Trump Iran War Dilemma: Escalate, Walk Away, or Concede?
The Duran: Episode 2496

Trump Begs Iran Talks; Gives Up On Hormuz; Lavrov Crisis Becoming World War; Chechens Fight For Iran
Topic 1858

Cuba Crisis: Will Havana Choose BRICS or the United States?
The Duran: Episode 2495

The Duran: Episode 961
France's Marine Le Pen Acquitted in Case Over Violating Hate Speech Laws
https://sputniknews.com/europe/202105041082797685-frances-marine-le-pen-acquitted-in-case-over-violating-hate-speech-laws/

We are now back to summer time in both the US and Europe so our Live Stream today is at our usual time in both regions.

Obviously the main topic for discussion will be the two wars: the one in the Middle East and the continuing one in Ukraine.

Trump is apparently intending to make some sort of national address later today but these often turn out to be underwhelming and will presumably happen after our Live Stream is ended. For the record, the pattern of US military build up continues and to my mind points to an intensification not a winding down of the war.

As for Ukraine, an interesting overview of the state of the war has been provided by a retired French general, with which I mostly agree. https://harpers.org/archive/2026/04/conflict-resolution-olivier-kempf-kyiv-ukraine-russia/. As it happens there has been a significant uptick in Russian advances over the last few days. Zelensky also claims that the Russians have given him via the Americans a 2 month ultimatum to withdraw...

The First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov:
"The fact is that Finland allows drones that fly to Russia through its territory. In fact, it thereby joined the war with Russia. Yes, indirectly, but nevertheless, when letting these drones pass, it must understand that they can cause damage to our country. People can die, so Russia has every reason to shoot down these drones on the territory of Finland... This applies not only to Finland, it applies to all three Baltic states too."

Iran will attack the offices of Apple, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, Meta, Intel, IBM, Dell, HP, Cisco, Oracle, Palantir, Boeing, Tesla, J.P. Morgan, General Electric (GE) & offices of a number of other companies in the Middle East starting on the evening of April, 1st "As a response to every event in Iran" — IRGC

https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/2039264255132717360/photo/1