News and Analysis 2/26/26

As talks begin Iran states, yet again, that it will not develop nuclear weapons:

• US and Iran Begin Talks Seen as Crucial to Prevent Conflict (BBC)
• Iran Answers Trump’s Main Demand to Avoid War Before Last Ditch Talks (Newsweek)

“Pentagon officials and Hill lawmakers are increasingly warning that prolonged Iran strikes could stress U.S. military stockpiles to the brink and make the country more vulnerable”:

• Iran Strikes Threaten to Deplete US Weapons Supplies — and Put American Troops at Risk (Politico)

“These Trump administration officials are privately arguing that an Israeli attack would trigger Iran to retaliate, helping muster support from American voters for a U.S. strike”:

• White House Officials Believe ‘the Politics Are a Lot Better’ if Israel Strikes Iran First (Politico)

The Zionist war on free speech — and the resistance — continues:

• Maine University Pulls Support from Conference on Palestine, Citing Trump Sanctions (The Guardian)
• Home Office Allowed to Appeal Palestine Action Court Ruling (BBC)

“Only about 3 in 10 of U.S. adults have ‘a great deal’ or ‘quite a bit’ of trust in Trump’s judgment on the use of military force, relationships with U.S. adversaries or the use of nuclear weapons”:

• Most Americans See Iran as an Enemy but Doubt Trump’s Judgment on Military Force, AP-NORC Poll Finds (AP)

“Muslim schools and Muslim families are being excluded from the education savings program that we passed in the legislature last cycle, and I feel it’s discriminatory based on religion” — State Rep. Salman Bhojani (D-Euless) …

• Democrats Raise Concern About Exclusion of Muslim Schools as Texas Education Freedom Account Program Surpasses 130K Applications (KVUE)

… “If Texas truly believes in educational freedom, then that freedom must apply equally to all students” — a Christian teacher at a Muslim school:

• I Teach at a Muslim School. Our Students Deserve Access to Vouchers (Austin American-Statesman)

“Security forces have targeted groups perceived as threats to the regime, including reformist politicians, doctors, lawyers and journalists, according to human rights observers”:

• Iran Attempts to Crush Dissent with a Wave of Arrests After Deadly Crackdown (NBC News)

“Australia advises dependants of officials in Israel and Lebanon to leave amid vast US military buildup in the region”:

• Middle East Travel Warnings Expanded as Tensions Between US and Iran Increase (The Guardian)

“Iran is aiming to tempt Donald Trump with financial incentives, including investments in its vast oil and gas reserves, as part of efforts to convince the US president to agree a deal on its nuclear programme and avoid war”:

• Iran to Offer ‘Commercial Bonanza’ to US Companies (Financial Times)

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