War with Iran - DEFCON 3

[BigFatMeanie]

Here is an excellent article describing what is going on:

https://e360.yale.edu/features/iran-...ht-dams-qanats

I read that article and it was very interesting. Also interesting was the use of the term "abstraction" to talk about removal of water, when I would have thought the term "extraction" was more apt. Here are several examples:

But Noori identifies “human intervention” as the main cause — especially dams and abstractions for irrigation that dry up rivers, natural lakes, and wetlands, whose seepage is another major source of recharge

In Iran, some 90 percent of the water abstracted from rivers and underground aquifers is taken for agriculture.

Analyzing the most recently publicly available figures, Roohollah Noori, a freshwater ecologist until recently at the University of Tehran, found that the number of wells and other abstraction points had almost doubled since 2000.

For folks that have some expertise in the water industry, is this a common use of the term "abstraction"?

[Jeff Lebowski]

I read that article and it was very interesting. Also interesting was the use of the term "abstraction" to talk about removal of water, when I would have thought the term "extraction" was more apt. Here are several examples:


For folks that have some expertise in the water industry, is this a common use of the term "abstraction"?

Yes, that is a common expression. From the Oxford dictionary:

5. the process of removing something, especially water from a river or other source.
"the abstraction of water from springs and wells"

[dabrockster]

Escalating quickly in Iran.

“Iran in shutdown as protesters storm governor's office, crowds chant 'Death to Khamenei'”



Rumors that soldiers are now joining the protestors.


https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-s...epening-crisis


https://www.tiktok.com/@farz449/vide...ZP-92hdOrF7A5f

https://www.tiktok.com/@thetelegraph/video/7589643211023420694?_r=1&_t=ZP-92hdTATtCcZ

[Maximus]

Escalating quickly in Iran.

“Iran in shutdown as protesters storm governor's office, crowds chant 'Death to Khamenei'”



Rumors that soldiers are now joining the protestors.


https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-s...epening-crisis


https://www.tiktok.com/@farz449/vide...ZP-92hdOrF7A5f

https://www.tiktok.com/@thetelegraph/video/7589643211023420694?_r=1&_t=ZP-92hdTATtCcZ

This all gets shutdown eventually since the penalty og going to rape torture prison for protesting is too much punishment to make it worth it. I'm afraid this goes just like the protests when they moved the girl or the green revolution

[Maximus]

Trump saying he'll intervention he'll intervene if Iran kills protestors. Sure bro

[dabrockster]

This all gets shutdown eventually since the penalty of going to rape torture prison for protesting is too much punishment to make it worth it. I'm afraid this goes just like the protests when they moved the girl or the green revolution

Looks like at least 7-protestors have been killed.

At least seven people have been killed so far in violence surrounding the demonstrations, which were sparked in part by the collapse of Iran’s rial currency but have increasingly seen crowds chanting anti-government slogans.


https://apnews.com/article/iran-prot...d80a33db47353d





Photos and videos of the protests..

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rotesters.html

[dabrockster]

Day 10 of protests in Iran continue with strength. Sadly 35 people have been killed this day.

https://english.mojahedin.org/news/l...nd-crackdowns/


Key highlights from today include:

• Abdanan Liberated: In a historic show of force, the people of Abdanan (Ilam Province) took control of the city and occupied the police station after security forces failed to suppress the massive crowds and fled.
• Tehran as a War Zone: The Grand Bazaar turned into a battlefield where youth set up barricades to fight back against fully geared security units. In Gomrok Square, the slogan “Down with the oppressor, be it the shah or the mullahs” resonated, rejecting all forms of dictatorship.
• Crimes Against Humanity: Earlier, security forces fired tear gas into the grounds of Sina Hospital and a metro station in Tehran. Later in Yazdanshahr, agents switched from tear gas to live ammunition against civilians.
• Forces Retreat in Malekshahi: Following a funeral for martyrs, protesters in Malekshahi overcame heavy gunfire, forcing the regime’s troops to flee the scene.
• Nationwide Spread: From the nightly rallies in Mashhad and Isfahan to the unrest in Shiraz and Shahrekord, the uprising has firmly established itself across the country.
• Opposition Leadership: Mrs. Maryam Rajavi hailed the “honorable bazaar merchants” and declared that the movement shows no sign of retreat, aiming to erase the regime from history.

Update—19:30 CET

Abdanan falls to the people: Police station occupied as forces flee

In a stunning development in western Iran, the city of Abdanan has effectively fallen under the control of the people. Following a massive rally at dusk where crowds chanted, “This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown,” the regime’s security apparatus collapsed.



Footage from the city shows the people celebrating in the streets. Reports confirm that after security forces failed to contain the anger of the demonstrators, they were forced to back down. The protesters subsequently occupied the local police station. The chants of “I will kill those who killed my brother!” echoed through the liberated streets, signaling the end of the regime’s authority in the area for the night.



Tehran: Bazaar becomes a “war zone,” Gomrok blocked

The capital has witnessed some of the fiercest confrontations of the past ten days. Reports describe the Grand Bazaar as a “war zone.” Protesters set up barricades and engaged in direct combat with the regime’s fully equipped suppression units.

In Gomrok Square, protesters blocked the roads and defined the political nature of their movement with the slogan: “Down with the oppressor, be it the shah or the mullahs!” This chant explicitly rejects both the current religious dictatorship and any return to the monarchical dictatorship of the past.



Mrs. Maryam Rajavi: “This movement shows no sign of retreat”

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), addressed the intensifying situation, praising the resilience of the protesters.
“On the tenth day of nationwide Iran protests, anger once again erupted in Tehran’s bazaar,” Mrs. Rajavi stated. She noted that despite the deployment of forces since early morning, the regime “failed to contain the protests and were forced to withdraw from several locations.” She concluded with a salute to the merchants and a vow that the cities have risen “to erase Khamenei and his criminal regime from the pages of Iran’s history.”



Malekshahi and Shahrekord: Clashes and Retreats

In Malekshahi (western Iran), following the funeral of recent martyrs, the people returned to the streets. The regime responded with gunfire, attempting to crush the renewed dissent. However, local reports indicate that the protesters displayed immense courage, overcoming the regime’s troops and forcing them to flee.

Similarly, in Shahrekord, clashes continued deep into the night. Protesters marched on the Bazaar crossroads, calling on merchants to join the strike, and fiercely resisted attempts by security forces to disperse them.



Live fire in Yazdanshahr; Rallies in Mashhad, Shiraz, and Isfahan

The brutality of the regime was on full display in Yazdanshahr (central Iran). Locals report that security forces, unable to stop the chants of “Freedom, Freedom, Freedom,” switched from using tear gas to firing live ammunition at unarmed civilians.



Despite this violence, the uprising continues to expand geographically:

• Mashhad: People rallied in Falahi Boulevard, chanting “Neither Gaza, nor Lebanon, my life for Iran!” refuting the regime’s foreign proxy wars.
• Isfahan (Malekshahr): Protesters blocked roads, chanting that Khamenei will be overthrown this year.
• Shiraz (Lapuee): Large rallies were held despite heavy preventative security measures.
• Borujerd: A large anti-regime rally took place, adding another city to the growing list of restless urban centers.

Update—16:30 CET

Tehran: Regime commits crimes against humanity, firing tear gas into hospital and metro

As protests in Tehran intensify, the regime’s suppressive forces have resorted to blind violence, targeting vulnerable civilians in locations protected under international norms. In a shocking violation of human rights, security forces fired tear gas into the grounds of Sina Hospital near Hassanabad. Witnesses report that the gas infiltrated the facility, endangering patients, medical staff, and visitors, and disrupting critical hospital operations.



Simultaneously, in another act of brutality, security forces fired tear gas into a metro station in Tehran. Reports confirm that civilians, including children, were trapped in the enclosed space and suffered from the effects of the gas.

Despite these atrocities, the people of Tehran remain defiant. In Bagh-e Sepahsalar street, protesters clashed with repressive forces and succeeded in forcing them to retreat. In Gomrok Street, citizens have blocked the road, preventing the movement of security vehicles.

Bazaar strikes expand: “This is the year of blood!”

The strike in Tehran’s economic sector is widening. The Steel Market (Ahangaran) and the Home Appliances Market have joined the general strike. When security forces attempted to suppress a rally at the Home Appliances Market, shopkeepers fought back.



In the Grand Bazaar, the unrest is spilling out of the market alleys and into the main streets. Security forces fired tear gas at the Saray-e Melli, but the crowd continued to grow, chanting, “This is the year of blood, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown!”

Mashhad and Shahrekord join the uprising; Martyrs honored in Ilam

The uprising is spreading rapidly to other major cities. In Mashhad, northeast Iran, merchants in Reza Bazaar and 17 Shahrivar Street have joined the nationwide protests. Security forces attacked demonstrators with tear gas, but the rallies continue.
In Shahrekord (western Iran), shopkeepers closed their businesses and held rallies, resisting police attempts to disperse them while chanting “Down with Khamenei!” Meanwhile, in Yazdanshahr and Najafabad (central Iran), protesters returned to the streets with the vow: “I will kill those who killed my brother!”



In Malekshahi, Ilam Province, a large funeral ceremony was held for Farez Aghamohammadi and Mohammadreza Karami, two young men killed during Saturday’s crackdown. Despite special forces blocking roads to isolate the city, a large crowd gathered to honor the martyrs, turning the funeral into a political rally with chants of “Down with Khamenei” and “Down with the IRGC.”

Update—11:30 CET

Tehran: Strikes and clashes in the economic heartbeat
On the tenth day of the uprising, the merchants of Tehran have refused to back down. Reports from the capital indicate that strikes have resumed in the Grand Bazaar. The regime’s security forces, desperate to break the momentum, fired tear gas into the crowds. However, the crackdown has failed to silence the people; local reports state that citizens from surrounding areas are joining the protests, cheering on the shopkeepers for their resistance. The Gold Market (Bazaar-e Talaforoushan) also remains on strike.



Protests spread to major malls: “We have neither water nor bread!”
The unrest spread to Parsian Mall (Passag-e Parsian), where protesters chanted slogans targeting the economic devastation caused by the mullahs’ rule. Slogans included “We have neither water nor bread, damn high prices!” and “Inflation, high prices, this is the people’s slogan!”

When security forces attacked with tear gas and anti-riot gear, the protesters resisted, chanting “Disgrace, Disgrace!” at the agents.

At the Mellat Mall (Passag-e Mellat), the situation remains tense. Security forces fired tear gas within the enclosed space, and disturbing reports indicate that protesters have been locked inside the building by suppressive forces.



PMOI network documents nightly raids by rebellious youth in Yazd and Qazvin

As the regime intensifies its daylight suppression, the rebellious youth are expanding their nightly operations against the apparatus of terror.

In Mardabad, located in Yazd province, PMOI’s network reports that youth set fire to an IRGC Basij base late on Monday, January 5. This base was responsible for dispatching forces to quell local demonstrations.

Similarly, in Qazvin (northwest Iran), rebellious youth targeted the local office of the regime-affiliated Khomeini Foundation as well as another IRGC Basij base, setting them ablaze. These actions signal a growing trend of direct self-defense against the regime’s repressive machinery.

University students: “Students will die but won’t accept humiliation”



The university campuses remain a stronghold of the uprising. Reports confirmed that students at Al-Zahra University held protest rallies, chanting “Freedom, freedom, freedom!” and “Students will die but won’t accept humiliation!” This follows the previous day’s rallies in Birjand, showcasing the unity between the academic community and the general public.

• TAGS
• Iran protests
• Iran revolution
• Tehran bazaar protests

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[dabrockster]

https://x.com/eyakoby/status/2008667...wgQeKTws5vNdEg

[falafel]

https://x.com/eyakoby/status/2008667...wgQeKTws5vNdEg

That is interesting. Lots of turmoil in the world right now.

Also, I thought it was funny that the headline was "Iranians have taken over an entire city in Iran". Somebody tell the Persians their cities are under attack!

[Jeff Lebowski]

Everybody is screaming at each other over the incident involving two people in Minnesota. Meanwhile, there’s a revolution in Iran, which could potentially be the most consequential geopolitical event in many years and it feels like we are not hearing a peep about it in the media.

Embedded Tweet

[dabrockster]

Faces of Iran who have died during the protests..

Senior state officials have demonized protesters as “rioters” and vowed a “firm” crackdown.

On 3 January 2026, when security forces killed at least 11 protesters, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said “rioters should be put in their place.” On the same day, the IRGC’s provincial corps of Lorestan province declared that the period of “tolerance” was over, pledging to target “rioters, organizers and leaders of anti-security movements … without leniency.”

On 5 January 2026, the Head of the Judiciary also ordered prosecutors to show “no leniency” to protesters and to expedite their trials.

UN member states and regional bodies, such as the EU, should issue unequivocal public condemnations and undertake urgent diplomatic action to pressure the Iranian authorities to stop the bloodshed, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said.

Given the prevailing climate of systemic impunity that has enabled Iranian authorities to repeatedly commit crimes under international law documented by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, including murder, torture, rape, and enforced disappearances to eliminate and punish dissent, the organizations call on other countries’ prosecution authorities to initiate criminal investigations under the principle of universal jurisdiction, with a view to issuing arrest warrants for those suspected of responsibility.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...est-bloodshed/

Iran.png

[dabrockster]

I would have no problem with this administration taking out the most evil regime on the planet. It is grotesque and pure evil.. Trump was quick to bark about helping the protestors and how he would get involved if they started killing them. Well. We are likely above 40 now (have not seen any new updated on the death-toll). Trump is a wildcard and the movement to Venezuela was surprising but I think it had several factors. OIL. And the landscape of all our enemies having close proximity to our borders.. Having Russia and China easily in cahoots with Maduro was not ideal.

But, when reading articles like this, it lends me to want action and remove these evil individuals.

Responding to the arbitrary executions of tortured political dissidents, Behrouz Ehsani, 69, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, in secret in Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj, Alborz province, on 27 July, Kristine Beckerle, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said:

“Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani were executed arbitrarily amid Iran’s horrific execution crisis, which has resulted in nearly 700 people hanged this year. They were executed in secret without notice to them or their families after a grossly unfair trial by a Revolutionary Court. They were denied access to their lawyers for nearly two years before a trial that lasted only five minutes and during which they were not allowed to speak in their own defense. Forced ‘confessions’ extracted through beatings, prolonged solitary confinement and threats to further harm them and their families were used as evidence to convict them.”

“The Iranian authorities have intensified repression at home following the latest escalation of hostilities with Israel in June. Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani had protested against the death penalty from inside prison by going on hunger strike every Tuesday for 18 months as part of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign. Their executions highlight the authorities’ ruthless use of the death penalty as a tool of political repression in times of national crisis to crush dissent and spread fear among the population.”

Iran.png

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...al-repression/

[Maximus]

empty threats from trump on this are dumb. he wont do anything

[Moliere]

empty threats from trump on this are dumb. he wont do anything

He literally bombed their nuclear program at a time that people were saying he’d chicken out.

[Maximus]

He literally bombed their nuclear program at a time that people were saying he’d chicken out.

that doesnt require planned targeting...

they have killed 50 or so already. saying ill bomb you if you kill people is an empty threat and iran knows that now.

wil he do it at 100 and not 50? 200? 400?