Europe Draws Up Hormuz Plan

France says it has engaged around 35 countries in discussions over a possible future mission to secure and reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the end of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, amid growing concerns over global energy security.

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Israel's Defence Minister Katz:

We warned Iran to stop firing at civilians.

Since it continues, our strikes will escalate and expand to more targets supporting its war capabilities.

Trump Steps Back

U.S. President Donald Trump has delayed military strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure by 10 days, while simultaneously extending a deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

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After damage to a major gas facility in Qatar, Airgas Inc. is cutting helium deliveries—some customers may get only half their usual supply and face added fees.

Helium is critical for hospital MRI machines and for manufacturing advanced chips like those from NVIDIA Corp..

To manage shortages, suppliers are prioritizing healthcare over other industries, while the global supply chain faces added strain.

Source: Bloomberg

Iranian President Pezeshkian shows up in public and visits stores.

An Iranian girl swings on a beach in Bandar Abbas as smoke rises from a nearby naval base hit by strikes.

EU's "Shut the Door" Vote to Process Migrants in Offshore Camps

EU has taken a dramatic step toward exporting its migration problem beyond its borders, approving a controversial plan to detain rejected asylum seekers in offshore “return hubs” - a move rights groups warn could sideline legal protections & redefine Europe’s Migration Policy.

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Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf:

How can the US, which can't even protect its own soldiers at its bases in the region and instead leaves them stashed away in hotels and parks, protect them on our soil?

A tense phone call between JD Vance and Netanyahu exposed growing friction between Washington and Israel over the war’s assumptions.

During the call, Vance directly challenged Netanyahu’s prewar outlook, arguing it had been overly optimistic — particularly on the likelihood of regime change.

One U.S. source said: “Bibi really sold it… as being easy, as regime change being a lot likelier than it was,” adding that the vice president was “clear-eyed” about those claims.

Source: Axios

U.S. official to Axios:

If the Iranians can't strike a deal with Vance, they don't get a deal. He's the best they're gonna get.

African Farmers Desperate as Hormuz Crisis Halts Fertilizer Supply

The war on Iran is spiraling into a global food crisis, as Hormuz closure choked off fertilizer supplies, sending shockwaves through farming communities in Africa & worldwide amid surging food price.

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U.S. officials say they can confirm only about one-third of Iran’s missiles have been destroyed in the ongoing conflict.

Another third is likely damaged or buried in underground sites, but not fully verified.

Despite heavy U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran still has a significant missile stockpile and continues launching attacks—possibly holding some weapons in reserve.

The findings contradict Trump’s claim that Iran has “very few rockets left.”

Source: Reuters

German Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume confirms they are in talks with Israel's Rafael to convert its Osnabrück factory to manufacturing components for the Iron Dome:

We are not talking about weapons systems.

Inside the White House, aides say Trump is already mentally moving on from the Iran conflict.

A senior official said:

“[Trump] is getting a little bored with Iran. Not that he regrets it or something — he’s just bored and wants to move on.”

Source: MS NOW

Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid:

The government is sending the army into a multi-front war without the necessary means, and with far too few soldiers...

The Chief of Staff reported to the Cabinet that the regular forces are in complete collapse.

The army does not have enough soldiers for its missions.

Iran War Renders Somalia's Tuk-Tuk Drivers Jobless Amid Oil Surge

The war on Iran is triggering an immediate economic shock in Somalia, where soaring fuel prices have forced three wheeler tuk tuk drivers off the streets, as global energy disruptions ripple through its vulnerable economy.

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The Iran national football team honored the Minab schoolgirls by holding small backpacks during the national anthem.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed four Army officers—two of whom are Black and two of whom are women—from a one-star promotion list, an unusual move that has raised concerns about possible racial and gender bias.

Army leaders had resisted for months, citing the officers’ strong records, but Hegseth overruled them.

Source: NYT