Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

We do not accept deadlines. No one can set deadlines for us.

You cannot speak to the people of Iran with the language of threats and deadlines.

One must speak to the people of Iran with respect.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the Strait of Hormuz:

It is not in international waters. It is the internal waters of Iran and Oman.

The strait is currently open and is closed only to those who are at war with Iran.

For many of them, especially those from friendly countries, we have put arrangements in place so they can pass through the strait safely.

Some countries have passed through the strait after reaching an agreement with Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz can be a waterway of peace, enabling the calm passage of ships from all countries.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on possible U.S. ground invasion against Iran:

I do not think they would dare to do such a thing. Very heavy casualties would await them.

You have seen the damage inflicted on them… and what happened to their AWACS?

In ground warfare, we are even better than this.

We are fully prepared to confront any ground threat to our country.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Gulf countries:

We truly do not attack our friends in the Persian Gulf region.

We attack American facilities, American forces, and American targets that unfortunately are located in these countries.

They are using the people of the Persian Gulf as human shields.

The United States is using the territory, airspace, and waters of these countries to attack Iran. Are they fired from 2,000 km away? No.

Three American F-15s were in Kuwait… anyone can ask what were they doing in Kuwait.

They refuel in the region through American aerial tankers stationed at their bases there. If there were no American bases… no one would attack them.

Our friends in the Persian Gulf region should complain about the United States and the Zionist regime instead of complaining about us.

That is really not fair.

NEW: Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson:

Trump's claims that we requested a ceasefire are false.

Amazon cloud computing data center in Bahrain was damaged in an Iranian attack.

Source: FT

China is fast-tracking J-35 stealth jets to Islamabad.

Source: Dawn

Chinese Prof. Zhang Weiwei on Taiwan and Gulf countries:

These Gulf states spent so much money building American bases… and when trouble broke out, the Americans led the retreat.

They spent so much money and got played for fools, then kept getting hit by Iran over and over.

Trump still claims to have won. He always claims victory — but in reality, he’s long been beaten black and blue.

He never imagined things would turn out this humiliating.

I believe that people in Taiwan, when they look at the real situation, will see it clearly.

Hopefully they've also learned a lesson from this Iran conflict.

New cover of The Economist.

“Never interrupt your enemy when he’s making a mistake.”

Chaos Erupts at Zimbabwe Hearing on President Term Extension

Zimbabwe hearing in Harare on extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term form 5 to 7 years turned violent, with popular critics attacked amid proposed reforms to shift presidential elections to parliament.

READ MORE

“How the Iran War Cracked Dubai’s Liberal Facade”

TIME reports that while Dubai brands itself as “the safest city in the world,” the Iran war has exposed a harsher reality.

After Iranian drone and missile strikes, authorities imposed sweeping censorship and arrests under cybercrime laws.

Even survivors who shared photos privately were detained. One expat says:

“The UAE is so much about public perception and they’re trying to protect that image.”

Officials argue sharing footage could create “a false impression of the country’s actual situation,” but rights groups say the crackdown has been broad and “draconian.”

Despite marketing itself as a carefree oasis, the war has shattered the illusion of invulnerability.

As one critic put it:

“Had they simply focused on defending the country… they would have come out looking praiseworthy.”

Instead, censorship and arrests may have caused lasting reputational damage — testing whether residents will accept “more of a dictatorship than the West” so long as safety remains intact.

Discussions are taking place about a possible ceasefire with Iran in return for the reopening of the Hormuz Strait.

The officials said it is unclear if a deal can be reached.

Source: Barak Ravid

A 99-year-old Iranian woman was reportedly killed in U.S.–Israeli airstrikes in western Tehran.

The U.S. has lost 16 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the Iran war began, including two near Isfahan this week.

Each Reaper costs around $30 million — making the losses potentially worth nearly $500 million.

Source: CBS

West Bank Shops Close to Protest Death Penalty Bill for Palestinian Prisoners

Israel’s Knesset approved death penalty for Palestinian pisoners, triggerring a West Bank strike Wednesday amid global condemnation. Rights groups warn the descriminatory bill violates international law & deepens tensions in occupied Palestinian territories.

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JD Vance has been communicating with Pakistani intermediaries about the Iran conflict, signaling that Trump is open to a ceasefire if U.S. demands (like reopening the Strait of Hormuz) are met.

He also warned Iran that failure to agree could lead to increased pressure on its infrastructure.

Pakistan is acting as a go-between, and Vance is taking a growing role in negotiations as the conflict enters its fifth week.

Source: Reuters

Armenia's Pashinyan to Putin:

Armenia is not participating in the work of the CSTO because the authorities cannot explain to the Armenian people why the organization did not intervene in the situation in Karabakh.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei:

I emphatically declare that the consistent policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, following on the path of Imam Khomeini and the martyred Leader, is to continue supporting the Resistance against the Zionist-US enemy.

NEW: Concerns are growing that Trump may settle for Iran war’s achievements and declare it over.

Source: Israeli Broadcasting Authority, citing an Israeli source

📸 Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, where they discussed strengthening UK–Syria cooperation.

King Charles expressed support for Syria and the Syrian people’s efforts to rebuild the country.

BREAKING: Trump threatened to stop weapons for Ukraine unless Europe joined Hormuz coalition.

Source: FT