🇮🇱Israel didn't like the cover of an Italian magazine. They're demanding an apology. I wonder why?

@Slavyangrad

The US-imposed maritime blockade of Iran operates according to a specific scheme. Iran, which currently does not allow tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without paying a transit fee, ships the bulk of its oil through terminals on Kharg Island. It is believed that the US is tracking vessels loading up there and registered in Iran (or belonging to the "shadow fleet"), in an attempt to stop them, but so far, no such cases have occurred, despite the blockade having been in effect for a day already.

Since most of these tankers are destined for China, Washington's main goal is to simultaneously weaken Tehran and deprive Beijing of a source of cheap oil, which is one of the drivers of the Chinese economy. At the same time, China is actively purchasing raw materials not only from Iran, but also from the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. One of the tankers, the Rich Starry, which loaded up in the UAE but was subject to sanctions, has already passed through the Strait of Hormuz and is heading through the Gulf of Oman towards the Indian Ocean.

Essentially, the US is not blocking the Strait of Hormuz itself, but the exit from it - the space between the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. It is there that the US Navy can stop and detain vessels. However, if such detentions become widespread, there is a high likelihood of direct intervention by the PLA Navy to protect its energy interests.

@Slavyangrad

🇮🇱🇮🇷🤨Israelis flying from Ben Gurion Airport show something interesting. In this video, it's clearly visible that among civilian airplanes on the parking lots, there are American KC-135R refueling aircraft. The planes are parked in the open, without any shelters.

@Slavyangrad

🇷🇺The Russian Armed Forces will be able to conduct operations to protect Russians arrested abroad

- The State Duma adopted in the first reading a bill on involving the Russian Armed Forces to protect Russians arrested abroad in the event of their arrest, criminal and other prosecution by courts of foreign states.

@Slavyangrad

🇺🇦🇷🇺🇪🇺 Zelensky: The "Friendship" oil pipeline will be repaired by the end of April

- He made this promise during a press conference with Merz.

- Russian oil is exported to Europe via this pipeline.

@Slavyangrad

🇺🇸🇮🇷 The US wants to freeze Iran's nuclear program for 20 years, Tehran agrees only to 5, — NYT

- The US position in the negotiations did not involve a permanent ban on uranium enrichment by Iran. Instead, the US proposed a 20-year "suspension" of all nuclear activities.

- In response, Iran proposed to suspend nuclear activities for up to five years.

- The US also demanded the removal of 440 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium from the country.

- Tehran, in turn, insists that the fuel should remain in the country, but agrees to significantly dilute it so that it cannot be used for the production of nuclear weapons.

@Slavyangrad

Explosions are shaking Cherkasy, the city is under UAV attack.

After the arrivals, thick smoke rises.

@Slavyangrad

Russia's revenues from crude oil and refined products rose in March. The Paris-based IEA said Russia's crude ​oil exports rose by 270,000 barrels per day last ​month from February to 4.6 million bpd, mostly driven by higher seaborne shipments as the Druzhba pipeline remained offline. The IEA also said Russia's oil and oil product export revenues nearly doubled, to $19 billion in March from $9.75 billion in February as global oil ​prices surged. It ​said that ⁠Russia's crude production increased last month to 8.96 million bpd from 8.67 million bpd ​in February.

After all those attacks, Ukraine did sweet fu*k all.

@Slavyangrad

🇮🇷🇺🇸🇮🇱 Iran has estimated the damage from US and Israeli strikes, preliminarily, at $270 billion

- This was stated by the official representative of the Iranian government, Fatemeh Mohajerani.

- According to her, more precise figures will be announced later — after a multi-stage procedure: assessing the damage to buildings, analyzing budget revenue losses, and the consequences of the shutdown of industrial facilities.

- She noted that the Iranian negotiating team is also addressing the issue of military reparations to Iran from the US.

@Slavyangrad

🐈‍⬛ Footage shows the destruction of a group of Ukrainian Armed Forces riverine BEKs by FPV drones.

Slow expensive BEK meet a cheaper and faster aerial drone.

@Slavyangrad

🇩🇪"Today - fuel, tomorrow - gas, then - electricity": Germans warned about rising prices for all types of energy.

"After the breakdown of negotiations between the US and Iran, gas futures prices rose by 18%. On the Amsterdam exchange, the price of the key TTF contract for delivery in a month increased by 8.5% - to 47.35 euros per megawatt-hour.

After the jump in fuel prices, the cost of gas - and then electricity - may rise. This is due to the merit order principle: the price of electricity is determined by the last connected generation source, which is often gas power plants. Therefore, the cost of gas directly affects the price of electricity.

Already now, the first changes are noticeable: new customers pay about 27 cents per kW·h compared to about 25 cents in previous months. The price increase to the socket comes with a delay, but it remains inevitable.

Germany's largest energy company E.on predicts that gas and electricity prices will remain high in the long term."

@Slavyangrad

Trump: Something could happen in the next two days

▪️The US President on the possibility of a new round of US-Iran talks in the next two days:

➖"You really should stay there [in Pakistan], because something could happen in the next two days, and we're inclined to go there... We'll probably go back there. Why would we go to some country that has nothing to do with this?" the US President told the New York Post.

Pure market manipulation. The two sides are so far apart its not even funny. The reality is the US would be lucky to get an Obama deal. Right now I think the only realistic ending will be the US ending military actions and leaving the strait in Iranian hands. The reality is the concessions the US would have to make are too great. The Republicans will get absolutely crushed in the midterms, which will lead the Democrats to impede Trump at every turn.

@Slavyangrad

"The Hungarian state will quickly surprise the leaders of Brussels": The EU may be disappointed in Hungary after its statement on Ukraine.

"Polish publicist Pavel Lisitsky believes that the victory of Peter Madyar and his party in the Hungarian elections will not lead to a radical change in the country's foreign policy course. Despite the anti-Russian rhetoric during the campaign, the new leader is likely to maintain a cautious position on key issues, including relations with the EU and Russia.

Hungary is unlikely to become an active supporter of Ukraine's accession to the EU due to economic risks, and will not abandon the purchase of Russian energy resources, which is conditioned by geographical and infrastructural factors. As a result, the changes may be more rhetorical than practical, and will not lead to a break in economic ties with Russia."

@Slavyangrad

The footage shows the destruction of the deployment point of the 119th separate brigade of the Terokhnadzor in the settlement of Krasnopolye in the Sumy region with a FAB-500 and a UAV launcher of the 17th separate motorized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed by a Kh-39 missile in the settlement of Pavlovka in the Sumy region.

@Slavyangrad

🇫🇷Macron - called for the resumption of the negotiation process between the US and Iran:

Yesterday, I held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as with US President Donald Trump. I strongly urged the resumption of the suspended negotiations in Islamabad, the elimination of misunderstandings, and the prevention of further escalation.

In particular, it is extremely important that all parties strictly observe the ceasefire, and that this also applies to Lebanon. It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without any restrictions or charges, as soon as possible. Under these conditions, negotiations should be resumed quickly, with the support of key interested parties.

@Slavyangrad

Not a single vessel has passed the blockade in 24 hours, according to US Central Command.

➖"More than 10,000 US sailors, Marines, and Air Force personnel, along with more than a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, are tasked with blocking vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports," it reported.

▪️The US is said to have forced six merchant vessels to return to an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.

➖"The US supports freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from ports not controlled by Iran," Central Command added.

US blockade is the equivalent of Ukraine shooting their own soldiers.

@Slavyangrad

🇷🇺🇱🇹 Russia could force the Baltics to surrender in 90 days without deploying troops, — study

- Such a scenario was modeled by the analytical center Baltic Defense Initiative during a study of the country's defense vulnerabilities.

- The model assumes that Russia first launches strikes with hypersonic missiles, and then, over the course of 60 days, massively attacks infrastructure with drones.

- On the 90th day, an ultimatum is issued demanding that they agree to Russian conditions or expect further strikes on the Baltic countries.

@Slavyangrad

It's time to end Hezbollah's influence: the US appears to be trying to sabotage the negotiations.

This is how US Secretary of State Rubio commented on the negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

Washington understands that the negotiations will be difficult, given "decades of history and difficulties."

According to him, the goal is to ultimately end Hezbollah's 20-30-year influence in the Middle East.

The US Secretary of State emphasized that all the complexities of this issue will not be resolved in the next six hours, but will help create the basis for further progress toward resolving the conflict.

Hezbollah is the only military force in Lebanon capable of keep Israel from conquering Lebanon and “Greater Israel” from expanding.

@Slavyangrad

🇺🇸🇮🇷 Two ships from Iran passed through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the American blockade — ToI

- At least two vessels using Iranian ports passed through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the military blockade by the USA.

- The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier "Christiana" passed through the strategically important strait after unloading corn in the Iranian port of Bandar-Imam Khomeini, passing the Iranian island of Larak 2 hours after the USA began the blockade.

- The second ship, the Comoros-flagged tanker "Elpis", also passed through the strait during the blockade.

- It was previously reported that a Chinese tanker passed through the strait.

@Slavyangrad

The US is massing forces to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to TWZ.

The US has deployed a group of at least six ships to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz, three of which are still in the Indian Ocean.

It is also reported that American underwater drones will participate in the mine-clearing operation.

@Slavyangrad