Sam

Interested in the IRGC, Iranian foreign policy, and Middle East/West Asian politics.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

It was always argued that a war within Iran's borders would deal a psychological blow to the Islamic Republic and its aura of strategic depth.

But no one priced in what would happen if the Islamic Republic actually survived such a war - let alone come out of it ascendant.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

Donald Trump's war of choice on Iran has turned the US military into the world's most expensive coast guard, operating thousands of miles away from home and with no policy outcome or exit strategy in sight.

[U.S. Central Command @CENTCOM]

Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, flew over regional waters in and near the Strait of Hormuz in an AH-64 Apache helicopter, May 3, on the eve of U.S. military support for Project Freedom. He interacted with U.S. Army Soldiers after visiting with Sailors and Marines on Saturday aboard two U.S. Navy warships patrolling the Arabian Sea.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

The GCC is fighting a war that it did not start and can not end. It is losing generational wealth and economic development to a blockade by its neighbour, yet it has no seat at the negotiating table.

This is not sovereignty or deterrence.

[Dr. Dania Thafer @Dr_DaniaThafer]

What appears conciliatory at first glance is, on closer inspection, a blueprint for Iranian dominance. It is effectively demanding that the GCC trade sovereignty and deterrence for a subordinate role in a Tehran-led regional order.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

Your boss recently said that 45,000 people were killed.

Which is it?

Are Iranian lives so worthless that you can add or subtract 5,000 dead people as you please?

[Cameron Khansarinia @khansarinia]

@arash_tehran @sonofnariman You vile fiends. What went wrong was Europeans not caring about 40,000 slaughtered Iranians, just like you.

While you soulless traitors promote Ghalibaf who has murdered Iranians for decades, Iranians are fighting for freedom. They will win and you and your regime will lose.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

How long before the US Navy interdicts and boards an Iranian vessel that is rigged with explosives or has a squad of IRGC commandos waiting on board?

[Sam @sonofnariman]

The poor guy on the operating table did not have a say in this.

[Alireza Talakoubnejad @websterkaroon]

A dentist in Tehran during the war (April 7) operating on a patient while Israeli/American jets can be clearly heard flying overhead & hitting something in the distance.

She tells the patients in the waiting room they can leave if they're scared, but she'll still be here.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

Reza Pahlavi ends what appeared on the surface to be a successful tour of Europe with an angry, resentful message to European politicians and civil society.

What went wrong?

[Reza Pahlavi @PahlaviReza]

Whether or not Europe stands with us, whether or not your journalists do their jobs, whether or not your politicians demonstrate the courage to act, I will fight for my people and my country.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

To all the haters in my replies and DMs who used my location in Sri Lanka to slander me with disgusting racism:

Jokes on you, because I'm moving to Nigeria next.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

After two years, I say goodbye to Sri Lanka - a wonderful country filled with the kindest, most warm-hearted people.

With a new member of the family in tow, I leave with beautiful memories, new friendships, and a deep appreciation of Sri Lankan culture and history.

Ayubowan.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

Iran must not make the same mistake as the US and misuse sanctions as collective punishment.

Controlling the Strait of Hormuz - and imposing a financial cost on the US - must be used as a coercive tool to shape policy.

But make it permanent, and it will lose its effectiveness.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

There is going to be a (re)construction boon in Iran.

Do you know who owns one of the largest construction companies in Iran, Khatam al-Anbiya?

The IRGC.

Founded after the Iran-Iraq war to aid post-war reconstruction.

Now a massive conglomerate, and ready to step in again.

[Séamus Malekafzali @Seamus_Malek]

In 3 days, they’ve already been able to start repairing railways bombed by the IDF.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

It's also counterproductive to the "Lion and Sun revolution" when the flag appears alongside reports of Iranian missile strikes or, now, negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the US.

This gimmick will create associations that may one day become difficult to shake off.

[Aaron Bastani @AaronBastani]

It’s absolutely ridiculous the Iran flag remains 🇮🇷

Talk about social media being a reality distortion field. It’s literally a flag from an alternate reality!

Just makes the platform look ridiculous @nikitabier

[Sam @sonofnariman]

Oh man, what a blast from the past. I spent an inordinate amount of time arguing with them on their Going To Tehran blog, when I was an antsy student during the Green Movement protests. They would have had so much more recognition had they not hitched their wagon to Ahmadinejad.

[Seyed Mohammad Marandi @s_m_marandi]

There are very few good English-language books on Iran. I recommend 'Going to Tehran' by two American scholars and former National Security Council officials. If US officials had listened to Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett instead of Zionists, the US wouldn't be in this mess.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

In two posts less than 24hrs apart, Reza Pahlavi references different casualty figures from the January protests.

He can't even get his story straight over a single day.

And he's the self-proclaimed leader of the protest movement.

Imagine how much misinformation is out there.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

When Khamenei was killed, I expected Princess Diana levels of national mourning in Iran. Yet, aside from black ribbons across news websites and state television, I saw nothing.

Today was the 40th day commemoration of his death - usually a big deal.

Barely a mention anywhere.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

Equally interesting will be to see whether the influx of bilateral talks with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz helps to erode the effectiveness of US sanctions enforcement. With increased leverage and new channels of communications, Iran will have much to talk about.

[Collingwood 🇬🇧 @admcollingwood]

The process of accepting Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz is going to start. If a country like South Korea caves and gets preferential treatment, the stampede will start.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

While Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf occupies the spotlight, no less decisive has been the role played by his Iran-Iraq war comrade Esmail Qaani, IRGC Quds Force chief who has conducted Iran's regional war from the shadows.

Two men bound by the front lines, then and now again.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

The Islamic Republic has survived an invasion, two wars with nuclear-armed states, and decades of economic sanctions.

And yet, hardliners in the US and Israel will be scrambling to gaslight us into believing that we need yet more war and more sanctions to bring about its defeat.

[Sam @sonofnariman]

Lift the sanctions on Iran and let the people figure it out themselves.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

What ever happened to freeing the people of Iran from the Islamic Regime?

[Sam @sonofnariman]

Trump's war on Iran has descended from a swift victory to threats of nuclear war and civilisational annihilation in a matter of weeks.

This isn't just a failure of Trump's leadership; this is a systematic failure of US institutions and governance.

The US is rotting from within.