The Suicidal Folly of a War with Iran

By Chris Hedges

February 20, 2026

The Laurel and Hardy negotiating team of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, coupled with Trump’s appalling ignorance of world affairs and megalomania, seem set to push the U.S. into yet another debacle in the Middle East, one the Congress has not approved, and the public does not want.

The demands imposed on Iran by the Trump White House are no more acceptable to the regime in Tehran than those imposed on Hamas in Gaza under Trump’s sham peace plan.

Trump’s demand that Iran shut down its nuclear program and give up its missile capabilities in return for no new sanctions is as tone deaf as calling on Hamas to disarm in Gaza. But since we have long dispensed with diplomats, who are linguistically, politically and culturally literate, who can step into the shoes of their adversaries, we are being led to another war in the Middle East by our newest coterie of buffoons. The U.S. and Israel foolishly believe they can bomb their way to decapitating the Iranian government and installing a client regime. That this non-reality-based belief system failed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya eludes them.

Read more: https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-suicidal-folly-of-a-war-with

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Hormuz Red: The Coalition of the Sanctioned Declares Independence

Donald Trump has ten days to decide whether to bomb Iran. That was the message from the White House on February 19 as the USS Abraham Lincoln and the Gerald R. Ford steamed toward the Persian Gulf with F-35s and F-22s marshalling on flight decks for potential strikes. The ultimatum was meant to force capitulation and coerce Iran to negotiate or face the consequences. Instead, it produced something Washington never anticipated. A Russian frigate docked in Bandar Abbas. Joint naval drills began in the Gulf of Oman, while Iranian Revolutionary Guards closed the Strait of Hormuz for military exercises that looked remarkably like rehearsals for war.

By Freddie Ponton

February 20, 2026

https://21stcenturywire.com/2026/02/20/hormuz-red-the-coalition-of-the-sanctioned-declares-independence/

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‚An existential war‘: Prof. Mohammad Marandi on the coming US-Israeli assault on Iran

February 20, 2026

Professor Mohammad Marandi of the University of Tehran joins The Grayzone’s Max Blumenthal to discuss the looming US-Israeli regime change war on Iran and how his country will respond, both militarily and politically.

Marandi forecasts economically devastating consequences, with an energy crisis brought on by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the possible collapse of Gulf family monarchies, and a militarily unmanageable environment for the Trump administration.

While Trump reportedly considers a series of „symbolic“ strikes to weaken Iran’s negotiating hand, Marandi argues that Iran has no choice but to respond with maximum force.

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400 Missiles. One Leak: America’s Surprise Is Finally Over.

February 20, 2026

In this video, we break down how a reported intelligence leak connected to Russia could have exposed key elements of a potential US strike framework involving Iran — and why military analysts say this changes the opening phase of any conflict.

If Tehran now understands targeting patterns, launch windows, or force positioning, the entire strategic balance shifts. Surprise is the backbone of modern warfare. Without it, even the most advanced systems — stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, naval strike groups — lose a critical edge.

But this isn’t just about missiles. We analyze: O How leaked operational details could affect deterrence; O Why Moscow’s move escalates the geopolitical stakes; O The potential response from Washington; O The risk of multi-front escalation; O What this means for oil markets, gold, and global financial stability.

With tensions rising between the United States and Iran, and Russia increasingly asserting itself on the world stage, this development may mark a turning point in global power dynamics.

If strategic surprise is over, the first strike may no longer belong to the side that fires first. This is the war before the war. Watch till the end for a full breakdown of what happens next — militarily, politically, and economically.

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No US War on Iran: An Open Letter to the UN Security Council

The current threat of an attack by the US did not begin with any failure by Iran to negotiate. On the contrary, it began with the United States’ repudiation of negotiations that had already succeeded.

By Jeffrey D. Sachs

February 16, 2026

https://afsaneyebahar.com/2026/02/16/20706133/

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Ali Alizadeh: ‚Trump has GALVANIZED Iranians around their government

The Cradle

February 14, 2026

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