NPR (Jane Arraf) - Despite Mideast wars, 20 million gather in Iraq for Shia pilgrimage
Despite wars ranging across the Middle East, more than 20 million Shia pilgrims gather in Iraq shrine city for Arbaeen festival
SUBSTACK (The Grayzone) - Millions Mourn as Slain Iranian Leader’s Body Returns to Karbala, Iraq — Cradle of Shia Islam
The Grayzone’s Wyatt Reed documents the arrival of the body of Iranian leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei to the Iraqi city of Karbala — the spiritual capital for over 200 million Shias — and explains why so many are drawing parallels between his killing at the hands of Trump and Netanyahu, and the slaying of the foundational figure of Shia Islam, Imam al-Hussein.
SUBSTACK (The Grayzone) - Going to Khamenei's funeral with Prof. Marandi
The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal joins Prof.
Mohammad Marandi on his trip to Tehran's Mosalla to pay respects to Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The public mourning which began on July 4th for the martyred Iranian leader comprises the largest funeral in human history. Marandi analyzes the significance of Khamenei's life and legacy, and discusses his role in forging the Islamic Republic.Open
NYTIMES (Leo Sands) - Funeral Procession for Khamenei Will Visit 5 Cities in Iran and Iraq
After lying in state in Tehran, Mr. Khamenei’s body will be taken to some of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam during a four-day procession that is expected to draw millions.
AMERICANTHINKER - The Iran Deal: The Elephant in the Room
Perchance AI The Iranian threat will continue until the nature of Shi'ite religious extremism is recognized.
AXIOS (Barak Ravid) - Israel and Lebanon agree on a full ceasefire, conditioned on steps by Hezbollah
Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a full ceasefire, contingent on Hezbollah halting attacks and withdrawing its operatives from the area south of the Litani River, according to a joint statement from the U.S., Israel and Lebanon. Why it matters: Hezbollah has already said it would agree to a full ceasefire, but it is unclear if the Shia militia will accept the term agreed on by Israel and the Lebanese government. This is a developing story. Check back for updates
THEAMERICANCONSERVATIVE (Murtaza Hussein) - The Iraq War’s Disastrous Legacy Rears Its Head
President Bush’s 2003 invasion delivered Iraq to Iranian hands. The post The Iraq War’s Disastrous Legacy Rears Its Head appeared first on The American Conservative .
Foreign Affairs The Iraq War’s Disastrous Legacy Rears Its Head President Bush’s 2003 invasion delivered Iraq to Iranian hands. (Photo by Gilles BASSIGNAC/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) Last Thursday, President Donald Trump gave a phone call to new Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi to congratulate him on his nomination for the post—a call that came after Trump had publicly opposed former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s bid in objection to the close ties that he enjoyed with Iran. In a Truth Social post following the call, Trump said he wished Zaidi success in forming “a new Government free from…Open
SUBSTACK (The Grayzone) - ‘Disgraceful actions will face consequences’: Iran’s NSC committee chairman slams Trump’s blockade
In a May 2, 2026 interview in Tehran with The Grayzone’s Wyatt Reed, the chair of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Committee, Ebrahim Azizi, discussed his country’s plans to implement a new regulatory framework over the Strait of Hormuz in the face of renewed aggression by the US military and threats by President Donald Trump.
Azizi also offers his thoughts on the viability of the US military presence in the region, Israeli influence over the Trump administration, and the rift between Europe and the US.Open
THEAMERICANCONSERVATIVE (Ted Galen Carpenter) - Is China Using Iran as a Proxy Against the U.S.?
Beijing looks like the biggest winner of America’s latest Mideast blunder. The post Is China Using Iran as a Proxy Against the U.S.? appeared first on The American Conservative .
Foreign Affairs Is China Using Iran as a Proxy Against the U.S.? Beijing looks like the biggest winner of America’s latest Mideast blunder. (Photo by Yan Yan/Xinhua via Getty Images) Leaders of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have cleverly exploited U.S. policy blunders throughout the international system for at least the past three decades to enhance Beijing’s influence and erode Washington’s. The Trump administration’s mishandling of relations with Iran affords China a new opportunity, and it may prove to be the most significant one yet . Indeed, the question arises whether Xi Jinping’s government is…Open
THEAMERICANCONSERVATIVE (Nicholas Spyridon Kass) - Keep the Kurds Out of the Iran War
It’s good for the U.S., and for them too The post Keep the Kurds Out of the Iran War appeared first on The American Conservative .
The Iran War Keep the Kurds Out of the Iran War It’s good for the U.S., and for them too. (Ismael Adnan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) In early March 2026, mere days into the United States and Israel’s latest war against Iran, various news outlets reported that President Donald Trump had engaged directly with Iraqi and Iranian Kurdish leaders to promote an uprising spearheaded by Iran’s Kurdish minority against the Iranian regime. The White House denied these assertions. On March 6, a Reuters exclusive reported that Israel, which has its own contacts with Iranian Kurds, was backing their plans to…Open