More news from the Iranian front, as the world waits for Donald J. Trump to make up his mind about what he will do to make the supreme leader behave, can be found here: “‘Trump is a man of action’: Iranians receive mass SMS message linked with US support for protesters,” by James Genn, Jerusalem Post, February 23, 2026:
Iranian anti-regime protesters received a mass SMS messaging campaign, stating that US President Donald Trump is “a man of action,” local sources reported on Monday.
The messages were written in Farsi, with some reports adding that they included “To the oppressed people of Iran,” as a hook, calling on them to “wait!”
This SMS messaging may have been sent by the Trump administration, to reassure the protesters that this time. Trump means it — “help is on the way” did not come the first time he promised — so don’t lose heart, be patient, and keep up the protests. Or there is another possibility, that the Iranian government itself sent the SMS messaging, trying to create false hopes among the protesters, because Tehran is sure that yet again, Trump will not be attacking, and they want to so demoralize those protesters that they will eventually give up and go home.
And now we have in the media endless discussions of the likelihood, the size, the timing, and the goal, of an American attack on Iran:
Trump is weighing “a much bigger attack [on Iran] in coming months” that would topple the regime and its leaders, the New York Times reported on Sunday, citing individuals briefed on the matter.
The larger attack would come should Iran refuse to “give in to his [Trump’s] demands” regarding its nuclear program, according to the NYT.
On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal similarly reported that Trump was considering options ranging from a weeklong campaign, with the goal of regime change, to a smaller wave of strikes designed to force Iran to agree to a deal favorable for the US.
Iranians, while “waiting every minute and second” for a US strike against the Islamic Regime, would prefer an Israeli strike due to the precise nature of the Air Force’s strikes in June, while there is a perception that US strikes would “bring terrible destruction, like in Iraq and Afghanistan,” a local, identified as Ali told KAN Reshet Bet on Sunday.
Ali added that the Israeli strikes in June focused on targeted hits against “the mercenaries of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps” and the Iranian regime’s leadership, and did not cause harm to “ordinary citizens” or any economic infrastructure.
Additionally, he told KAN that the regime has “brutally murdered and dismembered” over 40,000 people, and injured hundreds of thousands more during the anti-regime protests over the past two months….
The U.S. continues to put out a figure of 7,000 Iranian protesters killed, but the protesters themselves inside Iran, in close contact with Iranians abroad, insist that at least 37,500 Iranians were killed and at least 300,000 wounded during January. These estimates from people inside Iran are likely to be more accurate than guesses that non-Iranians made from thousands of miles away.
Meanwhile, the solution for Iran is no longer a limited military move, but a large, fundamental change, including the ousting of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a Saudi royal family source told N12 on Sunday.
The Saudis have had a change of heart. Early on during the protests, the Saudi government was urging the Americans not to attack Iran, for Riyadh feared that such an attack would bring “instability” to the region. By that, one assumes they meant harm would come to them, as Iran would be likely to lash out at them for being allies of America, and would strike Saudi oil facilities, as they did before to punish Saudi Arabia for supporting the Houthis in Yemen. Now it seems the Iranians have decided to go all in supporting — indeed, urging — an American attack not just to end Iran’s nuclear program and to destroy its ballistic missiles, but to bring about regime change in Tehran. The Saudis figure that any American attack on Iran, if it does not decapitate the regime at once, will be followed by an Iranian attack that almost certainly will include an attack on Saudi oil installations. In that case, Riyadh figures, why not finally put a permanent end to the Iranian threat by having the Americans topple the regime, which would then be replaced by new leaders, possibly including Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as a figurehead monarch to serve as a unifying figure without real power, who unlike the supreme leader and his retinue has no desire to continue making war either directly or through proxies, on any of its neighbors.
The Saudis know that if the supreme leader can be killed, along with a few dozen commanders in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and the Islamic Republic overthrown, there will no longer be an Iranian threat for them to worry about. The Iranians will be able to devote their full attention to Iran’s economy, which is fine by the Saudis. The protesters want an end to the Islamic Republic’s miching malecho across the region; they don’t want another hundred billion dollars spent on the nuclear program, or tens of billions to be sent abroad to support Iran’s proxies, the terror groups Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. Iranians have been suffering economically under the current regime. Almost 50% of the country now lives below the poverty lines. In 1979, when Khomeini first came to power, the rate of exchange was 71 rials to the dollar. Today, there are 1.3 million rials to the dollar.
So the Saudis have declared themselves on the side of regime change in Iran. That’s most welcome. Now let’s wait for the reaction, the fire-and-brimstone reaction, from Tehran. I don’t know if Iran has yet put Saudi oilfields on its target list, but if not, the supreme leader should do so now. Imagine Iran and Saudi Arabia going at it, tooth and nail. After all, one can dream, can’t one?
Walter Sieruk says
President Trump needs to be a man of his word and keep his promise to send and use military force against the horrendously cruel oppressive and murderous tyrannical Islamic regime of Iran. This should be done for many good valid reasons. One which President Trump that he would definitely aid the Iranian people if that regime didn’t stop that mass murder slaughter of the people, which it did not.
For the protesters are patriotic Iranians who are only after a legitimate government installed which respects the God given naturel human rights of the people instead of the horrifically brutal and death –inflecting “mullah regime.”
The US President should not let the Iranian people down and aid them in their righteous and just quest for a genuine government in place of that Islamic that they now suffer under in misery and deadly oppression.
If Donald Trump doesn’t come through with a forceful rescue of the people of , since he promised to help them . He would then prove himself to be a liar and not only tarnish his own credibility but also he would be putting disgrace upon the Office of the Presidency
Walter Sieruk says
The Iranian people are very justified, right and righteous to revolt against that tyrannical oppressive misery and death inflecting ‘’mullah regime’ and President Trump needs to come through with his promise to aid the Iranians in the revolt against that tyranny they now suffer under. If the President doesn’t come through to help them that he would make himself to be a liar.
In addition that Islamic tyrannical regime of Iran is and always was since its very beginning a horrendous violator of human rights, especially females, both girls and women, even the most basic human rights of the Iranian people. Since those tyrants in power in Iran care nothing, at all , for the humans rights as in lives and safety of the people of Iran , how much less do they care ,if even possible, about the lives and safely of the people of other countries.
Furthermore, that Islamic tyranny of Iran is based in the foundation of false and empty promises. As well as lying words of Ayatollah Khomeini After the fiendish Muslim clerics obtained total power in Iran they showed their true colors by having their Islamic state police who are called the “Revolutionary Guards truest the people on Iran in many heinously brutal and ruthless ways. As, for example, their brutal, callous misogyny against both girls and women. This thesis statement is explained, in some detail, by the following.
, That tyrannical Islamic regime in Iran that so falsely and inappropriately has the word “republic” in its title. It should be made known that this called the “Iranian Revolution” turned out to be a hoax. Ayatollah Khomeini before achieving power in Iran in his lying and deceptions presented himself to the Iranian people as if he was someone who would be in power would give freedom to the people of Iran with any tyranny. The reality turned out to be just the opposite.
As explained by a former Muslim as well as a man who took part in this Islamic “revolution “ ,who is now a Christian informs the reader of his book that “Prior to the Revolution no one ever imagined that other political parties would be suppressed under the rule of Ayatollah Khomeini. He had promised that all groups would have freedom to run their own campaigns after the Revolution. He even stated that governing system would be based on the decision of the people via a referendum. He never spoke of a system that would be governed by Islam. He even made clear that mullahs would not take part in any political activities, and that they would only be allowed to teach spirituality… Immediately after the Revolution, mullahs rushed into government offices to occupy the most important political l positions, making it difficult for the interim secular government to function … The mullah’s occupation of position was exactly the opposite to what the Ayatollah Khomeini had promised before the Revolution.”. [1]
In other words, the insincere, disingenuous and outright lying Ayatollah Khomeini made many bogus promise he really had no intention of keeping. His lying deception worked, for he achieved great power in Iran.
Furthermore, of the many heinously evils outcomes of that Islamic “revolution” is the extremely cruel, brutal and demonic misogyny of this hideous Islamic regime. Not only against women but even young girls.
As explained by a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard member who defected to the West and how now lives in America his book also informs the reader about the malicious and murderous affront girls in Iran’s Evin prison which reads that those in power ,the “paraded teenage girls in front in front of me as they led them to their deaths. These girls were barely out of their childhood, barely old enough to think of themselves, much less form thoughts against the state. They knew nothing about the machinations of politics. They were innocent in every sense of the word and certainty innocent of trumped –up charges that led to their imprisonment. Yet they suffered fates too brutal for even the most vicious criminal. ..Their few remaining moments of life had been filled with the level of abuse that few can imagine”
The author further states “They tortured and killed young girls, in God’s name and before their execution they raped them because they believed that if a girl dies virgin, she will go to heaven, and they wanted to deny them this reward.” [2]
This is as malice -filled cruel brutal oppressive malicious and murderous Islamic regime of Iran, since it took power in Iran it thrives on installing fear on the Iranian people.
First, the Bible reads, “All the days of the oppressed are wretched.” Proverbs 15:15. [N.I.V.]
Second, Benjamin Franklin had printed a very true statement in his periodical Poor Richard’s Almanac which may apply to that horrendous tyrannical regime of Iran. It’s “Those who are feared are also hated.”
One important this to understand that since that brutal .cruel oppressive and murderous Islamic regime of Iran was built on a bedrock of lies as well as false and empty and unkempt promises its footing is based on a foundation of sand, therefore the collapse of that hostile horrific and horrendous Islamic tyranny of Iran will be inevitable.
[1] ISLAM THE HOUSE I LEFT BEHIND by Daniel Shayesteh . Pages 90, 91
[2] A TIME TO BETRAY by Reza Kahlili. Pages 2,3. 117.
Westman says
Gee Walter, they all lie. The Taliban bargained with promises for their country and then slowly disregarded them and became the same old evil buggers they were before. What Islamic leader hasn’t lied? MBS sez, “I had nothing to do with that fellow who shipped out in multiple suitcases.”
The sickening evil that the Iranian Regime does to the women is going to be the undoing of the Regime. Lets hope the Karma will dispense true equity.
abu taleb says
When Iran was “only” killing hundreds of people, Trump warned Iran. Now the number goes to 40,000 something, and Trump is still doing nothing. He even thanked Iran for not hanging people (but killing using other methods). Trump should not be trusted 100%.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I wouldn’t trust the texts going into Iran, if I were Iranian, given the hollow threats that the US has issued so far. While I would listen to what Trump says at the SOTU tonight, I do think this is being dragged on too long. The sooner he gets this out of the way, the better
As mentioned in the past, there needn’t be any occupation of Iran. Once Khamenei is removed, killed, goes into hiding or exile, the Pahlavi transition plan can be put into effect, and Iranians can determine how they want to move forward. While we can pull those troops home, or relocate them to the Indo-Pacific arena
Hank says
I think Israel holds the key as Trump has no understanding of Islam and its mindset. Israel is fighting for its survival and knows what the Islamic mindset is and has good knowledge of the jihadist IRGC and Basij groups. There is no need for boots on the ground as it seems clear that the Iranian people want to de-Islamize and have already shown it with the currency of tens-of-thousands of dead demonstrators. They just need a little assistance and some ammo depots available and will go after these jihadists themselves. Especially those militias from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq oppressing them who may flee through the border.
Trump is gathering too much firepower in one place which I don’t think is smart. Carrier groups should be at least 100 miles east of Muscat. Modern weapons can hit the IRGC in seconds. We are not talking about bow’s and arrow’s
Kirk says
That is the state of affairs the US finds itself throughout history—either way, if we react or don’t react we are condemned. So many countries actually see America as a savior, but there comes a time when these countries need to contemplate how they got to that point to begin with.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I would have been fine w/ a stated policy that these massacres are Iran’s internal affairs, and none of our business. But that’s not what Trump said. He warned them of dire consequences if they killed anybody, and Iran responded by killing thousands of people. In 2017, when Syria launched a chemical attack after a US warning, there was an instant retaliation on Syrian chemical weapons targets. This year, when Iran massacred people after US warnings, we’re desperately trying to negotiate w/ them on nukes, missiles and their terror proxies, and narrowing down the scope of those discussions at their request. It’s almost like it’s Biden running this White House
Kepha says
If Iranians change their regime and want to mend relations with the USA, I’m all for it. But I’m wary of another big intervention. The USA does empire very badly, and ends up making more enemies than friends. I am concerned that the minute we bomb an Iranian facility, whatever goodwill we ay have built up in the Iranian street over the decades will also go up in smoke.
An outsider “taking over” is never welcome.