"'WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran will soon have a missile that can hit the United States is not backed by U.S. intelligence reports, and appears to be exaggerated, according to three sources familiar with the reports, casting doubt on part of his case for a possible attack on the Islamic Republic.
In his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, Trump began making his case to the American public for why the U.S. could launch strikes against Iran, saying Tehran was “working on missiles that will soon reach” the United States.
But there have been no changes, two sources said, to an unclassified 2025 U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessment that Iran could take until 2035 to develop a "militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile" (ICBM) from its existing satellite-lofting space-launch vehicles (SLV).
“President Trump is absolutely right to highlight the grave concern posed by Iran, a country that chants ‘death to America,’ possessing intercontinental ballistic missiles," said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly.
One source said that even if China or North Korea - which closely cooperate with Iran - provided technological assistance, Iran would probably take up to eight years at the earliest to produce "something that is actually ICBM level and operational...."--- https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospa...026-02-27/
As expected, the time it required just to assemble this force is long after what supposedly originally inspired it -- the protests. The intensity of which has since been quelled by shooting the demonstrators. Now the fumbling for other justifications in a short memory world -- the "weapons of mass destruction" trope.
There is a resurgence of activism (below), but probably not significant enough (yet) to serve as rationale for coercion. Strike while the iron is hot for the crusader slot, otherwise you have to settle for a discount role peddled in the back alley, that's far less appealing and noble to the mainstream.
21 February. On 21 February, university students held several protests, including a sit-in at Shahid Beheshti University; a protest at Amirkabir University of Technology and a street blockage; a protest at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences; and a protest at Sharif University of Technology which was attacked by Basij members. The new wave of protests – which broke out at the beginning of the new semester, coincided with the 40-day memorial of those killed in the previous round of protests – included chants calling Khamenei a "murderous leader" and calls for Reza Pahlavi to replace him.One student at the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran died, with Iranian state media stating it was due to a sudden health incident in class.
22 February, Students at major Iranian universities held protests in memory of those killed in the previous round of protests. Rallies included 'Death to the Dictator' chants.
23 February. Student protests continued for the third consecutive day, adopting symbols of the Iranian monarchy.University administration and security forces stated that the protests were "illegal", conducted searches in the dormitories and arrested students suspected to be involved with the protests.
24 February. Basij members and security forces attacked student protesters on the fourth day across several universities.
25 February. Protests continued on 25 February, including 'Death to Khamenei' chants and the raising of the Lion and Sun flag at a university campus.
Trump's running out of excuses to play Battleship with the U S military. Without this boost of appearing to be the great and powerful warlord (with bone spurs) bombing brown people, he may face a hard time in the midterms not to mention continued scrutiny over his Epstein connections. Can't wait to see what lie he comes up with next.
First, action on Iran will be done, one way or another, long before the midterms... making it a moot point for most short-memory voters.
Second, Trump quit associating with Epstein before he was convicted for procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. Many leftists and Democrats continued to associate with Epstein. So talk of his connections are just projecting. We know there's nothing against Trump because otherwise Biden would have used it against him.
Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein developed a social and professional relationship that spanned approximately 15 to 17 years, beginning in the late 1980s and lasting until a falling out in 2004.
That's a lot of time to party together and molest underage girls. And Epstein wasn't convicted until 2008. Trump in his own words only severed his friendship with Epstein because Epstein stole some of his Mar-a-Lago employees. The entire country knows that we have a demented pedophile for a president, and the White House is just hoping we'll grin and bear it. Instead, we're going to destroy this presidency with a blue wave come the midterms this fall.
No, that's your TDS. Now go look at how many leftists and Democrats kept associating with Epstein after 2008. Too much cognitive dissonance with your irrational hatred?
YazataFeb 28, 2026 07:59 AM (This post was last modified: Feb 28, 2026 10:39 AM by Yazata.)
It may or may not mean anything, but right now 11 C-17A's and a C-5M have departed bases in the Middle East headed for Europe. And for the first time in days, there are no additional cargo aircraft headed from Europe to the Middle East. This after orders went out today for cargo aircraft to minimize the time they spend on the ground in the Middle East: just in and out.
This could be for a variety of reasons. It might signal that offensive operations are scheduled to begin soon. Or it might just mean that runways have been experiencing lots of traffic and mustn't be clogged up by planes sitting around.
Britain has ordered staff be withdrawn from the UK embassy in Tehran. Meanwhile UK defense ministry officials held a high level meeting Friday. In Israel, Britain has removed nonessential embassy staff and dependents from the British embassy in Tel Aviv to what is considered a more secure location in Israel. And Britain has four Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighters at Al Udeid in Qatar. These won't participate in any attack on Iran that may or may not be coming, but are there to defend against an Iranian attack on Al Udeid, which is also used by the Americans as an aerial refueling base.
The mayor of the Israeli city of Beersheva, which is surrounded by military bases, has started preparing all bomb shelters in the city.
IT'S ON!!
A joint US/Israeli air attack is underway. Sources report that Iranian government buildings in Tehran have been hit, including the defense ministry, the intelligence headquarters, and seven missiles hit Supreme Leader Khamenei's compound. There are reports of airstrikes in other Iranian cities and locations as well, including Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Karaj. Reportedly Iranian people in the streets were cheering the explosions. Like in the 12 day war last summer, there's video of young Iranians gathered on apartment building rooftops, treating the whole thing like a party as they cheer the attacks.
It's believed that the US will initially go after Iran's ballistic missiles and command and control. IRGC bases are also being hit.
Sirens are sounding in Israel and everyone is looking at alerts on their phones. Streets are largely empty in Tel Aviv. But there has been no Iranian response at this point. Iranian sources tell Reuters that a devastating response is being prepared, but nothing so far.
It's significant that the air attacks came at 10 AM Tehran time. Normally opening attacks happen at night. Launching them mid morning is rather cheeky and sends a message to Iran that we own the skies and there's nothing that you can do to stop us. Of course the initial strikes probably weren't manned fighters but rather cruise missiles of various kinds. There's video of an Iranian Mig-29 streaking ineffectively across the Tehran sky. There's video of what appear to be 21 Tomahawk cruise missiles flying very fast over an Iranian farm field, headed somewhere.
President Trump has told the Iranian military to lay down their arms and they won't be attacked. He told the Iranian dissidents to rise up against the regime, that this might be the the best chance they will get.
YazataFeb 28, 2026 09:14 AM (This post was last modified: Feb 28, 2026 10:00 AM by Yazata.)
Alerts are going out in Israel telling people to head to the shelters. The IDF has detected incoming missiles. Sirens are sounding. The IRGC say they have unleashed the first wave of missile and drone attacks on Israel, but so far no explosions noted in Israel.
Iranian sources say that Iran's Supreme Leader has been moved to a secure location outside Tehran.
Many strikes occurring all over Iran. These are probably 'time sensitive' targets and air defense installations, to free up the air space for manned aircraft to enter. Unconfirmed reports that all of Iran's naval bases on their south coast are being hit. There's probably a cyber and electronic warfare attack underway as well. Most of Iran's radars are probably blinded at this point.
YazataFeb 28, 2026 10:15 AM (This post was last modified: Feb 28, 2026 10:44 AM by Yazata.)
Millions of Israelis are in bomb shelters all over Israel. The Israelis say that all incoming missile fire has been intercepted so far. My guess is that American interceptor missiles are in action alongside the Israeli missiles, whose own supplies are rather depleted after the 12-Day War last summer. The US has a major strongpoint at Muwaffaq in Jordan, and anything Iran fires at Israel will have to go past there. And the USS Gerald Ford carrier battle group is off the Israeli coast in the Mediterranean, able to launch interceptor missiles.
There's reports of incoming missile fire directed at American facilities in Bahrain and Qatar as well, but the abundant American air defenses that moved in over the last few weeks have intercepted it so far.
The operation against Iran is called Operation Epic Fury
Explosions are being heard in Israel, but no impacts have been reported. The booms are probably interceptor missiles going off overhead. Even this can result in metal fragments raining down, so the Israeli homefront command is telling everyone to remain in shelters. The Iranian missile attacks are small volleys of missiles and nothing that might overwhelm the Israeli missile defenses so far. Video from Israel looks rather peaceful so far - no fires or smoke plumes.
The US embassy in Doha Qatar has issued a shelter in place order for all embassy personnel.
YazataFeb 28, 2026 11:17 AM (This post was last modified: Feb 28, 2026 11:58 AM by Yazata.)
Video shows that multiple Iranian missiles or drones have succeeded in getting through and hitting the US Fifth Fleet naval support activity in Bahrain. Damage is unknown at this point. Luckily it was largely evacuated before fighting broke out and no American ships are currently located there. A plume of smoke is visible. The Navy tells Fox News' Jennifer Griffin that there were no casualties, despite some facilities used by us being blown up.
The sound of explosions has been heard in the United Arab Emirates, despite there only being minimal American military facilities there. (The US navy operates reconnaissance drones from there to observe shipping in the straits of Hormuz.) The UAE isn't happy with Iran. Update: the explosions in the UAE were Iranian missiles being successfully intercepted, although one person died on the ground after being struck by falling debris.
Average day in the ME. This will take people’s minds of some unpopular issues facing US govt for awhile. Today will there be protests and for what? US aggression(anti-war), anti-Israel, anti-Iran, pro Iran, pro & anti Trump? List goes on.
Feb 28, 2026 01:47 AM
(This post was last modified: Feb 28, 2026 01:49 AM by C C.)
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