— Admin note: Apparently, three years of genocide and decades of brutal occupation were not enough for the EU to impose sanctions on Israel, but importing a single ship of Russian wheat is worthy of capital punishment.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇸🇦/🇦🇪/🇶🇦/🇰🇼/🇧🇭/🇴🇲 NEW: An extraordinary session of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) will be held today in Jeddah, with the UAE teasing it will be a ‘historic day to remember’

Allegedly, an important statement is expected to be announced, possibly related to Iran.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱/🇵🇸 Tamir Pardo, former Mossad Chief (2011-2016) during a tour in the West Bank:

‘My mother is a Holocaust survivor, and what I saw here [against Palestinians] reminds me of the persecution against Jews in the previous century’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: The price of oil continues to rise, with Brent Crude expected to reach a new high

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇮🇱/🇺🇸/🇮🇷 Chairman of Israel’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Boaz Bismuth:

‘The Iranian regime is about to pay a very heavy price. I call on everyone to continue with their routine, be patient, and stay alert.’

The statement was made after the end of a high-level security briefing.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱/🇮🇷 NEW: IDF officers have been told in a confidential security briefing that Iran is succeeding in restoring parts of its ballistic missile program – Channel 14

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇦🇪 BREAKING: The United Arab Emirates withdraws from OPEC And OPEC+, effective May 1st

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇦🇪 NEW: The UAE announces it will start to significantly increase its production of oil after it withdraws from OPEC, in order to ‘meet the world’s requirements’

By exiting OPEC, the United Arab Emirates is no longer bound by production quotas and can produce and export as much oil as it wants.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇸🇦/🇦🇪 Saudi media: ‘The UAE’s decision is regrettable and irresponsible, and will lead to Saudi Arabia reviewing its own oil policies’

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: Iranian intelligence believes that the U.S. is seriously considering the option of imposing a No-Fly Zone in Iran, in addition to the ongoing naval blockade

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱 NEW: Netanyahu’s court testimony for his corruption trial has been suspended two hours early

Judges did not give an explanation, just like the previous five times.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇦🇪 Why did the UAE leave OPEC+?

For those who want it simplified:

> Oil prices are high, Trump doesn’t like this at all — he needs a solution

> By leaving OPEC, the UAE can produce and export much more oil, as it is no longer bound by quotas

> This increases the circulating supply

> More supply lowers the prices of oil globally, at least temporarily

> Lowering the price of oil is bad for countries like Saudi Arabia that aren’t able to offset it by increasing production, so they get annoyed

In short, this is Trump’s plan to manage the oil price crisis he created as a result of the Strait of Hormuz being closed.

@Middle_East_Spectator

UAE has major ports outside the Strait of Hormuz, Fujairah and Khor Fakkan.

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump on Truth Social:

‘Iran has just informed us that they are in a "State of Collapse."

They want us to "Open the Hormuz Strait," as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!).

Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷/🇺🇸/🇺🇳 Iran to the UN:

‘Iran is not a party to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Therefore, it is not bound by its treaty-based provisions.

As the main coastal State within whose territorial sea the Strait of Hormuz lies, Iran has the legitimate and legal right to take necessary and proportionate measures to address emerging security threats, ensure safe navigation, and prevent the misuse of the Strait of Hormuz for hostile or military purposes.

Any disruption to maritime transport in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and its consequences, lie with the U.S., whose unlawful actions endanger international navigation.’

@Middle_East_Spectator

What a shameless person.

Feel free to call him out.

I’ve tried multiple times to make him stop copying my posts, but unfortunately with no success.

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is firmly in control and has met in-person with high ranking officials in recent days, including President Pezeshkian. He can move on his own, is mentally sharp, but has a noticeable scar on his face, after surviving three assassination attempts. – Foreign Policy

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇬🇧 NEW: During his meeting with King Charles, President Trump showed a dead wasp he had found to the King; ‘isn’t that interesting?’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷/🇩🇪 President Trump:

‘The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!

If Iran had a Nuclear Weapon, the whole World would be held hostage. I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago.

No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’

@Middle_East_Spectator