Senator Graham on Iran:

The worst thing you can do to a military unit is ask them to sacrifice and not finish the job.

You want to help the military? let them finish the job they believe in that is necessary.

And you get nothing for finishing second in a war with mad people, crazy people.

NEW: Saudi Defense Ministry says a drone crashed at the SAMREF refinery in Yanbu, with damage still being assessed.

SAMREF is a major oil refinery, jointly owned by Saudi Aramco & ExxonMobil, processing ~400,000 barrels/day.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:

There is no desire in Belgium to be involved in the war against Iran. And I think that won't change.

I think it's a shared sentiment among European Union member countries that we didn't want this war, we didn't start this war.

Kuwait is battling fires at the ports of Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries after they were targeted by Iranian strikes.

Mina Al-Ahmadi & Mina Abdullah are Kuwait’s main oil refineries, run by KNPC, producing ~800,000 barrels/day combined.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:

If you achieve peace, what should you do with Russia in the long term?

Live in eternal hostility, or aim for normalization? Yes, then you should aim for normalization.

I think that is completely normal, if you frame it correctly.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:

Belgium wants to continue to fully support Ukraine and keep the pressure on Russia at the highest level.

We are strongly advocating for the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. That is very important for us, including measures on oil and gas.

So we must continue: 100% support for Ukraine, 100% pressure on Russia—but also negotiations.

We must have a strategy to negotiate. It cannot be the intention to continue this war for years, to sacrifice many Ukrainian lives, and then in the end negotiate anyway.

Ukraine Peace Talks Paused Amid Iran War

Peace talks involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine have been paused amid the ongoing Iran war, according to a report by Russian newspaper Izvestia citing Kremlin officials.

READ MORE

Vance Plans Hungary Visit to Back Orban Ahead of Election

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is planning a visit to Hungary in the coming days to signal support for Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of a closely contested election, according to sources familiar with the matter.

READ MORE

Brent crude oil surged above $116 per barrel, rising about 8.5% in a day.

Iran has asked the UN for compensation from the UAE, accusing it of helping US attacks by allowing its territory to be used.

In a letter, Iran’s UN Envoy said the UAE committed an “internationally wrongful act” and should pay for material and moral damages.

UN Patrols South Sudan Refugee Camp After Deadly Attack

UNMISS patrolled Makpandu refugee camp in South Sudan after a deadly attack killed one refugee, highlighting rising insecurity, armed incursions & protection gaps for refugees.

READ MORE

The UAE is adapting to the war.

Egypt is introducing energy rationing measures—earlier shop closures, reduced street lighting, and possible remote work—to cope with soaring fuel costs caused by the Iran war.

Gas import costs jumped from $560M → $1.65B/month, forcing rationing.

READ MORE

"You Own Us 100 Million Pounds" Rwanda Accuses UK at the Hague

Justice Minister Emmanuel Ugirashebuja presented Rwanda’s arbitration case in The Hague, seeking £100 million from the UK over a scrapped 2022 asylum deal, disputing claims it waived payment.

READ MORE

French President Macron on Iran War:

This escalation is reckless.

We support a moratorium on attacks against civilian infrastructure. Gas, oil—but also water—must not be targeted.

As the region enters a period of religious holidays, I think everyone’s minds should calm down and the fighting should stop for at least a few days to try to give negotiations a chance.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf:

According to statements by Israeli and American military officials, 320% of Iran’s missile launchers have been destroyed so far.

However, Iran continues to launch missiles at a high rate.

Now, the enemy aims to destroy up to 500% of them!

A unique achievement for the US military!

Woman at a German public TV show:

Iranians are afraid of the bombs. But even more afraid that the bombing will stop.

Former U.S. counterterrorism chief Joe Kent said Israel is responsible for the war with Iran during an interview on the program hosted by Tucker Carlson, arguing that external influence has shaped U.S. Middle East policy and recent military developments.

READ MORE

Germany has dropped its plan to intervene in support of Israel at the ICJ genocide case (South Africa v. Israel), citing “new developments”—mainly that Germany itself is now on trial at the same court (Nicaragua v. Germany).

Berlin isn’t changing its political position on Israel.

It’s stepping back to avoid legal contradictions and risk to its own defense.