Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 10/12/2025A friend just returned from Palestine. Daily humiliation & oppression is intensifying everywhere: raids, settler attacks, home seizures, checkpoints, systematic discrimination for Palestinians in 1948 Israel. It's hard to fathom. Yet this is what so many in Washington defend. 🧵>>> 511859
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 01/12/2025Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza continues unabated despite ceasefireamnesty.orgIsrael’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza continues unabated despite ceasefireMore than a month after a ceasefire was announced and all living Israeli hostages were released, Israeli authorities are still committing genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, by c... 071
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 30/11/2025There’s still a segment of the liberal political & foreign-policy pundit class that, even now, can’t bring itself to criticize Israel — though they’d condemn any other state for the same actions. At this point, that silence says something deeper and darker about many of them. 🧵>>> 261
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 29/11/2025Israeli analysts are whipping up a more fervor against Syria as Israel expands its attacks. On Telegram, Eran Lahav, fresh off a program with FDD, casts Syria’s internal dynamics as “Al-Jolani’s sophisticated jihad.” The narrative is clearly primed for more attacks. 🧵>>> 121
Reposted by Sina ToossiSina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 28/11/2025Apartheid South Africa waged endless regional wars under a “total strategy,” claiming it was fighting the Soviets while feeding off Western backing. Israel now does the same with Iran. But Pretoria’s militarism only brought isolation, economic strain & accelerated collapse. 🧵>>> 17330
Reposted by Sina ToossiSina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 27/11/2025Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it's about gratitude. It reminds us how interconnected we are. Even in foreign policy, the suffering we cause elsewhere reshapes us at home. Gratitude brings us back to our better nature. Some thoughts ⬇️dissidentforeignpolicy.comOn Thanksgiving & GratitudeThanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s devoted to one simple, profound act: being grateful. 011
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 28/11/2025Apartheid South Africa waged endless regional wars under a “total strategy,” claiming it was fighting the Soviets while feeding off Western backing. Israel now does the same with Iran. But Pretoria’s militarism only brought isolation, economic strain & accelerated collapse. 🧵>>> 17330
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 27/11/2025Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it's about gratitude. It reminds us how interconnected we are. Even in foreign policy, the suffering we cause elsewhere reshapes us at home. Gratitude brings us back to our better nature. Some thoughts ⬇️dissidentforeignpolicy.comOn Thanksgiving & GratitudeThanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s devoted to one simple, profound act: being grateful. 011
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 20/11/2025"But nothing has stirred my soul quite like Persian – the language of mystics and lovers." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comOut of all the languages I know, Persian is the one that speaks directly to my soul and offers a new way of being | Shadi Khan SaifI’ve found metaphors that mirror my own journey, phrases that feel like home and poetry that speaks directly to the soul 040
Reposted by Sina ToossiDrop Site @dropsitenews.com · 17/11/2025⭕️ Newly shared footage from Tehran captures the aftermath of Israel’s strike on a packed intersection during the war in June: 23416
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 17/11/2025New footage shows the aftermath of Israel’s strike on a busy traffic intersection near Tehran’s Tajrish Bazaar in the June war. Cars & surrounding infrastructure destroyed, streets flooded, many killed or injured, people trying help each other at the scene. 0103
Reposted by Sina ToossiShervin Malekzadeh @swarthy-bastard.bsky.social · 13/11/2025Yes! Understand this, you’ll understand 99% more than many Iran “experts!” 042
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 13/11/2025“Eat grass before becoming a colony again.” The Polish Foreign Minister's line echoes across the world, from Iran and Taiwan to Latin America and Palestine. I wrote about the universal struggle to resist domination and the hard tradeoffs nations face 👇dissidentforeignpolicy.comWhy Some Countries Fight So Hard to Stay IndependentPoland’s foreign minister has remarked that his country would “eat grass” before ever becoming a Russian colony again. 020
Reposted by Sina ToossiDavid Rothkopf @djrothkopf.bsky.social · 12/11/2025The new Epstein emails are the most incriminating evidence to date on Trump & Epstein & let's be clear, there has been plenty of incriminating evidence for many years. So, can we stop treating this like a process story and start focusing squarely on the likelihood Trump is a pedophile sex criminal. 18725219
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 10/11/2025Beware of narratives that serve to manufacture consent for another war, especially a new one against Lebanon or Iraq. Both are in the Netanyahu government's crosshairs, even as Israel’s military is worn down. They're hunting for another war & trying to drag the U.S. along. 031
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 10/11/2025The fact that the NYT even entertains such an outlandish, agenda-driven accusation isn’t just bad journalism. It’s how establishment outlets police the boundaries of “acceptable” debate and manufacture controversy over positions & people they want to keep on the margins. 073
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 10/11/2025Centrist Dems aren’t built for moments like this. They rose in a politics designed to preserve status quo institutions of power, not challenge them. This is why they'll crumble even when "democracy" is on the line. Their instincts simply aren't fit for this Trump-era authoritarian moment. 175
Reposted by Sina ToossiRima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 12/09/2025Iran’s postwar politics are in flux. Beneath the surface noise, one trend is unmistakable: Tehran is pivoting more decisively toward China, out of necessity. @sinatoossi.bsky.social foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/11/i...foreignpolicy.comIran’s Foreign Policy Is Changing in Real TimeThe debate in Tehran is heating up—and moving in unexpected directions. 094
Reposted by Sina ToossiJohn Carl Baker @johncarlbaker.bsky.social · 02/10/2025Important analysis from @sinatoossi.bsky.social: “The lesson in Iran is that international law and institutions no longer matter, so Tehran must act on its own national interests.” thebulletin.org/2025/10/why-...thebulletin.orgWhy Europe's snapback gamble against Iran will backfireEuropean and US officials have said that diplomacy remains an option. But Europe's "snapback" of UN sanctions on Iran shrinks the possibility of successful diplomacy and fuels escalation. 073
Reposted by Sina ToossiCenter for International Policy @cipolicy.bsky.social · 16/10/2025Trump believes he can get more than a nuclear deal from Iran, but pressure will make Tehran stick to its guns and turn to China and Russia – @sinatoossi.bsky.social told @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...theguardian.comTrump’s Middle East ‘peace’ pitch to Iran falls flat in Tehran and JerusalemIn a Knesset speech, Trump urged Israel to reconcile with its longtime foe Iran. Both governments dismissed the idea 021
Reposted by Sina ToossiRobert Wright @robertwrighter.bsky.social · 13/04/2025Very valuable @nonzeronews.bsky.social podcast conversation about this weekend's US-Iran talks between @sinatoossi.bsky.social and @connorechols.bsky.social. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwYz...youtube.comHow Trump could strike a deal with Iran | NonZero World feat. Sina ToossiYouTube video by Nonzero 052
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 10/04/2025I spoke to The Hill about the Trump-Iran talks set to begin. This could be a real opening — if both sides recognize that serious diplomacy, not threats or ultimatums, is the only viable path to avoid conflict.thehill.com 020
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 09/04/2025Trump blindsided Netanyahu by announcing high-level talks with Iran. It’s a rare opening for diplomacy—and the war camp is scrambling to shut it down. I've written in Mondoweiss on why the US must not waste this chance:mondoweiss.netTrump must continue to move toward Iran talks, even as Netanyahu tries to derail itDonald Trump’s surprising announcement that talks are starting with Iran gives the White House a pivotal choice: follow pro-Israel hawks calling for a military confrontation with Iran, or chart a dipl... 052
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 07/04/2025🧵In a striking moment at the White House today, Trump told reporters that direct talks with Iran have begun—and will continue this Saturday. The implications could be huge. Here's why this matters and what could really be happening behind the scenes. >>> 160
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 05/04/2025“Forgive me, mother. I chose a path that was helping people.” He was a medic. Shot in the head by Israeli forces while saving lives. Buried in a mass grave. Israel tried to cover it up. But video found on his body proves the truth. Another atrocity in a genocidal war. 141
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 03/04/2025🧵There’s no military solution to Iran’s nuclear program. Strikes might set it back a year—at best—but carry a high risk of pushing Iran to weaponize. Retaliation would also likely be fierce: Iran’s missiles and drones can overwhelm US & Israeli defenses. >>> 174
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 03/04/2025Trump has reportedly fired several NSC staffers for being too hawkish. Could Waltz be next? His call for a Libya-style dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program isn’t a path to a deal, it's a formula for making war inevitable. 010
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 02/04/2025The US military buildup—2 carriers, B-2s to Diego Garcia—may signal strength, but it hasn’t even neutralized Houthi strikes. An attack on Iran would trigger wider conflict while likely failing to destroy Iran’s retaliatory capabilities. How credible is this threat, really?axios.comTrump seriously considering Iran's offer of indirect nuclear talksBut he's also flooding military assets to the region for plan b. 131
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 30/03/2025Eid Mubarak to all who celebrate! This joyous and festive arrives under a heavy shadow once again, as Palestinians endure unimaginable suffering at the hands of a brutal war machine. 040
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 28/03/2025Trump wants a deal with Iran but many of his advisers are pushing war. Such a war would drain US resources, distract from domestic priorities & weaken America’s global leverage. Yet, there’s still a real path to a deal. I break it down in Responsible Statecraft:responsiblestatecraft.orgThe war over war with Iran has just begunTrump says he wants a deal but stakeholders in and outside of his administration are pushing for conflict 232
Reposted by Sina ToossiGravel Influencer @gravelinfluencer.bsky.social · 26/03/2025Not sure if this has been shared here yet, but this is video of Rumeysa Ozturk's arrest posted by WCVB. It's terrifying. 4945622280
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 24/03/2025In this sharp piece, Hadi Kahalzadeh of Brandeis University explains how Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign backfired--hurting the US, hardening Iran’s ruling elite, and pushing Iran onto a path of “neither prosperity nor imminent collapse."middleeasteye.netWhy Trump's return to 'maximum pressure' on Iran is doomed to fail againThe current administration's reimposition of sanctions, based on flawed assumptions about Iran's vulnerability, repeats past mistakes and won't undermine the regime 060
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 24/03/2025A compelling piece in the NYT calling for a new nuclear agreement with Iran that "should center on the same simple tenets: Iran pulling back its nuclear program from producing weapons-grade fissile material in exchange for relief from US sanctions."nytimes.comOpinion | Stop Iran’s Nuclear Threat With a Deal, Not ConflictThe Trump administration should back away from threats and engage Iran in an effort to bring a diplomatic halt to its nuclear weapons capability. 130
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 22/03/2025Bernie Sanders and AOC are drawing massive crowds across the country with their #FightTheOligarchy tour. The energy is real. The message is clear. Most Americans want bold change, yet Democratic party leaders keep missing the moment, just like they did in 2016, 2020, and 2024. 180
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 22/03/2025In one day last week, Israel killed over 200 children in Gaza, the "largest child massacre in its history." In the past 18 months, Israel has killed over 14,500 children. This isn’t ancient barbarism. It's happening now, in plain sight, with the full backing of the US & Europe. 0117
Reposted by Sina ToossiDaniel Larison @daniellarison.bsky.social · 21/03/2025Like I said, these are wildly unrealistic, maximalist demands: daniellarison.substack.com/p/the-absurd...daniellarison.substack.comThe Absurd Maximalism of U.S. Iran PolicyThe new Trump administration is repeating the same mistakes that they made with North Korea in the first term. 011
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 21/03/2025🚨Where do things stand between the US & Iran right now? Donald Trump recently sent a letter to Iran—via the UAE—asking for negotiations. But if the contents are as reported, we may be headed for a major collision course. Here's a breakdown >>>🧵 286
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 21/03/2025🧵So much of the Iran discourse in DC is dominated by opportunists with little understanding of the country. They peddle shallow takes, label advocates of diplomacy or sanctions relief as “pro-regime,” & push agendas to make war more likely--without ever owning the consequences. 251
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 21/03/2025I spoke to The New Arab about how Iran is recalibrating after Assad’s fall. Tehran faces tough choices: try to rebuild influence in Syria—or exploit instability, as it has in past conflicts. But much depends on Syria’s stability and ties with Israel.newarab.comBorderline disorder: Is Iran destabilising post-Assad Syria?Analysis: After a string of security incidents and sectarian killings, many have accused Iran of working to destabilise the new Syria. But reality is complex 010
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 21/03/2025I spoke to AFP about Trump’s foreign policy. Despite claiming to be a peacemaker, he treats diplomacy like real estate in The Art of the Deal: escalate tensions, push things to the brink, then strike a last-minute deal. It’s about narrative, not peace.france24.comTrump vows peace but faces hard realities as war ragesDonald Trump began his second term vowing to be a peacemaker. 010
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 20/03/2025Happy #Nowruz! Today marks the arrival of spring and the ancient Persian New Year, celebrated for millennia across Iran, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. May this new year bring everyone renewal, joy, and peace. عید همگی مبارک🌺 082
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 19/03/2025The thing about taking political prisoners is that you often inadvertently forge leaders for a movement. Mahmoud Khalil’s letter is a testament to that. It echoes the defiant words of MLK from jail, of Iranian prisoners who turned their cells into podiums. And countless others. 060
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 18/03/2025On Trump's threats against Iran: bringing the situation to the brink of war does not necessarily mean entering it. We saw in his first term how he bluffs “fire & fury” only to back down & seek a deal. Yet, in such volatile times, brinkmanship can easily spiral out of control. 120
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 18/03/2025🧵The slaughter of hundreds of innocent children, women, and civilians in Gaza was the price for the fanatical Ben-Gvir’s return to Netanyahu’s government. A desperate bid to keep his grip on power and push through a budget before the end of March. >>> 112
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 18/03/2025Censorship and repression are unsustainable. They signal desperation & inevitably backfire. Anyone who knows modern Iran understands this. What’s happening to #MahmoudKhalil & American student activists will have the opposite effect of what pro-Israeli government forces intend. 021
Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social · 17/03/2025Israel’s Maariv newspaper: “While the public is exhausted by war, Netanyahu is quietly building a dictatorship.” So in America will we be allowed to quote Israelis criticizing their own government, or will that be repressed too? www.maariv.co.il/journalists/... 030
Reposted by Sina ToossiMehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 17/03/2025Chuck Schumer suggests it is antisemitic to say what Israel is doing in Gaza is a genocide. Yet some of Israel’s own top scholars of genocide and the Holocaust, all of them Jewish - Omer Bartov, Amos Goldberg, Daniel Blatman - say it is a genocide in Gaza. Does Schumer consider them antisemite too?nytimes.com‘The Interview’: Chuck Schumer on Democrats, Antisemitism and His Shutdown RetreatThe Senate minority leader discusses the backlash to his vote on the Republican spending bill, how he sees his role within the party and his new book. 2913619695