Talha Ibrahim

I’ve just started @vali_nasr’s new book ‘𝐼𝑟𝑎𝑛'𝑠 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑦: 𝐴 𝑃𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦’ and I have to say, some of the stuff in there is pretty mind-blowing. He writes that back in year 1980, Iran provided Israel with intelligence that it used in bombing Iraq’s nuclear facility at Osirak in June 1981—which Iran too had sought to destroy in September 1980. Mansour Farhang, the Islamic Republic’s first ambassador to the United Nations, attended a meeting in which Khomeini approved receiving Israeli aid, provided it remained secret. At this point, mused Farhang, perhaps for Khomeini the Qur’an was only “holy” because “it was full of loopholes.” Arms sales from Israel to Iran totalled an estimated $500 million annually between 1981 and 1983, and most of it was paid for by Iranian oil delivered to Israel. According to one Iranian arms dealer, roughly 80% of the weaponry bought by Tehran immediately after the onset of the war with Iraq originated in Israel. In a speech on August 24, 1981 just weeks after Israel bombed Osirak using Iranian intelligence Khomeini stood before the world and angrily denied that any cooperation with Israel had taken place. He claimed Iran's enemies were spreading false rumours to undermine the Islamic Revolution. He even invented a conspiracy theory on the spot claiming that Saddam Hussein was actually an ally of Israel who had "forced" Israel to destroy his own nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, Iran even agreed to allow Israeli fighter jets to land on Iranian soil in case of an emergency during the operation against Iraq.

#Breaking: Key Points from the Joint Statement Issued After the Riyadh Consultative Meeting of Arab and Islamic Foreign Ministers on the Iranian Attacks: • Strong condemnation of the Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting countries in the region. • The attacks targeted residential areas, civilian infrastructure, oil and water facilities, airports, and diplomatic missions. • Affirmation that these attacks are unjustifiable under any circumstances. • Reaffirmation of the right of states to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. • A call on Iran to immediately cease its attacks and respect international law and the principles of good neighborliness. • Emphasis that the future of relations with Iran is contingent upon its respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs. • Stress on the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026) and the cessation of all hostile acts. • Rejection of threats to international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb. • Condemnation of the support and arming of militias in Arab countries. • Support for the security and stability of Lebanon, the confinement of arms to the state, and condemnation of Israeli attacks against it. • Affirmation of continued coordination and consultation, and the adoption of all necessary measures to safeguard security and stability in the region. - Participating countries: Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Türkiye, and UAE.

We’ve spent the past 24 hours reporting on the aftermath of the Pakistani airstrike that hit a former U.S. base last night, home to a drug rehabilitation center. My colleague @SAFIPADSHAH saw at least 75 bodies. A initial assessment from a U.N. Agency which we obtained said 180 people were killed. Afghan officials put the death toll at over 400. Pakistan, as of tonight, maintains it hit a military target. The drug rehab facility was widely recognised as such among locals. From our story: “Though Pakistan’s ultimate objective remains unclear, it has pummeled Afghan military infrastructure with strikes that have also hit or damaged civilian homes, refugee camps and health facilities, according to the United Nations. The United States has said that Pakistan has a right to defend itself — a stance that Pakistani officials have said privately that they interpret as a green light to conduct their operations. Pakistan has ignored calls for dialogue from China, its primary partner, despite public mediation efforts over the past week.” nytimes.com/2026/03/17/wor…

We’ve spent the past 24 hours reporting on the aftermath of the Pakistani airstrike that hit a former U.S. base last night, home to a drug rehabilitation center. My colleague @SAFIPADSHAH saw at least 75 bodies. A initial assessment from a U.N. Agency which we obtained said 180 people were killed. Afghan officials put the death toll at over 400. Pakistan, as of tonight, maintains it hit a military target. The drug rehab facility was widely recognised as such among locals. From our story: “Though Pakistan’s ultimate objective remains unclear, it has pummeled Afghan military infrastructure with strikes that have also hit or damaged civilian homes, refugee camps and health facilities, according to the United Nations. The United States has said that Pakistan has a right to defend itself — a stance that Pakistani officials have said privately that they interpret as a green light to conduct their operations. Pakistan has ignored calls for dialogue from China, its primary partner, despite public mediation efforts over the past week.” nytimes.com/2026/03/17/wor…

Breaking News – Kabul: According to sources and latest ground reports, a suicide bomber training centre was targeted in Kabul last night. The site reportedly housed dozens of drug-addicted individuals who were being forcibly kept dependent on drugs and trained by the Afghan Taliban for extremist activities. Sources describe this as a highly organized but deeply troubling practice. Analysts suggest that this strategic facility was the same one that Indian Taliban elements had allegedly threatened to use against Pakistan. This development highlights the ongoing security and humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan, particularly the Taliban’s use of vulnerable populations for militant purposes. #Kabul #AfghanTaliban #SuicideBombing #PakistanThreat #SecurityAlert #DrugAddictionCrisis

@Ropell Yes, because a synagogue is not Israel. It is extremely important we separate the actions of a foreign government from an American synagogue, or any synagogue.