British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves:

I feel very frustrated and angry that the U.S. went into this war without a clear exit plan.

This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want. Without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve.

As a result, the Strait of Hormuz is now blocked.

Source: The Mirror

NEW: The U.S. is deploying about 10,000 additional troops and multiple warships to the Middle East to increase pressure on Iran.

This includes aircraft carriers and Marine units, adding to roughly 50,000 U.S. personnel already in the region.

Officials say the military buildup gives the U.S. more options if talks fail, including possible strikes or even ground operations.

Source: WaPo

Togo Pushes UN to Ditch Distorted World Map Showing Africa Smaller than its Real Size

Foreign Minister Robert Dussey urged UN states to replace the Mercator map with Equal Earth projection that shows Africa smaller that it really is, aiming to reflect Africa’s true size & challenge long-standing distortions shaping global perception.

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Zelensky:

I feel that from the very beginning, Trump said he would remain in the middle.

This shows that he is not on my side, neither mine nor Russia’s side.

His signals are more positive towards Russia than towards Ukraine.

Turkish President Erdogan:

The Israeli government, which is known to be dissatisfied with the ceasefire, should not be allowed to sabotage the process.

Turkish President Erdogan:

If there is to be peace in our region, it will be achieved despite this Zionist regime. If stability is to be established in our region, it will again be achieved despite the Israeli government acting with the delusion of the promised lands.

If peace is to come to our blood-soaked geography, it will likewise come despite Israel, which ties its own security to the insecurity of others. Because whenever even the slightest hope for peace emerges, Israel will try every way to sabotage it, as it has done many times before.

As the front of humanity strives to extinguish the fire in our region, the network of massacre will carry more wood to the flames. Of course, while doing this, they will continue to brazenly target countries that raise the voice of peace, especially Türkiye and Spain.

With their hired pens, their media, and the pawns they use as instruments, they will try to silence people of conscience.

But no matter what they do, they will not be able to silence brave hearts, nor will they be able to shackle the hearts that defend truth and justice.

Turkish President Erdogan:

I sincerely congratulate my dear friend Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, for showing a firm stance in the face of the threats of Netanyahu, the butcher of Gaza.

Turkish President Erdogan:

We will continue to call the oppressor an oppressor, the bandit a bandit, and the murderer a murderer.

Turkish President Erdogan:

I remind the baby killers who insult me and our country on social media of some truths once again.

The Republic of Türkiye is not an ordinary state. No power can wag a finger at Türkiye or at the President of Türkiye.

Turkish President Erdogan:

We observe with each new development that the enemies of Turks, Kurds, and Arabs are the same.

Turkish President Erdogan:

They shamelessly come forward and slander our country through our Kurdish brothers, without even looking at the blood of 73,000 Gazans that has stained their hands and faces.

Trump on Iran:

I don’t know how much longer they can survive.

Trump vs Pope Leo: Explosive Feud Over Iran War Continues

The dramatic public feud between U.S. president Donald Trump & Pope Leo has continued, with Trump launching a fresh attack on the pontiff Tuesday night over Iran, as their clash spirals into realms of political power & moral authority.

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Trump:

If you told me we would be at ONLY $92 a barrel, I would have been very surprised. I am very happy.

Trump:

They misquoted me. I think oil will be down to the levels it was.

They say that I expect oil to be high at the midterms—I don’t expect that.

Trump:

The Iran war could be settled “almost immediately.”

Trump:

I wrote a letter to Xi. I asked him not to give Iran weapons. He wrote me a letter, and he is saying that he is essentially not doing that.

Trump:

Xi is a person who needs oil; we don’t.

Trump:

We don't have a Chinese car in the whole country.

China is killing Europe's car companies.

Trump posts about Obama.

BIG: Mediators say the U.S. and Iran have agreed “in principle” to extend the current ceasefire beyond April 22 to allow more negotiations.

Source: AP