German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the US for temporarily lifting sanctions on Russian oil, calling it “the wrong move” and highlighting that six G7 members opposed the decision amid rising energy prices and global supply tensions.

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Before the war, Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned Trump that a U.S. strike on Iran could lead Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz using mines, drones, and missiles.

Trump acknowledged the risk but believed Iran would likely back down before shutting the strait, and said that even if it tried, the U.S. military could handle it.

Source: WSJ

Trump:

The Fake News Media hates to report how well the United States Military has done against Iran, which is totally defeated and wants a deal - But not a deal that I would accept!

France Returns Stolen Colonial Era Artifact to Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast welcomed the return of the "Djidji Ayokwè" talking drum from France on Friday, the first artifact repatriated from the former colonial power. The 3-meter drum looted in 1916 symbolizes growing pressure on Europe to return stolen cultural heritage.

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Privately, Trump’s team has shown him polling they say proves the Iran war remains popular with his supporters.

Some allies skeptical of the operation have quietly appeared on TV, including Fox News, to warn against deeper U.S. involvement.

Source: WSJ

Gulf allies are privately angry at Washington, blaming the U.S. for triggering a conflict that put them at risk.

Trump has been calling regional leaders this week to reassure them, according to people familiar with the talks.

Source: WSJ

Iran’s missile attack on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base reportedly damaged five US Air Force tanker aircraft.

This brings the total to at least 7 U.S. refueling planes lost or damaged recently.

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Protesters in Morón, Cuba set fire to a local Communist Party headquarters during demonstrations over worsening fuel shortages and widespread blackouts.

A close adviser to Trump has urged the US to seek an exit from its conflict with Iran.

David Sacks, Trump’s AI and crypto tsar, said on the All-In podcast: “This is a good time to declare victory and get out.” He added that ending the conflict “is clearly what the markets would like to see.”

Some insiders believe Trump may be using his defence secretary Pete Hegseth as a political “human shield” during the Iran war.

Hegseth has taken the most aggressive public stance—appearing in interviews, boasting about crushing the enemy, and saying the war is “just beginning.”

Meanwhile, Trump has sometimes struck a more moderate or contradictory tone, suggesting the conflict could end soon.

Former officials say this contrast could be intentional: if the war becomes unpopular or goes badly, Hegseth would absorb the criticism, protecting Trump politically.

Source: The Telegraph

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Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Iran:

There are so many innocent people dying.

The little girls’ school is such an outrage — it’s horrific.

As Americans, we don’t want to think of our military as being responsible for killing little children.

Mexican President Sheinbaum on Trump:

Maybe he is not very well informed... Mexico is not a narco-government, and our sovereignty is not up for negotiation.

Thomas Massie does a pretty impressive Trump impression.

South African Troops Crack Down on Illegal Gold Miners in Johannesburg

South African soldiers dismantled illegal gold mining sites near Johannesburg as part of a police support deployment. Authorities say 30,000 illegal miners operate in 6,000 abandoned shafts, costing over $4 billion annually.

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Senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaee:

The end of the war is in our hands. We will consider ending the war only when, first, we receive full compensation for all our damages from the United States, and second, we obtain a 100% guarantee for the future, which is not possible without the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Persian Gulf.

Therefore, the second condition is the U.S. withdrawal from the Persian Gulf.

A Turkish journalist reporting from Israel said an Israeli man approached them and said, “From now on, you are our next enemy. Do you know that?”

Tucker Carlson:

I almost want to run for President, just to debate Ted Cruz.