Iakovos Balassi

MA in Security Studies from @GeorgetownCSS. Research international security, Greek history, Africa, and the Middle East.

[Iakovos Balassi @IBalassi]

I wrote and submitted this piece last month, so it does not address the recent US strike. However, every time Iran makes headlines the question is always asked: Does the United States have a coherent and effective strategy to manage and counter Iran? https://t.co/BUdDKECshC

[Tactical Manager @ManagerTactical]

Nah man, this is wild.
Pochettino has the USMNT 🇺🇸 looking like 2009 Barcelona.

[Lauren Blanchard @LaurenBinDC]

Atiku will be 80 years old when he faces off against President Tinubu, 74.

The median age in Nigeria is 19.

[Borzou Daragahi 🖊🗒 @borzou]

What an opening paragraph

[Preston Stewart @prestonstew_]

Great chat with @caleb_weiss7 diving into what's happening in Mali right now. We talk about the differences between the groups involved, risks of this spilling over to the broader region, and more. 👇

[Aaron Blake @AaronBlake]

61% of Americans say the Iran war is a "mistake," per new WaPo-ABC poll.

In Iraq, it took more than 3 years to reach that high.

In Vietnam, it took 6 years.

[Michael Weiss @michaeldweiss]

There it is.

[Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴‍☠️ @mercoglianos]

@GrindeOptions No, it is not.

The majority of the ships are bulkers inbound to deliver food to Iran.

What is not showing are outbound Iranian tankers and all the ships transiting have to be cleared by Iran.

[Lucas Webber @LucasADWebber]

A new animated map from @AFP using @ACLEDINFO data shows how strikes have spread across the Middle East since 28 February, as Israel, the United States, and their allies exchange attacks with #Iran and its partners.

[The Spectator Index @spectatorindex]

BREAKING: Some ships have paid as much as $2 million to Iran to safely pass through the Gulf, according to Financial Times report.

[Javier Blas @JavierBlas]

KHARG ISLAND — a thread:

Trump has talked about taking Iran's Kharg Island for 40 years. The problem? Capturing it won't shut down Iran’s entire oil export system. And thus it won't lead to Hormuz re-opening fast enough.

🧵1/10 @Opinion

FREE-TO-READ:
https://t.co/ZOYtq3KESE

[Modern War Institute @WarInstitute]

The Chokepoint We Missed: Sulfur, Hormuz, and the Threats to Military Readiness https://t.co/IIfzvQrEFv

[Annmarie Hordern @annmarie]

Politico: “The Pentagon chief last year slashed offices that didn’t contribute to his goal of “lethality,” including the group that assists in limiting risk to civilians, known as the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence. Around 200 employees who worked on the issue, including at that office, have been reduced by about 90 percent, according to two current and former officials and a person familiar with the effort. The team that handles civilian casualties at Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, has dropped from 10 to one.”

[OSINTtechnical @Osinttechnical]

Oil continues to skyrocket, with WTI crude futures now up 25% tonight to $114 on the Hormuz closure.

Asian markets are also in a full selloff, with the Nikkei down over 7%.

[Don Johnson @DonMiami3]

This is the largest oil supply shock in history in mb/d terms

[The Spectator Index @spectatorindex]

BREAKING: Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Iranian military pledge allegiance to new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei

[Yashar Ali 🐘 @yashar]

BREAKING

The Islamic Republic of Iran has announced that Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of Ali Khamenei, has been chosen by the Assembly of Experts as the new Supreme Leader.

This is according to Islamic Republic state media.

[Ragıp Soylu @ragipsoylu]

BREAKING - Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, according to the The European Union's naval task force - Israel's Channel 12

[Ryan Grim @ryangrim]

Bovino says he’s going to send the agents who killed Alex Pretti to a “different location.”

The public has a right to know what city he is sending these poorly trained, reckless officers to

[ProfTalmadge @ProfTalmadge]

This is a good moment to step back & remember that U.S. military intervention in Venezuela was 100% elective. This is what you see next to "war of choice" in the dictionary. Not forced on U.S. in any way by any pressing issue or imminent/actual attack. Just something POTUS felt like doing.

[Paris Saint-Germain @PSG_English]

HISTORY MADE 📸