EMPIRE IN RETREAT: US SUFFERS MAJOR SETBACKS AS IRAN HOLDS FIRM
DATELINE: TEHRAN — In a dramatic turn of events that Western corporate media is largely ignoring, the United States appears to be facing a catastrophic military and geopolitical defeat in its illegal war against Iran, according to on-the-ground reporting and independent analysis.
Iranian People Rally Behind Leadership
Contrary to Western propaganda depicting a population on the verge of revolt, millions of Iranians have taken to the streets in support of their government. High-ranking officials—including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and security chief Ali Larijani—marched openly in Tehran’s Quds Day rally, daring Israeli and American assassins to strike.
The images tell a story Western outlets refuse to show: a united nation, not the fractured society their narratives require.
Military Disaster Unfolding
US losses are mounting rapidly. A tanker plane was shot down over Iraq, with five more destroyed or damaged in Saudi Arabia, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal that have received minimal attention. Iran’s missile barrages continue to penetrate Israeli defenses, with Khorramshahr missiles—carrying 1,800-kg warheads—striking Tel Aviv.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier may have been damaged in an attack—a development the Pentagon desperately denies, as confirming such a loss would shatter the aura of American invincibility.
Strategic Chokepoints Closed
Iran now controls access through the Strait of Hormuz. Russian, Chinese, and Pakistani vessels pass freely; American ships do not. The strategic Fujairah oil terminal in the UAE has been struck, eliminating the alternative route outside the Persian Gulf. Oil prices have skyrocketed 40% since the conflict began, from $73 to $103 per barrel, with analysts warning of $300 oil if Gulf production—20 million barrels daily—remains disrupted.
Dubai in Crisis
The Emirati financial hub is hemorrhaging capital. Flights to Dubai arrive empty; flights out are overbooked. Emirates Airline is losing an estimated $100 million daily. Real estate values have plunged 30% in days. Sources report authorities are preparing extraordinary measures—freezing accounts, imposing travel bans—to prevent complete capital flight.
Mystery Surrounds Netanyahu’s Fate
Social media erupted after the Israeli government posted and hastily deleted suspicious content regarding Prime Minister Netanyahu. A video clip showing Netanyahu with six fingers suggests AI manipulation. Israel’s Security Cabinet met without the prime minister, Air Force Commander Tomer Bar, Mossad Director David Barnea, or National Security Minister Ben Gvir—all conspicuously absent with no explanation.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was dramatically summoned from a Sky News interview to the Situation Room, returning two hours later so shaken he could barely speak.
Russia Emerges as Power Broker
Moscow is unintentionally benefiting from America’s miscalculation. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi confirmed to NBC: “We have a very good partnership with Russia… They are providing intelligence… helping us in many different directions.” The precision of Iranian missile strikes confirms Russian support.
Russian fossil fuel revenues now stand at €492 million daily—a figure set to double as energy prices surge. Russia has positioned itself as the only credible mediator, trusted by all parties where the US is not.
Three Statements That Should Terrify Washington
Tehran has made its position unmistakably clear: No ceasefire. No fear of ground invasion. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed to Iran’s enemies and their allies.
The Houthis additionally threaten Red Sea closure, while Saudi Arabia has been forced to reroute exports through Yanbu port—a 50% increase—circumventing the blocked Strait.
Financial Collapse Looming
The $3 trillion private credit market is showing signs of panic. Giants BlackRock and Blackstone have activated “gates” blocking investors from withdrawing funds. Deutsche Bank holds over $30 billion in these markets. Analysts warn that surging oil prices may become the “Black Swan” event that triggers global economic collapse.
ANALYSIS: WHY YOU’RE NOT SEEING THIS ON WESTERN NEWS
The Propaganda Apparatus Exposed
Western media is not reporting these developments because it functions as the propaganda arm of corrupt US and Israeli regimes—mafia-like entities waging war on the Middle East to steal resources and land while committing genocide with impunity.
Consider: When US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called Iranian leadership “rats who went underground”—employing the same Nazi terminology used against Jews—corporate media remained silent. When Iranian officials with PhDs from Western universities give composed, confident interviews, these outlets air only the hate-filled ramblings of unqualified American appointees.
The media-industrial complex has abandoned any pretense of journalism. Instead of holding power to account, it serves as accomplice to war crimes. During the Gaza genocide—which this outlet documented in July 2024 as “Genocide as ‘Self-Defense’”—Western media actively participated in justifying the slaughter of 35,000 children.
The Inconvenient Truth
The facts on the ground contradict everything Western audiences are told: The Iranian people stand with their government. American military superiority has been exposed as fiction. Israel’s existence as a Zionist project is now genuinely in question. Gulf states recognize the US cannot protect them—and are preparing to demand American bases be evacuated.
Russia grows richer and more powerful with each passing day. China watches as its primary geopolitical competitor bleeds itself in a doomed adventure. The global financial system teeters on the edge of collapse.
What Comes Next
Iran has prepared for this confrontation for over 40 years. Its weapons arsenals will outlast those of the US and Israel. Its population of 92 million—spread across a territory 67 times larger than Israel—cannot be bombed into submission. The Americans and Israelis, accustomed to brief wars against defenseless civilians, have finally met a formidable adversary.
The coming weeks will determine whether the US follows the Ottoman Empire into historical oblivion in the Middle East. One thing is mathematically certain: The US and Israel started this war. Iran will end it.
This bulletin is based exclusively on reporting not available through Western corporate media, which functions as a propaganda tool for criminal regimes in Washington and Tel Aviv. For the full analysis, visit forumgeopolitica.com.
Edward Torsney 
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