There’s a place in Iran called Bandas Abbar; another called Ahvaz. Saturday morning there was an explosion that blew up a house in Bandas Abbar. Twelve hours later there was another explosion that blew up a house in Ahvaz. Bandas Abbar is where the Navy is; Ahvaz is where the oil administration is. We’ll discuss these separately.

The “live fire exercise” was supposed to start on Sunday morning. Phanes told me Saturday night that there was two possibilities. One was that it was a hoax that the Commander of the Iranian Navy, one Ali Reza Tangsiri, wasn’t the target of the blast, and was still alive. If that were the case, he’d be the one to give the command to start the live fire exercise. The alternative was that the blast killed Ali Reza Tangsiri, and the live fire exercises would be cancelled on Sunday morning. Guess which happened.

Then there’s the blast in Ahvaz. Nobody has a clue as to who did it, or why. I suspect the true of it will out – eventually. In the meantime, what is happening in Iran with the cancellation of the live fire exercises?

It seems clear that Tangsiri was assassinated, likely by the Israelis, as they seem to know where everybody in Iran lives. They’ve done this lots of times before. They deny being behind the explosion. Iran says it was a gas explosion. Really? Two gas explosions in one day, on opposite ends of the country? Give me a break.

Phanes writes, “Iran’s top security official, Ali Larjani, just held talks with Putin, and the SNSC (Supreme National Security Council) has confirmed that ‘structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing.'” He further opines that the “live fire exercise” ended up being a theatrical exit – a way for the regime to show strength while the richest amongst them pack their bags and head for the exits.

Phanes suggests three names as successors to lead Iran: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, referring to him as the “Iranian Putin”, Ali Larjani mentioned above, big time negotiator, or Hassan Khomeini, the original Ayatollah’s grandson, just for old times’ sake. Then he suggest what I believe makes the most sense: a leadership council of IRGC general takes over, keeping a “quiet cleric” as a figurehead while they cut a deal with Trump to life sanctions in exchange for ending the missile program.

This would be the exit strategy for key players. Some would stay to manage the transition. But many would leave, likely utilizing a couple of Russian redoubts in Syria. One is the Khmeimim Air Base at Latika; the other is the Tartus Naval base. These are actually considered Russian territory by the new Al Shara administration, trading Russian goods and money with leaving them alone. This gives the fleeing rats a place to land, but not necessarily a great one. The other alternative Phanes mentioned was in Libya, but if you had a bunch of gold, would you go to Benghazi? Not me either.

This is a developing notion that may end up being a complete hallucination between Ishmael, Phanes and me. Or it could be reality. In which case, remember that little exercise of Trump et al called The Peace Board. Starting to make more sense to you now?

If he pulls this off, it will be the greatest coup of the entirety of the history of the Middle East. And King Donald will be the new King Nebuchadnezzar, ruling over a prosperous and peaceful bucket of oil rich territories, newly cooperating under his aegis. Is this a good thing? God only knows. Or The Sages. We shall see. (Kinda looks like Trump, eh? Well, if you use your imagintion and put a beard on the orange muppet)