When it comes to Mojtaba Khamenei, the issue is not just whether he has become, or may become, his father's successor. The more important issue is the kind of power concentrated around his name: faceless power, backstage power, security-driven power, and power deeply shaped by the logic of control. If we put together the many accounts that have emerged over the years, we are faced with a figure whose main advantage has never been public speaking, building public legitimacy, creating (…)

The US attacked Kharg, but it did not hit Iran's oil export terminal there. That apparent contradiction may explain the nature of this war better than any official statement. Kharg is not just an island. It is a place where military force, the Iranian state budget, oil tanker routes, and the nerves of the global energy market all come together in one small point.
When Washington hits the island's military facilities but leaves the oil infrastructure untouched, it is basically admitting (…)