Iran War Update 3

Events from the last 24 hours

The US-Israeli attack on Iran is fast-moving and it’s not easy to stay on top of the volume of interconnected events. Here’s what happened in the last 24 hours…

• Commander Brad Cooper of CENTCOM, the US’ military command in the Middle East, revealed the results of American attacks on Iran. “In the last 72 hours, America’s bomber force has struck nearly 200 targets deep inside Iran, including around Tehran. In just the last hour, US B-2 bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs targeting deeply buried ballistic missile launchers. We also struck Iran’s equivalent of Space Command.”

• Iranian ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90% since the first day of the war, drone attacks by 83%.

• Drones hit the airport in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, widening the war zone. Iran denied they were responsible, but Azerbaijan has now withdrawn its diplomats from Iran.

• Turkey has threatened reprisals if Kurdish volunteers join the fight against Iran, as the US wants. The Turkish Ministry of Defence said: “We emphasise that we reserve the right to respond to hostile actions regardless of where they originate, and we are closely monitoring developments in close coordination with NATO and our other allies.” They added: “We are closely monitoring the activities carried out by the terrorist organisation PJAK in Iran and the developments in the region in close coordination with the relevant institutions of our state.” PJAK is the Kurdish Free Life Party which Trump is encouraging to attack Iran. Turkey has a long and bloody history with the Kurds.

• Sweden’s central bank, Sveriges Riksbank, has advised people to keep 1,000 kronor ($110) in cash at home, enough for a week of essentials like food and medicine in case of war, cyberattacks, or other crises.

• Iran hit two hotels in Bahrain’s capital Manama.

• Secretary of Defense/War Pete Hegseth held another press conference that was economical with the truth. He claimed the US had no shortage of munitions which goes against every military analyst in the world. He also said, “The dumb politically correct wars of the past were the opposite of what we are doing here. They had vague objectives with restrictive rules of engagement — no more.” So politically correct wars like…Vietnam?

• Trump says Iran keeps calling to “make a deal”. Trump said they’re too late. “We want to fight now more than they do.” Iran has denied multiple times that they’ve contacted the US about reaching a deal.

• US oil prices passed the $80 a barrel mark for the first time in 13 months, up 45% since December. US gas prices are set to rise above $3.30 a gallon.

• Trump attacked allies Spain and UK for not doing what he wants. “We have a lot of winners, but Spain is a loser, and UK has been very disappointing.”

  

• The Economist’s view: “Trump…is more likely to end up having to deal with regional chaos or a new hardliner. Surrounded by sycophantic courtiers, Trump has become rash… His opportunistic grabs for power whenever he sees weakness are dangerous. America needs a strategy in Iran, just as it needs one in the world.”