Transcript [00:00] Hey everyone, let's get right to it. [00:02] I've been doing reviews of Iranian [00:04] regime media every few days since the [00:07] beginning of this war and even in the [00:09] lead-up to it. And today I want to look [00:11] at two news items, news items, articles [00:14] that appeared on the same day on WANA, [00:18] which is the West Asia Asia News Agency, [00:22] WANA, w a n a. That's the Iranian [00:24] regime's English-language outlet, one of [00:26] them, one of the the main one. And I [00:28] want to look at these two items side by [00:31] side because when you read them [00:33] together, they tell you something really [00:36] important about where the regime is [00:38] right now and what message they're [00:40] trying to send. And if you're new to [00:42] this channel and you're wondering why am [00:43] I reading the propaganda of the Iranian [00:45] regime, that's exactly why I'm reading [00:48] it because it is their propaganda. You [00:50] see, when you read the media of the [00:52] West, when you read [00:54] media from a from a country that has [00:56] freedom of the press, you don't [00:57] necessarily know what the government is [01:00] trying to do. You can't read between the [01:02] lines and figure out what's happening [01:04] inside the leadership just from reading [01:07] what news items are there. But because [01:09] there is no freedom of the press and you [01:11] know that every single story is [01:13] deliberately chosen by the regime for a [01:15] purpose, it actually is in some ways [01:18] more revealing than than free media is. [01:22] I hope that made sense. All right, [01:23] [snorts] so let's so let's start with [01:25] the first story. [01:27] Let me pull it up here. [01:30] And here we go. [01:34] The first item is, look at this. [01:37] And this is true. This is this actually [01:39] is this is accurate. Israel shuts down [01:42] two major gas platforms fearing Iranian [01:46] strikes. [01:48] Okay? [01:49] Throughout the 40-day conflict waged by [01:52] the Israeli regime and the United States [01:54] and Iran. And notice they call it the [01:55] 40-day conflict. This is something that [01:57] I've pointed out before, very important. [02:01] The Iranian regime refers to the to the [02:03] hostilities that began on February 28th [02:05] and ended with the beginning of this [02:07] quote unquote ceasefire, the 40-day [02:09] conflict because of the resonance with [02:11] Shiite theology and history of the [02:14] importance of 40 days. It's beyond the [02:16] scope of this conversation to talk about [02:17] it, but you should find this other [02:19] videos on this on this channel where I [02:21] discuss it. In just to put it very [02:23] short, in Shiite history and Shiite [02:26] theology, the 40th day after someone is [02:29] martyred [02:31] it for the cause is is this is this day [02:35] of recommitment to the cause. [02:38] And it's it's usually [02:41] marked by these big demonstrations and [02:43] and uh [02:45] um and shows of of of resolve and [02:49] commitment. So they call it the 40-day [02:51] conflict. Okay, throughout the 40-day [02:53] conflict waged by the Israeli regime and [02:55] the United States against Iran, Israel [02:58] was forced to shut down its major [02:59] Leviathan and and Karish gas platforms [03:02] due to the imminent threat of Iranian [03:04] strikes. This strategic withdrawal from [03:07] the energy market has reportedly [03:09] inflicted billions of dollars in losses [03:11] on the Israeli economy. [03:13] Israeli media outlets report that the [03:15] Tamar platform, operated by the American [03:18] firm Chevron, was the only offshore [03:21] facility to remain active during the [03:23] war. [03:24] It effectively became the central pillar [03:26] of the energy sector and the sole [03:28] supplier of natural gas, barely managing [03:31] to prevent a total national blackout. [03:34] The vulnerability of these assets was [03:36] highlighted by direct Iranian strikes on [03:38] the Bazan refinery complex in Haifa. [03:40] Simultaneously, a barrage of drones and [03:43] missiles targeted various [03:44] gas platforms within the regime's [03:47] economic waters, the regime meaning [03:48] Israel. The This forced Israeli military [03:51] and security institutions into a [03:53] precarious dilemma, weigh the [03:55] catastrophic risks of an explosion at an [03:57] active site against the immediate [03:59] economic devastation of a total energy [04:02] shutdown. Ultimately, the decision was [04:04] made to prioritize safety by suspending [04:07] operations at both Leviathan and Karsh [04:09] and Karish, [04:11] the two [04:12] gas fields. Okay, that is the entire [04:15] story [04:17] and it ran today. And what should strike [04:19] you immediately is that [04:22] this is just talking about something [04:23] that happened over the course of the [04:25] 40-day of the 40-day what they call the [04:27] 40-day war of the fighting [04:29] during that time, why are they running [04:31] the story today? [04:33] So a few things. First of all, [04:35] is this true? Yes, it is. Israel did [04:38] shut down Leviathan and Karish when the [04:41] war started in February. That's [04:42] documented. The economic damage was [04:43] real. Uh there were about 300 million [04:46] shekels a week of damage. [04:50] 300 million shekels, so about so about [04:52] 100 million dollars. Okay? So the [04:55] underlying factor is accurate. But [04:57] here's what you need to understand about [04:59] Iranian regime media. [05:01] Okay? [05:03] This is [05:04] the [05:05] This is not a news item about Israeli [05:08] energy infrastructure. The message is [05:11] we can make Israel afraid for its own [05:15] energy without even firing a single [05:17] missile. It's a flex. Think about that [05:20] for a second. Iran didn't hit the [05:21] Leviathan, it didn't hit Karish. Israel [05:24] shut it down themselves [05:27] preemptively out of fear of what Iran [05:29] might do. [05:31] And now Iranian regime media runs that [05:33] fact as some kind of victory, as a [05:35] trophy. They're saying, "Look what our [05:37] mere presence in this war accomplishes." [05:40] It's a psychological warfare operation [05:43] dressed up as a news article. [05:45] Now there's a second layer here that I [05:47] want you to notice. [05:48] We're right now in what appears to be a [05:50] diplomatic window, right? There are [05:52] talks maybe happening. There's a pause [05:55] in [05:56] certain type of hostilities. [05:59] Negotiations are reportedly happening in [06:02] back channels. If Iran chooses today to [06:04] publish a story reminding everyone that [06:07] Israel's energy infrastructure is [06:09] exposed, [06:12] this is a message to the negotiating [06:14] table. [06:15] Don't think you've taken the threat off [06:17] the table. We haven't fired a shot at [06:19] Leviathan and Israel already shut it [06:20] down themselves. [06:22] And this is not a piece of journalism. [06:23] This is a negotiating tactic. Okay, now [06:25] let's look at the second item from [06:27] today. [06:28] And um [06:31] and then we'll [06:33] then we'll put them together. Because [06:35] here's the second item. Iran in active [06:37] talks with Russia [06:40] to complete Bushehr nuclear plant. Now [06:42] what think think of what this is [06:43] reporting. I have one of my rules in [06:46] reading the news, [06:48] and this isn't even a really a news [06:49] item, remember, it's Iran media. But [06:51] even if it was an even if it it's [06:52] dressed up as a new a news item. [06:55] One of my rules is pay attention to news [06:58] items that aren't reporting on an actual [07:01] event. [07:04] You often have news items that are just [07:05] saying someone said something, like a [07:08] certain elected official made a certain [07:10] statement. You have to ask yourself, why [07:12] am I being told that? [07:14] Why was the statement made? Didn't need [07:17] to make the statement. A statement isn't [07:19] a real event, it's just someone decided [07:21] to put messaging out there. So you have [07:22] to ask yourself why they did it. [07:24] Not just listen to the content of what [07:26] they said, but ask why it was said. [07:27] That's an example of [07:30] reporting on something that's not an [07:31] event. And this is also another form of [07:32] reporting on something that's not an [07:34] event. Iran in active talks with Russia [07:37] to complete this nuclear plant. So you [07:40] have to ask yourself, what is this what [07:42] event is this reporting on? [07:44] Apparently, these are talks that have [07:46] been ongoing and it's just we're just [07:47] being told that they're in these active [07:49] talks. [07:50] Did something happen today that led to [07:52] this to this story being written? Of [07:54] course not. It's not reporting on an [07:55] event. So what is it? Iran in active [07:58] talks with Russia to complete Bushehr [08:00] nuclear plant. Here we go. [08:02] Kazem Jalali, Iran's ambassador to [08:04] Moscow, expressed hope early Friday, [08:07] today, that the construction and [08:09] completion of new units at the Bushehr [08:11] nuclear power plant will be accelerated [08:15] through ongoing cooperation with Russia. [08:18] Expressed hope early Friday. So what are [08:20] we reporting on? We're reporting on the [08:23] Russian the ambassador to Moscow [08:25] expressing hope that something will [08:27] happen. Mhm. [clears throat] [08:28] Okay, cooperation with Rosatom, big [08:31] headline. In a recent interview, Jalali [08:33] emphasized the continuous diplomatic and [08:35] technical engagement between the two [08:37] nations regarding the facility. Quote, [08:39] "We are in constant contact with one [08:41] another and hope that conditions are [08:43] established to allow Rosatom employees [08:46] to carry out their work effectively." [08:48] The ambassador stated. [08:50] And then, Hormuz transit fees and [08:53] exemptions. Addressing questions [08:55] regarding Iran's recent decision to [08:57] impose transit fees on vessels passing [09:00] through the Strait of Hormuz, [09:02] Jalali confirmed that Tehran is [09:04] prioritizing its allies. [09:07] He noted [09:09] that [09:11] special considerations and exemptions [09:14] are being arranged for friendly [09:15] countries, specifically Russia. [09:19] And then, the Iranian Ministry of [09:22] Foreign Affairs is currently [09:25] working to implement these exceptions to [09:27] ensure that strategic partners are not [09:29] negatively impacted by the new maritime [09:31] tolls. Quote, "I don't know what will [09:32] happen in the future," Jalali added. [09:34] "However, our Ministry of Foreign [09:36] Affairs is currently striving to utilize [09:38] the exceptions designated for friendly [09:40] nations like Russia." [09:43] Okay. [09:45] This is a very strange story. [09:50] I I want to start with the structure of [09:52] the piece itself because it's really [09:54] weird. Did you notice what happened in [09:56] this piece? [09:57] It's doing two things at once. [09:59] The headline is about Bushehr, this [10:02] nuclear plant of Russia and Iran [10:04] cooperating to expand in this nuclear [10:06] plant. But then right in the middle of [10:07] it, the ambassador pivots [10:09] to Hormuz toll exemptions for Russia. [10:12] The ambassador pivots. The article [10:14] suddenly becomes about Hormuz toll [10:16] exemptions. [10:19] Friendly countries get a pass. Russia's [10:21] a friendly country. Here are your perks [10:23] for being friendly to us. Two messages [10:26] in one article, right? One of them is [10:27] that we're cooperating on the nuclear [10:28] power plant. The second one is that you [10:29] that Russia is going to get exempted [10:31] from paying tolls in the Strait of [10:33] Hormuz. [10:35] Let's take the nuclear piece first. [10:38] Iran has just absorbed the most [10:40] devastating military campaign in its [10:42] modern history. Its air defenses, by [10:43] most accounts, are in ruins. The IRGC [10:46] has been [10:47] devastated. And today today Iran [10:50] publishes a story about expanding its [10:52] civilian nuclear program with Russian [10:54] cooperation. [10:55] That's is what we call defiance. That's [10:58] the regime saying, "Whatever you [11:00] destroyed, the nuclear file is still [11:02] open. Russia still has workers here, and [11:04] we intend to continue apace. We're doing [11:06] just fine." [11:08] But now let's talk about Russia, because [11:10] this is where it gets I have to be [11:11] honest almost [11:13] um [11:14] comic. [11:15] I mean there's comedy here. Let me [11:17] explain what I mean. I guess it's kind [11:18] of cynical. In January 2025, Iran and [11:22] Russia signed a comprehensive strategic [11:25] partnership. [11:26] And it included security cooperation and [11:29] defense coordination. [11:31] Like they signed an alliance, the whole [11:33] thing, a formal alliance. [11:35] And then the war started on February [11:36] 28th. And Russia has not lifted a finger [11:39] to help Iran. Not one finger. The most [11:42] Russia has done is send Rosatom workers [11:45] to uh explore the continuing of the [11:47] building of a nuclear power plant. So [11:49] what does Iran do? Iran gives Russia a [11:52] Hormuz exemption. [11:54] Iran publishes a warm story about how [11:56] much they value the cooperation. [11:58] Right? Also And and right at the [11:59] beginning of the war, uh Putin a few [12:01] days into it it sent a condolence letter [12:04] to the Iranians over on the death of Ali [12:05] Khamenei. Sent a condolence letter, [12:07] right? So here's Iran's ambassador [12:09] saying, and I'm reading directly here, [12:11] "Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is [12:14] currently striving to utilize the [12:16] exceptions designated for friendly [12:18] nations like Russia." [12:21] Like this is not the language of an [12:22] alliance. [12:24] This is the language of a weaker party [12:26] trying to retain the loyalty of a patron [12:31] who has every incentive to simply cut [12:33] his losses. [12:34] Right? I- Iran is essentially saying, [12:36] "Thank you for the partnership. Here are [12:38] your perks. Please don't abandon us [12:41] entirely, even though Russia kind of [12:44] has." [12:45] It This reads less like uh [12:48] a description of an alliance and more [12:50] like a hostage negotiating with the [12:52] captor's goodwill. Like [12:55] R- Russia has left Iran out in the cold. [12:58] And this tells you something very [12:59] important, something I've been saying [13:00] since the beginning about the nature of [13:01] these so-called anti-Western alliances, [13:04] whether it's China and Iran, China and [13:05] Russia, Russia and I mean all these [13:07] different countries. [13:08] Russia and Iran are not genuine allies. [13:10] They are transactional partners who [13:13] share enemies more than they share [13:15] interests. [13:16] Right? Russia wants cheap Iranian drones [13:18] and wants uh Iran as a diplomatic [13:20] bargaining chip. Iran wants Russian [13:22] cover at the UN. [13:24] Uh it wants their air defense systems. [13:26] It wants the psychological comfort of [13:28] not being completely alone. [13:31] Right? [13:32] They don't want to f- But they're not [13:34] going to fight for each other. [13:36] And now we're watching that play out in [13:37] real time. The alliance that was [13:39] supposed to be the axis of a new [13:41] multipolar world where you're going to [13:42] have this axis of Russia, China, Iran, [13:45] and and and that that that uh [13:48] that three-part axis together is going [13:50] to be so powerful. [13:51] The partnership that was supposed to [13:52] constrain American power. [13:56] And when Iran actually needs it, [14:00] what do we get? We get uh [14:02] all we get is is Iran saying that Russia [14:05] is exempt from paying the tolls in the [14:07] Strait of Hormuz. [14:10] I compare that Compare that by the way [14:12] to the US-Israel relationship, an [14:14] alliance that has real [14:17] that has had real friction in the war. [14:18] It's had We've had There's been [14:20] disagreements between Israel and the [14:21] United States at various points, public [14:23] ones. [14:24] It's still functioning joint military [14:27] operation. Western alliances have have [14:29] the ability to weather the storm of [14:31] friction in the relationship. Right? The [14:33] Russia-Iran alliance is just a photo op. [14:37] So when you look at these two one-a [14:38] items together, [14:40] and this is where things are are really [14:41] interesting. [14:43] This this this Israeli gas platform [14:46] shutdown story and the Bushehr story. [14:50] These were both published today. Think [14:51] of everything going on with this war [14:53] today. And one is a story about the fact [14:55] that Israel shut down two gas platforms [14:58] at the beginning of this war. [15:01] It's not a story about something that [15:02] happened recently. [15:04] That they did in the past shut down [15:06] these gas platforms. [15:08] Meanwhile, Israel's economy's been [15:10] booming. [15:11] Forget that. [15:13] And then you have the Bushehr story, [15:14] which is about how the Iranian [15:16] ambassador to Moscow said he hopes that [15:18] the Russians will continue to help them [15:20] build this this uh [15:22] this this this nuclear power plant that [15:24] has been an ongoing project for a while. [15:27] Why were these two stories published [15:28] today? [15:30] What are they really saying? [15:32] Well, what they're saying is we are [15:34] still dangerous. [15:36] The gas platforms. We are not isolated. [15:39] Russia. [15:42] And don't bury us yet. And we're still [15:44] defiant. Nuclear power. [15:47] Right? That's the message. That's the [15:48] whole message. [15:49] The problem is, [15:52] and I think that deep down the regime [15:53] knows this, that the gap between what [15:55] they're saying and the reality on the [15:57] ground is getting [15:59] increasingly difficult to bridge. [16:02] When your top diplomatic story is that [16:04] you're bribing your most important ally [16:07] with toll exemptions, [16:09] things can't be going very well. And and [16:11] hoping that they'll help with the with [16:12] your nuclear power plant. [16:16] All right, that's it for today. If you [16:17] found this helpful, please share. [16:19] Um you know, this kind of media analysis [16:21] is something I really think is important [16:23] and not enough people are doing. [16:25] Thank you for watching. Please make sure [16:26] that you're subscribed both to this [16:28] channel and to the Israel 365 News [16:31] channel. [16:32] Uh you will see that uh linked in the [16:34] description of this video. And also [16:35] there's a link in the description of the [16:36] video to subscribe to our newsletters, [16:38] our two newsletters, Israel 365 News and [16:41] Israel 365 Action. Find that link, click [16:43] it, and stay plugged into everything [16:46] that we are doing. God bless and Shabbat [16:49] Shalom.
