⚡️🇰🇷🇺🇸 — South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met at the State Department in Washington on Friday to discuss bilateral U.S. investment projects, the foreign ministry said. The two sides are negotiating the implementation of last year's trade deal, under which Seoul committed $350 billion in U.S. investment. Cho asked Rubio for joint efforts to ensure ongoing consultations on strategic investment projects yield results; Rubio stated the State Department would work toward a successful conclusion — Yonhap News Agency.

Cho said both sides agreed to continue communication to implement last year's summit agreements between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, including the November joint fact sheet outlining trade, investment, and security agreements.

➡️ During the talks, Cho reaffirmed Seoul's intent to contribute to restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio stressed the importance of cooperating on Hormuz, following President Lee Jae Myung's statement on Friday that no troops would be dispatched in a way that could draw Seoul into an overseas conflict, while highlighting the need to protect South Korean citizens and national interests in the strait.

➡️ Rubio underscored the need for a fair, transparent, and equitable business environment for American companies in South Korea, the importance of securing supply chains for critical industries, and the swift execution of investment commitments from the joint fact sheet, spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a separate readout.

➡️ On North Korea, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the bilateral alliance and agreed to continue joint efforts for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. Cho said Seoul would act as a "pacemaker" supporting the Trump administration's efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea. The minister and secretary agreed to maintain close cooperation on North Korea policy, including efforts for North Korea-U.S. dialogue, the ministry said.

Pigott added that both reaffirmed commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and the importance of trilateral cooperation with Japan for regional security.

➡️ Cho also met U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby during his stay in Washington. The two agreed to cooperate on alliance issues, including the ongoing transfer of wartime operational control to Seoul. Colby praised Seoul's efforts to increase defense spending and strengthen alliance capabilities, Cho added.

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⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇱 — Senior Trump administration officials said the US president will not meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during next week's UN General Assembly in New York, citing "scheduling constraints." Another US administration official said Netanyahu's presence in New York will be limited because of Israel's upcoming elections. Netanyahu is scheduled to address the assembly on Thursday next week, after Trump is expected to have returned to Washington — Ynet.

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⚡️🇺🇸🇺🇦 — The U.S. Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for Air Defense Development Upgrades and related equipment and services, estimated at $2.68 billion. If concluded, Kyiv would finance the purchase through European contributions combined with U.S. Foreign Military Financing appropriated during the prior Administration; that FMF would count as a U.S. capital contribution to the Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund via a 1:1 reimbursement.

➡️ Ukraine requested the following non-major defense equipment: S-300 Clone missiles; GAM-67 missiles; Range-Extended Air Defense Laser Guided Rocket missile systems; Improvised Transporter Erector Launcher 1.5; mobile launching system modification kits; RPS 202 counter-UAS radars; erectable mast trailers, major modifications and maintenance support; spare parts, consumables, accessories and repair-and-return support; software; publications; transportation support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics services; and other logistics and program support elements.

➡️ Washington said the sale would advance U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by improving the security of a European partner, would not alter the region's basic military balance, and would carry no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness.

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⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇷 — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth harshly criticized The Washington Post on Friday over its report that more U.S. service members have died in the Middle East since the Iran war began than the Pentagon has publicly disclosed, calling the story "DISGUSTING and FAKE."

➡️ Hours earlier, the Post, citing six officials familiar with the Defense Department's internal casualty accounting data who spoke anonymously, reported that there have been at least 22 military fatalities — four more than appear in the Pentagon's public database, the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS). A sixth official said 23 service members have died since Feb. 28, when the Trump administration, in concert with Israel, initiated the Iran war.

Not all of the undisclosed deaths are directly tied to the conflict, this person said, but they involved U.S. personnel who were in the Middle East amid ongoing hostilities.

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⚡️🇹🇷🇮🇷🇺🇸 — Türkiye's Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency has revoked the operating license of Iran-based Bank Mellat's Istanbul branch, ending its lending activities in the country after more than four decades, as U.S. sanctions targeting Tehran's financial networks intensify, according to Türkiye Today.

➡️ The regulator cited concerns that the bank's continued operations could pose risks to depositors and financial stability, triggering action under Türkiye's Banking Law. Bank Mellat is one of Iran's major financial institutions with about $34.8 billion in total assets as of March 2026, and has faced sanctions from the U.S., EU, and U.K. over alleged links to Iran's nuclear and missile programs. The U.S. Treasury first designated it in October 2007.

➡️ The bank has maintained a presence in Türkiye since the early 1980s, starting with Istanbul and later expanding to Izmir and Ankara. At the end of 2025, the Türkiye operation had €41 million in total assets and employed 39 people.

➡️ The move adds to Türkiye's recent steps following tightened U.S. sanctions under Operation Economic Outcast, which began in late August to cut off Iran's remaining financial lifelines. On Wednesday, the BRSA gave the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund control of stakes held by Golden Global Investment Bank's three main shareholders, less than two weeks after the bank and two subsidiaries were sanctioned by the U.S. over alleged Iran ties.

➡️ Washington also expanded sanctions against Iran's aviation sector on September 8, targeting 36 entities, including 27 Iranian airlines and several companies in Türkiye accused of supporting Mahan Air. Mahan Air subsequently suspended flights to Istanbul and Ankara from September 21.

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⚡️🇮🇷🇩🇿🇫🇷 — Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

1.5mn Algerians were slaughtered by France in their War of Independence.

Less than 1/10 of them have been recorded by Paris, which refuses any apology for its colonial crimes.

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⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦 — Crews of Skat-350M reconnaissance drones directed artillery fire toward enemy positions in the direction of Krasnolemansky. The drone operators adjusted the Gyatsent's fire until the target was completely destroyed, — Russian Ministry of Defense.

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⚡️🇮🇷🇮🇱 — Iran Executes Man Convicted of Passing Missile Site Intelligence to Israel, — franceinfo.

​➡️ The Iranian judiciary announced Saturday the execution of Hossein Pedaran after he was convicted of providing Israel's Mossad intelligence service with sensitive information regarding missile sites in the central province of Isfahan. According to Mizan, the official news agency of the judiciary, the death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court, though no details were disclosed regarding the exact date of his arrest or trial.

​➡️ This execution takes place amid a sharp increase in arrests and capital punishments in Iran following the conflict involving a U.S.-Israeli coalition earlier in February, alongside domestic protests earlier in the year. Tehran's regime continues to intensify its security crackdown against alleged espionage networks and infiltration.

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⚡️🇹🇷🇮🇱 — Turkish Authorities Crack Down on $3 Billion International Investment Fraud Network Managed by Israeli Citizens, — THE JERUSALEM POST.

​➡️ Turkish prosecutors announced Friday that a massive global investment fraud network operating from Turkey—defrauding victims worldwide of more than $3 billion—was allegedly managed by Israeli citizens and dismantled following a joint operation by the Interior Ministry, National Intelligence Organization (MIT), and Interpol. The multi-agency crackdown, which involved raids across Istanbul and Muğla Province targeting 29 companies, led to the arrest of 191 suspects out of 239 targeted individuals, alongside the seizure of approximately 1.5 billion Turkish lira in criminal proceeds including real estate and vehicles.

​➡️ According to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the syndicate operated under front companies masquerading as consulting and service centers, using platforms like Inefex, Quantum AI, and Exentral-Int to lure global investors through targeted social media and search engine advertisements promising high returns on forex and crypto. Investigators revealed that the network utilized strict security protocols—including polygraph tests, code names, and bans on speaking Hebrew or using phones in offices—while systematically targeting foreign nationals across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East while explicitly shielding Israeli and U.S. citizens from exploitation.

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⚡️🇮🇷🇵🇰 — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation on Saturday afternoon — Tasnim News Agency.

➡️ During the call, the two sides exchanged views on issues of importance to both countries and the latest developments in the region.

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⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦 — The drone operators worked on board a dry cargo ship and an oil tanker involved in delivering military supplies to the Ukrainian armed forces at the port of Odessa, — Russian Ministry of Defense.

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⚡️🇺🇦🇷🇺 — General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:

As of today, since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian soldiers have neutralised more than 50,000 artillery systems of various types belonging to the russian aggressor.

This result is the product of the daily combat work of strike UAV operators, reconnaissance personnel, counter-battery specialists, the Missile Forces and Artillery, and the troops of other components of the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

Every enemy artillery piece destroyed means lives saved — those of our soldiers and of the civilians in front-line towns and cities.

The systematic demilitarisation of the russian aggressor continues. To be continued.

Glory to Ukraine! 🇺🇦

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⚡️🇾🇪🇸🇦🇮🇷 — Houthi Expansion and Regional Alliance Tighten Strategic Grip on the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, — THE JERUSALEM POST.

​➡️ The recent lightning advance by Houthi forces across Yemen’s southern Red Sea coast—including the seizure of the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands, Mocha, Perim Island, and the Zuqar islands—highlights an increasingly coordinated strategy by the Iran-led regional bloc. By establishing positions at the narrowest point of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait just 20 kilometers from the African coast, the Houthis have gained effective control over maritime transit lanes from the Gulf of Aden. This military push has been synchronized with actions across the axis, including an Iraqi Shi’ite militia drone strike targeting the Saudi East-West pipeline.

​➡️ Intelligence documents from Yemeni sources reveal that the Houthis' enhanced military capacity is heavily reinforced by the direct on-the-ground presence and supervision of Iranian, Iraqi, and Lebanese technical experts advising on drones, missiles, and intelligence infrastructure. While operating with local autonomy regarding their specific objectives—such as pressuring Riyadh over recent Saudi military actions rather than enacting a blanket international blockade—the Houthis rely on established smuggling networks, Chinese components, and sophisticated communication arrays to sustain their regional campaign.

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⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦 — Attack drone crews from the Novorossiysk paratrooper forces disrupted enemy rotation and supply operations in the Zaporizhzhia region, — Russian Ministry of Defense.

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