Saudi Arabia has paused new consultancy contracts and delayed some payments as it grapples with rising deficits and fallout from the Iran war.

Officials are tightening spending under Vision 2030, with ministries told to avoid new awards without special approval.

Saudi Arabia has already been scaling back or delaying costly megaprojects such as Neom amid concerns over overspending.

Source: FT

42 aircraft. $2.6 billion in equipment. One month of war.

A new Congressional Research Service report tallies the full cost of Operation Epic Fury, America’s air campaign against Iran.

Russian MoD releases footage of its nuclear forces exercises.

Putin:

It is important to continue to increase the level of preparation of strategic and tactical nuclear forces, and to develop all their components.

At the same time, we do not intend to get drawn into an arms race.

Marco Rubio:

You are asking me about Ebola. Important, but Ebola is in Africa. Cuba is 90 miles from our shores.

Marco Rubio on Cuba:

Trump's preference is always a negotiated agreement that is peaceful... the likelihood of that happening is not high.

Irish PM Micheál Martin:

There’s growing anger across the European Union in respect of the behavior of Israel.

As I said earlier in terms of the most recent egregious behavior and appalling and disgusting behavior has been the treatment of those on the flotilla.

First of all they were abducted in international waters. The way they have been treated in captivity is unacceptable.

And then the behavior of a government minister from Israel has been absolutely shocking and has shocked the world.

Irish PM Micheál Martin:

We’ve taken positions on Russia. We’ve taken positions on Iran.

The behavior of Israel does demand that Europe takes a position.

Putin:

The use of nuclear weapons is an extreme and exceptional measure to ensure the national security of our states.

At the same time, given the growing tension in the world and the emergence of new threats and risks, our nuclear triad, as before, must serve as a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, ensure strategic deterrence, and maintain nuclear parity and the global balance of power.

Lukashenko:

We are absolutely not threatening anyone, but we have nuclear weapons, and we are ready in every possible way to defend our homeland from Brest to Vladivostok.

Marco Rubio on Cuba:

Cuba not only has weapons acquired from Russia and China, but they also host a Russian and Chinese intelligence presence in their country.

So Cuba has always posed a national security threat to the US.

Reporter: Are you losing control of the Senate, Senate Republicans?

Trump: I don’t know. I really don’t know. I only do what’s right.

Trump:

I want to help Cubans on a humanitarian basis.

Trump:

We have total control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump:

Iran cannot keep its highly enriched uranium. Once we get it, we will probably destroy it. We don’t want it.

Iran and Oman are discussing a permanent Strait of Hormuz transit toll system, with Iran proposing large fees on commercial ships and exemptions for allies like Russia and China.

Source: Bloomberg

BIG: The U.S. fired far more advanced missile interceptors than Israel while defending Israel during recent fighting with Iran.

American forces launched over 200 THAAD interceptors — about half the U.S. stockpile — plus more than 100 naval missiles, while Israel used fewer than 200 of its own high-end interceptors combined.

The imbalance highlights how heavily Washington carried Israel’s defense burden.

Source: WaPo

Reporter: Are you attending your son’s wedding?

Trump: He’d like me to go. I’m going to try. I said, this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things. He’s a person I’ve known for a long time.

Senior Iranian source to Reuters:

No deal has been reached yet, but the gaps have narrowed.

Iran’s uranium enrichment program and its control over the Strait of Hormuz remain key sticking points.

Trump:

Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland.