🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️ — TankerTrackers reports that close to 6 million barrels of seized Iranian crude oil are being covertly transported to the United States.

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — Multiple impacts in Kyiv, Ukraine.

—❗️🇮🇶 NEW: Unidentified smoke trails are seen in the sky above Iraq.

⚡🇨🇳🇺🇸 — Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in US, greeted by President Trump.

📋 TODAY'S 5 BIGGEST DEVELOPMENTS - Wed, Sept 23

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 US and Iran held their first talks since June in New York, through Qatari mediators. Both sides say big gaps remain.
💡 Why it matters: Trump told the UN he's choosing between a deal and "annihilating" Iran. These talks decide which way it goes.

2️⃣ 🇮🇷🇺🇳 Pezeshkian at the UN: "They did hit us, but we did not bend the knee." Says Iran is ready to talk, but not under "the language of force."
💡 Why it matters: Tehran wants a deal without looking like it surrendered. Watch the wording, not just the tone.

3️⃣ 🇮🇷⛵ Hormuz: bulk carrier Cape Dao hit by a projectile, 1 Indian crew member killed. Separately, Iran says it could reopen the strait within a week if the US lifts its blockade.
💡 Why it matters: about 1/5 of the world's oil and gas went through Hormuz before the war. Every attack and every offer moves fuel prices.

4️⃣ 🇾🇪🇮🇷🇸🇦 AP: IRGC advisers helped direct the Houthis' seizure of Yemen's Red Sea coast in under 48 hours.
💡 Why it matters: it's Iran's most direct move in Yemen since 2014. The Houthis can now squeeze Saudi oil exports from a second chokepoint (Bab al-Mandab).

5️⃣ 🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russian strikes kill at least 7 across Ukraine, 2 of them in Kyiv. Lavrov says there will be no "pause" in the war.
💡 Why it matters: the winter energy war is starting. Zelensky offered an "energy ceasefire" but warned Ukraine will hit Russian energy if the attacks continue.

🔔 Follow @warpointupdates for daily key updates

🇺🇸🇨🇳⚡️ — A U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer conducted a flyover as President Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington.

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — Scenes from Kyiv, Ukraine, following what appears to be Zircon/Oniks/Hwasong-11A impacts against energy infrastructure.

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — MIM-104 Patriot interceptors up in Kyiv, Ukraine.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️ — U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Iran:
The external flights from Iran, probably more than 80 or 90% of them, got shut down.

I'm not sure how the Iranian representatives at the UN are going to get home.

⚡️🇮🇶🇮🇶Drones have been recorded over Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, with one being intercepted and crashing.

🇮🇷❌🇮🇶 — Impact took place in Soran, northeastern Erbil Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan.

🇮🇷❌🇮🇶 — Moment of the Shahed-136 UAV impact in Soran, Erbil Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan.

🇮🇷❌🇮🇶 — More footage of the Shahed-136 UAV strike against Soran, Iraqi Kurdistan. The strike was conducted against the outskirts of the city.

🇵🇰❌🇦🇫 — Pakistan Air Force airstrike against Kandahar, southeastern Afghanistan. Kandahar is Afghanistan's second-largest city.

🇵🇰❌🇦🇫 — Pakistan Air Force airstrikes were also conducted against Khost and Paktika provinces, eastern Afghanistan bordering Pakistan.

⚡🇷🇺 — CIA warns of potential Russian drone attack against Spain, France or Italy soon.

⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇷TankerTrackers: Around six million barrels of seized Iranian oil are crossing the Atlantic Ocean towards the U.S.

The estimated value of this oil is $600 million.