Analyst Vedran Obućina states that a conflict between the US and Iran is not inevitable, and military force serves as pressure in negotiations. He emphasizes that only Iranians can change the government in Tehran, not external attacks.

The CIA recruitment effort comes amid a massive buildup of U.S. military forces in the Middle East.

Mohammad-Amin Biglari, 19, is one of seven young Iranians sentenced to death after the January protests, while thousands of others were arrested. The crackdown, with its summary trials, forced confessions and inhumane prison conditions, has illustrated both the scale and brutality of the regime's control.

While Iranians protest, the children of Iran's ruling elite reportedly live lavishly in the West, funded by state money, sparking public anger as their parents criticize Western values.

As the United States assembles its greatest military firepower in decades in the Middle East, Iranians are warily awaiting the next round of talks with the US in Geneva this week – negotiations that m

CIA Director John Ratcliffe joins classified Iran briefing as agency releases Farsi video providing digital security guidance for Iranian activists seeking to contact U.S. intelligence.

The Tehran Times published a 'Letter to disillusioned Iranians,' addressing the sentiments and challenges faced by the populace.

Despite the Iranian leadership's attempts to suppress resistance with massive force, students are once again taking to the streets. Many Iranians hope for help from the USA.

Anxiety is growing among Iranians as they anticipate a potential looming conflict with the United States.

Tensions are escalating in the Middle East as the US sends signals of a potential attack on Iran, with many Iranians reportedly receiving messages about Donald Trump's decisive actions.

Iran has threatened a counter-attack even in the event of a 'limited' US strike, as Washington increases its military presence in the Gulf and several countries advise their citizens to leave Iran.

Four Iranian nationals have been detained off the Gujarat coast in India, found in possession of 100,000 cigarette packets and a satellite phone.

Inspired by the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, two film students created 'Memories of a Window,' a documentary paying tribute to Iranians who risk their lives to film dissent from their homes.

Iran's military chief issued a warning to Trump against war, while an Iranian negotiator stated a nuclear deal is possible if the U.S. lifts sanctions. Meanwhile, Pelosi's call for harsher sanctions on Iranians was condemned as a crime against humanity.

Iranians are facing severe economic pressure due to the escalating costs of food and essential goods, compounded by the looming threat of a US attack.

Some Iranians express such strong hatred for the current regime that they would welcome a war, even from the US, with four individuals sharing their differing views on the prospect of conflict.

CIA launches fresh social media push to recruit Iranians as Trump threatens military action  Reuters

The cost of essential goods and food staples is rapidly increasing for Iranians, exacerbating economic hardship as the country faces the looming threat of a US attack.

An American-Iranian journalist has written about Iran's former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who is increasingly seen as a leading figure of the Iranian opposition, despite being urged by several Iranians not to do so.

US AIR Force tanker aircraft are lined up at Ben Gurion airport, near Tel Aviv.—Reuters • CSIS report terms current convergence of US military hardware largest since 2003 Iraq war, but smaller than 1991’s ‘Desert Storm’ • Ahead of Geneva talks, Iran says it is ready to take any steps towards a nuclear deal WASHINGTON: As the world’s largest aircraft carrier sails to join a massive military build-up in the Middle East, a new study reveals that the deployment looks to be structured for “li...

The American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has publicly posted instructions on its official X account, guiding Iranian citizens on how to securely contact the agency.

Donald Trump reportedly admitted that his promise of 'help on the way' for Iranians actually signifies a 'bad day' for them, according to the Tehran Times.

Iranians express concern over an American military buildup as a critical round of talks approaches, highlighting rising tensions in the region.

As the Trump administration heads into nuclear talks with Tehran after a government crackdown killed thousands, widespread outrage has not abated, Iranians say.

Students across Iranian universities have resumed protests, calling for regime change amidst ongoing domestic unrest and international scrutiny.

At the Haji Omaran border crossing, 20 Minuten meets nervous and terrified Iranians. The discussion revolves around protests, missing persons, and the decline of the Rial. Some, but not all, hope for a US attack.

Iranian students chanted anti-government slogans and scuffled with counterprotesters on Saturday in the latest display of anger at the country's clerical leaders, who also face a US military build-up aimed at pressuring them into a nuclear deal. The gatherings at universities, which were reported by both local and diaspora media outlets, followed a mass protest movement that was met with a government crackdown last month that left thousands dead. The crackdown had prompted US President Donald Tr

Window Closing On Iran Diplomacy: IAEA's Grossi Issues Pessimistic Outlook Oil prices climbed early Thursday as markets zeroed in on the prospect of US action against Iran, lifting energy shares alongside crude - with West Texas Intermediate above $66 a barrel. The US military build-up in the Middle East means Iran's window to reach a diplomatic agreement over its atomic activities - which Tehran insists is for peaceful domestic energy purposes - is at risk of closing fast, according to the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog speaking to Bloomberg Television.  At this moment the Trump-assembled armada threatening Iran includes two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of jets, and advanced air defenses. Over 150 US military cargo flights have delivered weapons to the Middle East this month, with a surge of aircraft still headed to the region. Some say the build-up is already nearing Iraq war levels. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi underscored the clock is ticking. "There is not much time but we are working on something concrete," said Grossi, in reference to meetings in Geneva with Iranian diplomats. "There are a couple of solutions the IAEA has proposed. IAEA inspectors haven't verified the state of Iran's stockpile of near-bomb-grade uranium or assessed the scope of damage dealt to enrichment facilities for more than eight months. Ironically enough, it was the unprovoked surprise Israeli and US attacks which shut the door on such inspections, also after the White House itself insisted on several occasions that the Islamic Republic's nuclear program was "obliterated" in the series of US bunker-buster bomb attacks on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Which is it? Bloomberg and various analysts have speculated that before the Israeli attacks in June, Iran had enough highly-enriched material to quickly craft about a dozen warheads, assuming the scenario Tehran issued the order to weaponize its nuclear program. Grossi said he also met with Trump’s envoys on Tuesday in Geneva, alongside the IAEA's some six hours of meetings with Iranian diplomats. He asserted that an IAEA return to the damaged facilities in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz "hinges on the possibility of a wider type of agreement." "We are conscious of the fact that there is this political negotiation," Grossi added. However, the Iranians are likely going to remain deeply distrustful of the UN watchdog and Grossi himself, given that the surprise June attack resulted in Iranian officials accusing the IAEA team of leaking sensitive data on Iranian facilities to Israel. This is perhaps why Grossi himself appears pessimistic when commenting on the potential the forge a new deal before US military action ensues.  "There cannot be a deal if the IAEA isn’t able to verify," said Grossi, who described to Bloomberg he's seeking a solution by threading the red lines set by both sides. "It’s not impossible," he said. "There are certain things that Iran understands cannot be pursued. We have to provide the watertight verification there is no deviation." Some reports say a US attack on Iran could come as early as this weekend... Major US naval, air buildup in the Middle East sets stage for potential Iran war. CNN and CBS reported Wednesday that the US military will be ready to launch strikes against Iran as early as this weekend, though Trump has reportedly not made a final decision yet… pic.twitter.com/cRJOwP2PY8 February 19, 2026 As the second US carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is about to enter the Mediterranean while headed toward the CENTCOM area of responsibility, regional analyst Levent Kemal observes, "The US military buildup in the Middle East is going beyond dialogue or gunboat diplomacy. This is clearly an important preparation for a war aimed at removing the Iranian regime from the regional power balance equation." Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 09:15

At this year's Munich Security Conference, Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has urged European leaders to help Iranians topple the Iranian regime. But does Europe have any leverage to deliver o

The American Central Intelligence Agency has published new instructions in Farsi on social media for Iranians seeking to contact the agency securely, as Donald Trump threatens military action.

The CIA published instructions in Persian on social media for Iranian citizens who wish to safely contact the American agency.

Gujarat Police reported that Iranians ferrying cigarette cargo were likely waylaid by rough seas and engine trouble, suggesting a maritime incident.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump still preferred a diplomatic solution with Iran and that he hoped Iranians took that seriously in their negotiations on Thurs

The Maduro raid encouraged anti-government activists in Iran, some of them said. But it doesn’t appear to have sent a clear message to Tehran’s leadership.

Iranians worry over American military buildup as last-chance round of talks nears  Associated Press News

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has published instructions on its official X account, guiding Iranians on how to establish safe contact.

The CIA has issued a rare public call in Farsi, instructing Iranian anti-regime protesters on how to securely contact the agency online, stating it wants to help.

Stores are well-stocked and shortages of food and other essential supplies have not been reported, but many Iranians are in limbo as they wait to see whether U.S. forces will attack.

A mass Farsi SMS campaign to Iranian protesters claims Trump is "a man of action" amid unrest, with many waiting for outside intervention.

Iran has received anonymous texts hinting at US action, amid escalating tensions with President Trump. The US has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East, considering strikes even as diplomatic talks loom. Meanwhile, renewed anti-government protests are sweeping across Iran, amplifying fears of a potential conflict.

A Tehran resident reportedly told KAN Reshet Bet that anti-regime activists in Iran would prefer a precise Israeli strike over a destructive US attack, as they await a US response amid ongoing protests and crackdowns.

Oil Surges On Report Warning US-Iran War Is Far Closer Than Americans Realize Axios' Barak Ravid, a journalist very close to the Israeli government, writes Wednesday that the Trump White House is now "closer to a major war in the Middle East than most Americans realize. It could begin very soon." The sources he spoke to, which could be American or Israeli, say that such an operation would be a "massive" campaign at least weeks in sustained length. If it the campaign goes the way of Iraq or Afghanistan, or Syria, the conflict could eventually be measured in years and not just months. Further, "The sources noted it would likely be a joint U.S.-Israeli campaign that's much broader in scope — and more existential for the regime — than the Israeli-led 12-day war last June, which the U.S. eventually joined to take out Iran's underground nuclear facilities." USAF/CNN All of this looks to be going down with no public or Congressional debate whatsoever: "With the attention of Congress and the public otherwise occupied, there is little public debate about what could be the most consequential U.S. military intervention in the Middle East in at least a decade," notes Axios. Both sides are citing 'progress' in the two rounds of indirect negotiations (in Oman and then Geneva) which have taken place thus far, however, there's been nothing yet in the way of specific agreement. Washington's commitment to see talks through even for weeks at this point is highly in quesiton. The following was the initial Iranian assessment of how the talks led by Witkoff and Kushner in Geneva went this week: Iran has said it has reached an understanding with the US on the main "guiding principles" to resolve their dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme. Speaking after indirect talks in Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added that work still needed to be done. The US said "progress was made". Badr Albusaidi, foreign minister of mediator Oman, said the negotiations "concluded with good progress towards identifying common goals and relevant technical issues". The Iranians have asked for two weeks to hammer out a detailed proposal, with an American official stating, "Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss. The Iranians said they would come back in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address some of the open gaps in our positions." Given President Trump has ordered a second US carrier group to the region, along with a huge number of support aircraft, does Iran really have two weeks to spare?  Oil reaches HOD Wednesday soon on heels of Axios report, with WTI kissing $64/barrel... To some degree, the Iranians are likely buying time, knowing that a surprise, unprovoked attack could be imminent. This would be similar to the June war, but unlike that scenario this would indeed be much bigger. There's reason to believe Trump may stay restrained, however, and give negotiations time. Fear of higher oil prices could ultimately be the deciding factor here, pushing Trump to settle with Iran and not spark another completely unpredictable, likely disastrous war in the Middle East.  Tyler Durden Wed, 02/18/2026 - 08:36

US lawmakers are advocating for funding to provide VPN software to Iranian civilians, enabling them to circumvent government internet restrictions. US agencies are exploring methods to facilitate this access.