📍CLEVELAND SHOWED UP FOR PEACE! 35+ cities. 100+ organizations. One demand. Today, community members told @SenJonHusted end the illegal U.S. war on Iran. #PeaceWithIranNOW

We’re with former intelligence officer @joekent16jan19 on why we need peace with Iran! If you’re in Austin meet us today at the Capital Factory at 5pm!

What I saw this past week at the UN was, on the one hand, a reminder of how isolated Israel has become internationally, and at the same time, how content Israel is with the deadlock between the US and Iran and the difficulties in finding a diplomatic breakthrough. First on Israel. Not only did a record number of delegations walk out as soon as wanted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu took to the podium - roughly 40% of all country delegations stood up and left the hall, prompting Netanyahu to call them “moral cowards” - but the Hague Group meeting earlier today provided additional signs of change. Government representatives of more than 40 states attended and spoke at the meeting in support of the enforcement of international law in Israel/Palestine, including several foreign ministers. (Last year, there were roughly 30 governments represented.) And for the first time, a Foreign Minister of a Western state (Norway) gave one of the opening addresses. Obviously, this does not in and of itself translate into meaningful action. Declarations do not make implementation. But my conversations with several governments this week reveal that the political grounds are shifting and various forms of sanctions measures appear increasingly plausible, if not likely. On Iran, however, my conversations left me far more concerned. Trump remains convinced that the blockade can bring Tehran to its knees and, as a result, lifting it will provide Iran with more money and time without necessarily bringing about a definite conclusion to the conflict. But without the lifting of the blockade, in some form at least, no deal is possible. This is a paradox the US has faced before. Once it concludes that its sanctions are biting, it resists trading that leverage for Iranian concessions for fear of losing it. As a result, sanctions become an end in themselves rather than a means to secure a deal. The pain the sanctions can inflict becomes more important than the concessions they can elicit. Consequently, the conflict continues - and escalates. But Trump is unpredictable and can surprise. But while there is some hope, it’s little more than a glimmer. We’ll discuss this and much more during our 10th Q&A session, scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, at 1.00 pm ET. Register for the Zoom here: tritaparsi.substack.com/p/th…