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Shafaq News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Is it real? Experts split on Trump's Iran strike threat
Shafaq News/ US President Donald Trump has reignited tensions with Tehran, vowing to consider military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails—comments that have triggered sharp divisions among American policy experts. In a televised interview, Trump declared he would 'definitely' weigh military options should Iran refuse to curb its nuclear ambitions. His remarks come amid renewed negotiations—considered the most serious since Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during Trump's first term. Trump has long criticized the JCPOA as ineffective, expanding sanctions under his administration's 'maximum pressure' policy to limit Tehran's nuclear and regional activities. In an exclusive interview with Shafaq News, Ivan Sascha Sheehan, Associate Dean of the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore, described Trump's posture as 'highly unpredictable,' yet emphasized the seriousness of the military threat, stating, 'The president has declared that he would use decisive military force against the Islamic Republic and I take him at his word.' He projected that any potential strike would rely heavily on airpower rather than ground forces and could be accompanied by support for Iran's pro-democracy opposition and covert operations inside the country. 'Tehran has long feared internal dissent will metastasize to bring about regime change from within,' he warned, suggesting that plans for such a scenario may be taking shape for the summer. Sheehan also flagged growing pressure from Congress to ensure any future agreement includes complete nuclear disarmament and full verification of non-enrichment in discussions with Tehran. 'Anything short of this will engender criticism in Washington.' 'With Iran beset with rampant inflation, the rial in free fall, unemployment rising, and fierce discontent on the Iranian street, all the warning signs are blinking red for the regime,' the associate dean added, pointing out that organized opposition groups—such as the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (Mojahedin-e-Khalq) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran—are increasingly positioned to offer 'an alternative to theocratic rule.' However, Analyst Samir al-Taqi of the Middle East Center in Washington rejected the likelihood of a US military strike, arguing, 'What comes after? A strike won't dismantle the program—it could legitimize it.' Al-Taqi emphasized to Shafaq News that Iran's scientific capability renders the program virtually irreversible, cautioning that an attack might accelerate nuclear development rather than halt it. 'Trump's remarks are media posturing, not a serious strategic roadmap'. Offering a broader regional perspective, former Northwestern University professor Mohieddin Qassar told Shafaq News that neither the US nor Israel appears ready to launch a sustained military campaign, observing, 'I don't believe the Trump administration is in a position to open a new front in the Middle East—even a limited one.' 'If Israel acts, it will act alone.' Qassar acknowledged Israel's ability to carry out precise strikes but stressed that such an operation would likely still require US intelligence and logistical support. 'And once the bombing ends, who controls the fallout?' He also dismissed claims that Iran seeks to use nuclear weapons against Israel, labeling such narratives as politically convenient myths. 'The Iranian regime thrives on external threats to justify internal repression.' The professor warned that Iran's influence in countries like Iraq and Lebanon serves more as political leverage than ideological warfare. 'The idea of an all-out religious conflict between Iran and Israel is largely a media illusion.' 'In reality, these regimes often weaponize hostile rhetoric to advance domestic agendas.'
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Multiple candidates eyeing multimillion-dollar race for Baltimore County executive
BALTIMORE — The 2026 campaign for Baltimore County executive is shaping up to be a multimillion-dollar race. Recent campaign finance disclosures show county councilmembers Izzy Patoka and Julian Jones, both Democrats, with account balances of $1.3 million and $1 million, respectively. Both have suggested they may launch campaigns soon. The 2026 election will also be the first to feature public financing in Baltimore County. Candidates can't officially file their campaign until the end of this month. State Sen. Charles Sydnor, a Baltimore County Democrat, also is considering a campaign, his office said Monday. His most recent disclosure shows a balance of $110,000. Nick Stewart, co-founder of the advocacy group We The People, said he's 'having conversations' about jumping in the race as a Democrat. Councilmember Pat Young, also a Democrat, did not respond to a request for comment. His most recent disclosure shows a balance of $228,000. A candidate can receive maximum public contributions of $750,000 for the primary and $750,000 for general elections. A candidate who opts for public contributions also can expend a limited amount of money from their citizen-funded campaign accounts — no more than $1.4 million for a primary and $1.4 million for a general election. Patoka hasn't announced his campaign yet but noted he has 'a significant amount of donors, which really encourages me to go forward on this process of determining my political future in a county executive run … Right now, all the mechanisms are in place for a run, and we'll likely hear something soon about that.' Jones said he's 'seriously looking at' running for the seat and plans to make an announcement 'sometime later this year if it's the direction we take, of course.' 'I'm honored that so many people in Baltimore County support the work I've been doing,' Jones said. Stewart suggested that public financing in Baltimore County is not 'all that viable' given the level of funding available. Though public financing can help provide campaign opportunities for more candidates, 'it's not really an even playing field,' given that some candidates can raise much more money on their own, said Roger Hartley, dean of the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore. But public funding still 'helps a candidate get out there and get in the game,' he said. Public financing isn't open to just anyone. To qualify for matching funds, a candidate must receive at least 550 contributions and $50,000 in qualifying contributions. 'That means that they really have to show some viability,' Hartley said. The disclosures come shortly after the council selected former State Sen. Kathy Klausmeier as county executive. She's filling the vacancy left by Johnny Olszewski, who recently was sworn into Congress. The council requested that all applicants for the position commit not to run in 2026. 'The Baltimore County executive — and county executives in the state of Maryland, period — are very powerful positions,' Hartley said, both because of the powers of the office itself, and because the position can 'skyrocket a person into a higher-level office.' ____
