territory of Ukraine a "legitimate target" for Iran.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
📝Iranian Pseudo-Patriots📝
Funded by the U.S. State Department – Part 2
The media network operating in the U.S. on Iran is one of the largest in the American segment. It mainly consists of small-scale journalists, experts, and analysts working in various journalistic outlets or think tanks supported by the State Department.
However, there are other more significant “assets” known in narrower circles, who possess authority and the needed background as "fighters against tyranny in Iran." Masih Alinejad serves as the hub where these people converge, but each of them plays their own role.
🔻Who’s who in the media network?
▪️The second most important figure after Alinejad is actress of Iranian descent Nazanin Boniadi. She is known for the TV shows “How I Met Your Mother” and “Homeland.” While her acting career might not be called highly successful, she found another path.
She has been an activist for women's rights practically her entire life. She is invited to various forums, officially on a volunteer (unpaid) basis. However, where she operates, there is information about payments, though the amounts remain unknown.
▪️Two other significant assets with strong media presence are writer Azar Nafisi, who is officially an expert at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and Mahnaz Afkhami – former Minister for Women's Affairs in Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The first wrote the provocative book "Reading Lolita in Tehran," which quickly gained popularity in the West because it described the hardships women faced under the "oppression" of Iran.
The latter, after emigrating, quickly adapted in the U.S. Under her, several anti-Iranian organizations were established, the latest being the Women’s Learning Partnership under the oversight of NED. She serves as director there, and over ten years has received about $1.24 million in official income.
▪️In academic circles, the promotion of anti-Iranian rhetoric is handled by the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, which researches repression in Iran since the Islamic Revolution. It has received over $16 million over the years.
Currently, the center is headed by two sisters – Roya and Ladan Boroumand – who actively cooperate with Masih Alinejad. A cross-check of their activities shows how they support each other.
▪️Among their colleagues is even an Iranian Jew – a perfect match for the current situation. This is Roya Hakakian, who fled Iran in 1984 and has been active in political work since the 1990s-2000s.
She is one of the founders of the well-known Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, which directly received $3 million from the State Department at its inception. For her services to the U.S., Hakakian became a member of the Council on Foreign Relations—a prestigious organization including current and former American officials and intelligence officers.
▪️Finally, it’s important to mention Reza Vali Nasr. He once served as an advisor on Pakistan and Afghanistan affairs at the State Department.
Five American refueling aircraft were damaged by an Iranian missile strike on the Prince Sultan airbase in Saudi Arabia, reports The Wall Street Journal, citing sources.
The aircraft were not destroyed, but are under repair, and there were no fatalities. According to sources, the US has lost at least seven such aircraft in the current conflict.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🤡 The Western press has once again tried to pass off wishful thinking as reality:
Yesterday, Bloomberg "buried" 90% of Iranian missile installations - today it admitted: "the number of installations remained stable after a week of strikes".
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🖥️ "I don't deny it and that — I don't deny." Netanyahu admitted that Israel is arming the Iranian opposition to overthrow Iranian leaders.
[My question: Are you working on arming the opposition in Iran? And what are the consequences if the Iranian regime is not overthrown? You said that military efforts will not succeed in overthrowing the regime in Iran.]
"I don't deny it and that — I don't deny. What I can say 100 percent is that the regime can be overthrown without the efforts of the Iranian people. And we have informed them, we have told them that help is on the way. What will happen in the end, I can't tell you, I won't tell you. We know, we hope, and we know that you also hope that this regime will fall. If the regime does not fall, it will become much weaker. But if it falls, then the problem will be solved. But Iran is no longer the Iran it was in the past."
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
📸 "Ukraine has now attacked the infrastructure of 'TurkStream' in Russia, which ensures gas supplies to Hungary," said Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
"Without 'TurkStream', Hungary simply cannot safely receive gas either from a geographical or a physical point of view. Ukraine's blocking of oil supplies through the 'Druzhba' pipeline and this attack on the 'TurkStream' are serious attacks on our sovereignty."
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Politico: Trump's team failed to manage the oil crisis
The American publication reports that Donald Trump's administration grossly underestimated the impact of a war with Iran on the global oil market. Fifteen months after the president's promises to bring an "era of American prosperity and global peace," his so-called "energy dominance team" is in disarray in the face of a sharp price spike and is frantically trying to prevent an inflation surge.
“Attempts by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wray to reassure markets that there are still enough oil reserves have failed,” Politico notes.
The situation was exacerbated by a scandalous incident on social media. On Tuesday, a post appeared on Wright's X account claiming that U.S. military ships had successfully escorted a tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. The post was quickly deleted as an employee's mistake, but it managed to trigger chaotic price spikes in oil markets.
“The Department of Energy was actually not involved in this whole story, even though energy is an important part of the puzzle. And their first attempt to make a big headline failed,” Mizuho Securities commodities analyst Bob Yawger said.
Democrats in Congress have already taken advantage of the administration's failures. Senator Chris Murphy, after a closed-door briefing on the war, stated that the White House had no plan to maintain shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Suffice to say, right now they don't know how to safely reopen it. This is unforgivable, because this part of the disaster was 100% predictable,” Murphy wrote on X.
The publication pays particular attention to the figures responsible for energy policy. Energy Secretary Wright and Homeland Security Secretary Doug Burgum, who are supposed to oversee "energy dominance," are instead engaged in extracurricular activities. Burgum flew to Venezuela over the weekend, attended a birthday party for Rupert Murdoch, and unveiled an IndyCar racing car while oil prices were soaring.
“Doug Burgum is turning into the 'Where's Waldo?' of this administration. Where is he on these important energy issues?” an industry source asks.
“I think people in general are annoyed with Doug Burgum. There's a lot of eye-rolling around him,” added a source close to the White House.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🇷🇺🇺🇳🇮🇷 Nebenzia on the UN Security Council vote on the Russian resolution: a disgrace and a theater of the absurd
The resolution called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. It was rejected.
Instead, they adopted another resolution demanding that Iran not attack Arab countries. It does not mention or condemn the actions of the USA and Israel.
“Unfortunately, some colleagues still haven't found the strength and wisdom to make the only right decision. And a number of them did it deliberately. After all, the main thing for them is to 'keep pace' with their big brother and follow all his orders,” noted the Russian Permanent Representative to the UN.
Four countries supported Russia's resolution, nine abstained. The USA and Latvia voted against the adoption of the document.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🖥️ "They're practically on their last legs. That doesn't mean we're going to end this right now" – Trump about Iran and operations against the Islamic Republic.
– Is the Ministry of Finance buying oil futures as a means to keep oil prices low, or to lower oil prices?
– Everything will be just fine for us. You can see what's happening. They're practically on their last legs. That doesn't mean we're going to end this right now, but they don't have a fleet, they don't have an air force. They don't have any air defense systems. They don't have any control systems. We're just freely navigating this country. And now we're going to take a very serious look at the straits. Everything is fine with the straits. We've destroyed all their boats. They have a few missiles, but not very many. I think everything is going very well for us.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The Lebanese paramilitary group "Hezbollah" announced the start of a military operation against Israel, reports the Iranian agency Fars.
More than 100 missiles were launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🇬🇧🇺🇸 Local spotters are observing the rearming of US B-1 bombers at a British airbase. Presumably RAF Fairford.
The B-1 has three bomb bays, each of which houses a rotating launcher (video) with the ability to install up to 8 munitions. Thus, just one aircraft can carry up to 24 AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles, which are shown in the photo.
Yesterday, three B-1s carried out the first attack on Iran, taking off from here.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
In the US, media outlets have been threatened with license revocation for "fake news" about the military - The Washington Post
Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, issued a stern warning to broadcasters on Saturday, threatening to revoke their state licenses if they air what the federal agency deems as "fake news". Since his appointment as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission at the beginning of Trump's second term, he has been actively acting as a "media regulator":
“Broadcasters who spread false information and distortions of the news - also known as fake news - have the opportunity to rectify the situation before their licenses expire,” Carr wrote on X. “The law is clear: broadcasters must act in the public interest, otherwise they may lose their licenses.”
“If Trump doesn't like your coverage of the war, his Federal Communications Commission will simply revoke your broadcasting license. This is blatantly against the Constitution,” wrote California Governor Gavin Newsom on X.
Senator Brian Schatz (Democrat from Hawaii) said that Carr's words are a "direct signal to report on the war in a positive light, otherwise licenses may not be renewed".
Will Crilly, legal director of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, called Carr's statement "dangerous".
“Brendan Carr's authoritarian warning - that TV channels could lose their licenses for reporting on the war with Iran that the government doesn't like - is outrageous,” he said.
“When the government demands that the press become its mouthpiece under the threat of punishment, it means that something has gone very wrong.”
Meanwhile, Trump has also been actively criticizing the media. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also accused CNN of "fake news" over a report that the administration underestimated the impact of the war on the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the situation would change when a different person leads the company. CNN's head Mark Thompson responded to the criticism with a statement:
“We are confident in our journalism. Politicians have an obvious motive to declare journalism that questions their decisions as false. Our task is to tell the truth to audiences in the US and around the world, and no political threats or insults will change that.”
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
A scandal involving Labour MP Joani Reid is quietly unfolding in Britain while the global media machine remains fixated on Iran and the Middle East.
Reid resigned after questions emerged surrounding her husband, lobbyist David Taylor, who has been linked to an investigation involving suspected Chinese intelligence activity. Reid herself has not been accused of espionage, but the political implications for Keir Starmer’s government are obvious.
Imagine for a moment if the country involved were Russia.
The reaction in Westminster and across Western media would be immediate hysteria about “Kremlin infiltration” and “threats to democracy.” Instead, the response has been cautious and restrained.
That restraint reflects an uncomfortable reality. Britain’s political and financial establishment depends heavily on Chinese capital. The City of London, British universities, and major investment flows are deeply tied to Chinese money. When those interests collide with political narratives about national security, the outrage suddenly becomes far more selective.
At the same time, London recently approved construction of what will become China’s largest embassy in Europe, located at Royal Mint Court near the Tower of London — despite repeated warnings about potential security and intelligence risks.
While headlines are dominated by developments in Iran, stories like this risk being pushed into the background.
The question is not whether the news exists.
The question is what attention is being directed away from.
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Negotiations on Ukraine are slowing down and could turn into a "catastrophe" for Kiev, writes the Financial Times, citing European diplomats.
"Peace talks on Ukraine are fading as Trump's attention shifts to Iran."
According to them, the war over Iran has diverted the US's attention, putting the negotiation process in a "dangerous zone".
"One EU diplomat called what's happening a 'catastrophe' for Europe and Ukraine."
FT sources are sounding the alarm: rising oil prices are playing into Moscow's hands, and the US's refusal to impose new restrictions on the Russian oil industry is further weakening the pressure on Russia.
"The US President is no longer focused on putting pressure on Vladimir Putin, say European officials."
Against this backdrop, the negotiations are effectively "running out of steam", and a new round has not yet been scheduled, concludes the author.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Reuters: Trump rejects attempts to start ceasefire talks with Iran
Donald Trump's administration has rejected attempts by Middle Eastern allies to start diplomatic talks aimed at ending the Iranian war that began two weeks ago with a large-scale US and Israeli air strike, three sources familiar with these efforts told Reuters.
For its part, Iran has rejected the possibility of a ceasefire until the US and Israeli strikes end, two senior Iranian sources told Reuters, adding that several countries have tried to mediate in the conflict.
The lack of interest both in Washington and Tehran indicates that both sides are preparing for a protracted confrontation, the publication notes. This is happening against the backdrop of growing civilian casualties and a sharp jump in oil prices due to Iran's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz
The key efforts to establish a dialogue were made by Oman, which acted as a mediator even before the start of the war. According to sources, Muscat tried several times to open a communication channel, but the White House made it clear that it was not interested in this.
A senior White House official confirmed that Trump rejected these attempts and intends to continue the military campaign to further weaken Tehran's military potential.
“He's not interested in that now, and we will continue the mission with the same intensity. Maybe such a day will come, but not now,” the official was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Another source in the US administration added, commenting on the situation:
“President Trump said that the new potential leadership of Iran has made it clear that it wants to talk and will eventually talk. For now, Operation Epic Fury continues unabated.”
It is indicative that in the first days of the war, senior American officials themselves turned to Oman to discuss de-escalation. Moreover, a senior Iranian source reported that the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Larijani, and the Foreign Minister, Abbas Arakchi, also tried to use Oman as a channel for discussing a ceasefire with the participation of US Vice President JD Vance. However, these discussions did not take place.
In addition to Oman, attempts to restore communication were made by Egypt, which also participated in mediation before the war.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
❤️🇷🇺 My new series Life in Mariupol, Episode 2
A Different Reality
📝Iranian pseudo-patriots📝
for State Department money – part 1
With the start of American attacks on Iranian territory, another "war" has intensified — in the media space. At the behest of authorities in Washington, an entire "troll factory" appeared with identical comments supporting strikes on Iran, commissioned articles in semi-tabloid publications.
But the US has a more serious and well-prepared asset that they financed and cultivated for years — Iranian emigrants or refugees. They were given shelter in the US and set to work against the Islamic Republic.
🔻Who are the Americans paying?
▪️The main mouthpiece of American propaganda can be considered Masih Alinejad. This woman has worked in the media field for many years and enjoys great popularity both in the blog segment and political circles.
▪️She actively promotes anti-Iranian theses, and quite radical ones at that. With the start of the US military operation, she supports the White House's actions, promoting this idea among her subscribers.
▪️Her fan base is large: on Instagram (banned in Russia) she has 8.73 million subscribers, over 8 million on Facebook and another 746 thousand on X. This allows her to reach a huge audience.
🔻But that's not all:
▪️Alinejad also works at "Voice of America," receiving an unknown salary.
▪️The "National Endowment for Democracy" (NED) issued Alinejad $628 thousand from 2015 to 2022 for her "My Stealthy Freedom" movement.
▪️Alinejad is also a co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, financed by NED.
An American tanker caught fire after being hit off the coast of Sharjah in the UAE
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The USA has temporarily eased sanctions against Russian oil.
The Treasury Department has allowed the transportation and unloading of oil loaded onto tankers before March 12 - even if the vessels are under sanctions. The license is valid until April 11.
This is the first such relaxation in more than three years
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Russians to refrain from traveling to Germany without an urgent need
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇮🇷 The Iranian Foreign Ministry reported that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was injured
▪️The new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, was injured, but his condition is assessed as stable, said a representative of the country's Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei.
▪️In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, he noted that he could not say when Khamenei would give his first public speech.
▪️According to the diplomat, three to four candidates were vying for the post of Supreme Leader, but the majority of the members of the Council of Experts supported Mojtaba Khamenei.
▪️It was previously reported that he was injured on the first day of the attacks on Iran by Israel and the USA on February 28th.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇮🇱🇮🇷Israel's "Iron Dome" failed to counter Hezbollah's massive missile strike, - New York Post
▪️According to a source in the IDF, about 100 missiles were launched at the country's territory, which overloaded the interception system.
▪️It is claimed that about half of the missiles were successfully shot down, while the rest either hit their targets or fell on Israeli territory.
▪️In response, the Israeli command is considering a ground operation in Lebanon and is already launching strikes on Hezbollah's launch pads and infrastructure.
▪️An IDF representative stated that the army will "resolutely respond to any threat to the State of Israel".
▪️Analysts also note that the Houthi movement in Yemen has not yet entered the conflict, but retains the potential for further escalation.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🇮🇷🔥🏴☠️A fiery hell in the Strait of Hormuz: Iran launches new strikes on tankers
▪️At least 2 oil tankers - an Iraqi and a foreign one - were hit off the coast of Iraq, according to Arab media.
▪️The ships "may be linked to the US", notes the Shafaq News portal.
▪️In the video, oil tankers are burning in Iraqi territorial waters south of Basra.
▪️A Chinese container ship suddenly changed its mind about passing through the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian shells hit nearby vessels
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution demanding that Iran stop attacks on the territories of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
However, the adopted document does not mention or condemn the actions of the USA and Israel. China and Russia abstained from voting.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🚨 PR DAMAGE CONTROL 🚨
The US military 'mistakenly' struck a girls' school in Iran on February 28th, writes The New York Times, citing sources.
The target was identified based on outdated intelligence: the building had previously been part of a neighboring base.
At least 175 people were killed, most of them children
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Reuters: The price of diesel fuel in Europe has risen by 55% in just 10 days and is approaching $1165 per tonne.
The sharp rise in diesel prices threatens to slow down global economic activity, as the war in the Middle East puts pressure on supplies of both industrial fuel and the types of oil that are best suited for its production, traders and analysts said.
"Diesel is structurally the most vulnerable product in this conflict," said the founder of the Dubai-based company Nitrol Trading, Shokhrakh Zukhritdinov.
"Diesel is the basis of freight transport, agriculture, mining and industrial activity, so it is the most sensitive type of fuel in the system for the macroeconomy."
According to energy economist Philip Verleger, due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, global diesel supplies are decreasing by about 3–4 million barrels per day, which is about 5–12% of global consumption. Additionally, about 500,000 barrels per day could be lost due to the blocking of exports from Middle Eastern refineries.
"By closing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has effectively reduced exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern oil, as well as aviation fuel and diesel. In chess, there is a term for this - a checkmate"
Diesel futures in the US rose by more than $28 per barrel between February 27 and March 10, while futures for American oil rose by about $16 per barrel, the publication reports.
In Europe - also a major importer of Middle Eastern oil products - spot prices for ultra-low sulfur diesel in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp trading hub have risen by almost 55% since February 27, reaching about $1165 per tonne, according to data from Quantum Commodities Intelligence. Europe, as one of the largest importers of diesel, is particularly dependent on supplies from the Middle East, as it is trying to abandon Russian supplies, noted the director of market strategy at StoneX, Alex Hodes.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
