标签： Asia

A renewed military offensive by United States and Israeli forces struck multiple targets across Iran late Monday and early Tuesday, with reports indicating significant civilian infrastructure damage including residential buildings, educational facilities, and power grids. The escalation coincides with former President Donald Trump’s explicit threat targeting Iran’s entire population through his Truth Social platform.

Trump declared that US forces would “take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again” if Iranian authorities interfere with oil tanker navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime traffic through this critical choke point has dramatically decreased since the initiation of joint US-Israeli operations.

Eyewitness accounts from Tehran describe catastrophic scenes at strike locations, with one resident reporting “a huge disaster” and the recovery of numerous civilian casualties, including children, from bombed residential complexes. Iranian media additionally confirmed damage to a school and surrounding homes in Khomeyn city, following what evidence suggests was a US-orchestrated attack on a girls’ elementary school in Minab last month that killed over 160 people, predominantly young students.

Dylan Williams of the Center for International Policy characterized the campaign as “a war against the people of Iran,” noting that AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying organization, amplified Trump’s threatening social media post. Iranian officials responded with defiance, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowing to “strike the aggressor in the mouth” to prevent further aggression.

Diplomatic prospects appear increasingly remote according to Kamal Kharazi, foreign policy adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, who told CNN that Trump’s pattern of deception had eliminated opportunities for negotiation. Kharazi indicated conflict resolution would require sufficient international economic pressure to guarantee cessation of hostilities.

With oil prices surging and creating administration concerns, an anonymous senior Iranian source warned that Tehran controls “the screw of the global oil price” and would continue fighting until Trump acknowledges defeat, suggesting prolonged energy market instability.

A coalition of nearly 30 Democratic lawmakers has formally requested an inspector general investigation into disturbing allegations that U.S. military leadership has framed operations against Iran through the lens of biblical prophecy. The controversy centers on claims that service members have been told their combat participation would accelerate apocalyptic events leading to Jesus Christ’s return.

In a letter obtained by Military.com, prominent progressives including Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Pramila Jayapal joined former Speaker Nancy Pelosi in demanding answers from the Department of Defense. The correspondence alleges that commanding officers have invoked religious doctrine and eschatological theology to rationalize American military engagements in Iran.

The legislators expressed grave constitutional concerns, noting that such rhetoric potentially violates Pentagon regulations mandating religious neutrality. They questioned whether these incidents reflect a broader pattern within the defense establishment, particularly referencing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s documented affinity for Christian nationalist symbolism. Hegseth sports a Crusader’s cross tattoo and the Arabic term ‘kafir’ (unbeliever) on his arm, and recently advocated for battlefield prayer during a ’60 Minutes’ interview.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation reports receiving over 200 complaints from across all service branches regarding commanders characterizing the Iran conflict as a prelude to Armageddon. Foundation founder Michael Weinstein, a veteran himself, warns this represents systematic religious coercion rather than isolated incidents, exacerbated by the growing influence of fundamentalist ideologies within military leadership.

The congressional inquiry seeks to determine the origin of these religious communications, assess potential violations of religious neutrality protocols, and evaluate whether service members fear retaliation for objecting to these theological framings of military operations.

A recently resurfaced 1988 interview with then-businessman Donald Trump reveals his early consideration of military action against Iran’s critical Kharg Island oil terminal. Speaking to The Guardian, Trump articulated a confrontational approach toward Iran, stating he would “be harsh on Iran” and proposing to “go in and take” Kharg Island in response to any provocation against US assets.

This historical perspective gains contemporary significance as recent reports from Axios indicate that US and Israeli officials have recently discussed the possibility of seizing this strategic facility, which handles approximately 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. The parallel between Trump’s 1988 comments and current deliberations highlights remarkable consistency in his strategic thinking regarding Iran.

The context of Trump’s original remarks was the brutal Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), which resulted in approximately 500,000 casualties. During this period, the US Navy was actively escorting vessels through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and conducting operations against Iranian oil infrastructure and naval mines.

Trump’s adversarial stance toward Iran appears rooted in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which overthrew US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and established the Islamic Republic. The subsequent 444-day hostage crisis, where 52 American diplomats were held captive in Tehran, profoundly shaped the perceptions of many Americans of Trump’s generation.

Despite this confrontational posture, historical records reveal a more complex US-Iran relationship. During the Iran-Iraq War, the United States and Israel actually sold weapons to Iran, perceiving Saddam Hussein’s secular Iraqi government as a greater threat than the Islamic Republic. Some of these transactions became part of the controversial Iran-Contra affair, where proceeds were illegally diverted to support anti-communist rebels in Nicaragua.

The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil and natural gas supplies transit, represents a significant threat to energy markets. Recent reports indicate that Iran continued loading operations at Kharg Island even after the initiation of US-Israeli military actions, though current operational status remains unclear.

Amidst escalating military actions against Iran initiated by Israel and the United States on February 28th, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) – an opposition group long marginalized in exile – has launched a strategic maneuver to position itself as a viable alternative to Tehran’s Islamic Republic.

The organization’s 72-year-old leader, Maryam Rajavi, proclaimed the establishment of a provisional government tasked with overseeing the transition to a democratic republic under her leadership. This declaration comes as the group, which maintains approximately 3,000 members in a fortified Albanian compound near Tirana, seeks relevance in a conflict that has suddenly created political opportunities.

Originally founded as an Islamist-Marxist student militia during the 1960s, the MEK has undergone significant ideological transformation. The group relocated to Albania’s Manze village in 2013 following a Washington-brokered agreement that resettled members previously based in Iraq. Despite its current marginalization, the MEK played a substantial role in the 1979 revolution before being suppressed by Ayatollah Khomeini’s regime.

The organization’s relationship with Western powers has been complex and controversial. Designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 1997, the MEK successfully lobbied for removal from the list in 2012. The group gained international attention in 2002 when it exposed Iran’s previously concealed uranium-enrichment program, demonstrating its intelligence capabilities.

Analysts remain skeptical about the MEK’s domestic appeal. Professor Thomas Juneau of the University of Ottawa characterizes the group as “a thuggish and corrupt cult that is unpopular inside Iran.” Similarly, Iran expert Sajjad Safaei notes that the MEK’s utility to foreign powers stems precisely from its lack of political future within Iran, making it an ideal instrument for external interests.

The organization maintains sophisticated infrastructure in Albania, including media rooms and communication centers that monitor Iranian developments and distribute content online. This operational capacity, combined with an extensive lobbying network in Washington, has enabled the MEK to cultivate support among prominent Western politicians. Financial disclosures reveal substantial speaking fees paid to figures including Mike Pence ($190,000), John Bolton ($40,000), and numerous other former officials from the U.S. and Europe.

As speculation about regime change intensifies, tensions have emerged within the exiled Iranian opposition community. Rudy Giuliani, a prominent MEK ally, recently attacked Reza Pahlavi on social media, highlighting the fractious nature of the opposition movement. Despite these developments, Washington has maintained caution regarding official endorsement, recognizing the potential consequences of supporting groups with limited domestic legitimacy.