Middle East

  • Iran pulls out of a civilisational war

    Iran has a unique sense of self but most of it is contrived according to a system setup to define Islam and govern Muslim behaviour.

    The last Supreme Leader invested heavily in its existence, but the new incumbent is said to be focused on its implementation in reality.

    This means stringent daily information and coordinated support for all meaningful internal structures.

    It also determines Mosque attendance and studies, and in particular in Islamic schools.

    It makes Iran to be a semi-closed, authoritarian state with a regime that keeps its leadership and intelligence structures at close quarters.

    Due to common Muslim affiliation, and a ban on secularisation, it isn’t as fully so like Russia, by example, but its effects go far enough.

    An end to military engagement, as is being enacted by its military leadership, is a return to a status of internal strife and division within itself.

    Even the Persian nation has intentions that may be sincere but aren’t always successful.

  • Germany hedges Israel criticism

    Germany has defended criticism of Israel by its leader in recent days, but has stopped short of echoing comments by its Chancellor that the Jewish state may be guilty of historic war crimes.

    The issue of West Bank ‘settler’ violence, as it’s now called, is coming straight to the fore in international relations in a way many analysts haven’t predicted.

    “Germany stands by Israel in every vector, but it cannot support ongoing settler violence.”

    German State/Release.

    It’s believed protest has surged the matter to the top of the agenda but experts in the region see no reason for the timing of outbursts of rhetoric, or controversy.

    Israel has repeatedly defended its position by claiming its security operations in the West Bank are part of a larger effort to ‘tame’ rural crime groups and to monitor terrorist activity far and wide.

  • Reform UK slams Labour

    Reform UK have criticised rivals Labour as an anti-democratic party that’s driven by boardroom politics as it responds to a zealous new policy to sanction Israel for its activities in the West Bank region.

    “Reform UK sees the Israel issue as separate to foreign policy. A global matter like that is subject to review by many international bodies, not to be a sole focus for anyone, and is never a reason to hate Israel or deny a Jew a life there.

    Reform UK stands by a common sense platform rooted in the present and respectful of the past.

    We don’t deny, however, that Labour has pursued an anti-Semitic purge of its party ranks before, and this stands as a witness to what it’s doing now, and also using a nationwide platform to enact a purge on Israeli interests.

    This is where we are because of Labour. Many universities support Labour because they take a fascist line on things.

    Fascism is now recognised by what it’s like to live with someone, and this is what it’s like with Labour. No tolerance and a dictatorial view of things.”

    Reform UK/Press Release.

    Even as Palestine Action faces a Supreme Court showdown in November, and an end to protest is called for more and more across the country, Labour has today pressed ahead with punitive measures against the Jewish state.

    Law enforcement authorities are privately concerned that lazy administration in Labour party offices is also leading to a mischaracterisation of local branch wishes as expressed by members by themselves in meetings.

  • Exclusive: MI6 dismisses West Bank concerns

    MI6 (The Secret Service) has said that the West Bank is “of no concern” to the UK, its “violence doesn’t outstrip human tolerance”, and that it sees the situation as “tense, but tight” in regards to culpability looked for on either side.

    The intervention by the UK’s only acknowledged overseas spying agency comes as the Foreign Secretary postulates sanctions against Israel for alleged ‘settler’ violence in the contested region.

    In spite of reports that protester violence in the UK and insider infiltration has suspended FCDO operations on matters, the department nonetheless pressed ahead with a statement today.

    MI6 is said to be concerned by political pronouncements that do little to balance public perceptions and in fact may inflame localised tensions and lead to effects unseen by nationwide observers.

  • Iran wants revenge in the longterm

    The Supreme Leader has a prominent position in Iranian society, but current feelings are guided by emotions that come from sources far beyond his own. The felt need for revenge runs deep now and Iranians will no doubt be plotting for a long time to come.

    Their revenge will take the form of restrictions on civilian activity in the Middle East where Iran has a role to play; diplomacy limited to friendly states; and challenges to leadership that backed such a strike on the late Ali Khamenei.

    A broadcast by a TV channel in Iran about revenge for assassination (Credit: MEMRI TV/Original).

    In Iran there are also forces at play to destabilise world affairs, and in particular, to interfere in domestic political affairs. These are hard to track and have potential in places where people work against others to end their careers.

    In future, the likelihood of Iranian interference is particularly high in Washington, because America backed Israel to kill their Supreme Leader in the first place. This puts the Atlantic power on high alert. It also implicates the UK because of our special relationship there.

  • Iran is juggling priorities

    It’s widely rumoured in the Middle East that Iran has a particular preeminence for its specialist provision of security for Muslims as an almost exclusive service of coverage.

    This isn’t a simple arrangement of teams or security units to guard the richest businesspeople or to protect royal families of power.

    The point is that Muslims enjoy a level of safety due to a regard for their personal wellbeing apart from any other religious group and separate to any secular setting.

    It even raises a question about ‘halal’ security arrangements and how Western intelligence agencies support such a particular religious community.

    The divisions in Islam are a reason why Iran would have to do this. Iran shows an ability to protect its population while preserving distinctions for religious reasons.

    Iran also has a knack for staying out of local troubles and keeping its work above reproach. They are said to be praised for such endeavours by religious authorities.

    At this time, no doubt Iranians at higher levels are working hard to keep this fundamental arrangement alive. The premise of it is necessary for its influence and is just as important for its economy.

  • Iran seeks to secure the future

    Iran’s Supreme Leader hasn’t been a visible presence since his leadership takeover but he’s certainly been vocal at the beginning stages of his attempt to regain control and assert a reaction to Israel and America’s actions against the Persian nation.

    A screenshot of a post to X
    A screenshot of a post to X, purportedly by the office of Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader (Credit: @MKhamenei_ir/X).

    The style of his presentation is already becoming clear. He’s following as expected for Iranian leaders who are expected to speak wisely and use a sort of dialogue that involves religious conjecture. His statements are exhortations and appeals to Muslims in general.

    A screenshot of a post to X
    A screenshot of a post to X, purportedly by the office of Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader (Credit: @MKhamenei_ir/X).

    Iran is the centrepiece of his response to pressures from outside the Middle East. He’s known for having a clear belief in the future development of his country. It comes across as he urges Iranian citizens to be vigilant against signs of weakness and to be ready to fight back if needed.

    While Iranians know they’re at war, this status will change back to a default belief in an existential fight against non-Islamic nations that have to be pacified with other Muslim states so that they find peace. This is the more pressing issue than seeing Khamenei’s face in public.

  • Israel is right to tame the West Bank

    The belief that Israeli’s are subjugating a West Bank population step by step is a falsehood setup on notions of statehood and of implicit abuse by the Israeli state.

    This is a narrative that’s so far produced zero reasoned understanding and has led to acrimonious clashes between protesters and counter-protesters, and the political elite and civilised populations everywhere.

    The bare reality is that the West Bank is a raw and wild place – whatever it looks like on paper. Israeli ‘settlers’ move there to tame a rampant strain of corruption that moves through populations. They do it to stop tides of crime spilling over into Israel, as Jordanians also attempt the same but without the rhetoric.

    The full picture is now becoming clear to many decision makers worldwide, and the time that’s wasted on so-called peace plans in places where state-backed help is needed is an embarrassing state of affairs for its advocates.

  • Exclusive: MI6 block Syria

    Due to intelligence gathered on the matter, the UK’s overseas spying agency, MI6, has blocked Syria from FCDO systems due to rampant corruption, criminal syndicates, and terror spreading everywhere.

  • Syria is a state beset by terror

    The US’ decision to diminish the status of Syria by removing its terror label isn’t a precedent for other countries and is only indicative of other movements in the Middle East.

    The UK is still beset by terror in its own way. It continues to be proved weekly. We cannot afford to encourage or incite such angry and violent activity by making such public statements at this time. The choice to do so would be reckless.

    “I congratulate the Syrian people on the official removal of Syria’s name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and I thank His Excellency President Donald Trump for this historic decision, as well as all the brothers and friends who stood with Syria and the Syrians.”

    Ahmad Al-Sharaa/X.

    Syria is in disarray. Its President, while safe, isn’t in control. He doesn’t hold sway and cannot determine what his people may do. The US is able to marshal resources far beyond the capability of the UK, and may safeguard itself in this way.

    In the UK, some Civil Servants do this sort of thing to manipulate forces beyond their control to attack coworkers they’re jealous of. This also cannot be a reason why. It’s not a legitimate form of working.

    As usual, this issue has to be waited on but it’s unlikely to be changed in its status soon. No goalposts need moving. No points need rewriting. The facts of the matter stare at the UK in its face. There cannot be any further risk of societal decay.

  • Iranian culture is as fixed as the state

    If you know Iranian state politics then seeing its culture is merely an effort to add some detail. The historical nation is neatly laid out as a tightly-controlled environment to guide citizens carefully toward full maturity as Muslims and participants in a project to make the Middle East peaceful and fair.

    It isn’t conveyed so clearly in the West due to warring diatribe that isn’t understood openly as peacemaking or constructive to a narrative at all.

    The daily reality of Iranian fighters is they fight alone and join together for missions. These achieve short-term aims to pacify enemies and keep agreements safe. The stability they offer is regarded highly by citizens and investment into kit and resources comes as they prove the ongoing worth of their effort.

    An Iranian TV host discussing a bounty on President Trump’s head (Credit: MEMRI TV).

    Such activity bleeds out into mainstream culture. Boys are able to buy textbooks on war and girls can see heroic videos. There are seminars for students and camps for the more engaged. This is part of the life that an Iranian has, and veteran affairs is a high priority there.

    Kept in place by the elite, a society like this ticks over as busy but not as progressive as others. Iran is locked into place by tribes and regions and historic disagreements.

    People crave for a break from the stresses of conflict and communities look out for each other’s needs as time and expense allows. But rest cannot come for a state so enmeshed in arguments – and enmity against Israel. Their purpose is one united whole and it’s shared between them as a national rallying cry for glory to god and to each other.

  • Long Report: Inside Gaza

    Gaza is in a poor state, according to most media observers that tell us what we should know. These self-serving ideologues are also self-loving idealists. They like a good bit of misinformation to pass on doubts and lies to get a ‘good position’ in New York, or a place like it.

    The drivenness of such individuals is entirely of their own making and amounts to a cult, now, that worships security breaches and puts demise at the top of its agenda.

    But this is falsehood, in our terms, and officially the matters they talk about are handled by our best and brightest as a national duty of concern. No overnight statement replaces the slow, considered, and behind the scenes work.

    The reality on the ground is a situation that people in Gaza are desperately crying out for attention over, not to get clicks or likes but because fake media has threatened their lives too many times.

    Real affairs

    The people in Gaza aren’t sure of who they are or where they are. This is the truth of it as people young and old have spoken to me in joy and in tears. They are so because resilience is natural but suffering is artificial, and it cuts in oftentimes.

    I’ve listened to the stories, though, and it has made me to stop and ponder life too. I’ve heard of similar acts here, but theirs sound relentless and crushing. The support is quiet and often it can seem too distant for human need. The protests worldwide make life feel unsafe.

    Hamas is the point that makes people in Gaza feel angry beyond any other sign of brokenness. They hate the sight and sound of its militants, and pray for deliverance from its proximity to their lives and their local communities. Their behaviour makes them feel hopeless.

    The buildings used for ‘normal’ activity at ground level but above the space is given over to torture chambers, cyber centres, and command control centres. The houses emptied for donor families of Hamas that are left in harms way later. The shops taken away and returned again with no word as to why.

    The chaos has confused children for a long time. Parents struggle to say what it is while Hamas and others are in their way. The limited infrastructure is a sign things can live there but it feels tenuous and ready to disappear like peace.

    Political things

    In small groups people have gathered to discuss politics in more Western ways but without the protest mantras or false doctrines. They’ve planned a future many times over and considered all options as fairly and as openly as they can.

    Children are now widely taught about democracy and the only resistance to it – in the form of local clerics – has fallen away to permit it to continue. The reality is that people in Gaza have inspired others in their tribulation. It counts as real change in the Middle East.

    Yet, the dog fighting in their familiar surrounds is unabated, and as much progress as Israel makes for itself, it’s inevitable Hamas is going to spring back into action. They don’t think their terrorism will end soon because it’s supported and they don’t have a way to fight back.

    Looking forward, the people in flight that I’ve spoken to are optimistic that builders, planners, and leaders will come out of the woodwork. They can’t say when, but that’s been the point of it all along. The chance of it occurring increases and decreases by itself all the time.

  • Israel fights for its survival

    Now that Iran has regathered itself the notoriously secretive military elite in the country will be planning an effective response. This will include Israel and almost certainly it will also involve backing a destructive terror-related attack on American soil in the near future.

    The headless maniacs in control of much of Iran’s forces are bent on Jewish destruction and spare no time in dreaming of its demise.

    Israel, by all accounts, is ready for any land or air push by the Persian nation. It has a healthy stock of munitions and is capable of taking out targets on Iranian soil.

    A graphic illustration
    A graphic illustration playing off the letter ‘W’ and the name of the Israeli state (Credit: OpenAI ChatGPT/Original prompt).

    The ramifications of such an escalation of a use of ballistic resources in the region are known far and wide. The steps that are taken are what count because everyone watches each other.

    The lack of UK involvement guarantees our security because we are relatively small in comparison to larger states and the abilities pooled into mutual defence agreements in the Middle East. Our interests are also more secure because the constant work of their safety doesn’t need to change. No meaningful disaster will happen overnight for us.

    Iran is centred on its own survival but also its progressive development into an economic power of learning and influence. But Israel has made it aware of threats in the air that cannot be ignored. A realignment of priorities and settling of more firmer principles of engagement won’t come without a cost for others.

    America being in the frame includes an entire state of affairs that’s an equation increasing in complexity all the time. Its efforts have come as a shock for many observers and few of its policy goals are now discernible in its public statements. Their plan is a key to understanding what the outcome is of this period.

  • Iran sets its sights on Israel

    Iran is coming out of the shadows to reassert its position after a bruising round of strikes by America and a humiliating assassination of its former Supreme Leader by Israel.

    The first step is thought to be a confrontation with Israel, the former being considered too much of a threat to counter right now.

    A graphic illustration
    A graphic illustration showing an IRGC officer firing at an Israel flag (Credit: OpenAI ChatGPT/Original prompt).

    This sets up more battles with protesters and likely disruption of key meetings because organisers of such ferment have long disavowed the safety of Jews in Jerusalem as a main priority or a concern.

    However, the more pertinent point is the alignment of armies and forces in the Middle East against Israel by garnering support from its closest neighbours.

    The potential for all-out war is low, but the buildup increases tensions worldwide and then diplomatic fallout may ensue.

  • Iran begins its serious rule

    Iran has started to see the future beyond its predicament with America, in that its Supreme Leader has stepped out of the shadows and nominated a number of key figures to lead his regime.

    The appointment yesterday of Mohsen Rezaee as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council is a smart move for a country that needs a lot of reassurances about its own safety.

    These positions are regionally significant because many counterparts exist in the Middle East that can make for a forum of debate in similar affairs.

    A graphic illustration
    A graphic illustration of an Iran flag and a pixelated face of its Supreme Leader (Credit: xAI Grok/Original prompt).

    As America continues to taunt the country’s safety and security infrastructure, the response from Tehran has been decidedly slow. This may be due to a need to transition new leaders into their roles with minimal disruption.

    Meanwhile, the population is urged to be consistent with their values and orders from top commanders, who’ve nonetheless maintained a sight of domestic priorities.

    The outcome of such a torrid time for relations in the Middle East is less certain in Europe as Israel criticises peace efforts in Gaza and European leaders call for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

    Iran’s Supreme Leader hasn’t publicly stated his next steps on the matter of Israel’s assassination of the late Ali Khamenei, who was also his father and mentor.