Top U.S. and Israeli generals met on Friday at the Pentagon amid Iran tensions.

Source: Reuters

US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack:

The US belief is that he's (Erdogan) not interested in extending the Ottoman Empire.

Taking care of Istanbul and Ankara is enough; it's hard enough.

The same with Prime Minister Netanyahu: Israel is being pushed on all sides. The "Greater Israel" philosophy and theory can be done with business and prosperity; it's not going to be done with geography.

So I think it's outside rhetoric and politics. I think it'll vanish.

US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack:

I get criticized for saying at the end of Gaza, which is a dramatic step forward, I think that you will see at some point in time Türkiye and Israel finding a relationship, whether it’s the Abraham Accords or the Solomon Accords or hybrid. It makes sense.

US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack:

Go back to October 5th. The Turkish and the Israelis had a trading relationship in a foreign trade agreement with a surplus of about $7 billion.

It vanishes in an afternoon.

US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack:

The rhetoric between Netanyahu and Erdogan is deafening. It’s just rhetoric.

At the end of the day, I think they both realize that neither wants the Ottoman Empire.

Sudan's Khartoum International Airport received its first regularly scheduled commercial flight for the first time since the start of the war on April 15, 2023.

Sudan Airways flight arrived from Port Sudan, carrying civilian passengers, marking a symbolic return of air travel to the capital.

US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack:

You want Türkiye to defend Europe, but Europe doesn’t want them to have the highest and best equipment because they’re concerned about what’s happening with Russia.

It’s insanity.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado:

I will be president when the time comes.

Maduro was afraid to run against me.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado:

Once Venezuela is free, then the Cuban regime will follow. The Nicaraguan regime will follow.

Even Iranian regime will follow, which has turned into a safe haven and satellite only three hours away from Florida.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado on the Maduro regime:

This is a criminal structure intertwined with the enemies of the West — Russia, Iran, China, Cuba, extremist terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas, the cartels and the guerrilla.

Reporter: Khamenei said today that a U.S. attack could start a regional war.

Trump: Why wouldn’t he say that, of course he is going to say that.

We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there, very close.

Hopefully we’ll make a deal.

If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right.

Trump on Cuba:

We’re talking to the people from the highest levels in Cuba. Let’s see what happens.

I think we’re going to make a deal with Cuba.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado:

If they had captured me before I left, I probably would have disappeared or worse.

Right now, I don’t think they would dare to kill me because of the United States’ presence and pressure and actions.

BREAKING:

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

Trump said no nuclear weapons, and we fully agree. We fully agree with that. That could be a very good deal.

In return, we expect sanction lifting, so that deal is possible. Let’s not talk about impossible things.

NEW: Gulf states warn that despite recent losses, Iran’s missile forces can still seriously threaten U.S. bases.

Gulf officials say Iran’s missile program is damaged but not crippled: “key elements remain intact and other capabilities have been rebuilt.”

Iran now views conflict with the U.S. as existential: the regime sees a fight with Washington as “an existential threat.”

After a symbolic strike on al-Udeid in Qatar, Iran is signaling future attacks would be real: they would not be “measured and telegraphed” like before.

Iran still has weapons that can hit U.S. forces: “shorter-range munitions, launchers and some elements of its missile production system” remain.

A former Iranian diplomat claims rapid recovery: “Tehran has doubled missile production since the 12-day war.”

Iran is hiding launchers in mountains: “It is not possible to reach and damage these capabilities easily.”

Iran remains dominant in missiles: it has “the largest missile program in the region.”

Source: WaPo

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

The talks so far have been fruitful.

Trump remains open to a diplomatic solution with Iran.

Trump’s latest statements about Iran are not just posturing.

Qatar, Türkiye, and Egypt are working to arrange a meeting in Ankara between Witkoff and senior Iranian officials.

Source: Axios, citing WH official

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

If the war starts, that would be a disaster for everybody.

In the previous war, we tried hard to limit the scope of the war between Iran and Israel.

This time, if it is between Iran and the U.S., since the U.S. bases are spread all over the region, then inevitably many parts of the region will be involved.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

Our missiles were tested in a real war last time, and we were able to understand their weak points and their strengths.

We learned many lessons during the 12-day war. I think we are now very well prepared.

But being prepared doesn’t mean that we want war.

Director of National Economic Council Kevin Hassett:

We are reordering the world order, and it’s going to end up being great for everybody.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

There was no plan for executions or hangings.

Right now, I can affirm that the rights of each and every person who is arrested will be guaranteed.