China Is Still Supplying Iran and Russia’s Drone Programs Despite U.S. Sanctions.

Small Chinese companies are openly exporting dual-use drone components—including engines, batteries, fiber-optic cables and chips—to Iran and Russia, often in defiance of U.S. sanctions.

One company, Xiamen Victory Technology, even marketed German-designed L550 drone engines linked to Iran’s Shahed-136 attack drones during recent regional fighting.

U.S. officials say stopping the trade is difficult because drones rely on common commercial parts that are easy to move through global supply chains. Many Chinese suppliers are small firms with little exposure to U.S. sanctions and increasingly operate openly.

Source: WSJ

Jonathan Pollard, the former US intelligence analyst imprisoned for spying for Israel, says he will run for the Israeli parliament on a platform calling for the forced removal of Palestinians from Gaza.

In a TV interview, Pollard said he supports “forcible removal” of Gaza’s residents and annexing the territory for Israeli settlement.

He said the October 7 Hamas attack pushed him into politics and accused Israel’s leadership of failing to protect citizens.

Source: The Guardian

BIG: Israeli “investors” bought around 70% of the village of Trozena in southern Cyprus, taking control of much of the land and many buildings in the area.

The purchases sparked controversy after reports that private security restricted access to parts of the village and stopped visitors from entering certain areas.

Cypriot authorities said the village remains under state control and people can enter.

The U.S. says Iraq’s next prime minister must take clear steps to curb pro-Iran armed groups before Washington restores financial transfers and security aid.

A senior U.S. official said Washington wants Iraq to remove militia members from state institutions, stop government funding and salaries for them, and draw a clear line between the state and armed groups.

Source: CBS News

A cargo ship in the Gulf region was struck by a suspected land-attack cruise missile late Tuesday, injuring several Filipino crew members.

The vessel, the CGM San Antonio, owned by a French company, was near Dubai at the time of the attack.

The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Centre said a cargo vessel had been hit by an “unknown projectile.”

Source: CBS News

Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif:

I am grateful to President Donald Trump for his courageous leadership and timely announcement regarding the pause in Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz.

President Trump's gracious response to the request made by Pakistan and other brotherly countries, particularly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and my dear brother Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia H.R.H Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will go a long way towards advancing regional peace, stability and reconciliation during this sensitive period.

U.S. and Iranian officials are reportedly close to a brief 14-point agreement aimed at ending the current conflict and restarting nuclear negotiations.

The proposed deal would pause Iran’s uranium enrichment for at least 12 years, ease U.S. sanctions, release frozen Iranian funds, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The framework would begin with a 30-day negotiation period, likely in Geneva or Islamabad, while both sides gradually roll back military and shipping restrictions. Iran would also accept tougher UN inspections and pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons.

No final agreement has been reached.

Source: Barak Ravid

Retired Turkish General Ergin Saygun:

Look at Ukraine — as you know, Ukraine does not really have a navy.

Yet they destroyed around 30% of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet using unmanned vehicles and missiles.

This even included the Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet.

This is the scale of the transformation.

Retired Turkish General Ergin Saygun:

In the Russia–Ukraine war, the number of drones used in a single month reached 120,000.

Ukraine’s annual drone production capacity is between 5 and 7 million units.

Now think about how you defend against that. You cannot fire Patriot missiles at every drone.

For example, the European Union is building an electronic shield against Russian missiles and drones.

They are trying to neutralize them electronically somehow.

Retired Turkish General Ergin Saygun:

Apart from Ukraine, have you heard about any major ground offensives recently? Hardly any.

Everyone is simply firing missiles at each other.

The war lasts as long as your missile stockpile lasts.

Retired Turkish General Ergin Saygun:

If wars have changed, then the way we prepare for those wars must also change.

It is no longer enough to simply produce infantry rifles and similar systems — we need completely different capabilities now.

Retired Turkish General Ergin Saygun:

In our generation they used to tell us: ‘Military history is like a cadaver for staff officers.’

In other words, just as a medical student learns the human body from a cadaver and derives lessons for future medical practice, military officers used to study past wars to extract lessons and prepare for future wars.

But that is no longer enough anymore. Past wars no longer teach us enough about future wars.

BIG: Pakistan-mediated US–Iran talks are close to a one-page deal to end the war.

The draft MoU would pause fighting, freeze Iran’s nuclear enrichment under stricter inspections, ease some US sanctions, and reopen Strait of Hormuz shipping.

Iran is expected to respond within 48 hours, but nothing is signed yet.

Source: Reuters

BREAKING: Trump:

Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran.

If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Chinese Foreign Ministry:

Japan bears grave historical responsibilities for Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines due to its aggression and colonial rule.

In this special year which marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Tokyo trials, the once aggressor has failed to deeply reflect on its historical crimes. Instead, it has sent military forces overseas and fired offensive missiles under the pretext of security cooperation.

This move once again proves that Japanese right-wing forces are pushing for accelerated remilitarization of Japan. They have repeatedly breached Japan’s exclusively defense-oriented policy and relevant rules in international and domestic laws.

Some of their policies and moves have gone far beyond the scope of self-defense. The series of lack of education on true history, the fundamentally wrong historical views and the strategic attempts for military rearmament have led to the malevolent emergence of neo-militarism in Japan and threatened regional peace and stability.

We urge the Japanese side to deeply reflect on its history of militarist aggression and honor its commitments and stay prudent in military and security areas.

Chinese Foreign Ministry:

The pursuit of Taiwan independence is a dead end and its days are numbered.

The more frantic Lai Ching-te’s attempts are, the less possible they will lead him anywhere.

Chinese Foreign Ministry:

China asks the Ukrainian side to follow the relevant international laws to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

Our Chinese friends believe that Iran after the war is different from Iran before the war.

Its international position has improved, and it has proven its capabilities and power.

Therefore, a new era of cooperation between Iran and other countries lies ahead.

Trump told the New York Post it was “too soon” to discuss face-to-face peace talks with Iran.

Asked whether he would travel to Pakistan for negotiations, Trump suggested a trip was unlikely for now.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “It’s too far. It’s too much.”