Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Iran:

The Americans and Iranians have started talking again. There are many reasons to be hopeful.

Hopefully, a result will be reached, especially regarding the nuclear file.

On the other hand, we observe that military activity has also increased.

Is this activity intended to pressure the ongoing negotiations, or is it preparation for a pre-decided military operation?

We are monitoring this closely.

Our wish is for the parties to reach a negotiated settlement without the need for military operations or war.

We are at that exact critical threshold right now.

Dr. Hans-Georg Maaßen at AfD event:

I do not believe that we need a chainsaw like Milei in Argentina. We need a pressure washer. We will pressure-wash Germany. We will clean things up.

We will rid Germany of this ideology. We will de-ideologize Germany, we will de-gender Germany, we will de-globalize Germany.

We will de-bureaucratize Germany, and we will free ourselves from these anti-German forces and from this climate sect that has us in its grip.

We will send them where they belong — into their fictional climate hell that they dream about, or rather have nightmares about — but they should leave us alone.

I am convinced that we will put Germany back on its feet.

NOTE: Maaßen was the former president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) from 2012 to 2018.

Türkiye condemned Greece’s new gas exploration deal south of Crete with a Chevron-led consortium, calling it unlawful and a breach of a 2019 Türkiye-Libya maritime agreement.

Ankara said the activity violates Libya’s declared maritime jurisdiction and pledged support for Tripoli.

Italy's Meloni on Iran:

On the one hand, we must ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons — we know the risks involved.

On the other hand, at this stage it is important to reach an agreement and avoid actions that could further destabilize an already fragile situation.

Italy's Meloni on Ukraine:

We are still very far from resolving the main issue, namely the territories over which Russia continues to assert claims that I consider absolutely unreasonable.

BIG: Trump is considering a limited military strike on Iran to pressure Tehran into accepting a nuclear deal.

The initial plan would target a small number of military or government sites, with broader attacks possible if Iran refuses to curb its nuclear program.

Source: WSJ

NEW: Iranian Air Force reports that an aircraft crashed during a nighttime training flight from Shahid Nojeh Air Base in Hamadan province.

One pilot was killed, and the second survived.

The aircraft type was not specified, though F-4 fighter jets are known to be based at the airbase.

WATCH: Turkish Bayraktar TB3 UCAV successfully performs fully autonomous AI-powered takeoff and landing from the deck of the TCG ANADOLU during NATO's Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise in the Baltic Sea.

CONFIRMED: Iranian Pilot Mehdi Firoozmand, instructor of the combat crew training squadron, killed in the F-4 crash in Hamadan.

Trump:

You’re gonna be so tired of winning, you’re gonna be exhausted. You’re gonna—you’re gonna get tired of winning.

Remember I say, Somebody’s gonna come up and say, “President, President, please, we’re winning too much. We’re not used to it. Georgia’s not used to it—we can’t take it anymore. People are working too hard, they’re making too much money. Please, please, we don’t want to win anymore, sir, it’s too much.”

I said, “Nope, we’re gonna keep on winning. The people of Georgia want to win.

Trump:

The Democrats don't want to give us voter ID because they want to cheat.

Trump mocks Macron again:

I said, “Emmanuel, you’re gonna have to lift your (drug) price by double or triple.”

“No way, I will not do that, Donald. Why would I do that? I would be out of business.”

I said, “No, you’re gonna do it, 100%.”

“No, no, no, I will not do that. I will not do that!”

“Yes, you will. YOU’RE GONNA DO IT!”

And he said, “No, no…”

And I said, “Here’s the story: If you don’t do it, I’m gonna put a 100% tariff on all of the wine and champagne that you sell into the United States.”

And you know what he said? “I will do it! I will gladly do it!”

Trump:

Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

US and Chinese fighter jets engaged in a brief aerial standoff this week over international waters in the Yellow Sea near the Korean Peninsula.

Up to 10 USFK F-16 jets flew near China’s ADIZ over the Yellow Sea.

Beijing responded with a scramble as aircraft neared its ADIZ.

READ MORE

Poland has withdrawn from the Ottawa Convention, now planning to resume anti-personnel mine production.

Poland destroyed more than 1 million anti-personnel mines by 2016.

The Baltic countries have already completed their own exits.

READ MORE

Finnish President Stubb on whether Europe defend itself without America:

We’ve got this. Don’t worry about it.

The Economist: If a future American president says, “Don’t fight. The Russians have come to a peace deal with them. They may have just invaded the Baltics, but you need to talk, not fight” — can they do that to you?

Finnish President Stubb: No, it’s not going to happen.

Q: Recently, Trump shared your private messages, like WhatsApp, right? What does it tell the world that one of the most powerful people in the world is sharing messages publicly?

Macron: I really believe that respect is part of leadership. You can share ideas or not, you can disagree, but you have to do it in a respectful way.

Respect was built on everything which goes with the civilization process. It was built years after years, decades after decades, in order to improve ourselves.

And... and it's a little bit surprising, I really believe, for people to see leaders going backward.

US Eases Nuclear Safeguards in Saudi Pact

U.S. President Donald Trump has notified Congress that a proposed U.S.–Saudi civil nuclear agreement may proceed without long-standing non-proliferation guardrails

READ MORE

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi:

Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment since the end of the war.

China is strengthening attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas and is expanding and intensifying military activities around Japan.

North Korea continues to pursue improvements in its missile capabilities.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, and North Korea has dispatched troops to Russia, raising concerns that missile-related technology could be transferred in return.

China is also strengthening its military cooperation with Russia.

In such circumstances, we must think for ourselves, take the wheel, and determine where we are heading with long-term goals.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi:

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is still ongoing. It is important to bring Russia’s aggression to an early end.

Japan will continue to support Ukraine in close coordination with like-minded countries, while respecting the will of the Ukrainian people.