this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2026
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Image is one of many rallies in Iran in support of the government and the leadership.


short summary here, longish summary in spoiler tags below: Western standoff munition stockpiles now substantially depleted, therefore Western aircraft activity directly over Iran increasing (as is footage of attempted and actual hits against them) as the US attempts to transition more to using bombs dropped directly onto targets, Iran is increasingly in the driver's seat and controlling the conflict, world economy is fucked and yet could still get much worse very soon, if you require a car to live (especially if it's not electric) and cannot work from home then you have my sincere condolences

longish summary hereWhile I've seen several estimates on the current stockpiles of US and Zionist missiles and interceptors - somewhere in the realm of a third depleted, perhaps even up to half - it seems like we're reaching the point at which the US does not want to commit even more standoff munitions and is trying their luck against the Iranian air defense network directly.

We have already seen footage of Iran attempting to shoot down, and sometimes actually striking Western fifth generation planes like the F-35, and more footage along those lines is appearing for other plane models (with one side claiming that they evaded interception and the other claiming they hit it, etc etc, propaganda is everywhere, you know the drill). How much the US is willing to test their planes against Iranian air defense is a matter of debate. Strictly speaking, a few fighter jets and bombers shot down would be no catastrophic loss in the grand scheme of things, as the US has hundreds. However, the narrative of such a thing would be quite bad for the US - "You're telling me an OBLITERATED Iranian military can shoot down some of our most advanced equipment?? What are we gonna do against China?!" - and given Trump's deranged jingoistic rhetoric aimed to buoy markets, it's clear that he cares very deeply about narratives. Additionally, with Chinese exports of several critical metals to the US banned, the prospect of replacing these aircraft (and indeed the standoff munitions and the interceptors and the ground radars etc) is looking questionable.

All the while, Iran continues its strikes across the Middle East. Missile and drone strikes are reportedly on the uptick again, demonstrating that Iranian military capabilities have by no means been "destroyed" as Western propaganda claim, though it's impossible to sure there was ever a significant downtick due to Western censorship and outright fabrications. People around the world are gradually realizing the magnitude of the economic disaster that is occurring and may yet occur. Refineries and factories which deal with oil and gas directly are starting to slow down or stop production, and those who make products downstream of those are starting to follow them like dominoes. Outrage at gas station prices is rising, and many countries are considering limiting civilian driving and implementing work-from-home policies akin to the coronavirus pandemic. And now, threats are being made by Trump against both Kharg Island (where most Iranian oil is shipped from) and the Iranian electrical grid - which is highly decentralized and would require a prolonged bombing campaign to completely take out -and the promised Iranian reprisal would be apocalyptic to the Middle East. It would make oil prices rise to previously unfathomable heights as oil infrastructure turned off and remained off for months, perhaps years, and set in motion one of the world's greatest humanitarian catastrophes as the desalination necessary for tens of millions of people is shut down. It would also not be a symmetrical problem, as Iran does not rely on desalination for its water supply.


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Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.

Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.

Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:

Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.

https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.

Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:

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https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.


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[–] companero@hexbear.net 33 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (16 children)

China and Pakistan's joint ceasefire plan for Iran, after the meeting of their Foreign Ministers:

  • Immediate Cessation of Hostilities, with humanitarian assistance allowed to all war-affected areas.
  • Start of peace talks as soon as possible under the principle of safeguarding the independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states. All parties will commit to refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
  • The parties to the conflict will immediately stop attacks on important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
  • The parties will allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
  • Conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

At first glance, this sucks, but "no threats or use of force during peace talks" is a pretty big deal. If this is serious, that would imply withdrawal of the US buildup and some kind of formal guarantee. There would presumably be no ridiculous loophole for the US to "end the talks" and then attack.

Note that these are only conditions for a ceasefire, not the final peace agreement. Reparations would still be on the table. Iran could use the ceasefire to consolidate their forces.

In my opinion, Iran should accept this. Basically zero chance that the Great and Lesser Satans also accept it, and it will be good for their international relations.

A big question mark is Lebanon and Hezbollah. Iran obviously can't leave them on their own.

[–] Boise_Idaho@hexbear.net 1 points 37 minutes ago* (last edited 37 minutes ago)

People are making a big deal out of a nothingburger. This is just going to be the first out of many many proposed ceasefires that are not worth the paper it's printed on for the very simple reason that neither party will agree to even sit down with the other side, let alone come to the consensus on anything and the third parties lack the means to make them sit down through force. It's like the millions of proposed ceasefires and talks and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. All of them amounted to nothing.

Negotiations will not happen until one side sues for peace or both sides realize that they are better off ceasing hostilities. A third party crafting the perfect ceasefire means nothing unless that third party has the means to force the two to sit down, whether it's through their own military waging war on the two or turning economic screws that destroys the economies of both parties. China's military is not strong enough to take on both the US and Iran and it won't make moves to destroy both economies for the sake of a ceasefire. Therefore, the ceasefire won't be seriously entertained by the two parties and is meaningless regardless of its particular merits and deficiencies.

[–] Evilphd666@hexbear.net 21 points 4 hours ago

All parties will commit to refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.

forgot-to-ask isntrael

[–] Wakmrow@hexbear.net 12 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

If I'm Iran, there is no way this is acceptable in the slightest unless they've exhausted nearly all their missiles and drones. Or if they seriously think the US will nuke them

  1. Immediate cessation of hostilities. This benefits the Americans. Trump gets an offramp from an unwinnable war that is destroying quite a lot of goodwill and political power. They'll rebuild their bases and rearm. Trump will claim this as a victory and say the regime has been changed to more reasonable people. The problem for the US right now is that they cannot just leave the region as Iran can continue hitting bases and gulf states.

  2. Security and safety of Iran and the gulf states. Why would Iran want or need this. It doesn't seem the state of Iran is in immediate danger at the moment. Yes, civilians are being bombed. The state doesn't seem to be in much danger, however. And Iran has specifically targeted and called out the gulf states to change their policies around submitting to the US.

  3. Targeting infrastructure. Iran could benefit from this since I assume it will be much more difficult for them to rebuild than Israel or the gulf states. But also, it feels like other states are more vulnerable than they are to infrastructure destruction.

  4. Opening the straight. This obviously only benefits the US.

  5. Working within the UN charter. Oh yeah. Sure. The UN that sanctioned Iran. That has condemned Iran's "attacks" on gulf states but not the bombing of Iran. Yeah. Ok. Work within that framework. International law, like assassinating heads of state will be respected.

[–] Infamousblt@hexbear.net 20 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

This only works if China provides strong security guarantees to Iran. If not, it's just another pause for the US to regroup and pick a different attack vector

[–] woodenghost@hexbear.net 19 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

They won't and everyone knows it. And while it doesn't work in that way, this statement works well in another way: increasing international pressure on Iran to give up resistance against this war and the next war and the next, until Iran is turned into Lybia and Lebanon is ethnically cleansed and the final solution to the Palestine question is completed. Pakistan and China have effectively lend a diplomatic hand to US imperialism. I'm not judging their intentions, just stating the effect.

[–] mkultrawide@hexbear.net 19 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

This is only useful to the extent China can enforce it. That means doing things like stopping all trade with Israel or the US if they violate it, something China has been generally unwilling to do.

[–] duderium@hexbear.net 24 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

my cease-fire proposal is that Iran should keep firing missiles and blockading the straight of hormones until Israel and the USA no longer exist. Then the fire will finally cease.

Speech-to-text is responsible for “straight of hormones” and I’m leaving it in.

[–] aanes_appreciator@hexbear.net 20 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

strait of hormones

on trans day of visibility too smh my head

[–] Speaker@hexbear.net 4 points 2 hours ago

Straight AF hormones

[–] SuperZutsuki@hexbear.net 8 points 4 hours ago

lemme take a dip in the strait real quick...

[–] hotcouchguy@hexbear.net 23 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Does "all war-affected areas" include Lebanon and Palestine?

Also, I would fucking hope that China was collaborating with Iran behind the scenes while drafting this, and there is more going on here than the obvious.

[–] woodenghost@hexbear.net 25 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

At first glance, this sucks, but "no threats or use of force during peace talks" is a pretty big deal.

At second glance, this sucks even more. After all the betrayals during negotiations, no agreement is worth anything without a strong military power able to enforce it. China won't offer to do it. Russia can't do it. UN peacekeepers are a joke. So Iran is left to do it alone by permanently removing US presence in the golf. It's the only way to peace right now.

[–] CyborgMarx@hexbear.net 31 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

If the Chinese really need their helium, they should negotiate directly with Iran

Pakistan is a US puppet state and the US/Israel would never honor any agreement with Iran. This is Chinese naivete manifest in its worst form; they've allowed themselves to be maneuvered into the role of useful idiot by US promises relayed by Pakistan. And I say this with utmost certainty: Iran will NEVER see a dime of reparations from the likes of the US and Israel and the US doesn't deploy expeditionary marine units for the sake of negotiating, they will use them first and the Chinese should fuckin know that

Politically and socially in Iran it would be deeply unpopular and will weaken the regime, Hezbollah would be left to fight on alone, and give the US time to redeploy and try again in a year

[–] Hestia@hexbear.net 21 points 5 hours ago (3 children)

I don't think they're being naive, they probably understand that the US is not going to stand down. I think this is China showing that they are the adults in the room. There's a major component of theater in politics.

[–] newmou@hexbear.net 3 points 2 hours ago

This even after Iran threw out oil shipments through the straight to be paid in yuan. Jfc

[–] ComradeRat@hexbear.net 18 points 4 hours ago

I think China is showing they care more about Chinese national interests than opposing imperialism internationally

I miss Lenin and Fidel

[–] CyborgMarx@hexbear.net 23 points 5 hours ago

Any diplomacy that advises Iran to abandon its offensive military strategy has crossed from adult rooming to straight up appeasement of US imperialism; if they know the US won't stand down, then the only viable course of action is maximalist pressure that collapses US logistical capacity in the region

The Chinese at this late date should recognize they are dealing with fascists who take any signal of cooperation and restraint as inherent weakness, which invites further war

The velvet glove has dissolved completely; what's needed now is an iron fist

[–] aanes_appreciator@hexbear.net 10 points 4 hours ago

seems like China realpolitik moment

[–] replaceable@hexbear.net 39 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

I dont think allowing passage through the strait is a good idea, even temporarily, that would give breathing room for the west, allowing them to wage the war longer before the economic crisis onsets

[–] darkcalling@hexbear.net 18 points 5 hours ago

As Russia has said many times. A ceasefire only benefits their enemies. It's the same here. A ceasefire only benefits the west in giving its soldiers and settlers rest and peace, time to re-arm, time to build up stockpiles of things, time to spy on and strategize future strikes on Iran and who to kill, etc.

The momentum is clearly on the side of Iran if they continue. Their problem in the past has always been striking back then backing off and calling it off letting the enemy think they can attack Iran and only have to endure a short and not that painful response so they keep attacking them, pausing, then attacking again when they feel ready for another response. Right now is Iran's time to break that image for good by keeping this up for some time. At least another month.

[–] immuredanchorite@hexbear.net 10 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

I see a lot of doomerism and criticism of China- maybe rightfully so- but to me, this sent a chill down my spine. I think they are putting this forward because they want to avoid nukes

[–] Damarcusart@hexbear.net 3 points 1 hour ago

I think a lot of people are mad China isn't trying to be the World Police and instead wants to avoid needless bloodshed. It's not like this is an order forced onto Iran, this is an offer that Iran can choose to take if they think it is in their best interest.

It kind of worries me how some people get around here whenever there is an anti-imperialist war or the threat of it. They act like liberals with Ukraine, wanting countries (that they don't live in) to fight the US down to every last man, woman and child in the country. We saw this with Venezuela as well. I don't think China is wrong for trying to de-escalate and trying to avoid WW3.

[–] TheoryofChange@hexbear.net 23 points 5 hours ago

I obviously don't know the true military situation in Iran, but based on what I do know, I don't think they should accept this deal, even if the us and Israel were open to it. There is no guarantees that the us will withdraw all assets from neighboring countries, nor a specific mechanism to ensure the Epstein forces won't simply ignore the ceasefire and attack again at some point in the future.

[–] Stylistillusional@hexbear.net 12 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

The details don't matter because neither side actually wants peace right now. At the beginning of the SMO you saw the same thing: every country that wanted to profile themselves internationally seemed to be promoting their own peace talk initiatives.

Everybody knows neither side of the conflict can force the other to give in to their demands right now. Just like with Ukraine, everybody will keep talking about being open to 'serious' peace negotiations.

[–] woodenghost@hexbear.net 18 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

neither side actually wants peace right now

Iran wants peace. It's just that the only possible way to peace is to remove dangerous extremist elements from the equation who have proven again and again, that they won't accept "yes" for an answer to any of their demands, instead opting to sabotage any peace talks with extreme violence. I'm talking about the US who got everything they wanted in the last peace talks and threw it all away, because they absolutely needed to go to war at any cost. I'm not saying they were dumb or brutal. They really actually needed war for material reasons and contradictions within US capital. And they still do. They materially can not stop the forever wars by themselves. They need to be stopped from the outside. China ignoring this material fact is disappointing.

[–] InexplicableLunchFiend@hexbear.net 19 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Nah fuck this, China needs to fuck off and stop trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Them applying pressure on Iran to basically surrender and give up all their leverage is not strategic, and hopefully this is diplomatic bullshit for the public and not what Chinese leadership actually thinks is a good solution.

The strait stays closed until Israel and USA are brought to heel. They must be punished or this will continue to repeat indefinitely

[–] WalrusDragonOnABike@reddthat.com 28 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

The parties to the conflict will immediately stop attacks on ... peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.

There would presumably be no ridiculous loophole for the US to “end the talks” and then attack.

Seems like a weird specific clarification in the 3rd bullet point that sounds like an intentional loophole. Not sure how you'd attack "non-peaceful nuclear infrastructure" while following the 1st and 2nd bullet points, still feels like some weird wording.

[–] hotcouchguy@hexbear.net 9 points 5 hours ago

Isn't Dimona nominally-peaceful, while producing plutonium for weapons? So I guess this leaves the door open to considering it a military target? But if so, I'm surprised they would do that considering the rest of the proposal