The world is waiting for Trump to act
Or at the very least, the Iranian people are certainly waiting.
Or perhaps action has already begun?:
Friday we reported the assassination of IRCG commander Mahmoud Haqiqat in Iranshahr.
Now, in a Livestream, TousiTV is reporting the assassination of other IRCG officials …
Israeli agents? The US? Locals with their help?
“Reza Kasab, head of a ballistic missile unit in Kashan, this was a professional hit. He was assassinated by a suicide drone attack.”
“There are a lot of operatives on the ground carrying out these attacks.”
“Multiple generals have been killed in Iran.”
He notes that Israel’s strikes last year killed multiple senior IRGC officials, so now the replacement leaders are being killed.
“Islamic State TV in Iran have confirmed that IRCG have lost hundreds of their personnel in leadership.” My suspicion is that the IRCG have lost hundreds, but not all in leadership.
Reports of Mossad agents on the ground helping the revolution. This is the sort of thing that both sides in the conflict would say to help shore up resolve in their respective bases, but the drone attack suggests it’s true. (Could also be IDF special forces, CIA, or U.S. special forces.)
But it carries more weight when it comes from Mossad’s official Farsi Twitter account. “Go out together into the streets. The time has come. We are with you. Not only from a distance and verbally. We are with you in the field.”
US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran proposed negotiations after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown targeting demonstrators there, a move coming as activists said the death toll in protests rose to at least 544.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked whether the regime has crossed his red line, given that he has pledged to target the Islamic Republic if it kills protesters.
“They’re starting to [cross it]. It looks like [it]. There seem to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed… They rule through violence,” he responded.
“We’re looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination,” he said, adding that he is receiving hourly updates on developments at the protests.
Not much to go on there.
Meanwhile, the left doesn’t seem to care:
There have been no demonstrations in support of the embattled protesters. People who screamed falsehoods about Israel’s “massacres” of women and children in Gaza have been struck totally dumb about the carnage of civilians being deliberately wrought in Iran.
Most Western media initially ignored the Iranian insurrection, then downplayed it as mere “cost of living” protests, and then began to amplify regime propaganda claims.
An old story; the left ♥ the mullahs.
The mullahs hate America, and so do the legacy media, so they have that in common. In addition, the U.S. media are too busy trying to foment riots over their latest martyr, the misguided woman who accelerated her SUV into a law enforcement officer standing in front of her.
It is more than simply not caring: the Left is seriously concerned that the Mullahcracy is in serious danger…
…since the mullahs are at the leading edge of the oh-so-virtuous, just and moral effort to destroy the Zionist Entity.
(Thus, any accusation that —or wondering why—the Left does not support the Iranian people is more than a bit of a non sequitur.)
Consider Obama’s odd decision to elevate Iran. There is considerable support for Islamists among the Western left. We are also seeing that in places like the UK.
Must be added that the mullahs are also—as they never tire of reminding anyone who might listen—the self-declared fierce enemies of DJT (and the USA)…
…so how could one NOT support them??!
All it really means is that the Iranian people who sacrifice their lives for freedom (everything being relative) are perceived by the Left as confirmed enemies who must be opposed at all costs…
– – – – – – –
“…odd decision…”
Odd for whom?
The Lightbringer brought darkness in foreign policy wise and within the country (racism became acceptable government policy).
The mullahs hate Iran. Chief shithead already said the burning of Iran in nuclear holocaust is irrelevant as long as they destroy Israel. I suggest they burn every mullah they get their hands on.
Well, they DO have their principles…and priorities…
I’m sorry for the people, but I am increasingly optimistic that the mullahs are going down in the near-term.
Unless the mullahs back down hard and soon, I suspect Trump will pick his moment to intervene and it will be decisive.
JUST ANNOUNCED by Trump.
Any nation trading with Iran gets a Tariff of 25% on subsequent US trade.
BIG QUESTION: China is Iran’s largest oil importer. Ergo, new Tariff on China?
THIS will be disruptive, temporarily.
Leftists overwhelmingly exercise liberal license following progressive principles under the Pro-Choice ethical religion and Twilight faith.
That said, a Northern Alliance, perhaps. Wait until another Obama in an Iran-Hamasidol Affair or Biden bearing “benefits” return to office, then progress.
Believe it or not, the protesters have won in a way.
Tulsi TV on You Tube has good info.
I was at the supermarket yesterday and can confirm that the NYT had nothing on the front page about Iran.
Mike Doran raises a potential outcome of an US intervention in Iran which he calls the “Venezuela Option”. He also discusses at some length his article “Giant Abroad, Midget at Home” with Gadi Taub. The “Venezuela Option”– which are the possible outcomes, including the calls for a monarchy (Pahlavi) begins around minute 21. They also talk at some length about the makeup of Iran and the mistake of conflating it as Persia, what the Azeris call themselves and the relationship with Azerbaijan, on the northwestern border with Iran.
The Venezuela Option would be finding a IRGC General that could remove the mullahs from power and create a military dictatorship to govern Iran. While that wouldn’t be Doran’s first choice– he said he would take it if that were the option that comes out of the struggle for a power balance in Iran.
While Persians make up a majority of Iran (51-60%), there is a large percentage of Azeris (16-24%) which object to Iran cast as Persia.
Lot of good information of why any intervention needs to be carefully thought out with an endpoint that leaves the country stable without the need for a physical American presence.
THE END OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBa8ouABgUY
Early this evening, Zerohedge posts a long text and X.com set of topical posts regarding Iran.
Reportedly, Trump favors kinetic action against Iran, while pushback comes from VP Vance and his contingent of supporters to negotiate.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-already-receiving-briefings-military-strike-options-iran-protest-deaths-soar
“Reportedly, Trump favors kinetic action against Iran, while pushback comes from VP Vance and his contingent of supporters to negotiate.”
Negotiate what exactly?
Vance = Carlson = Zionist hatred = shilling for Islam
Zerohedge hates Israel with a passion although on much else they are interesting.
French withdrawing non-essential employees from Tehran Embassy.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/non-essential-french-embassy-staff-have-left-iran-sources/
John Galt III:
If JD is listening to Tucker and pushing negotiations with the Shia Islamifascist mullahs he (JD) isn’t clever at all, not by half, not by quarter, not clever at all.
Now I have some feedback for the next Trump fundraising phone call. It’s time for President Trump to give JD a “come to Jesus” talking to.
X.com via Instapundit:
“Iranian crown prince says he has received intelligence reports from inside the country stating that the Iranian regime is actively making plans to leave the country” – CBS news
https://instapundit.com/769122/#disqus_thread
IMO, the best we can hope for, if the Mullahs fall, is a dictatorship that is neutral on Israel and the U.S.
Information I’ve seen over the year since 2001 is that the Mullahs are not popular but have been tolerated because many are convinced that Israel is a great stain on the Middle East. And, because we support Israel, the U.S. is not looke4d at favorably either.
If Trump takes some action that sends the mullahs packing, some minds might change.
I am hoping for a favorable outcome but not expecting miracles. I’ll be happy if they can achieve a dictatorship that is not anti-Israel.
Let’s hope this fellow is not overly optimistic:
“This is the terminal breakdown.
“Iran’s currency collapse is the final non-kinetic phase transition before irreversible regime fragmentation. This is an extinction-level internal systems failure.
“Full Coherence Analysis….”:
https://instapundit.com/769170/
So…is this a textbook case of,
“Follow the [political] science…?” And/or is it,
“It’s the economy, stupid”….?
And/or have Israel and DJT (via tariffs and sanctions) engineered a collapse that will provide Iranians with a “new breath of freedom”…?
I guess we’ll soon find out…
Er…”breath” should be “birth”….
Related?
Or is this a bit late in the day?
“Iran Calls Trump To Negotiate After Strike Threats”—
https://blazingcatfur.ca/2026/01/12/iran-calls-trump-to-negotiate-after-strike-threats/
(Or is it merely another case of the mullahs’ renowned, well-honed delaying tactics?)
The following impressive article channels that of Melanie Philips (quoted ATL):
“Silence is the final lie;
“The people who haven’t stopped shouting about injustice since Oct 7th 2023 suddenly cannot find their voices on Iran.….”—
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420821
+ Bonus:
“Sen. Fetterman…: I Back Trump on Iran Strikes”—
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/john-fetterman-newsmax-donald-trump/2026/01/12/id/1241873/
And lest one forget Elon Musk…
“Iranians Tap Musk’s Starlink to Skirt Internet Blackout”—
https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/iran-protests-starlink/2026/01/12/id/1241877/
Brendan O’Neill, as is his wont, notices a delicious irony…and doesn’t hesitate to “share” it:
“7 October was the biggest mistake Iran ever made;
“The Iranian regime thought it signed Israel’s death warrant on 7 October 2023 – in fact, it may have signed its own.”—
https://www.spiked-online.com/2026/01/12/7-october-was-the-biggest-mistake-iran-ever-made/
Meanwhile, his generally satirical(!) colleague at Spiked! has also noticed something rather curious…
“Ayatollah Starmer’s X crackdown is an insult to brave Iranians;
“We must call out this crusade against Elon Musk for the authoritarian wheeze that it is.”—
https://www.spiked-online.com/2026/01/12/ayatollah-starmers-x-crackdown-is-an-insult-to-brave-iranians/
H/T Powerline blog (for both).
@ John Galt III > “Reportedly, Trump favors kinetic action against Iran, while pushback comes from VP Vance and his contingent of supporters to negotiate.”
@ Barry Meislin > “Iran Calls Trump To Negotiate After Strike Threats”
Maybe the President and VP are playing Bad Cop, Good Cop?
Or, between them, deliberately covering different factions in the Big Tent?
More likely just playing with the mullahs’ raggedy heads…
(Or trying to—since NOBODY plays with other people’s heads more than do the mullahs themselves…and their ilk.)
The question is, how many cards do the mullahs have—or believe they have—left to play…AND will they play them…
(No doubt a chess metaphor would be more apropos…)
When it rains, it pours?
“Syrian Druze appeal: ‘We want Israel to control southern Syria’;
“A Druze resident of Mount Bashan in southern Syria published a video expressing gratitude and a demand for a change in the security situation in the region.”—
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420846
“Iranian official admits scope of protest fatalities for first time;
“Iranian official tells Reuters about 2,000 killed in two weeks of protests, as authorities blame unrest on terrorism and foreign interference.”—
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420835
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420828
Winter storms becomes deadly/-
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420823
J.J. on January 12, 2026 at 11:38 pm said:
Information I’ve seen over the year since 2001 is that the Mullahs are not popular but have been tolerated because many are convinced that Israel is a great stain on the Middle East. And, because we support Israel, the U.S. is not looke4d at favorably either.
Oh?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNJLG8jCq1Q
Why, at this point, anyone would think negotiating with the mullahs is a good idea I have no idea.
Best to resolve this while Vance is VP. I like him but not on this issue.
The world still waits. But now the death toll is over 12,000, and that doesn’t count the tens of thousands arrested and awaiting execution.
mkent:
I think that the death toll has mostly been reported as 2,000, but some are saying as high as 12,000. I don’t think it’s known, except that it’s a lot.
Neo: 2,000 dead and 10,000 arrested was a couple of days ago. But since then Iran has deployed IRGC and other militias, some of them from Iraq, to major cities. I’m seeing reports of 12-20,000 now.