🇮🇷🇮🇱⚡️- Regional officials warn that another Israel-Iran war is brewing and only a matter of time, with Iran having built a new enrichment site named "Pickaxe Mountain." - NYT.

🇮🇱⚡- Israel's Ministry of Defense has barred all senior generals from briefing the media. All military staff must first request permission from Defense Minister Katz personally, and must state who's speaking, to which outlets, and the topics of discussion.

⚡🇸🇾 Sectarian Riots in Damascus have devolved, while initially it was only slogans and signs, automatic fire was hired in Shia neighborhoods, casualties unknown and the situation is not clear.

@medmannews

—❗️🇮🇱/🇷🇺/🇮🇷 BREAKING: Former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen, in his new book, writes that he visited the Kremlin and got permission from Russian President Vladimir Putin to strike Iranian arms shipments in Syria and Iraq headed for Hezbollah and various Iran-backed militias

The Russian and Israeli Deputy Chiefs of Staff decided to set up a direct phone line, coordinating every strike, with Russia explicitly giving the green light for Israeli attacks.

Cohen says this Russian cooperation was 'essential' in dismantling Iranian supply networks in the region, because Russian-operated S-300 and S-400 systems in Syria would have been a threat to Israeli aviation.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇷🇺/🇮🇷 OPINION:

Unfortunately, as I've always said, Russia is not Iran's ally, it is simply a strategic partner. When it suits the Russians, they cooperate with us, but when it's not in their interests, they don't. It's as simple as that.

I don't think this is 'betrayal', nor do I think Russia is inherently dishonest. They simply put their own national interests first, no matter what. And I don't blame them; isn't that what every country is supposed to do?

I would love it if Russia supported Iran based on some shared ideology or worldview, but that simply is not the case. Russia is pragmatic, Iran is ideologic; Russia works with whomever suits their interests best, Iran works mainly with ideological allies; Russia is flexible, Iran is consistent.

At the very least, Russia is honest about its pragmatic approach, unlike the United States which constantly pretends that it is acting from a value-based worldview and then violates those very same values (democracy, human rights, freedom etc.) on a daily basis.

When working with a country like Russia, it is important to realize and understand that cooperation will only go as far as shared interests. Anything beyond that is uncertain, and should not be relied upon, much less taken for granted.

The same is true for China. Long gone are the days that China operated from an ideology-based worldview. Their foreign policy is once again very simple: Do whatever benefits China the most.

It is in Russia's vital interests to support Iran at least to the extent of keeping its government stable and enabling its military to endure basic hostilities, but not much more than that. In case of any fundamental threat to the continuity of the Iranian government, do not count on Russia's support; they will already be busy making deals with the 'new guys in town', like they did with Jolani during the fall of Assad in late 2024.

And like I said, from a 'realpolitik' perspective this pragmatic approach makes perfect logical sense. Why waste billions in military support when you can just preemptively forge ties with the new government-to-be?

Anyways, all I'm trying to say is, the illusion that Russia will ever come to Iran's aid are long gone. I have always respected the Russians and will continue to do so, not based on false notions of a shared ideological perspective but rather based on an approach of cooperation founded on mutual interests.

@Middle_East_Spectator

🇮🇳💩- After being pressured and claiming he would not release the video about the feces-based indian festival due to racism, Youtuber Tyler Oliveira finally released his coverage of this sub-culture : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WsPZC1-TLo