NEW: The city of Shiraz (southern Iran) was struck during a large wave of US–Israeli airstrikes across multiple Iranian cities.

Targets in Shiraz included:

A power facility, causing electricity outages in parts of Fars Province.

An industrial/electronics site (SA-Iran).

Power blackouts affecting residents.

Shiraz was one of many cities hit (including Tehran, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas.

Russia lost about $1 billion in one week after Ukrainian drone strikes hit key Baltic oil ports (Primorsk, Ust-Luga).

Attacks caused fires and shutdowns, cutting exports by ~40% (~2.3M bpd).

Source: FT

Trump has said he will not invade Canada, backing away from earlier talk of making it the “51st state.”

Speaking to biographer Robert Hardman, he joked that Canada’s history makes it unrealistic:

“They’ve got 200 years of history and all that ‘Oh, Canada’ thing… you can’t deal with that in three and a half years. I guess it’s not going to happen.”

Trump on Canada:

Do they still recognise the King? Or have they stopped that?

Taiwan's opposition leader Cheng Li-wun:

The Taiwan Strait is the most dangerous powder keg in the world.

I have high expectations for cross-strait reconciliation. My goal is to begin creating peace.

My strategy is to embrace Beijing to avoid all-out war.

Source: NBC News

Spaniards view Trump as more dangerous than Putin.

Donald Trump is seen as the biggest threat → 63% say “very high threat.”

Vladimir Putin is slightly lower → 52% “very high threat.”

Netanyahu → 46% very high threat.

Source: EL PAÍS

Israel continues to destroy southern Lebanon.

North Korea is deliberately distancing itself from Iran during the war to keep open the possibility of improved ties with the U.S, South Korea says.

No military aid to Iran, no condolences after Ali Khamenei’s death.

No message recognizing his successor Mojtaba Khamenei.

Public statements are limited and toned down, avoiding criticism of Donald Trump.

Kim Jong-un: “No reason [we] cannot get along well with the U.S.”

South Korea intel: “Preparation to secure new diplomatic space.”

Source: Reuters

South Korea said it regrets recent drone incursions into North Korea, stressing they were not government-ordered but caused by “irresponsible individuals.”

President Lee Jae-myung called the actions “deeply regrettable” and said they created “unnecessary military tensions.”

Saudi Aramco raised its May oil price for Asia to a record +$19.50/barrel, up from just +$2.50.

Higher fuel costs for Asia (China, India, etc.)

More pressure on global oil prices.

Saudi Arabia evacuated Riyadh’s main financial district (KAFD) and told companies to keep staff away due to fears of possible Iranian missile or drone attacks.

Source: Semafor

Yemen’s Houthis say they will honor a ceasefire with the United States as long as Washington stops attacks against them.

A senior Houthi official, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, said the group has no plans to target Red Sea shipping or US assets unless the conflict escalates. He added they will not attack other Muslim countries unless provoked.

However, they warned that if tensions rise, they could close the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. They also said Saudi Red Sea ports will not be targeted as long as Saudi Arabia avoids involvement in escalation.

Source: CNN

"Insane" - Politicians Slam Trump for Using Religious Rhetoric in War

Critics across U.S. political spectrum are accusing President Trump for mixing faith & warfare rhetoric after he framed a military rescue in Iran as an “Easter miracle”, pairing religious language with threats against Tehran.

READ MORE

Chinese AI firms are using satellite data + open-source intel to map U.S. military assets, and that data may be helping Iran improve targeting.

Companies like MizarVision publish AI-enhanced maps of U.S. bases, aircraft, and ships.

Data comes from commercial satellites + public tracking tools.

U.S. intel believes Iran (IRGC) may use it to plan missile/drone strikes more precisely.

Source: ABC Exclusive

Senator Graham:

It must be clear that when this war is over - either via diplomacy or military action - that control of the Strait of Hormuz does not lie with Iran.

This war must end in a fashion — either through diplomacy or military action — that prevents Iran from going back to their old ways.

Israel will supply Greece with rocket launchers and munitions in a €650 million deal.

The agreement, signed in Athens, includes Elbit Systems Ltd’s PULS rocket artillery system.

The package includes launchers, training rockets, precision-guided missiles, and loitering munitions.

New footage released by Iranian police shows firing with heavy guns at U.S. helicopters trying to rescue F-15E crew members in Iran.

BREAKING: Iran has sent a 10-point response (via Pakistan) to a U.S. proposal to end the war, rejecting a temporary ceasefire and instead demanding a permanent end on its own terms.

Iran says a ceasefire alone is not acceptable → wants a lasting settlement.

Demands include:
End of regional fighting.
Sanctions relief.
Reconstruction support.
Safe transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: IRNA

A U.S. official says Iran sent a 10-point response Monday to the war-ending proposal, calling it “maximalist” and unclear if it allows progress toward diplomacy.

Source: Axios

INTERESTING: A field report claims oil markets may be misreading disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, because a large share of tanker traffic is hidden from tracking systems.

A Citrini Research analyst went on-the-ground with:
— $15K cash
— recording sunglasses
— Cuban cigars (for networking)
— smuggled camera + audio gear
— Crossed into Oman, signed a pledge not to gather intel
— Observed traffic from a boat ~18 miles off Iran, with drones overhead.

Key findings
— ~50% of ships missing from AIS tracking.
— Tankers go “dark” or spoof locations/ownership.
— Iran’s “ghost fleet” still moving oil.
— ~$3 billion+ crude transported during the conflict, much toward Asia.

Trump on Iran:

Iranians are capable fighters, they are very tough people.

The enemy is strong, not so strong like they were about a month ago.

They are not too strong at all right now.