分类： politics

Amid escalating military actions initiated by the United States, Iranian security chief Ali Larijani has declared Tehran’s preparedness for an extended military confrontation while questioning Washington’s readiness for sustained warfare. The statement came following coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that targeted senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in operations described by observers as ‘carpet bombing’ of civilian areas.

Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, utilized social media platforms to accuse former President Donald Trump of plunging the region into chaos through ‘delusional fantasies’ and prioritizing Israeli interests over American security. ‘With his delusional actions, he turned his self-made ‘America First’ slogan into ‘Israel First’ and sacrificed American soldiers for Israel’s power-hungry ambitions,’ Larijani stated.

The current escalation follows a reportedly conciliatory pre-strike proposal from Iran that offered complete abandonment of enriched uranium stocks and full cooperation with international nuclear inspectors—terms exceeding those in the original nuclear agreement that Trump abandoned during his presidency. However, with diplomatic channels now severed, Iran has shifted toward maximizing military costs for the U.S. and Israel while deterring regional allies from joining the coalition.

The conflict has already produced significant casualties, with four U.S. military personnel killed and four others seriously wounded in attacks at Kuwait bases. Iranian missile and drone strikes have affected all six Gulf nations hosting U.S. military installations, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain, with some attacks extending into civilian infrastructure including international airports and residential areas.

Regional analysts suggest Iran is employing a strategy of attrition, utilizing cheaper drone technology to deplete expensive U.S. and Israeli air defense systems. Security experts Amos C. Fox and Franz-Stefan Gady note that Iran’s strategy deliberately avoids the quick-strike timeline preferred by U.S. and Israeli forces, instead opting for prolonged engagement that could exhaust advanced interceptor stocks.

Further escalating tensions, Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic, potentially affecting 20% of global oil shipments and triggering significant price increases. Financial analysts predict potential doubling of oil prices should the closure persist, with possible global economic consequences.

Despite Trump’s prediction of a four-to-five week conflict duration, defense officials have provided limited clarity on military objectives. The administration’s initial justifications—including claims of imminent Iranian attacks on U.S. troops and nuclear weapons development—have proven inaccurate according to verified reports.

Regional experts warn that the removal of Iran’s leadership could empower more authoritarian elements or trigger violent power struggles. Daniel Brumberg of the Arab Center in Washington DC suggests possible outcomes include ‘an even more ruthless regime controlled by the security apparatus’ or national fragmentation, while scholar Shireen Hunter notes that permanent destabilization might align with Israeli regional objectives.

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal commenced pivotal parliamentary elections on Thursday, marking a significant political transformation triggered by a youth-led uprising that toppled the previous administration. This electoral event occurs merely three years after the nation’s last national vote, following substantial political turmoil that culminated in governmental collapse in 2025, subsequently establishing an interim government that mandated fresh elections.

The Election Commission reports approximately 18.9 million registered voters participating in this democratic process, demonstrating a notable increase of nearly one million voters compared to the November 2022 elections. Gender distribution reveals 966,000 male voters and 924,000 female voters, with an additional 200 individuals registered under the ‘others’ category, encompassing gender-diverse and LGBTQ+ community members.

The substantial voter registration surge reflects heightened political engagement among youth, particularly those who spearheaded the September 2025 uprising that precipitated early elections. This movement has emerged as a central campaign issue, with political parties actively courting younger demographics through anti-corruption platforms and governance reform promises.

Voters will directly elect 165 representatives to the House of Representatives, Parliament’s powerful lower chamber. The remaining 110 seats in the 275-member legislature will be allocated through proportional representation, where political parties appoint lawmakers based on their electoral vote share. Nepal’s political history demonstrates a pattern of coalition governments, with multiple parties typically combining forces to secure parliamentary majorities amid considerable instability—the nation has witnessed 15 different governments over the past two decades.

This election presents a critical challenge to Nepal’s traditionally dominant parties—the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)—both of which faced public discontent after participating in the ousted government. The National Independent Party, established in 2022, has gained substantial traction during campaigning, featuring former Kathmandu Mayor and ex-rapper Balendra Shah as its prime ministerial candidate.

In a significant political development preceding China’s annual Two Sessions meetings, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has formally removed three high-ranking retired military officials from its ranks. The dismissed generals include Han Weiguo, former commander of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force; Gao Jin, inaugural commander of the now-dissolved Strategic Support Force; and Liu Lei, former political commissar of the army.

The CPPCC, China’s top political advisory body, conducted the removals through a formal vote on Monday, though authorities provided no specific explanation for the decisions. These actions represent unusual mid-term dismissals, as CPPCC delegates typically serve fixed five-year terms set to conclude in March 2028.

This development marks the latest escalation in President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign within military ranks, which has intensified considerably in recent weeks. The removals follow a pattern of high-profile dismissals that have reshaped China’s military leadership structure, including last Thursday’s announcement of 19 officials being sacked, nine of whom were military figures.

Han Weiguo, 70, commanded the PLA ground forces from 2017 until his retirement in 2021. Notably, both his successors have similarly been removed from their positions within the past two weeks. Liu Lei, also 70, served as political commissar during Han’s command tenure, while Gao Jin, 67, previously led the Central Military Commission’s Logistic Support Department before retiring in 2022.

The timing of these dismissals, immediately before China’s most prominent annual political gathering where approximately 3,000 delegates convene, signals continued consolidation of military oversight and political alignment under President Xi’s administration.

Nepal stands at a critical democratic crossroads as it prepares for its first general election on Thursday, March 7th, following the youth-led uprising that toppled the government last September. The nation has mobilized extensive security measures with nearly 300,000 personnel deployed to ensure peaceful voting.

Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, in a nationally televised address, characterized this electoral process as emerging from a ‘complex, sensitive and challenging’ period in Nepal’s history. She emphasized that active citizen participation is essential for the survival of the country’s democracy, urging all eligible voters to exercise their franchise responsibly.

The electoral landscape features approximately 3,400 candidates competing for 274 parliamentary seats in the House of Representatives, with more than 1,000 candidates representing the younger generation under age 40. Nearly 19 million registered voters, including 800,000 first-time participants, are eligible to shape the nation’s political future.

Security agencies have maintained heightened vigilance nationwide, resulting in 133 arrests for alleged anti-election activities. Among those detained is Durga Prasai, a controversial medical entrepreneur and monarchist activist who leads the campaign demanding restoration of Nepal’s Hindu monarchy. Prasai’s organization had planned protests targeting the election, prompting what his secretariat describes as an infringement on his ‘right to freedom of expression.’

President Ram Chandra Poudel joined in appealing for peaceful participation, describing the election as a ‘historic opportunity’ to strengthen Nepal’s federal democratic republic. Election officials report that preparatory activities have proceeded peacefully thus far, with comprehensive security arrangements involving 77,000 police officers, 134,000 dedicated election police, and 80,000 army personnel deployed across the nation.

According to sources familiar with diplomatic discussions, the United States is allegedly delaying responses to several Gulf nations seeking to replenish their depleted air defense interceptor inventories amid escalating regional tensions. A former US official and a Western diplomat disclosed to Middle East Eye that these Gulf states face mounting pressure to align with US-Israeli military operations against Iran.

One Gulf nation, previously targeted by Iranian attacks, reportedly inquired about restocking interceptor supplies diminished during recent joint US-Israeli operations against Iran. The request was allegedly met with non-committal responses from US officials. Separately, another Gulf state responded to US requests for base access by seeking clarifications regarding Washington’s commitment to their aerial defense capabilities.

The former US official indicated that Gulf states should not anticipate immediate resupply, stating: “Whatever munitions were produced in the last couple of months, we have shot several years’ worth of production in the last few days.”

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain have all faced Iranian ballistic missile and drone assaults, with Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE experiencing the most intensive attacks. Qatar recently announced the interception of two Iranian Su-24 fighter jets, while the UAE reported destroying 814 of 871 incoming projectiles since Saturday—typically requiring two to three interceptors per incoming missile.

The UAE’s sophisticated defense network includes Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, Patriot PAC-3 surface-to-air missiles, and additional South Korean, Russian, Israeli, and domestic Skynight systems. Despite maintaining a government-reported 90% interception rate, THAAD and Patriot interceptors remain costly and require years to manufacture.

Kelly Grieco of the Stimson Center noted on social media: “The UAE has now burned through a significant chunk of an interceptor stockpile that took years to build.”

The geopolitical developments coincide with a reported redeployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier from the Mediterranean to the Gulf, potentially indicating US efforts to address regional security concerns following President Trump’s discussion with Emirati leader Mohammed bin Zayed regarding Iranian attacks.