Egyptian President el-Sisi to Trump:

Nobody can stop the war, but you.

U.S.–Israeli plan to back a Kurdish ground invasion of Iran early in the war collapsed after leaks, regional backlash, and doubts about success.

According to Channel 12, Israel — including the Mossad — had long developed a plan to support tens of thousands of Kurdish fighters crossing from Iraqi Kurdistan into northwest Iran under heavy U.S.–Israeli air cover, aiming to trigger a broader anti-regime uprising.

But after media leaks exposed the plan, Iran reinforced its defenses, pressured Baghdad, and ramped up activity in the region.

Turkish President Erdogan warned against Kurdish gains, Gulf states cautioned about destabilization, and Kurdish factions demanded political guarantees, doubting Washington’s reliability.

Facing lost surprise and mounting risks, Trump reportedly deemed the operation too dangerous and scrapped it.

The idea is now said to be off the table.

Source: N12, ToI

Iran War Pushes Egypt into Crisis Mode as it Slows Down State Projects

Egypt is scrambling to contain a deepening economic shock as fuel costs surge to crisis levels amid Iran war, forcing the government to slash energy use, slow major state projects & impose sweeping nationwide restrictions to prevent further strain on its fragile economy.

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Despite the war and sanctions, Iran has nearly doubled its oil revenues, exporting about 2.4–2.8 million barrels per day at much higher prices.

China is buying over 90% of exports.

A 23-year-old man from Israel's Eilat has been indicted for allegedly working with Iranian intelligence and filming sensitive sites, including Ovda Airbase where he was employed.

Prosecutors say he was recruited via Telegram while looking for work, carried out filming missions (including inside the base and nearby routes), and was paid a few hundred dollars through PayPal and digital wallets.

Even after suspecting the contact was Iranian, he allegedly continued cooperating.

Source: N12

Moment of Iranian attack on oil refineries in Haifa, Israel today.

Confusion in DR Congo - Gov't Claims M23 Withdrawal, Rebels Deny

DR Congo faces confusion as reports suggest M23 withdrawal from North Kivu while rebels deny it, raising uncertainty over US-brokered peace efforts & stability in the region.

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Trump:

The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran.

Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately “Open for Business,” we will conclude our lovely “stay” in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet “touched.”

This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year “Reign of Terror.”

Two Chinese-owned cargo ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday—the first major container vessels to do so since the conflict began, according to MarineTraffic.

The ships, bound for Malaysia, crossed after earlier delays, potentially signaling easing conditions after Iran restricted the key oil and gas route.

Source: NYT

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.

Egyptian President el-Sisi to Trump:

Please, please, please, help us stop the war, as you are capable of doing so.

Japan’s startup AirKamuy has introduced a low-cost “origami drone” made largely from cardboard.

The AirKamuy 150 is flat-packed, tool-free, and can be assembled in about 5 minutes. It’s designed as a simple, lightweight fixed-wing UAV for rapid deployment.

Reported performance figures suggest speeds of up to 120 km/h.

Marco Rubio on Iran:

They are making threats about controlling the Strait of Hormuz in perpetuity, creating a tolling system and the like. That's not going to be allowed to happen.

Trump has a number of options available to him if he so chooses to prevent that from happening.

Marco Rubio on Iran:

These people are lunatics. They are insane. They are religious zealots...

Marco Rubio on Iran:

There are clearly people there talking to us in ways that previous leaders in Iran have not spoken to us before.

Some of the things they’re saying they’re willing to do — we have to see if they can actually do them.

We have to test that very strongly.

Keir Starmer on Iran:

The Iran War is not our war, and we are not going to be dragged into it.

Energy Expert Oğuzhan Akyener (TESPAM):
 

If they expect Hormuz blockage to be longer, each country will start to make new alternative routes with millions of dollars of investment.
 
Saudi & Bahrain can use pipelines, may be increase the pipeline capacity with pumping stations
 
Turkey & Iraq have worked on routes from Basra that may be used in the future.
 
Qatar & Iraq can use routes from Basra with railways and highways to Kerkuk, Erbil, then Ceyhan. Others can also develop alternatives if the war continues.

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German Chancellor Merz warns:

If the Iran War develops into a major regional conflict, it could place an even greater burden on Germany and Europe, as heavy as we recently experienced during the COVID pandemic or at the start of the Ukraine War.

BIG: Satellite images show fires at two pumping stations on the Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline, which carries crude from Abu Dhabi to the port of Fujairah, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran may be targeting alternative export routes used by U.S. allies to avoid Hormuz.

Source: Soar Atlas

BIG: Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on Iran War:

I am forced to know things that no longer let me sleep.

For what could happen in the coming weeks, for the effects it will have on the economy and on our daily lives.

Source: la Repubblica

Iran continues to mock Trump:

Iran responded positively to Trump’s threats and reopened the Strait of Hormuz — though only for two Chinese oil tankers!