Monday, February 23, 2026

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According to a report by Axios website, intense discussions are underway in the senior levels of the Trump administration about how to deal with the Islamic Republic. General Dan Kain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as the president's senior military advisor, has warned about the consequences of a military campaign and emphasized the need for realism regarding the risks of prolonged conflict and potential casualties. While some sources report Trump's personal inclination toward carrying out a military strike, figures like Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and even JD Vance, the Vice President, have called for restraint and giving diplomacy a chance. Kushner and Witkoff believe that time is on America's side and that Trump should first assess the results of Thursday's talks in Geneva with Abbas Araghchi. Despite the cautious approach of military commanders and some cabinet members, Axios wrote, citing its sources, that Trump has only agreed to extend the negotiation deadline with the sole aim of ensuring that all diplomatic channels reach a dead end. Among senior cabinet ministers, Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, has so far refrained from taking an explicit position and has focused more on Venezuela and Cuba issues. @ VahidOOnLine 📡 @VahidOnline

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Wall Street Journal: Pentagon Warning About War Consequences; Shortage of Defensive Ammunition and Risk of Force Attrition The Wall Street Journal reports that the Pentagon has presented serious warnings to President Trump about the risks of a large-scale military operation against the Islamic Republic. These warnings, primarily raised by General Dan Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in National Security Council meetings, emphasize risks such as potential casualties among American forces and allies, depletion of air defense reserves, and severe attrition of United States military capability. According to the Wall Street Journal report, while options on the table range from limited strikes to multi-day air campaigns to overthrow the government, military officials are concerned that a prolonged war would impose heavy costs on strategic ammunition reserves. This issue not only makes protecting regional partners against Tehran's retaliation difficult, but also overshadows America's readiness for a potential future confrontation with China. In this context and following increased concerns about Iran's response and proxy groups, the State Department on Monday issued orders to evacuate non-essential personnel and families of American embassy staff in Lebanon. The newspaper, citing military sources, writes that in case of massive Iranian missile launches, the United States has sufficient reserves of interceptor missiles (including Patriot, THAAD, and SM-3) for only "about two weeks." The experience of the 12-day war last June and the two-month operation against the Houthis in Yemen showed concerning gaps in supplying these munitions. Currently, America has deployed 13 destroyers and several defense systems in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Israel to counter potential threats. Another part of the Wall Street Journal report focuses on the critical situation of the aircraft carrier "Gerald Ford." This carrier, which is the world's largest warship, has been on mission since last June and is setting a record for the longest continuous deployment (11 months). Naval officials warn that the ship's crew is severely stressed and tired; something that previously led to incidents and the loss of several fighter jets on the "Harry Truman" carrier. Additionally, technical problems such as defects in the Ford carrier's sewage system have made conditions more difficult for sailors. Despite these pressures, Anna Kelly, White House spokesperson, emphasized that Trump listens to diverse opinions from his national security team and will make the final decision based on national interests; a decision that officials say has not yet been finalized and partly depends on the outcome of Thursday's negotiations in Geneva. Iran Desk Podcast on YouTube @TheIranDesk

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⚠️ Lifeless bodies of killed citizens "Basij forces are shooting with war bullets!" Received videos with description: 'Behesht Square, Yakhchiabad, Naziabad #Tehran Thursday January 7th' Vahid 📡 @VahidOnline

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⚠️ Lifeless body of 21-year-old with bullet wounds - received images with description: '#Syed_Shahaboddin_Mousavi, from Haq, animator and YouTuber, was killed on Thursday January 18th by gunfire from Qaleh Hassan Khan governorate (Qods city) with five bullets hitting his back and side.' Vahid 📡 @VahidOnline

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"Al-Zahra is enough, Farah is its other name!" "Farah Farah is its name, Al-Zahra is worthless!" Videos received of chants by students at #Al_Zahra_University Tehran (women-only) which before the 1979 revolution was called #Farah_Pahlavi_University. Monday, February 23, 2025 Vahid Reports from Iran on Monday, February 23rd indicate the continuation of protest gatherings at several universities in Tehran and Mashhad for the third consecutive day, and a gathering at Isfahan University of Technology. During all three days of these protest gatherings, which began simultaneously with the start of the new academic semester, harsh chants against the leader of the Islamic Republic were raised. On February 22nd, a video was released showing the raising of the Lion and Sun flag at Sharif University of Technology by a number of students, and in the videos it could be heard that students chanted slogans in support of Prince Reza Pahlavi. On Monday at Al-Zahra University as well, female students chanted: "Al-Zahra is enough, Farah is its other name" and "Farah Farah is its name, Al-Zahra is worthless." On Sunday at Sharif University of Technology, similar chants were also raised by a number of students. A video of the burning and tearing of the Islamic Republic flag at Al-Zahra University has also been published on social networks, while students simultaneously chant "Death to the Islamic Republic." Students at Sharif University of Technology also gathered on Monday in memory of those killed in the January protests and in protest against the Islamic Republic government, chanting "This year is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali will fall." @ VahidHeadline 📡 @VahidOnline

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🔸 The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic rejected reports about the possibility of Iran and the US reaching a temporary agreement in recent negotiations. Esmail Baghaei, at his Monday press conference on March 4th, also made visits to bombed nuclear facilities conditional on the lifting of US sanctions. He also expressed ignorance about the possibility of Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, traveling to Oman on Tuesday. Earlier, Omani media had reported that Larijani would go to Oman on Tuesday to present Iran's written proposal regarding a possible agreement between Iran and America. @VahidHeadline 🔸 The EU's foreign policy chief called for adopting a "diplomatic solution" regarding Iran ahead of expected negotiations between Tehran and Washington on Thursday of this week. Kaja Kallas said on Monday, March 4th, before the EU foreign ministers' meeting: "We don't need another war in this region. We're already facing many wars as it is." She added: "It's true that Iran is in its weakest position in recent years. We should really use this time to find a diplomatic solution." @VahidHeadline 🔸 Several Iranian Kurdish parties based in Iraq announced on March 3rd that they have formed a political coalition aimed at overthrowing the Islamic Republic system and ultimately achieving Kurdish autonomy. The members of this coalition include: Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan Toilers, Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, and Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan. The Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, in a published statement, announced that it has not participated in this coalition, citing among other issues that the coalition proposal "has been too general and open to interpretation, and its specific content and political orientations are not clear." @VahidHeadline 🔸 The Financial Times reported on March 3rd that Iran has signed a "secret" arms deal worth 500 million euros with Russia to purchase thousands of advanced shoulder-launched missiles. According to this British newspaper, this agreement signed in Moscow in December commits Russia to deliver 500 "Verba" launch systems and 2,500 "9M336" missiles to Iran over three years. Based on this agreement, deliveries will be made in three phases between 2027 and 2029. @VahidHeadline 🔸 According to Iranian sports media reports, Varia Ghafouri ended his cooperation with the capital's Blues and said goodbye to Esteghlal's bench after Esteghlal's victory over Mes Rafsanjan, which brought this team to the top of the Premier League table. Varia Ghafouri, who was placed on this team's bench as interim head coach on Sunday against Mes Rafsanjan after Ricardo Sapinto's dismissal, made sharp statements in the post-match press conference regarding what was described as calling him a "troublemaker," saying that during recent protests, in addition to closing his two cafes and blocking his mobile phone line, a court has also issued a ruling against him. In this conference, whose video was published in Iranian sports media, he emphasized that he has "always stood with the people" and called two of his critics abroad "fraudsters and blood merchants." On Sunday, Esteghlal club also criticized the non-broadcast of Varia Ghafouri's images on television during the broadcast of this team's match against Mes Rafsanjan. @VahidHeadline 🔸 The private television network "Manoto" announced that "following potential threats from the Islamic Republic," the owner of the building where this network is based has cut off access to its studios. Keyvan and Marjan Abbasi, Manoto's directors, announced in a statement on Monday, March 4th, that the owner of this network's studio building "after receiving a notice from British counter-terrorism police about the existence of potential threats against us from the Islamic Republic regime, intends to terminate the lease contract." Accordingly, the building owner has cut off staff access to the studio location. @VahidHeadline 📡 @VahidOnline

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According to a New York Times report, Donald Trump is considering carrying out a targeted military strike against Iran; an attack that, should diplomacy fail, could lead to a much more extensive operation in the coming months to weaken and even overthrow the Islamic Republic's leadership. @VahidOOnLine ... According to the New York Times report, although no final decision has been made yet, Trump is inclined to carry out an "initial strike" in the coming days to show Tehran officials that they must agree to completely halt their nuclear weapons-building capability. He has told his advisors that if the demands are not accepted, he will leave open the possibility of a more extensive military strike later this year to help overthrow Ali Khamenei; although even within the US government there are doubts about whether such an objective can be achieved through air strikes alone or not. ... @TheIranDesk 📡 @VahidOnline

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⚠️ The final moments of a 21-year-old's life - received footage with description: '#Kaveh_Eftekhari was wounded by gunfire from atop the mosque at the head of Ghalam Street in Shahin Villa, #Karaj, and was killed after being transferred to the hospital. He was buried in #Avaj county.' Vahid 📡 @VahidOnline