The more the Islamic Republic of Iran lashes out at other countries in the region, the more obvious it is that eliminating the regime and its nuclear ambitions was the right call. I once read a quote that if Hitler had possessed nuclear weapons in the in his bunker as the end drew near, he surely would have used him. That’s the sort of nihilistic death-spasm we’re seeing from the Iranian regime.
Some news:
It blew up real good and sank quickly.
Suchomimus noted that the Iran’s Moudge-class frigates seem to be cursed. Of the six in service, four have been sunk, three in this conflict.
U.S. forces have struck or sunk to the bottom of the ocean more than 20 ships from the Iranian regime. Last night, CENTCOM added a Soleimani-class warship to the list. pic.twitter.com/KgW8cS726P
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 4, 2026
Russia is too busy with its quagmire in Ukraine, and China gets more oil from the Persian Gulf states Iran has been drone and missile attacking than from Iran.
“In a way, Russia and China have delivered Iran the ultimate geopolitical insult. They don’t hate Iran. They aren’t condemning Iran, but at the end of the day, they just don’t really care that much. After decades of loyal partnership, and recent years where Iran has clearly believed that its relationships with China and Russia were growing far deeper, Iran has been discarded. It’s too inconvenient to defend. It isn’t valuable enough to save. And for Moscow and for Beijing, it’ll be easy enough to forget.”
OK, that’s the news I’ve scraped today. If there’s something significant you think I’ve missed, feel free to share it in the comments.
Tags: Air Force, B-52, Baneh, Central Command (CENTCOM), F-22, Iran, Iranian navy, IRIS Dena, IRIS Shahid Soleimani, Israel, Kurds, Military, Navy, Operation Epic Fury, Pete Hegseth, Simon Whistler, submarine, Suchomimus, torpedo, video
Poor Iran discarded by russia and china like a used tampon…
QatarEnergy force majeured all their LNG contracts today. This leaves Europe up the proverbial creek without a paddle. It was followed by further good news from Vlad:
Putin ordered Rosneft today to execute an April 1st cutoff of LNG shipments to the EU. The EU planned to stop purchasing LNG from Russia at the beginning of 2027, but desperately needs Russian natural gas right now.
Not to worry Comrade! The Euros have an ace up their sleeve. Jerry Schroeder, of Rosneft and Gasprom glory will surely bail out his Germanic countrymen from despotic privation by his keepers.
On the Iranian front, we are advised of the appearance of the awesome New Iranian Navy submersibles:
https://x.com/TheBabylonBee/status/2029282318389539285/photo/1
“Not to worry Comrade! The Euros have an ace up their sleeve. Jerry Schroeder, of Rosneft and Gasprom glory will surely bail out his Germanic countrymen from despotic privation by his keepers.
On the Iranian front, we are advised of the appearance of the awesome New Iranian Navy submersibles:”
Like all your other posts, this one is hopelessly dated. Herr Schröder left the Gazprom board in 2022.
The Chinese embargoed all exports of diesel and gasoline today. Probably a response to Ukraine’s (actually Britian’s) attack on the Arctic Metagaz LNG tanker. This will intensify the EU and Ukrainian fuels crisis. Putin is now under a lot of pressure to blockade all of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
The Iranians didn’t man their surface fleet, probably figuring these vessels were all dead meat. But their three “Black Holes” are still out there, lurking: the Taregh, the Nooh, and the Yunes. These are the real Iranian submarines we need to find and destroy, before they sink our carriers. Not a subject for humor.
“Putin is now under a lot of pressure to blockade all of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.”
The Ukronazis are sinking Russian ships in the Mediterranean. Any attempt by the Black Sea fleet to bockade Ukrainian ports would result in further losses to the remainer of Russian naval capabilities.
CAIRO (AP) — A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas exploded and erupted in flames before sinking in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya, authorities in the North African country said Wednesday. Russia asserted that an attack by Ukrainian sea drones was to blame.
https://apnews.com/article/russia-libya-lng-carrier-arctic-metagaz-e40477839f7e8c5863492ec6de2b95de
“Putin ordered Rosneft today to execute an April 1st cutoff of LNG shipments to the EU.”
Smart move, Pootie! Now every LNG transport can be targeted by Ukraine without fear of damage to their EU allies. Your LNG terminals will have nothing to export without ships to carry it.
“The Ukronazis are sinking Russian ships in the Mediterranean. Any attempt by the Black Sea fleet to bockade Ukrainian ports would result in further losses to the remainer of Russian naval capabilities.”
The Russians would use their Zircon ship killer missiles, whose capabilities have been well demonstrated. No Russian ship would be put at risk. They can be launched from land. The splendid irony here would be British insurance companies – specifically Lloyd’s of London – enforcing the Russian blockade.
“Smart move, Pootie! Now every LNG transport can be targeted by Ukraine without fear of damage to their EU allies. Your LNG terminals will have nothing to export without ships to carry it.”
The Russians are convinced that almost all “Ukrainian” weapons are being landed at their Black Sea ports, especially the British weapons they are using in their piracy campaign. So they won’t have to be too concerned about further “Ukrainian” attacks. But the Third World will face explosive food price increases.
The Chinese embargo on gasoline and diesel exports exploded the Asian aircraft fuels market this morning. Reuters reports “jet fuel prices in Asia’s trading hub Singapore rocketed 72% to $225.44 a barrel.” That will spread around the world as Western jet fuel suppliers rush to take advantage of extraordinary Asian prices.
AAA reports the U.S. national average regular gasoline price at the pump rose by $0.053 to $3.251 per gallon over the last 24 hours. 1.7%
AAA reports the national average diesel fuel price at the pump rose by $0.13 to $ 4.166 over the last 24 hours. 3.2%
Diesel fuel on the Frankfurt bourse is quoting at 1,091 per metric ton, up 5.95% since yesterday. European diesel prices at the pumps are about 40% higher than when the Iranian special military operation began. Diesel prices have doubled in the countries bordering the Ukraine, reflecting real scarcity.
The near month Dutch TTF Natural Gas (TFAc1) contract is at $ 60.15 per MW, a 6.22% increase from yesterday.
….is quoting at $ 1,091 per metric ton….
Not euros.
It appears Russia and China asked, “What has Iran done for us lately?” and the answers were “Diddly” and “Squat”. They said “Iran got the snot bombed out of it and its leaders are receiving their 72 somethings (Dates, Raisins, virgins Virginians, the text is unclear)” and then said “Oh No, Anyway…”. That must give you the real warm and Fuzzies if you are North Korea or Cuba.
“The Russians would use their Zircon ship killer missiles, whose capabilities have been well demonstrated. No Russian ship would be put at risk.”
The Moskva thanks you for this assurance, comrade.
“The Moskva thanks you for this assurance, comrade.”
The Moskva was struck, from land, with Ukraine’s NorK designed & made Neptune missiles. The hypersonic 3M22 Zircon (also transliterated as Tsirkon) is a vast improvement over 1990’s NorK technology.
@10X25 re The Taregh, the Nooh, and the Yunes:”they are currently considered trapped or inoperable due to the destruction of their support infrastructure” end of article https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/much-of-irans-navy-has-been-neutralized/
Grandpa Buff getting into the action! Maybe The Kid will finally get a real AA kill, even a drone would be better than a balloon.
Qatar accounts for <20% of LNG exports, of which only 8% of Qatar's LNG went to Europe. That's < 1.6% of all LNG exports in the world that went to Europe. This as we enter Spring, the season in the northern hemisphere with the least energy use.
I'm sure Vlad and Xi are happy with your propaganda efforts no matter how easily debunked.
While it is understandable and not particularly surprising that China will not go to the mattresses for Iran, I have to think other countries that believe they are building strategic partnerships with China are noticing just how little a strategic partnership with China is worth.
“With the United States, we get a lecture; with China, we get an airport.”
Yeah, well, about that…
“@10X25 re The Taregh, the Nooh, and the Yunes:”they are currently considered trapped or inoperable due to the destruction of their support infrastructure” end of article https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/much-of-irans-navy-has-been-neutralized/”
This is a word for word copy of a report which was floated on the 3rd. The report confuses an indigenous Iranian designed & built submarine, the Fateh, with the Project 626.3’s. It appears that the two follow on Fateh class subs (still under construction?) were hit and misidentified as Improved Kilo II’s.
I am fairly certain that Yunes (Jonas) is out on patrol. It was clearly not in port late in the day on 28 February, when the last prewar satellite photos were taken of the sub pens. There are no public post strike images of Taregh and Nooh, but they were in the sub pens on 28 February.
Comrade Cartridge, from Wikipedia (so greatly scrubbed):
He was chairman of the board at Nord Stream AG and at Rosneft but in 2022 resigned from chairmanship and paused his plans to join the board of Russian state-run gas company Gazprom. Nonetheless, he continues[when?] to be a member of the board at Rosneft….
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Schröder was criticized for his policies towards Vladimir Putin’s government, his work for Russian state-owned companies, and his lobbying on behalf of Russia. In March 2022, the Public Prosecutor General initiated proceedings related to accusations against Schröder of complicity in crimes against humanity due to his role in Russian state-owned corporations, while the CDU/CSU group demanded that Schröder be included in the European Union sanctions against individuals with ties to the Russian government.
So Wiki says Jerry resigned as Chairmen, but not member of the board. Naughty, naughty.
We shouild start a dead pool on those subs. They can’t hide forever.
“Qatar accounts for <20% of LNG exports, of which only 8% of Qatar's LNG went to Europe. That's < 1.6% of all LNG exports in the world that went to Europe. This as we enter Spring, the season in the northern hemisphere with the least energy use.
I'm sure Vlad and Xi are happy with your propaganda efforts no matter how easily debunked."
Qatar supplied approximately 14 % of Europe’s total LNG imports during 2025. The 7% number appears to be an AI hallucination, or some kind of projection from early in 2025 before European natural gas consumption skyrocketed during 2025Q4. Qatar provided much of the surge supply because U.S. export capacity was fully booked.
Russia supplied approximately 14 % of Europe’s total LNG imports during 2025.
The U.S. supplied approximately 57 % of Europe’s total LNG imports during 2025.
All of the U.S.'s 12 Bcf/d of LNG export capacity is currently being used. Additional U.S. capacity is not expected to come online until 2026Q3.
Europe usage of natural gas declines in the Spring, but they have to replenish inventories which are now at about 15% of capacity. Europe had 80% of storage capacity filled at the outset of 2025Q4, and burned through it all. Only emergency LNG imports from Qatar kept the lights on.
Ach! Hit send too soon. Gazprom is gas focused. Rosneft is liquids focused.. Diesel is liquid, unless it is in a burning Iranian warship.
“So Wiki says Jerry resigned as Chairmen, but not member of the board. Naughty, naughty.”
Deutsche Welle:
‘Schröder turns down role on Gazprom board’
May 24, 2022
“Gerhard Schröder has attracted criticism and lost perks over his close ties to Russian state gas companies. He has now rejected a nomination to a supervisory role on the board of Gazprom.”
Reuters:
‘Former German Chancellor Schroeder says he rejected Gazprom board nomination’
By Reuters
May 24, 2022
The English language edition of the Gazprom Board web page is now blocked, but the Russian language page does not list Schröder as a member.
Wikipedia should always be confirmed with supporting sources. Its reliability is poor when the subjects are politically controversial.
As to the willingness of Hitler to see his own people devastated in a lost effort, same thing with Tojo in Japan. Satanically evil people are in it for the human misery they can create, that’s all. If not for their enemies, then their own people will do just fine.
“Ach! Hit send too soon. Gazprom is gas focused. Rosneft is liquids focused.. Diesel is liquid, unless it is in a burning Iranian warship.”
Both Gazprom and Rosneft are state owned and answer to Sergey Tsivilyov, the Russian Minister of Energy. His Ministry of Energy controls all liquid and gaseous fuels production, processing, and distribution. Rosneft and Gazprom both produce natural gas and oil.
Comrade, per Wiki (I know, I Know), Jerry resigned as Board Chair of ROSNEFT, but remained on the board. Regarding gas or liquids, I used the word focused, meaning not exclusive.
If you are drilling for hydrocarbons, if you find one, you commonly find the other.
I used to think that you were just a chronic liar. I now think that you are a chronic, dense liar.
“Comrade, per Wiki (I know, I Know), Jerry resigned as Board Chair of ROSNEFT, but remained on the board. Regarding gas or liquids, I used the word focused, meaning not exclusive.
If you are drilling for hydrocarbons, if you find one, you commonly find the other.
I used to think that you were just a chronic liar. I now think that you are a chronic, dense liar.”
Schröder left the Rosneft board 5 days before he turned down the Gazprom board. There was some confusion about his 2022 status at Gazprom, but none about his status at Rosneft:
AP:
‘Germany’s Schroeder to quit Rosneft board as backlash mounts’
May 20, 2022
Reuters:
‘Russia’s Rosneft says German ex-chancellor Schroeder quits board’
May 20, 2022
“Russia’s state-owned oil company Rosneft said on Friday that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and German businessman Matthias Warnig had informed it they could not continue serving on the board of directors.”
“The hypersonic 3M22 Zircon (also transliterated as Tsirkon) is a vast improvement over 1990’s NorK technology.”
What a happy coincidence! The Flamingo missile is also a vast improvement over Russian-based Nork technology.
Russian vessels keep getting hit:
“Ukrainian forces struck Russia’s port of Novorossiysk on March 2, damaging four Russian ships, including the frigate Admiral Essen, which carries Kalibr cruise missiles, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent.
“Damage to the Admiral Essen became known after Ukraine confirmed on March 4 that three other ships — the Russian minesweeper Valentin Pikul and the anti-submarine vessels Yeysk and Kasimov — had also been hit in the attack.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ukraine-hits-russian-minesweeper-valentin-145702211.html
The 7% number appears to be an AI hallucination
Ctrl-F for “7” in the comments finds that comment to be the first. Don’t blame AI for your hallucinations.
“Russia and China are going to do “jack” and “squat” to Iran”.
And Jack left town.
“What a happy coincidence! The Flamingo missile is also a vast improvement over Russian-based Nork technology.
Russian vessels keep getting hit:”
Only the Ukrainian sources report damage to naval vessels in Novorossiysk on March 2nd, and their single accompanying satellite BDA photo only shows some kind of smoke damage to the helicopter deck of the Essen and its adjacent dock. It certainly could not be the result of a 1,150 kg FP-5 warhead. That would sink the ship and destroy the dock, without a doubt. The Moscow Times (which hates Vlad) doesn’t even mention any damage to naval vessels in the attack.
What is reported by Russian sources is massive damage to the CPC oil terminal, which is owned by Chevron and Kazakhstan. President Trump specifically asked Zelenskiy three weeks ago to stop attacking U.S. (Chevron) assets at Novorossiysk, but the Ukrainians don’t seem responsive.
These Ukrainian attacks on Novorossiysk are denying Chevron 1.3 million barrels of light sour Kazakh crude per day. That is preventing Chevron from fully utilizing Venezuelan crude.
The FP=5 is improved V-1 Buzz Bomb technology.
So we have the Russian State and Comrade Cartridge on one side, and Wikipedia on the other. Who to believe?? I go with none of the above. You don’t have to be a board member to deliver a suitcase (steamer trunk) of cash to a German politician. Or a full bitcoin wallet.
“So we have the Russian State and Comrade Cartridge on one side, and Wikipedia on the other. Who to believe?? I go with none of the above. You don’t have to be a board member to deliver a suitcase (steamer trunk) of cash to a German politician. Or a full bitcoin wallet.”
I did not provide you with any Russian references, knowing you would come up with some idiot conspiracy delusion. The current Rosneft directors are:
Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Chairman
Igor Sechin, CEO
Aleksander Nekipelov
Andrey Akimov
Hamad Rashid Al-Mohannadi
Faisal Alsuwaidi
Pedro A. Aquino, Jr.
Viktor Martynov
Aleksander Novak
Maxim Oreshkin
Govind Kottieth Satish
You will find this list on Rosneft’s English language corporate governance page. No Gerhard Schröder.
“Russia and China are going to do “’Jack’ and “squat” to Iran”.
“And Jack left town.”
Russia has lost the ability to project power. Their man in Syria left town; their African Wagner contingent left town; their Iranian buddies are about to be ridden out of town.
The Russian sphere of influence has contracted and they are bogged down in Ukraine. They cannot save their allies and will be lucky to save themselves.
Above, at 1:12 PM, you wrote:
“Russia’s state-owned oil company Rosneft said on Friday that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and German businessman Matthias Warnig had informed it they could not continue serving on the board of directors.”
Then, at 3:54 PM you wrote:
I did not provide you with any Russian references, knowing you would come up with some idiot conspiracy delusion.
Pretty sloppy, Comrade.
When I wrote that I don’t believe either of the sources on Schroeder, it is because his current employment status doesn’t matter to me. His past actions have earned him threat of sanctions. That says enough, and answers your claim of conspiracy delusions.
[…] More at Battleswarm blog. […]
Thanks for the article, Lawrence.
“Above, at 1:12 PM, you wrote:
“Russia’s state-owned oil company Rosneft said on Friday that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and German businessman Matthias Warnig had informed it they could not continue serving on the board of directors.”
Then, at 3:54 PM you wrote:
I did not provide you with any Russian references, knowing you would come up with some idiot conspiracy delusion.”
The 1:12 PM statement was a period quote from Reuters. Do you consider Reuters to be Russian? They are conveying news from Russia, regarding a Russian company. Specifically a legal corporate governance statement from that Russian company, at that time, which clearly contradicts your lies.
Well Comrade, if Russian statements relayed by Reuters are to be ignored, than so shall be Russian statements relayed by you.
Do you Winter in St. Petersburg, then return to Moscow when Spring emerges?
“Well Comrade, if Russian statements relayed by Reuters are to be ignored, than so shall be Russian statements relayed by you.”
non sequitur
You are the one attempting to discredit Reuters, not me. Ultimately, reporting a news event in Russia will require some element of Russian content. Or else there will be no content whatsoever to the story.
Your idiot allegation that Schröder was on the Rosneft Board required some Russian input on your part (laundered through the comedy of errors which is Wikipedia), so you are being quite hypocritical in denying me the use of AP and Reuters as sources. AP and Reuters make some effort to be correct, and they actually do correct their past errors publicly. Wikipedia does not.
Rosneft is and was run with an iron fist by Igor Sechin, aka Darth Vader.