Erin A. Snider

Iran war triggers aluminium supply crunch and shutdowns across Middle East Region produces 10% of global output, enough to threaten ‘repricing across base metals’ if outages continue

"The war in Iran has caused smelter closures and “force majeure” declarations across the aluminium industry in the Middle East, threatening a supply crunch in the key industrial metal with global stocks already close to historic lows."

Israel issues unprecedented evacuation notice for Beirut’s southern suburbs, home to 100s of 1000s of people #beirut #lebanon

Amberin is a journalist I trust on this beat

2 to 3 Cups of Coffee a Day May Reduce Dementia Risk. But Not if It’s Decaf.

If one needed additional reasons :)

Since we published this @timep.bsky.social explainer on how Lebanon got pulled into the war on Monday, the death toll has risen to 72 people, 437 have been injured, and the number of those officially displaced (and registered with the state) is now 83,847.

Gulf states in race to secure more US interceptors Washington’s allies in region burn through defensive munitions as they fend off Iranian barrages

"Iran’s relentless barrages are testing alliances, further exposing holes in western production capacity and underscoring the benefits — at least for now — of asymmetrical warfare, in which the west spends millions of dollars taking down projectiles made for a few thousand."

Absolutely spot on comments by Narges Bajoghli.

This is so alarming, perplexing, & raises tons of questions for which this admin probably has no answers. For starters:
Why would Kurds do this, given the US's record of bailing on them in the past? How would this not widen the war? Has the US's NATO ally, Turkey been consulted with for said 'plan'?

None of those people, certainly! Who needs experts?

"One person familiar with the discussions said that the idea would be for Kurdish armed forces to take on the Iranian security forces and pin them down to make it easier for unarmed Iranians in the major cities to turn out without getting massacred again as they were during unrest in January."

CIA working to arm Kurdish forces to spark uprising in Iran, sources say | CNN Politics The CIA is working to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran and the Trump administration has been in active discussions with Iranian opposition groups and Kurdish lea...

"The CIA is working to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran, multiple people familiar with the plan told CNN."

(WSJ) - The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, came under attack twice on Tuesday, causing part of the roof to collapse, according to people familiar with the matter.

@wsj.com

Talking to a Pahlavi to learn about modern Iran is like talking to a self-styled Hapsburg duke to learn about modern Austria. Except stupider.

Made the mistake of looking at what Thomas Friedman wrote today who incredibly called this a “war to bring democracy and the rule of law to Iran” which is very much counter to what Hegseth said this am, which will probably change again by tomorrow.

Congratulations Ben!

Iran Does Not Have Nuclear Weapons - Lawyers, Guns & Money It’s time to say it again: It’s highly doubtful that the Iranians were pursuing a nuclear weapon. And they certainly don’t have any. Donald Trump says that (one of the purposes/ the purpose) of his at...

I would remiss if I did not adequately amplify @cherylrofer.bsky.social's concise, clear, and unassailable summary of why one of the Trump administration's main rationales for its illegal war is bullshit.

Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has all but stopped since yesterday.

Read the @financialtimes.com Economics editor, Sam Fleming's analysis of what the impact the war in Iran will have on the global economy
www.ft.com/content/31bf...

After Khamenei, who rules Iran? Under fire from US and Israeli jets, the Islamic republic’s leaders turn to succession

Good FT piece on Iran's complex political system and opaque struggles among elite factions on issue of succession and country's trajectory. All well known to scholars & analysts of Iran of course and something I feel confident those running things now know or care little about sadly.

🧵 Oman has reported direct spillover from the regional escalation: two drones struck Duqm port (one injury), and an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz was hit (four injured crew). This marks the first confirmed incidents on Omani soil and waters during the current crisis.

"There is a persistent belief in Washington that enough explosions will cause the Iranian people to rise up against their government. History suggests otherwise."

Hacked Prayer App Sends “Surrender” Messages to Iranians Amid Israeli Strikes As Israeli airstrikes hit Tehran this morning, millions of Iranians received mysterious push notifications saying that “help is on the way”, promising amnesty if they surrender.

From our team in the Middle East: As Israeli airstrikes hit Tehran this morning, millions of Iranians received mysterious push notifications saying that “help is on the way”, promising amnesty if they surrender.
wrd.cm/4l0QScB

Iran war throws oil market into biggest crisis in decades Global energy markets face one of their gravest shocks in decades as joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory missile attacks across the Gulf disrupt oil exports from the world’s most important producing region.

Iran war throws oil market into biggest crisis in decades reut.rs/4smHIcZ

Footage from Minab, Iran, shows the aftermath of an Israeli-US strike on a girls' elementary school that reportedly killed more than 50 people.

And when people (generally woman) report them, they are most often punished with severe reputational and career costs. The double standard is incredibly unfair and has affected just about everyone you know who hasn’t protected themselves by staying silent.

Defensive munition shortages to shape any US attack on Iran US and Israel burned through interceptors at an unprecedented rate during last year’s 12-day war

"...the US military is weighing the likelihood that Iran’s retaliation will strain the supply of those crucial munitions while it struggles to replenish them, affecting not just the war in Ukraine but also Washington’s battle plans for any possible conflict with China or Russia."

There’s so much to be written on this. I’ve heard some truly vile things in this vein from men who would absolutely consider themselves progressives.

War With Iran Would Be Illegal and Stupid. Democrats Should Care. Now is the time for Democratic leaders to stand firm against the risk of a catastrophic conflict.

An unpopular president is about to drag the country into an unpopular war. Democratic leader should be out front in opposition, not politely asking for a briefing.

My piece in @foreignpolicy.com foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/27/d...

"Freedom in Iraq will flourish, and a long-suffering people will be vindicated as the curtains close on a legacy of corruption in a Baghdad courtroom." John Thune, 2005.
bsky.app/profile/stev...

I'm so sorry for your loss, Karen.