DW—Professor Marandi offers an in-depth analysis of the escalating conflict surrounding Yemen, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, focusing on recent events such as Yemen’s pressure on Saudi Arabia by threatening crucial oil export routes and the intensification of military confrontations in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea regions. He challenges the Western perception of Iran’s allies as mere proxies, emphasizing their principled resistance. The tightening siege on Yemen by Saudi Arabia, compounded by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, has shifted leverage significantly in Yemen’s favor, increasing Saudi vulnerability due to their dependence on Red Sea oil exports.

SIMPLICIUS—The conflict has turned not only into a global farce, but an obvious personal vendetta for the tilting Trump, who is spilling out the last of his country’s sacred blood and treasure for a quixotic windmill chase that has doomed his entire nation. We can only sit and watch how far he takes this fanatic quest, while hoping for a Sancho to bring him back down to earth.

JM—CENTCOM’s constant propaganda efforts – lies and a blanket refusal to even acknowledge Iranian claims which later too often turn out to be true—must, you would think—undermine the confidence of the American public in Trump’s absurd and of course criminal war.

But the US is a bubble world. A bubble economy. A bubble society in a bubble universe.

American credibility died long ago.

TG—Discussing ground invasion prospects, Mostafa Khoshcheshm underscores Iran’s vast manpower, sophisticated ground forces, and guerrilla-style reserve militias that make large-scale occupations costly and difficult for the U.S. and its allies. The prospect of Israel’s decline is also discussed based on internal socio-economic and political challenges, which are likely to weaken its regional influence.
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Throughout the interview, Mostafa Khoshcheshm conveys a tone of confidence in Iran’s ability to emerge victorious or at least prevent regime change and disintegration, framing the conflict as a protracted contest that hinges on strategic endurance, indigenous military capacity, and public support rather than quick battlefield successes.

FVB—I have been to some 30 countries all over the globe. In China to more than 50 cities, counties and villages.

I confirm that the police in China is there to serve the people. Nowhere else I have seen such friendly helpful police officers.

JM—Lawrence is arguing that modern Washington operates exactly like Gibbon’s early Roman Empire. It maintains the superficial theater of constitutional governance—elections, congressional debates, and judicial reviews—to project the illusion of a functioning domestic democracy. In reality, the critical decisions regarding global power, surveillance, and military interventions are made by an un-elected national security apparatus (the modern “Imperial Court”).