Iran amok
Iran, the US, Spain, Cyprus, and Cuba.
Hello,
Here are the five things you need to know today:
IRAN. Trump’s special ‘combat operation’ loses the plot.
UNITED STATES. The arsenal of democracy comes under strain.
SPAIN. Washington threatens a trade war with Europe’s peaceniks.
CYPRUS. Ankara will eye a buildup with suspicion.
CUBA. Regime change will most likely come from within.
IRAN. Improv theatre
Trump’s special ‘combat operation’ loses the plot.
Donald Trump denied his hand had been forced on “combat operations” against Iran’s “lunatics” as Washington and Tehran denied any interest in talks. The US consulate in Dubai was attacked, as drones hit the CIA’s station in Riyadh.
INTELLIGENCE. Trump needs to retake the narrative after mixed messages from his officials, and as several Republicans consider crossing the floor on war powers, due to be voted in the Senate today and the House tomorrow. But the release of US casualty names, widening reports of embassy attacks, and allegations that military pastors had told troops that Trump was “anointed by Jesus” to “cause Armageddon”, have led to an unholy row in Washington.
FOR BUSINESS. As the US warns of Iran’s theocracy (Khamenei’s son is running for supreme leader), Pete Hegseth has given a Pentagon platform to millenarist preachers, one of whom wants to end women’s suffrage. This is unlikely to go down well with suburban soccer moms at the midterms, but Trump is likely past the point of caring. This removes at least one constraint on his increasingly improvised policies, which may soon include a ground campaign.
UNITED STATES. Stock answer
The arsenal of democracy comes under strain.
Donald Trump said the US Development Finance Corporation would insure all maritime trade in the Gulf and the Navy would escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump denied there was any problem with US munitions stockpiles.
INTELLIGENCE. The war will likely be costlier than anticipated. While markets don’t