“In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,” Trump has said. Iran remains defiant in the face of ultimatums, pledging unprecedented retaliation to any attack.

Jeremy Scahill and Murtaza Hussain
Feb 18, 2026

A former senior U.S. intelligence official who is an informal advisor to the Trump administration on Middle East policy told Drop Site that, based on his discussions with current officials, he assesses an 80-90% likelihood of U.S. strikes within weeks.

Iran realizes that it is facing an unprecedented threat from the U.S. if a deal that conforms with Trump’s terms is not reached, former Pentagon official Jasmine El-Gamal told Drop Site. “This is not a dress rehearsal,” she said. “This is it. This is not the negotiations of last year or the year before or the year before that. They’re backed into a corner. There’s no off ramp.”

  • 小莱卡@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
    9·
    14 hours ago

    Europe is will be joining the US, not confronting them lmao. Really the only way to fight the american global military dictatorship is for the global south to militarize and unite against them but we are decades removed from that.

    Like we just saw Narco rubio giving a hitlerian speech in germany and European leaders all clapped.

    • choui4@lemmy.zip
      1·
      6 hours ago

      I think americans need to step up first, tbh.

      Narco rubio

      Was it bad? Should I go watch it?

      • 小莱卡@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
        3·
        5 hours ago

        Everyone should watch it.

        It is an open statement that neocolonialism is over (through finance), and a call to arms to Europe that old colonialism is back on the menu (through guns). And as usual, european leaders give a standing ovation.