🇮🇷🇮🇱⚡- Mehr News reports the downing of an Israeli recon drone over the Gulf, near Bandar Abbas.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- BREAKING: The US-Iran memorandum of understanding, as per Axios:

- 60-day ceasefire extension.

- NO Iranian tolls on the Strait of Hormuz.

- Iran will clear all mines and lift its blockade first. The US will end its blockade ONCE Iran meets these demands.

- The US will issue some sanction waivers in relation to Iran's oil industry.

- Commitment from Iran to never pursue nuclear weapons.

- Iran will commit to hold talks on the complete suspension of Iran's nuclear enrichment program and the removal of its enriched uranium stockpile.

- The US will commit to hold talks to gradually lift sanctions off Iran and discuss Iranian frozen assets.

- US will NOT withdraw any forces from around Iran. US withdrawal will occur only after a final deal is reached at the end of the 60 days.

- The war between Hezbollah and Israel will end – Israel will be ALLOWED to take preemptive action to prevent the rearming of Hezbollah, this will include airstrikes and drone strikes on Lebanon. "If Hezbollah behaves, Israel behaves."

🇺🇸🇮🇷🇱🇧 - If the agreement is true, Iran has essentially conceded everything, including Lebanon.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "The White House hopes the final differences will be resolved in the coming hours and that a deal will be announced on Sunday.

It's possible the deal won't even last the full 60 days if the U.S. believes Iran is not serious about nuclear negotiations," - Axios, citing a U.S. official.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- U.S. officials privately told Tehran to ignore President Trump's outbursts and Truth Social posts, as they were mainly aimed at the American domestic audience and do not reflect Washington's stance in the ongoing negotiations, Fars News reports.

🇺🇸🇮🇷🇮🇱⚡- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to hold discussions with his cabinet regarding the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.

🇺🇸🇮🇱 -

🇺🇸🇮🇳⚡️- Secretary of State Marco Rubio celebrates Indian immigration and denounces anti-Indian racism saying:

"Our nation has been enriched by people who come to our country and become Americans, have assimilated into our way of life, and have contributed greatly"

🇺🇸🇸🇦🇶🇦 - Anti-US senator Lindsey Graham has yet again threatened America's reliable partners in the region, this time including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

In the past, other partners, such as NATO ally Turkey, were threatened with military action.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "US obstruction in some clauses of the agreement continues so far

Despite some talks today, US obstruction in some clauses of the agreement, including the issue of releasing Iran's blocked assets, still continues and these issues remain unresolved so far.

Accordingly, there is still a possibility that the agreement may be canceled, and Iran has emphasized that it will not retreat from its red lines to uphold the rights of the people," - Tasnim News.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "Less than 24 hours after optimism emerged around a possible Iran-US memorandum, negative vibes are already surfacing.

A well-informed Iranian source tells me there are signs of U.S. retreat on two central issues: the mechanism for unfreezing Iranian assets, and the scope of a ceasefire in Lebanon.

According to the source, the memorandum includes a Lebanon ceasefire framework, but Israel is reportedly uncomfortable with the arrangement and is pushing Washington to include language allowing it to carry out military operations in Lebanon under the justification of responding to “any threat.” Iran is rejecting that formulation and insisting on a sustainable and lasting ceasefire.

Tehran has informed all mediators, including Pakistan, that it will not sign the memorandum unless all clauses are fully agreed and guaranteed. Pakistan reportedly suggested moving forward with agreed sections while postponing contentious points, but Iran rejected that approach, insisting the disputed clauses are fundamental and non-negotiable.

The overall picture suggests Tehran increasingly views Washington as backing away from earlier understandings reached through mediators," - al-Jazeera.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "Points of contention in the Iranian-American agreement:

1. Israel demands a guarantee of "freedom of military action" against threats in Lebanon, and Iran refuses.

2. Tehran demands the immediate release of its assets now, and Washington refuses and insists on linking it to the final formula of the agreement," - Israeli Channel 12.

🇱🇧🇮🇱⚡️- Two Israeli soldiers were killed today in a Hezbollah FPV drone strike, according to Israeli media.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- It is becoming increasingly likely a deal between the United States and Iran will not be reached. Both sides originally agreed to concede some maximalist demands. Twenty-four hours later, after extreme pressure from the Israelis and other pro-Israel Trump confidants, the administration has changed its tone dramatically, demanding the Iranians give up their complete stockpile for any sanctions relief and frozen assets. While it was originally stated partial assets would be unfrozen as a part of the MoU, the Israelis have also demanded freedom of action in Lebanon, a key point the Iranians refuse to agree upon.

The MoU is under immense pressure and is likely to fall apart unless one side backs down.

🇺🇸⚡️- Thomas Massie won’t rule out a presidential run in 2028. - Newsweek.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "If I make a deal with Iran, it will be a good and proper one, not like the one made by Obama, which gave Iran massive amounts of CASH, and a clear and open path to a Nuclear Weapon. Our deal is the exact opposite, but nobody has seen it, or knows what it is. It isn’t even fully negotiated yet. So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about. Unlike those before me who should have solved this problem many years ago, I don’t make bad deals!" - President Trump on Truth Social.

🇺🇸🇱🇧⚡- "The U.S. stands firmly with the legitimate Government of Lebanon as it works to restore its authority and build a better future for all its people. Hezbollah's threats of violence and overthrow will not be allowed to succeed. The era in which a terrorist group held an entire nation hostage is coming to an end," - Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "Iran has no optimism towards the United States.

No final understanding has been reached yet, and disagreements still persist over some clauses.

Even if an initial understanding is reached, it does not change Iran's view of America or its confidence in this administration fulfilling its commitments.

Americans have a very bad record in negotiations, which reinforces and solidifies the state of pessimism.
Even if an understanding is reached, Iran will monitor American actions throughout the process following the announcement of the understanding.

If America breaks its promises, Iran will retain its pressure cards and tasks capable of countering that," - Tasnim News.

🇺🇸🇮🇷🇮🇱⚡- "One of the worst deals ever made by our Country was the Iran Nuclear Deal, put forth and signed into existence by Barack Hussein Obama and the rank amateurs of the Obama Administration. It was a direct path to Iran developing a Nuclear Weapon. Not so with the transaction currently being negotiated with Iran by the Trump Administration - THE EXACT OPPOSITE, in fact!

The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side. The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed. Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!

Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.

I would like to thank, thus far, all of the countries of the Middle East for their support and cooperation, which will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the Nations of the historic Abraham Accords and, who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join, as well!

Thank you for your attention to this matter," - President Trump on Truth Social.

🇬🇧🇪🇪🇷🇺⚡- "An RAF jet carrying the defence secretary had its signals jammed as it flew near the Russian border this week.

John Healey was travelling back to the UK from Estonia, where he had been visiting British soldiers, when the electronic attack happened," - The Independent.

🇺🇸🇯🇵🇨🇳⚡- "President Xi Jinping castigated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for her country’s 'remilitarisation' in an intense diatribe during his summit with Donald Trump.

Xi became vocal and agitated when discussing Japan, surprising US officials because the subject had not featured in talks with their Chinese counterparts before the summit. Xi’s verbal attack was the most heated part of the two-day summit between the leaders.

After Xi lambasted Takaichi and Japan’s rising defence spending, Trump responded that Tokyo had to take a more assertive security stance because of the rising threat from North Korea. It was unclear if Trump mentioned China — the biggest Japanese security concern — in the same context," - Financial Times.