Iran

 

Iran war shows the strategic limits of tactical strikes (Defense One) The war in Iran is testing the strategic limits of tactical military success. Even as U.S. and Israeli airstrikes degrade Iranian capabilities, a complex web of global economic and strategic consequences are keeping victory out of reach. Read More Patriot missile involved in Bahrain blast likely US-operated, analysis finds (Military Times) An American-operated Patriot air defense battery likely fired the interceptor missile involved in a pre-dawn explosion that injured dozens of civilians and tore through homes in U.S.-ally Bahrain 10 days into the war on Iran, according to an analysis by academic researchers. Read More Trump approved Iran operation after Netanyahu argued for joint killing of Khamenei, sources say

(Military Times) Less than 48 hours before the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran began, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone to President Donald Trump about the reasons for launching the kind of complex, far-off war the American leader once had campaigned against. Read More

Iran targets Israel and Gulf Arab states even as Trump says US is in talks to end the war

(The Associated Press) Smoke rose from central Tel Aviv as Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel and Gulf Arab states Tuesday, even as U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was in talks with the Islamic Republic to end the war. Read More ----oooo00O00oooo----

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Lane Greene Senior digital editor

Where is the conflict with Iran headed? Nobody seems to know, much less Donald Trump. The president touted a deal on Saturday, seemed to walk it back on Sunday, and has been bashing critics (including Republicans who have cavilled) as “losers”. Iran, meanwhile, wants a deal but still seems to think time is on its side. At this point, an agreement to keep talking—a deal to make a deal—is the best-case scenario.     ----oooo00O00oooo----

Midtøsten Donald Trump

USAs president Donald Trump taler til pressen nær byggeplassen for sin foreslåtte ballsal i Det hvite hus i Washington, DC, 19. mai.

Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images Oversatt med Google Translate

Det beste håpet for å få slutt på en dårlig planlagt krig, som startet med knapp konsultasjon med Kongressen eller det amerikanske folket, kan være en utilfredsstillende fred som lar kritiske problemer bli løst senere og forverrer striden i Washington.

President Donald Trump har gjentatte ganger sagt at en avtale for å stoppe konflikten han valgte mot Iran er nært forestående og svært nær. Hver gang viste spådommene hans seg å være ønsketenkning eller en feiltolkning av Irans sanne intensjoner.

Så det er ingen overraskelse at hans siste påstander om at en rammeavtale med Teheran er nær har blitt møtt med skepsis og forvirring – og heller ikke at både konservative hauker og demokrater ser ut til å tro at han er på nippet til å gi etter for en dårlig avtale.

Likevel tyder diplomatisk oppstyr på at en avtale for å gjenåpne Hormuzstredet og lette den amerikanske blokaden av iranske skip og havner kan være nær. Et slikt gjennombrudd kan være et utgangspunkt for samtaler administrasjonen vil forsøke å bruke for å motarbeide eventuelle gjenværende iranske atomambisjoner.