🇺🇸🇸🇦🇶🇦 - 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.

🇱🇾🇵🇸⚡- The 'Resilience Convoy', which is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla initiative but on land, departed from western Libya a few days ago, but was stopped by eastern Libya's Khalifa Haftar's forces in the city of Sirte.

Haftar has in the past also blocked humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza via land.

🇺🇸🐊⚡️- Florida officials have reached a settlement with former state employee Britt Brown for $485,000 in compensation after she was fired from her state job for mocking Charlie Kirk's assassination.

She is the latest liberal to win big from suing a former employer for being fired in the aftermath of Kirk's killing. Last week Tennessee paid a former police officer nearly a million dollars after he was in jail for a month over social media threats against Kirk and TPUSA supporters.

🇨🇳🇮🇷🇦🇪⚡- "The Iran-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, a private bilateral trade body representing Iranian and Pakistani business interests, has accused the United Arab Emirates of actively obstructing Iran’s integration into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), in a bid to prevent [Pakistan's] Gwadar Port from becoming a rival to Dubai," - Fars News.