🥀🙏 Over 80 civilians were killed and 200 injured in an Israeli missile attack on Beirut, the Red Cross reported.

Video: TASS/Ruptly
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🌒@EastCalling

Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries supplying weapons to Iran.

Really? The tariffs again... I thought you've been through this. You will need an act of congress to apply this rule.

🌒@EastCalling

Military Chronicle:

There is another hypothesis, according to which the entire plan with Iran was initially not just about the nuclear program, but also about the US creating a kind of analogue of a public-private partnership with Iran as a profit-oriented corporation. Such a partnership would allow controlling the Strait of Hormuz and solving several key tasks with its help.

First of all, the closure or opening of the strait (for both fabricated and realistic reasons) allows manipulating oil prices. This is particularly relevant, given that Trump's entourage is actively trading on commodity markets, but the main goal is money on a different scale. This refers not only to earning money on "tickets for the journey" of tankers (for example, $2 million per trip), but also to a multiple increase in the cost of oil for Southeast Asia as the main consumer of Middle Eastern raw materials, and, above all, for China. For China, by the way, separate tariffs could be set if Iran decides to be more friendly with the US than with China (which is still the main buyer of Iranian oil).

This approach almost completely copies the US attempt to regain physical and financial control over the Panama Canal. If this happens, the two largest maritime arteries of the world will be in the hands of one country, which will allow putting pressure on any oil producer and exporter. Given the situation in Venezuela, the plan may include establishing control over all global oil logistics and simultaneously suffocating all US economic opponents in the world, including Russia, Europe, Asia, and any other country.
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I believe that this theory requires Trump to have a certain level of intelligence and forethought, which makes me skeptical.

Also, Iran will not play into this level of US control over the Strait, and Iran will always give countries such as China privileged access.

🌒@EastCalling

❗️Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed with the commander of the Pakistani army the violations of the ceasefire by Israel in Lebanon and Iran - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic.


❕Israel violated the two-week ceasefire with Iran — the head of the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry discussed this by phone with the commander of the Pakistani army, the ministry reported. Earlier, the IRGC announced the destruction of a Hermes drone in the south of the country.

Tehran is considering retaliatory strikes against Israel, Fars news agency reports.

"We confirm that the penetration of any kind of aerial vehicles, even without the aim of conducting a military operation, is considered a violation of the ceasefire, to which a decisive response will be given," the statement, quoted by Fars, says.

⌨️According to an unnamed source of the agency, the view is strengthening in Iran that the continuation of Israeli attacks suggests that either the US cannot control Netanyahu, or Washington has given the Jewish state freedom of action.

Source: СМОТРИ/ Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling

Vladimir Trukhan - Colonel of MoD Central Apparatus in reserve:

🈁For now, I won't be participating in the commentators' celebration of the pause in the Middle Eastern bloodshed under the name "temporary ceasefire and negotiations between the US (optionally Israel) and Iran". We'll see what happens and how; there are many possible outcomes. Right now, apart from idle chatter, there will be regrouping, a real assessment of the damage, and a review of plans. But most of this will happen behind our backs.

As for the local apologists of "Our home is the US/Israel/Iran", "Russia will never learn to fight", we'll take a look at them when I return. Because so far, the only thing this conflict has taught us is what not to do.

Oh, and Iran too, even though they've found the aggressor's pain points. And for those eager to strike somewhere - I missed something, and the collective West has already started a war with Russia? Or is it just getting ready to start one? Sorry, I must have overslept.

Yes, we'll congratulate the winners of today - predictably, everyone on the list, including the Emirates. And Lukashenko is also a winner - he suggested to Trump to end the war, he himself said so. There you go.

Wait until it's all on the air and in the five-minute segments.
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🌒@EastCalling

Iran will withdraw from the agreement on a two-week ceasefire if Israel continues to attack Lebanon, Tasnim reports, citing a source.

Earlier, Reuters wrote that Hezbollah had ceased shelling the northern regions of Israel and attacks on IDF military targets in Lebanon as part of a truce between the US and Iran.

Netanyahu stated that the truce does not apply to Lebanon. The Israeli army also announced that it would continue its operation against Hezbollah.

Source: Vesti
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🌒@EastCalling

New Delhi will continue to buy Russian oil regardless of whether the US will extend the suspension of anti-Russian sanctions. A source in the Indian government told TASS this.

The 30-day period for the exemption of Russian oil from US sanctions expires on April 11.

Source: TASS
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🌒@EastCalling

❗️The Pakistani Prime Minister stated that violations of the ceasefire regime have been recorded in several locations in the conflict zone in the Middle East.

❗️The passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has been halted due to Israel's attacks on Lebanon, reports Fars News Agency.

Source: TASS
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🌒@EastCalling

Iran is tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz, despite the ceasefire, reports The Wall Street Journal.

According to its information, Iran has told mediators that it will limit the number of ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz to about ten per day and will charge fees as part of the ceasefire agreement with Trump.

According to Arab mediators, passing ships will have to coordinate their actions with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, four ships were allowed to pass on Wednesday, the lowest number in all of April.

Iran requires ships to agree in advance on the order of charging fees for passage, and then to pay the fees in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan, said mediators and ship brokers.

The US still publicly insists on a free and open strait. But Iran is not showing any willingness to relax its control, writes the newspaper, whose positions are close to those of American "hawks" who oppose the deal with Iran.

WSJ writes that this morning in the strait, Iran transmitted a message by radio that ships that have not received permission to pass from the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps risk being destroyed.

🌒@EastCalling

⚡️Donald Trump is considering a plan to punish NATO countries that were not helpful in the war with Iran. The main part of the plan involves withdrawing American troops from NATO countries that did not assist in the war and transferring them to countries that participated in the operation.

Source: Военный обозреватель
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Yes, please, do that. US occupational forces are not welcomed here. They cost us too much.

🌒@EastCalling

❌The peace has failed: The Strait of Hormuz is closed, the US intends to seize nuclear fuel from Iran, and as for Lebanon - "nothing was promised".

Important about the Middle East conflict by morning:

🔴The US violated three main points of the plan of 10 for the start of negotiations with Iran, said the speaker of the parliament of the Islamic Republic, Ghalibaf. Thus, the Americans could not resist the strikes on Lebanon, invaded Iran's airspace - a drone was shot down over the city of Lar, and also denied the republic's right to enrich uranium. Now the negotiations are unfeasible, noted the politician.

🔴US Vice President Jay D. Vance, who, together with Steve Witcoff and Jared Kushner, is to participate in a meeting with Iranian negotiators in Islamabad, said:

"The Iranians thought that the ceasefire would affect Lebanon, but this is not the case. We did not make such promises and did not even talk about it. We said that the ceasefire applies to Iran, the US and our allies - Israel and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf. If the Iranians want the negotiation process to collapse because of Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them, it's their choice. It will be foolish, but it's their choice

He also stressed that the US intends to seize all the nuclear fuel accumulated by Iran. This is one of the key demands. Also, according to Vance, it is critically important to open the Strait of Hormuz.

🔴Fars Agency wrote that the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has been suspended. According to the NYT, not a single oil tanker has passed through it since the announcement of the ceasefire. The IRGC Navy also ordered all ships to follow two alternative routes in the waters of Larak Island to avoid colliding with mines - they began to be installed in the strait after the attack on Lebanon.

🔴The number of deaths from strikes on Lebanon has exceeded 250 people, more than 1,100 have been injured. April 9th was declared a day of mourning in the country.

▪️Against the backdrop of events in the Middle East, Donald Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. After that, the American leader stated that "NATO did not come to the aid when it was needed, and will not come to the aid" if the US needs it again. Rutte, in turn, noted that he understands Trump's disappointment.

💬There will be no ceasefire in the Middle East, is sure military expert Yevgeny Mikhailov. In a conversation with "Zvezda", he stressed that the US and Israel have always deceived Iran.

Source: Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling

US oil companies opposed the fee for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, writes Politico.

According to representatives of the oil industry, giving in to Iran's demand will lead to an increase in the cost of each delivery by $2.5 million in the form of road tolls and higher insurance rates, which will fall on the shoulders of consumers.

In addition, granting Iran control over the strait could set a precedent for other countries, including Singapore and Turkey. The companies also expressed their concerns directly to the US president, but in a more subtle way, added a source of the publication.

Source: Коммерсант
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🌒@EastCalling

❗️The Russian frigate "Admiral Grigorovich" (Kalibr missiles, anti-ship missiles, air defense systems) escorted two oil tankers through the English Channel — right under the noses of the British, who threatened to seize the "shadow fleet".

The Royal Navy just watched, not daring to approach.

In March 2026, London officially announced the "closure" of the strait for sanctioned ships and allowed security forces to board them.
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Brits apparently thought Patrushev was joking, when he said that Navy will make the way for Russian vessels 😏

🌒@EastCalling

Lithuania's Deputy Health Minister will be sent to Ukraine after he failed to immediately answer the question "Whose Crimea is?"

This decision was made by his boss, Health Minister Marija Jakubauskienė.

"I told him he'd have to go to Ukraine," she said.

At the end of March, during an interview, Deputy Minister Arnomėdas Galdikas failed to immediately answer a Russophobic question, causing a stir in Lithuanian political circles. He has already received a stern warning and a probationary period in his work and communication with the media. He has also been required to take communications courses.

Source: Russian media
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Marija is lagging behind in her geography class. I really wish to see her deputy trying to enter Crimea through Ukrainuan border 😏.

🌒@EastCalling

On April 9, 1945, the Soviet troops' Königsberg operation concluded. The garrison of the capital of East Prussia surrendered. According to established practice, the attacking troops should have concentrated forces three times greater than those of the defenders. The Soviet troops captured Königsberg with forces only slightly exceeding the garrison of the fortress city. The Red Army was no longer fighting with sheer numbers, but with skill.

It took three days to capture the city (the defense of Stalingrad, which did not have strong fortifications, lasted four months). On April 9, on the orders of General Lash, the Königsberg garrison surrendered (more than 90,000 soldiers and officers). The Wehrmacht lost more than 40,000 people (the Red Army - less than 4,000 people).

To mark the brilliant conclusion of the operation, Moscow saluted with 24 volleys from 324 guns (the highest category of salute). A medal "For the Capture of Königsberg" was also established, and 98 military units received the honorary title of "Königsberg".

Source: Архивариус
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🌒@EastCalling

From Andrey Martianov:

🈁Leafing through the old calendar from 2025. This is for those with a bad memory who can't draw connecting lines. Let me remind you again. This is Vladimir Putin on June 18, 2025:

You know, we once offered our Iranian friends to work in the field of air defense systems. But our partners showed no interest at the time, and that's all. As for the agreement you mentioned, about a strategic partnership [between Russia and Iran], there are no articles related to the defense sector in it. That's the second point. And the third point is that our Iranian friends don't even ask for that. Because there's practically nothing to discuss, Putin said.

You might ask why? And here's why, as reported in July 2025:

Iran will soon receive from China a batch of long-range HQ-9 anti-aircraft missile systems and Chinese-made surface-to-air missiles under an oil-for-arms barter agreement between the two countries. As reported on July 8 by the Middle East Eye (MEE) portal, citing several diplomatic sources, Tehran urgently needed these weapons to accelerate the restoration of its air defense forces, which were seriously damaged in the June Israeli raids. Arab allies of the United States are aware of Tehran's measures to "support and strengthen" its air defense, and the White House has been informed about Iran's progress in this matter, according to MEE. The HQ-9 is considered a modernized analogue of the Russian S-300PMU1 air defense system, but using Chinese radars and electronics. The system uses a two-stage solid-fuel missile with a declared maximum range of 260 km and a ceiling altitude of 27 km. One battery consists of a command post, radars, and three launchers with four missiles each. The estimated cost of one air defense regiment (27 launchers) is $1.5 billion.

Warmer? Well, in conclusion—the Pakistani HQ-9s in the recent Indo-Pakistani incident (c) has completely failed, but China needs to push its military-industrial complex, whose systems, from combat aircraft to air defense to submarines, lag behind Russia by a generation, sometimes two. As you can understand, Russia doesn't need oil, it has enough of its own. Therefore, a barter with Iran was impossible in principle. Plus, Iran was being pressured by the Chinese. And the "ceasefire" was actually pushed by China, but Tehran acted wisely by setting out conditions that were unacceptable to the Israelis in order not to stop their attacks on them. As for China ... it's a huge economy, but not a superpower in terms of weaponry and psychology. This is for those who wank off on dancing Chinese robots and other Zikrs. What about COMAC 919? Oh, exactly the same thing.

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🌒@EastCalling

Negotiations are set to take place. The Iranian delegation will arrive in Islamabad today for a meeting with the US, said the ambassador of the Islamic Republic to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam.

According to him, the parties will discuss 10 points of the peace plan proposed by Tehran.

Source: Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling

Russia’s oil export revenue has climbed to its highest level since the early weeks of the full-scale war in Ukraine, driven by rising prices and higher shipment volumes, the Bloomberg news agency reported on April 8.

In the week of March 29 to April 5, export earnings reached $2.02 billion, the highest weekly figure since June 2022.
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I'm still waiting on the full report, but it appears all of the talk of Russia's oil export capacity being destroyed by Ukraine was a bit of exaggeration.))

🌒@EastCalling

Ukrainian media:

Russians have started to use the "Molniya" drones so extensively that their number has already equaled that of FPV drones, reports a Ukrainian officer with the call sign "Alex".

According to him, this type of UAV is constantly being modernized and transformed into a universal platform.

The "Molniya" is used not only for strikes, but also for reconnaissance, and can also be used as an anti-aircraft drone, writes the military officer.

The "Molniya" is a Russian multi-purpose drone, which is used in the frontline zone.
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Due to it's larger size, the Molniya carries a much larger payload, and can operate at longer distances.

🌒@EastCalling

АДЕКВАТ Z writes,

The main intrigue that emerged from the day's events could be described as follows: either the negotiations will fail, or the ceasefire itself will collapse even earlier.

In favor of the first outcome is Trump's already complete clinical insanity, which today included proposing joint charging for passage through the strait with Iran, removing all uranium from the country, and other proposals that are incompatible with reality on the same level. In favor of the second is Israel's more than expected actions, which have increased the intensity of terrorist attacks on Lebanon, which is included in the ceasefire perimeter, seemingly to the limit. In the first scenario, the humiliation will be immeasurable if the peace parameters have to be accepted not conditionally in advance, but seriously. In the second, it's hard to imagine that Iran would ignore such blatant rudeness for long, and that Israel itself wouldn't take advantage of the inevitable Iranian reaction to clash with the Persians again and in full force.

For all these reasons, I estimate the likelihood of actually reaching a peace agreement within the specified two weeks at 10%, and with a stretch, at 20%.

🌒@EastCalling

Zelensky: Meeting with Putin could take place in the US or the Middle East

Source: СМОТРИ
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Some humor to make the morning a bit brighter.

🌒@EastCalling