Right now, the Middle East is facing a massive shipping crisis because the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil and trade chokepoint, is effectively blocked due to the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. This has left over 3,000 shipping containers full of food, medicine, and industrial goods stranded at Pakistani ports. To fix this, Pakistan just opened six "land corridors" that allow trucks to carry these goods directly across the border into Iran, bypassing the dangerous sea routes entirely.While this looks like a simple logistics fix, it’s actually a huge win for Iran.

Since early April 2026, a U.S. naval blockade has been strangling Iranian ports to cut off their economy. By opening these land routes, Pakistan has essentially given Iran a "backdoor" to the world. Now, instead of goods being seized or blocked at sea by the U.S. Navy, they can be unloaded in Pakistan and driven straight into Iran, making the U.S. blockade much less effective.For the United States, this is a major headache because it weakens their primary leverage.

The U.S. relies on "maximum pressure" through naval power and sanctions to force Iran to the negotiating table. If Iran can just truck in everything it needs through a neighbor like Pakistan, the U.S. naval presence in the Persian Gulf loses its teeth. It shows that regional players are starting to prioritize their own survival over following Washington’s lead.In short, we are seeing a shift where geography is beating military might. Pakistan is clearing its crowded ports and making money on transit fees, while Iran is getting a vital lifeline to stay supplied. This move strengthens a regional alliance between Iran, Pakistan, and China (who uses many of these routes), while leaving the U.S. with fewer ways to actually enforce its sanctions and blockades on the ground.

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Ukrainian officials believe that "Ukraine won't be able to hold out for even a day or two without international support".

This was reported by Foreign Policy magazine, citing European sources. However, this view is not shared in Europe itself.

Nevertheless, due to the war in Iran, Kyiv has started facing problems with arms supplies.

The key uncertainty now remains the missiles for the Patriot systems.

"Everything will depend on the situation around Iran," noted one European diplomat. Another diplomat said that the US has assured partners of arms supplies already paid for under the PURL program. However, there is still "no great certainty" about future packages.

Another high-ranking European diplomat expressed doubt that new supplies would be agreed upon, given the US's own need for weapons.

The sources also point out that supplies to Ukraine could be used by Washington as a tool to pressure Europe on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, some European officials believe that Washington will not abandon the current funding scheme for Kyiv. "I think President Trump likes PURL," said one diplomat (referring to the mechanism where Europeans pay for American weapons for Ukraine).
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If there are now weapons to buy, it doesn't matter who likes what...

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Military Chronicle:

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has notified all vessels and ships via radio messages that the Strait of Hormuz is completely closed to the passage of any watercraft, regardless of their nationality. An unequivocal warning was broadcast: the IRGC intends to use force against any violators who fail to comply with the imposed restrictions. Safe transit through the strait is permitted only with prior coordination with Iranian military structures, and those who ignore these requirements risk being destroyed and sent to the bottom.

The geographical boundaries of the closed maritime zone are defined as follows: to the east, the restricted area runs along a line connecting Mount Mubarak on Iranian territory with the southern part of the Emirate of Fujairah in the UAE; to the west, along a line between the extreme point of Qeshm Island (Iran) and the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain (UAE). This sector lies entirely within range of the IRGC’s firepower, including a wide array of weaponry. Specifically, this includes tactical ballistic missiles from the Fateh-110 family, including the Fateh Mobin variant equipped with infrared seekers (IIR seekers) and GPS satellite navigation modules. In addition, the IRGC’s arsenal includes numerous kamikaze drones, Fath-360 multiple rocket launchers, and subsonic anti-ship missiles, providing comprehensive coverage of the engagement zone.

In turn, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is focusing on establishing an A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area Denial) air and missile defense zone over the Strait of Hormuz. For this purpose, it plans to deploy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers equipped with SM-6 and RIM-162 ESSM surface-to-air missile systems, as well as significant numbers of tactical aircraft armed with APKWS-II small guided interceptors. However, the question remains open as to whether the total target engagement capacity of these systems is sufficient to repel massive strikes that the IRGC could launch under conditions of high density and diversity of munitions (salvos of 1,000 or more units).

Concurrently, a senior Israeli military official emphasized the strategic importance of Iran’s nuclear potential in the context of the current conflict. According to him, the key factor determining the outcome of the confrontation will be the fate of the enriched uranium stockpiles located on Iranian territory. If this material is not evacuated or neutralized, the Israeli side considers the entire operation a major strategic failure, regardless of tactical successes in other areas.

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From the channel for the 105th regiment of the NM DPR:

🇩🇪🇷🇺 In Berlin, Russian and Soviet symbols will again be banned on May 8 and 9, — Berliner Morgenpost

▪️On the territory of Soviet memorials in Tiergarten, Treptow Park, and Schöneholzer Heide, flags and banners of the Soviet Union, Russia, Belarus, Chechnya, and St. George ribbons will be prohibited.

▪️Military uniforms and insignia, the letters "V" and "Z", and portraits of Putin, Lukashenko, and Kadyrov are also prohibited.

▪️It will be forbidden to perform Russian marches or military songs.

▪️At the same time, Ukrainian flags will be allowed.

🌒@EastCalling