The Duran Podcast - US strikes Iran (Live)

Episode Date: June 22, 2025

US strikes Iran (Live)

All right, we are live with Alexander Mercuris in London. Alexander, how are you doing? I'm doing very well, just to say, strange background. There is a complete internet blackout where I live. So I am having to do this at somebody else's place. And obviously, that explains why we have only a limited amount of time. But the news is huge, and that's why we're here. In all other respects, well.

Okay, good. So since we have a limited amount of time, let's just get into. with Alexander, the United States has hit Iran, the nuclear facilities, and your thoughts on what exactly they accomplished? Well, of course, we don't exactly know, because we're not there, and we're probably not going to be able to find out in any time soon, even satellite photos, can only tell us so much about facilities that are buried deep underground. The Iranians are saying that no fundamental damage was done. The Russians are saying the same. I mean, the BEDA and the IAEA. So it is looking

as if this attack, which the Iranians, by the way, seem to have made no attempt to counter. I mean, there's no sign of any Iranian air defences operating. But they clearly anticipated the strike because they evacuated apparently all their people but it looks as if the strike was made and the best assessment we can make at the moment is that it failed on its own terms it did not destroy the enrichment facilities buried deep inside the mountain in four down so um a tremendous amount of noise preparation argument all of that the united states um Once again, appearing to give two weeks for negotiations. Either that was a ruse, which I know many people believe,

or there have been massive dissensions within the administration, which is what I believe. But one way or the other, the US's credibility is in Tatars. There's reports the Iranians are now starting to take countermeasures. I get the sense that the United States, Donald Trump, wants to end this at this point. Now, perhaps it will end at this point now. But the decision is no longer his, it is Iran's.

And that is a very, very dangerous situation for the President of the United States to be here. Yeah, the initiative has definitely passed on to Iran. No doubt about it. What was the goal even to destroy the nuclear facilities? Because a lot of analysis is saying that whether they did use the bunker busters or there are reports, which are claiming that this may have not even been bunker busters. Maybe these were launched from submarines. We don't know, but there are reports floating around,

which are claiming that it's not what the Trump administration is presenting it to be. Either way, was this really about going after the nuclear facilities, or is this some kind of other thing that the Trump administration is doing? It wasn't originally. This is where we come back to our original discussions of a week ago. When this all began, the attack on Iran began then on Thursday the 12th, Friday the 13th. At that point, it was absolutely clear what the Israelis were trying to do. They were trying to decapitate Iran's leadership.

We heard from Prime Minister Netanyahu himself that they were wanting to come after the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Hamanae. There was all those attempts to try and assassinate people, the various cells that had been planted within the Iranian political and military system and within Iranian society were activated. We saw gunmen operating. We saw drone attacks from taking place from within Iran. It was absolutely obvious at that point what the objective was, which was regime change in Iran? That is what Prime Minister Netanyahu has since all but admitted. It is now looking all but inconceivable that regime change in Iran is going to happen. So we now have the whole narrative being switched, already refocused towards an attack on the enrichment facilities.

And the reason they've been talking about the enrichment facilities is because they weren't able to achieve regime change in Iran. In fact, the regime looks as if it's been strengthened by these latest events. Yeah, but they didn't destroy the enrichment facilities. No. Nor can't. I mean, it seems like it would require some sort of a tactical nuke. At least that's what I'm reading. And God forbid, we enter that.

We get to that point. But, you know, Trump comes out and he says we've obliterated the nuclear facilities or Ford or we've obliterated it. Which is not true. Last week he said they have air superiority, not true. It's just lie after lie or misdirection after misdirection. Yeah. So, I mean, what is he in such a mess with all of this that he's completely unable to figure out, how to extract the United States from this huge foreign policy debacle,

this dangerous escalation attacking nuclear facilities. Iran's going to completely crush the U.S. in diplomacy on the international stage at the U.N., at the IAEA, I mean, this is a huge mess up for the Trump administration. Well, it's very difficult to work out what the strategy is. But my own best assessment of the strategy is as follows. Regime change was not achieved in Iran as a result of the first strikes. The regime, I'm going to call it the regime. The regime survived the initial attacks. It reorganized. It stabilized. We have now found ourselves in a situation over the last couple of days. when it's looking increasingly as if Israel is locked into a protracted conflict with Iran. The Iranians were striking targets in Israel. There's many people who want to deny this and continue to insist that the Iranians aren't hitting targets successfully in Iran, in Israel, sorry. The reality is they are.

We have the footage. We have the information. We have the confirmation from people on the ground in Israel. Israel too. So they are hitting targets in Iran and in Israel and we're getting reports that Israel's increasingly exactly as we said starting to run out of air defense missiles. So how do you stop this? How do you get out of a war of attrition, which is what you now found yourself in? So I think what Donald Trump is trying to do because the Israelis have been trying to get him to join in this attack on Iran. He said, look, I will attack Iran, but I'm going to limit myself to the nuclear enrichment

facilities, assuming, pretending, going along with the fiction, that that is what this was all about all along. So he attacks the nuclear enrichment facilities and hopes that at that point, at this point, this is where it ends, because he doesn't want a protracted war of attrition, either for Israel or for the United States. Now, one can understand some of that logic, but it depends ultimately now on Iran. Iran is continuing to hit targets in Israel. They did so today, directly after this strike.

They show every ability to continue to go on doing it. Netanyahu says that they've got 22,000 missiles. So that is an almost indefinite number of missiles. Apparently their production of missiles continues. And of course, if they decide to take escalatory measures and the United States becomes involved in a nutrition war, that this is a complete disaster. So Trump is gambling that this attack will be the line

that is drawn under this affair. But of course, Iran might have completely different ideas. that is the risk here. Yeah, but Iran does not need to retaliate militarily because it's clear against the United States, against the United States, why would they want to draw the United States into this conflict? I mean, they're already in this conflict, but why do you want to draw them further into this conflict?

Everyone knows what I mean to get the United States directly into a conflict with Iran. when it does look like they have the upper hand against Israel in this war of attrition. So why do that? And it does look like Iran was prepared for this. They evacuated whatever they needed to evacuate. The early reports are that the damage was to the entrance and the exit of these facilities. And it just doesn't look like this was everything that Trump was saying this was. It doesn't look like these facilities have been obliterated.

I've seen videos saying that, showing that the damage was minimal. I mean, you could see smoke coming out of the area on four door, but it doesn't look like it was a huge strike or a huge success. So Iran doesn't need to go hard against the U.S. In order to further bring the U.S. into this, they could retaliate in different ways, like you said, with the Strait of Hormuz. and even there they could retaliate in a way that permits Chinese vessels to move through and maybe blocks the European or the US.

I don't know. They could do something like that. But it doesn't need a military retaliation from Iran. You're completely correct. But that, of course, all hinges on how disciplined and intelligent and sophisticated Iran is. this is where one has great difficulties because if we were talking about the Russians, we have repeatedly seen that Vladimir Putin

and he gets criticized for doing this all the time, always has that degree of self-control and that degree of self-discipline not to be goaded into action, military steps, which would backfire on Russia and himself. We always get these people who come along and tell us, You know, he should do X, Y said he should strike at Britain or strike in France or do those kind of things, escalate the war.

And he's been very careful, never to do that. And that's why he's winning. I do not know whether Iran has that level of self-discipline and self-control that control that Russia does. Now, what you are saying about Iran's response is absolutely correct. they are winning a war of attrition against Israel. So it seems to be. I mean, all of the facts that we know, and we are only given a certain number of facts,

but all the facts that we know point to Iran gradually getting the upper hand in the war of attrition against Israel. In fact, there's reports that the Israelis told the Americans that they needed a strike within two weeks, that Israel couldn't wait for two weeks. And of course, the question is why couldn't they wait for two weeks? Well, we know because we've also had further reports that their air defense interceptors are running out and that they might not last beyond two weeks. So given that that is so, the right logical, proper thing for Iran to do

would be to continue doing what they're doing, which is working, putting Israel in a more and more difficult position, forcing Israel ultimately to bring this operation against Iran to a stop. And that would then open up possibilities for Iran to take further diplomatic action. That is the logical step that Iran should take. And maybe they will take it. I mean, they do impress me actually as being actually very sophisticated people. But having said that, if you're the president of the United States, do you really want to take that gamble?

Do you really want to put yourself in a position? where you are relying upon the restraint of Iran. If you actually pass Donald Trump's statements over the last couple of hours since the strike, if you pass statements by other US officials and political leaders, you see that that is what they want. They want this to stop here. But come back to what we were saying, that ultimately depends on Iran. in their own interest, certainly they should not attack the United States.

But, you know, us telling them this, logic and reason telling them this, it doesn't mean that that is what they're going to do. And of course, if they act on wise councils and confine themselves to their strikes on Israel, that puts the United States in an impossibly difficult position. All right, Haroku, thank you for that. Super chat, Rafael says it's time to admit that Putin is compromised. I think so. I actually believe the foreign minister is heading to Moscow, isn't he?

Exactly. On Monday. On Monday. Paul Walker says, BB must have him on the Epstein Papes. Nepali, John Drew says, has Donald Trump just lost all credibility among his America first anti-war Republican voter base? And if so, what will be the repercussions of it? Well, I think yes, it's the short answer.

I mean, particularly if this doesn't turn out the way he hopes, and the United States is indeed involved in a protracted war. Just saying. Diamond Jump says Trump awarded the Nobel Peace of Crap Prize. Steve says regarding Tulsi, say it with me, gentlemen, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Sean Master says, finally made a live chat. Thank you for all you do.

Thank you, Sean for that. Mark Esposito says, oh, please, the same U.S. intelligence, agencies, you cited to say no Iranian bomb, now say no Fordor. You can't have it both ways. Your objectivity is poor. I don't even know what that means the same intelligence agencies. Well, I mean, American intelligence is all over the place, and I'm not going to spend any time analyzing it.

They say one day, one day the next. It is the Israelis who are basically running this as far as I can see. As far as no foredoor, we're telling you right now, Mark, Russia, Iran, and the Iran. The IAEA are saying that the damage was minimal. The IAEA says, so you can take it as you want. Jungle Jin says probably won't be retaliation against the U.S. unless there is a follow-up attack. This has played into Iran's hands.

I agree. We agree. Brian Tarmac says, are we now in the era of double-crossed diplomacy? How can the U.S. be trusted? Well, indeed, absolutely. I mean, people talk about, I mean, Trump wants more negotiations with Iran. he apparently was talking with it I mean there were reports I don't believe this is true that he was trying to meet with a homine in Turkey and trying to get Erdogan to arrange the meeting why would the Iranians trust a meeting with him why would they assume that any agreement they come to with him is going to lead anywhere whether he was consciously duplicitous or was swindly swept along it makes no difference his credibility as a negotiation He's short to pieces.

Yep, exactly. John, he put himself in such a big mess. John D. says Iran going to just give up. No way, law of unintended consequences. No, of course not. They're not going to give up. Whatever it is that they're going to do, I'm sure it will be, you know, strong. The question is, will they retaliate against American military targets?

Or will they show exercise, discipline and self-control? and calibrate their response in a way that works to their own advantage. Omega, Mr. T says, Alexander, you should seriously consider getting a Starlink dish. Everyone is, and it is extremely reliable and fast. I am absolutely considering getting a Starlink dish. I absolutely am, by the way. I mean, I don't want to speak about this because we don't have much time. There's a awful lot I can say about this situation in London.

Jungle Jin says, what price now to Israel's economy dead in the water? Israel's economy is suffering. Absolutely. If this continues, if this continues for very much longer. Again, we're talking about probably weeks rather than months. I mean, this is going to be a disaster for Israel. Time is on Iran's side, in other words. Time is on Iran's side.

And as night follows day, and this is the other thing to understand, if the Iranians continue to do what they're doing, the Israelis are going to come back to Trump. And they say, what you did is not. not enough, you must do more. And what does he say then? Yeah. Daminda, thank you for that super sticker. Mar-A-Davian, thank you for that super sticker. Jungle Chin says Tulsi is now compromised, lacking credibility. Yeah. I mean, I'm getting me quite blunt. I am still sorry for them.

I understand the pressures she's under, but there it is. I mean, she has had her credibility has been short of thesis. Yeah. But Avian says Israel is controlling the USA and Trump. Adratic Hart says... I mean, they have complete... They have taken complete control of the administration and its decisions. Yeah, true.

Adradic Heart says, Woohoo, 60-month member. Thank you, Adradic Heart. Nico says, I have no words anymore. Why does every Sunday become a cataclysmic event happen? First it was Syria, then Russian planes, and then Iran attacks, and now this is always on the weekends. the weekends. But it is always on the weekends because the assumption always is that things will not be happening. I mean, the Russian plagues thing, as I said, let you quite clear about that,

the damage done there was indeed minimal, and we actually got verification of this. And we are still in the process of getting verification from Iran. But all of the information we have. Points to minimum. Points to points to minimum. Exactly. Hats and Clogg says, thank you very much for all your wisdom and insight. Diane says Trump bragged about his fake bombing, then threatens peace. What a joke. What is Trump's

next move, as I believe Iran will not take the bait to attack U.S. air bases? Well, what will happen is Iran will continue to strike at Israel. They may start taking more steps like closing the straits of Hormuz, which they can apparently do. The way to do it would be to lay mines, and laying mines is very difficult. And I believe that there are American warships in the Gulf, and they could be trapped in the Gulf, which would be extremely dangerous. And then as night follows day, in a week, two weeks' time, as this war of attrition drags on, the Israelis will come back and they will say to Trump,

you have to attack Iran again. And whether he likes it or not, he's going to be drawn into a protracted war when his base is already inferior about it. Or a false flag. Or a false flag. Or any numbers. Either way, either way Trump comes out losing on this.

Yes. Mai says, what do you make of the possibility that Trump is trying to walk a fine line of keeping his donors happy and working with Iran behind the scenes to de-escalate knowing that Israel has gone rogue? Why would the Iranians trust him? That is indeed his strategy. I mean, I can understand. I mean, I do think he's trying to limit this to this one particular event. But why does he assume that the Iranians who have seen that at best he cannot control the Israelis

and at best he cannot control people in his own administration? And that is at best. At worst, he might be absolutely up to his ears in the world of this and might have been involved in all of that. Why would they trust him on anything like that? Gtm says, has America violated attacking a sovereign country? without pretext and also civilian nuclear sites in Iran. Yes, absolutely.

We've discussed this in several programs now. All of this is straightforward violations. They're not violations of international law. They are the worst type of violations of international law. They are straightforward acts of aggression, which, by the way, the Nuremberg Tribunal back in 1946 said, was the worst crime against nuclear facilities. against nuclear facilities. Iran's not going to let the U.S. off the hook internationally.

Diplomatically, they're not going to let the U.S. off the hook. Russia's not going to let the U.S. off the hook. China's not. The Democrats are not. Even though they're with Trump, even though they have no problem going to war, the Democrats are going to use this to their advantage as well. And the neocons are going to completely throw him under the bus on this as well. Exactly. Exactly. Anna Karoising, thank you for that super chat.

Hats and Clogs 4334. Welcome to the dread community. Raul Pinto says thoughts on whether Iran will attack either Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, or Saudi Arabia. I don't think they will do any of those things if they are wise. I think that they already have a strategy which looks like it's winning, which is to strike Israel. And I would stick to that, actually. I wouldn't go beyond that.

What do they gain? by attacking all of these places and finding themselves involved in an uncontrolled war against the United States, a far more powerful country than themselves. Key the initiative, work through the diplomacy, wage your attrition war against Israel, and put the pressure on Trump.

That, it seems to me, is the right policy for Iran. I mean, if I was there advising them, which thankfully I am not, And perhaps closing the Straits of Hormuz might also be something that they could do. But again, that potentially could back far on some of their friends. And Netanyahu, his goal is to get, is to have Iran go after a U.S. military facility in order to pull the United States further in. Exactly. So Iran will be playing it to Netanyahu's hands if they did that.

Exactly. that is what Netanyahu wants, because his goal in Iran is regime change. It is none other than that. Sean Dwyer says Russia's, sorry, no, Trump's 1BBB was being held up by Neocons and Senate unless he committed to strikes. It's his entire domestic agenda. Well, I just don't buy that in the end, actually. I think that he could have called the bluff on all of these people, told the Republicans in the Senate, look, are you really going to start throwing the entire budget policy and economic policy of a Republican administration under the bus?

When we are opposed to joining a war that the American people don't want, if that's what you want to do, then look and wait to what happens in the prime. And I can assure you they'd have all folded. Yeah, Nico says the US will tear Iran apart and Russia and most stupidly China will do nothing about it. China is so dumb. They continue buying US debt, allow the US to print money and refusing to make their own system and currency. Come on. They are not by, again, this is untrue. China is not buying US debt. It's selling US debt. It's not been doing it on a massive scale, but that is what it has been doing. And it's been

doing that apparently for several months now. Now, I don't believe that the Russians of the Chinese are simply going to abandon Iran. As Alex pointed out, the Iranian foreign minister is heading to Moscow on Monday. And I have no doubt the things will follow from that. And we've already got Chinese spy ships operating in the area. What do you think Putin's going to tell the foreign minister? Because they've been trying this on Russia for the past three, four years, Zelensky, NATO, the neocons. They've been trying to get Russia to expand the war in Ukraine.

But Russia's been very disciplined. They've kept it contained. Yes. And they've tried everything against Russia. Yes. To try and get Putin to break his discipline. Yes. I think that's exactly what the Russians are going to say to the Iranians.

And they're going to say to the Iranians, look, don't overreact to this. If the damage to your facilities is minimal, which it appears to be, then you've got no reason to. Just keep doing what you're doing. And we will back you diplomatically. And we will give you intelligence and, economic assistance, which is what you really need in order to keep your economy running and your people fed and your country and your people warm when the winter months come. Preeti Swifty says, read governance of an Islamic jurist, many similarities to Plato's Republic,

which surprised me. Regime change may be the collective West in Iran is a fool's errand. I agree. actually, I think it's become increasingly clear over the last week that Iran is holding together. In fact, there doesn't seem to be any opposition, any significant opposition to the government at all. If they're really resorting to Rezaa Baklavi, that demonstrates how desperate they really are. USA analysis, counter to APEC, Israel, have control of USA admin. Trump denied killing the leader of Iran, the religious figure. Well, go on.

Sorry. No, no, I think that however it's come about, it's impossible to avoid accepting that on this issue, Donald Trump has just done what Benjamin Netanyahu wanted him to do. He's done worse than Joe Biden did. And that's an incredible thing to say. USA now says John Solomon from just a news media company said his reporting shows Trump was in on it from the start. Let Netanyahu do their thing implies a partnership at a minimum, if not a U.S. operation from the start.

Well, maybe so. And if that, I mean, John Solomon says that. I still have my doubts about this. But, you know, regardless, as I said many times, as we've said many times, it doesn't in the end matter, whether it was duplicity on Trump. side or whether he was led into this by Donald Trump, by Netanyahu and by other people in the administration. The fact is his credibility shot to pieces and the Iranians are never going to negotiate with him seriously again. Junggletgen says the timing of such serious attacks on World War II anniversary dates of victory is telling.

Indeed, 22nd of June, 1941 was the date the date when Germany attacked the Soviet Union. And of course, the Russians are making the same point that 22nd of June is the day, 2025 is the day when the United States attacked Iran. Andre says the plan is regime change. They want Iran to escalate, hit U.S. assets, refineries, a straight of Hormuz, so they can go all out to destroy Iran. Iran must understand this. This is existential and act accordingly.

I agree, completely. Yeah. Texas Grown says Alex, Alex or Alex, like a perfect government credit rating getting it right we are hearing trump is being heavily isolated by the crazy ward religious zealots howard lutnik is creepy and one of these people i agree i've heard the same i'm hearing all kinds of things both alex and i getting all kinds of information by the way of course it's impossible to corroborate or verify and some of it is leaking or it is appearing in the media as well but ultimately to repeat again it doesn't

matter. The point is, however these decisions have been, have come about, the effect is the same. Nobody is going to trust this administration anymore. USA now says to watch later. I'll post in the comments to the war room with Steve Bannon and John Solomon is on there as well. Okay. Thank you for that. Thinking health angle mind. Thank you for that super sticker. Johadi says, would Russia come to Iran's aid as the Caspian Sea and the nearby CSTO country will be at risk if Iran collapses. Yes, I think they will come to Iran's aid. But of course, remember, aid comes in all different forms. It comes in the form of gas supplies, which are actually being provided by Russia to Iran. It can come in terms of supplies of food if there is disruption to Iranian agriculture.

Iran is self-sufficient in food. It can come in the form of intelligence. and all of those things. The key thing to understand about Russia, and this is the, this point has not been properly addressed sufficiently. Russia offered Iran a defense agreement last year, and Iran rejected it. I was told in St. Petersburg by someone that the Russians found Iran a very difficult country to help,

There was still deep suspicion of Russia there and of Russian intentions. And I think that has been a problem and it continues to be a problem perhaps at the moment. But I suspect that over time that problem will gradually ease off. Sanjewa says, how long do you think Iran can sustain the damage and continue? The pivotal question, Iran-Iraq war was brutal, but times have changed and do you think Iran can sustain this for long? Yes. I do actually, provided the governmental system endures and continues.

That is the one big question mark over this affair. So far, it's held up well. Jungle Jinns says Iran has announced it will close Hormuz. I've heard that. Obviously, this is a developing story. Shin Inajo says, this is like a book, which path to Persia, page 39, come to life. Yeah, I'll probably go to this is the Brookings Institution paper from 2009. It's more to say about that one, that paper came out after the failure of the color revolution attempt that was tried in Iran in that year.

and the Americans then trying to work out some kind of new approach. Well, it's taken them 15 years, 16 years. Gio Stone says... They still haven't got it there. So let's just, you know, let's not assume that it's going to work. Gio Stone says, Alex, Israel says Cyprus is part of Greater Israel. I haven't heard that, but there's a lot of misinformation about Cyprus, what's going on at Cyprus. Anyway, Mike,

Haji Luisu, think of that super sticker. Eric Loken says, what will Vladimir Putin do? He will do what I said. He will give advice to the Iranians. He will provide assistance to the Iranians. He might in time, if this thing becomes protracted,

start to provide more than just advice and assistance. He might actually provide some degree of military support, air defense missiles. It's not impossible. But Iran first must show that it's able to act itself, to defend itself, and secondly, it must show that it's the kind of country that it's in Russia's interest to continue to support.

In other words, they start doing irresponsible and reckless things themselves, then that will ultimately jeopardise their chances of getting help from Russia. And of course, they need to ask for that help and seek that help themselves, because again Putin made the point that up to the time when he was speaking, which was two days ago, they had not asked for any help from Russia. Wilma Thomas says Trump has dug himself a deep hole, a huge mistake. Very true. Shifu says Biden Kamala, this doesn't happen.

Trump is a disaster. Yeah. Well, Biden Kamala would have escalated the Ukraine crisis. Instead, Trump has escalated the Iran crisis. Adriatic Hart says, can China afford to not get involved? Why wait to battle the US alone? They know they are next if Iran falls. Well, they're not next if Iran falls.

And again, let's not overstate these realities because these are overstatements that people make. But again, I think China will support Iran. I think China is already supporting Iran. I mean, those spy ships are there for a purpose. Jungle Jin says, could Russia enter the fray without Iran's invitation if Iran stands to actually fail? No, it's a short answer. There would be no basis upon which to do that. It might even be seen as an act of aggression against Iran.

Just a second. Fossey Ball says, please estimate how long before NATO supplies to Ukraine run out, taking into account that Russia is outproducing all of NATO suppliers four to one. Well, you know, there's lots of guesstimates about this. And of course, we don't know how far depleted the Ukrainians are. I got reports yesterday that they are rapidly running out of drones because the cost of building drones in Ukraine is astronomically high and they have to rely exclusively now on expensive Western components.

I've heard reports, again, over the last few weeks, that they're starting to run short of shape. and of gun barrels, there was a report in the German media that they're down to 120 infantry fighting vehicles, Bradley's. Most of them have either been destroyed or damaged beyond repair. So they are running out. Corey Hunter says greetings from Australia. Trump appointing Fox News host Mark Levine to Homeland Security Advisor, Counsel says it all.

Absolutely. A disaster decision. Yeah. Sanjava says, thank God for the Duran, the only objective daily geopolitical podcast that also does extra sessions for breaking events. I bow my head to you both. Thank you, Sanjever, for that. Hertha, thank you for that super chat. Michael Karn says, do you believe Iran's centrality in China's built and road is reason behind regime change? If so, is Israel acting to preserve tech dominance within the sphere? No, I don't think so. I don't think that was the reason for it, because Israel's been

trying to organize an attack on Iran for pretty much the whole of my adult life. They finally achieved it. But I don't think it's the Belt and Road or anything of that kind that is driving Israeli decision-making. What is probably given more urgency to the Israeli decision to attack Iran now is the fact that Israel has its own problems. It's not been able to get on top of the crisis in Gaza, its own economy has been under strain. Netanyahu's government is weak, domestically, it's unpopular domestically. So there's all kinds of internal reasons why Israel has been driven to do this thing at this time. Hugo says, is this the type to put all my money, is this the time to put all my money into oil?

Probably the best thing to do is not to ask us for financial advice. We never give it. Nico says, did we actually get a confirmation about the Russian planes? Satellite images showed 13 destroyed, also the Ukrainians targeted angles and destroyed the same helicopters. Apparently, is it the same in Iran? No, it's not the same. And the satellite photos didn't show that. My information is, and I think this is pretty strong, the only one bomber, one Tupilf95 bomber, was damaged beyond repair.

Some of the satellite photos, the people that have been circulating, apparently were retouched anyway. way. But it did not cause anything like the amount of damage that many people said. Kevin T, welcome to the Duran community. Edward Sulkay, welcome to the Duran community. Ben Lind says, is Yemen going to attack U.S. ships now? Thanks, boys. Yes. Yes, they said so. For the sake of the songs, Israel behaves as Ukraine, drawing us into a war no one wants. Yes. R.L. says, Wilders, Maloney, Trump, all of these people are disappointing their voter base.

People are losing interest in politics very rapidly. They won't be bothered to vote anymore. And sometimes it gets a feeling that's exactly the plan. Well, that's already happening in more and more places. I mean, in Britain, the turnout in the last election was catastrophic. Ted Larson says, try to pretend. What is the win in any of this? There isn't one.

There is no win in this, at least not for Donald Trump or for the United States or for Israel or for the West. Kevin T.K. says Italy's defense minister said NATO. does not have the right to live and that Europe must adopt to changing times. Yes, he did say that. Diane Sylvain says, Huthi is saying they now will break their ceasefire with the USA and attack the U.S. again. Yes. Aisha says, so when is the U.S. and Israel getting disconnected from swift and sanctions

for their illegal war of aggression? Absolutely. It's a very good question. Actually, I mean, you make an ironic point, but it's a very good question. Gavin Hillick says John McCain is looking up at Trump with pride today looking up Absolutely true

But John Matthew says Trump was indeed an Epstein video Musk disclosed Well I learned a lot of people say that But Trump Must disclose it and then retracted it Yeah Gio Stone says Iran will make it

A national priority To get many nuclear weapons And rebuild its weapons I don't see how life goes back to normal That is that is a real possibility now. As I said, even before the strike, I remember discussing all of the conversation take place in Iraq play out in the autumn of last year, that there was a lot

of talk then from all kinds of Iranian officials, making it very, very clear that they were unhappy with Hamanos Fadhwa, and that they thought that Iran should move forward with a nuclear weapons program. Some of those people, like General Salami, the IRGC commander, and now dead, but others are still alive and the people who will replace them quite plausibly are more hardline. So I think we're much more likely to move on forward with that than we were before. Buzzy Ball says Bush Jr., Obama, Biden and Trump have all been awful. Pinyamamba, think of a super sticker. John D. says, not one person I know here in the States wanted this. Of course, most of the people I know are farmers and average people, not religious zealots

or impact-funded politicians. Absolutely. I don't get the sense that this is popular in the United States and of course it's a protracted war than for Donald Trump the political of consequences will be disastrous. Hugo says why does the US back, why does the EU back the US on Russia, China, not Iran? Well, looking for logic and coherence in EU policy is a waste of time. I mean, one can say this. They will take they will take as hard line as they can and In theory, they do not want an attack on Iran, but you're already seeing that they're starting to align themselves with it.

Sean Hurl says, I fear the Gulf states will be ablaze soon. Well, jungle Jim says chances of impeaching Trump over illegal strike. Not completely zero. I mean, not huge, but as Alex said, the Democrats are still after Trump and now he's antagonized part of his base. Some of the people in the House, Marjorie Taylor Green, for example, are very, very, very angry. Others will also be very, very angry as well. I would have thought that the dial on impeachment has slightly risen. Brent D. says Iran isn't going to invade Israel. Israel and the USA aren't going to invade Iran. These kinds of strikes have happened in the Middle East before. They will happen again. Iran will

respond asymmetrically, USA won't rinse and repeat. Well, yes, the trouble is these strikes that are taking place are on a bigger scale than we've seen up to now. And as we see, as we've seen Israel at least, this we can say has limited resilience. We don't know how great Iran's resilience is, but the indications are that it is much, much greater. Dijkstraz says, looks like Trump won't be the prince of Persia, but he doesn't really have to have the body type for that character.

Yeah. Daniel says China and Russia are no ally of Iran. China basically takes advantage of sanctioned Iranian oil pennies on the dollar and Russia needed Iranian drones for the Ukrainian war. Well, again, let's just go back to what Putin said. Putin said Russia offered Iran a full defense agreement. A North Korean-starred defense agreement, apparently. And Iran rejected it.

So it was Iran that made that decision, not Russia. Radio Constantinopley says, is this the end of Israel? Oh, no, I don't think so. I think we've still got a long, long, long, long way to go there. And I hope maybe we never will. Maybe elections. Maybe government collaboration. That seems to me much, much more likely.

I don't think this is the other thing. I don't think Israel is actually threatened. Jungle Jin says the Shah in waiting has been trotted out. Nelson says, and where are the Europeans in all of this? How is Kaya's oil price cap doing? Even she must know now how idiotic that idea was. Well, it wasn't an idiotic idea and you made a good point. It's good.

It's been put to bed. Yeah. OMG, Mr. T says, will Russia now feel free to go after Ukrainian nuclear facilities? Well, that's an excellent point. They've never done so, and I don't think they will, because the Russians always like to put themselves in a strong superior legal position over others. So I don't think they will do it. But, you know, you've made the right point. If attacking nuclear facilities in Iran is okay, why shouldn't it be okay in Ukraine as well? Just so. Sir Muzgame says, relax. Trump loves playing with fire, but never wants to cook anything.

Well, true. But he's not the only cook in the kitchen. That's the thing to always understand. Shamm, welcome to the ground community. Gio Stone says, after today, what does this mean for the UN and laws? That the United States continues to disregard them, as it has been doing now for a long, long time. And Israel plays, pays no attention to the U.S. at all.

Nick, thank you for that super sticker. Displace says Trump has burnt all his goodwill with his base. Yeah. True. Nikos says, you know the sad thing is Europe will starve. Energy prices will skyrocket. There will be deaths. And yet the people either are going to blame Iran and Russia or do nothing.

A good oligarchy destroys people's spirit first. Well, there's something in that. Christopher says, where does Article 5 sit if Iran attacks U.S. bases? I don't think it would apply actually at least that's my own guess but I mean I doubt that the Europeans would want to become involved or directly involved

Amash Redd says with regards to Brian Bruletic et al assertion that this is the US's war do you think there's more to come from the US regardless what Iran does well I didn't know that it's going to be regardless of what Iran does

because I expect that Iran will continue, it strikes against Israel. And as I said already, as night follows day, whatever intentions, whatever Trump believes that he has achieved by this, he's going to find himself under pressure from the Israelis to attack Iran again. That's the main point. That's the problem. That's the point. That's the problem. That's the problem. Yeah. Ivan Marco says nobody talks about the potential nuclear disaster. No, nobody does. Klaus Vattena says, how should Iran react, given the U.S. only will escalate,

but on the other side, it can't be too weak? Well, again, this comes back to the point about discipline and self-control. Always you have the people who come along and say, you know, Iran is weak because it's not attacking U.S. bases and sinking American aircraft carriers and doing all of those things. It is not in Iran's interests to do any of those. things. But do the Iranians have the self-control and the self-possession to understand that? They come across to me as very sophisticated people. But I don't pretend that I know Iran very well. Sir Mazgames says Trump gives friend and foe some of what they need, but very little of what they

want. R.L says that Duran is doing great work. By the way, Willie O.A.M. did some great live streams on Iran and Israel bombing would be great guest for the Duran. Okay. I think of that. Daniel says Russia should be helping Iran. After Iran, they are coming for them next. Without those Iranian drones, they had no chance against Ukraine. Well, first of all, I don't agree with either of these propositions.

I mean, the idea that the Russians could not by themselves eventually have come up with a Girand-to-type drone, I'm sure he's wrong. I mean, they can come up with every other kind of weapon. They can develop drones like that themselves. So let's not overstate this. The West has already come for Russia. That was what the Ukraine crisis was. And it failed.

So if Iran falls, yes, it's a massive problem for the Russians. But it is not the critical or existential one that people are continuously saying. Brulham says the smartest straight for Iran is to limit the scope of their attacks to Israel. It provokes the American elite class more than any issue domestically and shows to Americans where their priorities lie. Correct. Ridiculous says during the Iraq war, I recall an argument was made that Iraq should be humiliated to establish military deterrence to fear.

Is this a repeat? Yes, I'm sure that. I mean, that's exactly how the neocons always argue. for everything. They say that, you know, you've got to carry the biggest possible stick, and that would somehow terrorize everybody into obedience. It doesn't work like that. Linda, thank you for that super chat. Phillips says, what makes Hamas worse than other revolutionary anti-imperialist forces? Is violent resistance inherently bad? There have been collateral damage for every major war struggle. There have been violent, violent resistance has been a common

feature of resistance movements. There is the question of proportionality, which I know I talk about and people get annoyed with me about. But I do believe that the attack on the 7th of October felt completely outside that. And to the extent that he targeted civilians by taking them hostages as much as anything else, that was clearly a war crime. Rob 101 says, what are the odds of Trump's impeachment after the midterms? I'm not going to give odds. I'm just saying that the chances of it have grown. A quidadebo says a freight train between Jian, China and Tehran was recently launched. Yes, completely. Exactly right. It arrived to be apparently two days before the Israeli attack.

I think that was coincidence rather than in design. But anyway, there we are. Hello there says. What's the Israel-China relationship like? It used to be actually very good. It's just a flat people don't know. there was a time in the 1970s when Israel actually provided China with military technology. So it used to be very good. Then it's sort of cold. Now it's very cold. Jay Perez says,

it is funny how after each Israel and U.S. aggression, the EU suddenly asks for restraint from both sides. Yeah, absolutely. Iranian kiddo says people need to understand Iran is not as close militarily to China or Russia as they think they are. Absolutely true. that is completely right go to what Putin said it was very interesting Kevin tk says Putin said Russia and Iran are fighting against the same forces yes he did say that Texas grown says it's weird Peter Thiel and Alice

carp were at Bilderberg with depopulation on the listed agenda Peter ran from questions all slid under the radar yes sparky says supposedly Iran indicated for the beginning of Israel's attack they'd stop, if Israel stopped, was Trump's attack, so Israel had to pretend reason to stop, pretend nukes are gone, we can stop, Bibi. Yes, I think there might be some element in this. I mean, I think there might be some truth in that. But if so, it is ridiculously overcomplicated. And again, those kind of clever strategies always depend on the other side, namely Iran, colluding in them.

If the Iranians are not interested in colluding in them, then it's not going to work. Ragnar says, how much influence do you think Zionists have within Russia and on Putin? No. Sir Bug's game says, maybe Iran should finally give back the intaglio printing machines that the U.S. still uses to print dollars. The Mullahs chant death to America, but not the U.S. dollar, which they keep printing. Okay. Anne-Marie Riley, thank you for that super sticker.

Lola Renee says, thank you gentlemen for your analysis. It was a bad afternoon personally about U.S. attacks, plus Trump's address. Yes, it is 622, 4 a.m., never forget for that. Studea Rainer says it's insane how many people in the West support Iran, especially the younger demographic. Well, I don't know whether they support Iran. Maybe they're anti-war, which is a different thing. Marcus Bezillo says, by the way, guys, the IEA did not say destruction didn't happen. It said there was little enrichment uranium in the destroyed facility.

It was moved, but the enrichment is over. Well, I don't know that that is true, to be honest. The point is that they didn't destroy the nuclear facility. They had at the end of the day is the point, and that's what the IAEA is saying. Exactly, exactly. John D. says, Trump just threw gasoline on. the worldwide rise of anti-Semitism. Yeah.

Sparky says, true promise three, shot in fraud. American Rebel 27 says, thank you gentlemen. Rimo as Ziri, thank you for that super chat. Studio Reiner says regarding the neocons, they, you know, that the youngest demographics support Iran and

hate Israel, then what options do they have? Well, I'm not going to get into this, because this is, This is these big demographic questions are beyond the analysis of the situation today. Alex says the one can understand the U.S. It does what it wants because it can, but no same person can understand hypocrisy of the EU. They call the SMO an act of aggression, but today's attack they call a necessity. Absolutely, of course.

Kevin T.K. says this reckless action by the U.S. will simply strengthen multipolarity in bricks. As long as Iran survives, it's a one. win for bricks and multipolarity. I agree. Solitary D says, do you think Russia will go harder on Ukraine and then pull out of Ukraine soon to refocus on defense from U.S. and if the U.S. gets bogged down in Iran, will China use the opportunity to invade Taiwan? Far too complicated. The Russians are weak in Ukraine, and I think they're going to continue with their plans there. And I don't think this is going to affect that at all, not in any way. What the Russians will do with Iran is also going to be unrelated to the events in Ukraine, in my opinion.

Randy says, is it true that Iran supplies 90% of China's oil? No. No. 90%? Not remotely. 15, maybe 10? Maybe 10? Yeah.

Sir Mouse game says the latest episode of missile porn again, yawn. Yeah. Jack Ridley, thank you for that super sticker. Puffy Ann says Zelensky sees this and asks Pudoliac if he should ask Trump to do the same thing on Russian during the NATO event. I love the voice, but Alex. He's asking for more money, Zelensky, actually. All the time.

He's asking for $40 billion today. Yeah. Gio Stone says, will the confidence in U.S. bonds and dollars collapse? Well, not immediately, but you can already see that they're eroding. Michael Seymour says, will the attack accelerate Iran's access to nuclear arms, as suggested by Tvita Parsi? Yes. Rockabilly says, thank you for staying calm and not listening too much on the keyboard warriors. that Iranian kiddo says I must say nobody in Iran believes even with military clause in the

pact Russia would now be selling fighter jets or S-400s to Iran it famously took years for Russia to deliver S-300s yeah I accept that but I come back to what I said Iranian Iran was offered apparently a defense agreement and help to develop an air defense system this is what Putin was concerned and Iran rejected the offer because they don't trust the Russian They have good reasons not to. I mean, I'm not going to go into the history of relations between Russia and Iran, the S-300 saga being a case in point, by the way. But the fact is it was almost certainly a mistake at this particular point in time.

Sometimes you have to put aside your doubts and accept the help of people who are offering it. USA now says 30 minutes for the Secretary of Defense 8 o'clock briefing. Displaced African says, Anyway, I want to say Tulsi needs to make a statement in order to distance herself. The administration is up in flames. Is there any realistic way to save it from itself? I'm not going to give Tulsi it for us. Ryan Winter says I'm not young, but in this, I'm absolutely on Iran's side.

Israel is the aggressor. Yeah. Studio Rainer says it's ironic because the neocom policies have been a complete failure. It's not the old wise man dynamic. Younger demographics are just right about Israel, Middle East, wars yeah ridiculous says i wonder how ukrainians feel about having to beg for every shell not having on demand high altitude b2 strikes unlike uh israel like they're drawing israel i don't know yeah yeah possession yeah that super sticker solid freeman so it says so we are getting an

oil shock now yeah probably geostone says israel wants the libya model how do you stop them the political system in Iran is completely different from the one I believe it. Alexander, if you need to go. Yeah. Yeah. I'm trying to go through the quest.

If you need to go, yes. I'm just going to finish off. There's not that many questions left. So I'm just going to. If you don't mind, I'm sorry, guys, but I have to go because I said,

I'm not, I'll just read the next, the final chats. We'll end the last. We had to do a hard stop this time around. Thank you. Studio Rainer says, does the U.S.

think long term for policy? neocons seem to be thinking short-term. Neocons always think short-term. ICE-Raiso says, why Trump lies about destroying their reactors when there is Bouchetta plants, the Russian ex-president just admitted on X. They're making a nuclear weapon. I think you're talking about Medvedev. I don't know. Did he admit that they're, he said that this would this would emboldened and encourage Iran to move forward in the nuclear weapon, I think is what Medvedev said. Sparky says in recent decades, it was out of fashion to shout death to America in Iran.

Remember, Iran held a candlelight vigil in sympathy for America after 9-11. That is true. Iran did do that. R.L. says, problem with people who are resisting imperialism is that they are very divided amongst each other. A result of years of identity politics, woke or MAGA may look like silly distractions, but it serves a cynical purpose. Eric, thank you for that super sticker. Son of Leviathan says, can the U.S. do a draft? Would it cause a civil war?

I don't think there's going to be a draft. No. Abi Ahmed says Iran didn't have it and the capability can't be erased. This was a regime change attempt and it seems to have not worked in the first days. The focus should still remain on Israel for Iran. It was a failed regime change, at least for now. It is a failed regime change. But the more time passes, the harder it's going to get for a regime change.

Farr says Trump was foolish. The world will not forgive us in the U.S. USA. Lars Walter says, why does the UN exist? Good question. Why does the UN exist? Panos says Iran being attacked by the only country ever to use nuclear weapons because Iran doesn't have one of their own. A peak 2025, what else to say just prove the value of having nukes in the first place, namely so America won't destroy you? A lot of people saying that, including hardliners in Iran, Panos. Geostone says China and Russia odds of military alliances. China and Russia in a military alliance?

They're in a type of de facto unspoken alliance, I would say. Sparky says, anytime someone says Israel is our friend in the Middle East, I can't help but think before Israel, we had no enemies in the Middle East, U.S. missionary John Sheehan. Thanks for that. Sparky. Ethan Bright says, does America look like a clown, or scary from a global perspective.

It's very hard to understand how the outside world views you. Well, peace through strength. Ethan, that's Trump's foreign policy, isn't it? Peace through strength. It's not working out too well. Sir Muzgame says, A week from now, the doom and gloom won't have aged well. Very true.

Sir Muzgame and GW says China be the most dominant without a shot being fired. Also, very true, GW. All right, that is the live stream. stream everybody. We will continue to monitor what's going on. Bo Omega says much love. Alex Merkurs, the Duran, pray for peace, trust in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father to save our souls. And displaced African says with no reverse gear is another U.S. Middle East war inevitable. We're in a war. We're in a war. The question is, will this escalate further?

Belfast fella, thank you for that super chat. And Blue Noble says, What types of bombs did the U.S. used to hit Iran? There's a lot of talk about that blue noble as to what exactly was used. And there's a lot of people saying that it's not as Trump said. It went down. I would say to look at the thread from Armchair Warlord or Armchair Warrior. I forgot the Twitter handle, the X handle, but he has a different view of things. Definitely check it out.

Anyway, that is the live stream. We will be back with. videos very soon. Take care.