a thinking-aloud comment. of course, there'll be intense discussion and analysis about this new development throughout the rest of the day, maybe continuing for days or weeks. it strikes me strongly that iran would not have embarked on this without full consultation with russia, probably also china and maybe even saudi arabia and the uae. the brics summit is scheduled for 22 october (3 weeks tomorrow). many had predicted that iran, while very seriously provoked, would do nothing until after that important brics nations meeting, /pol included.  i think they're unlikely to have taken this decision to go to war  which is what this is  on their own standalone initiative. it casts some light on this report here:   132846259351600 i'd be interested to read between the lines of any carefully worded russian read-out of the conversation, were putin to accept the call.  it's not impossible that he may even decline to speak with netanyahu, which in itself would be meaningful.
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