The Strait of Hormuz operational scope has expanded into a broader strategic maritime zone including Jask and Sirri, according to an IRGC Navy official. | Iran has “significantly expanded” the operational scope of the Strait of Hormuz as part of a new plan, extending it to include the area stretching from the coasts of Jask and Sirri to beyond the major islands, describing it as a “strategic zone", Mohammad Akbarzadeh, political assistant to the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Navy, stated. ● "We closely monitor the movements of the enemies, and recently we spotted an American frigate attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. However, our forces fired warning shots toward it and forced it to change its course," Akbarzadeh added.

■ Strait of Hormuz now a 500-kilometer operational ‘crescent’: IRGC Navy (Press TV)

The UAE has a partnership with Israel, a result of the normalization deals known as the Abraham Accords, which were signed during the first Trump administration, and Israel reportedly deployed an Iron Dome air defense battery to the UAE and IDF troops to operate it. | The report said that one of the attacks included the bombing of oil infrastructure in Iran’s Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf, which occurred in early April, right after the ceasefire between the US and Iran came into effect. At the time, Iranian media blamed the attack on the UAE, saying it was likely launched by the country’s French-made Mirage fighter jets, and Iran responded with attacks on the UAE and Kuwait.

In the latest episode of MintCast, MintPress director and host speaks with Dr. Seyed Mohammad Marandi, professor at the University of Tehran and a prominent voice in Western media debates, to unpack the latest developments in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran — and why Tehran is increasingly dismissive of Washington’s calls for negotiations. ● The interview comes amid a dramatic shift in rhetoric from Donald Trump, who moved from threatening to “annihilate” Iran to calling for renewed talks. According to Marandi, who was present during recent backchannel negotiations in Pakistan, the U.S. approach has been inconsistent and ultimately unconvincing to Iranian officials.

Moon of Alabama | Russia is still hoping to make a deal with Trump. But I am sure that it is well aware that it is the U.S. which is pushing for further European’s aggression against Russia. | Lavrov/Excerpts:

A Catholic charity has condemned Israel after its forces destroyed a convent in southern Lebanon, in what it said is a deliberate attack on a place of worship. | The French organisation L'Oeuvre d'Orient said Israeli troops demolished a convent belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters, a Greek Catholic religious order, in the village of Yaroun.

The charity said the attack forms part of a wider pattern of attacks on Christian heritage, noting that “Christian sanctuaries were also destroyed during the war in 2024, such as the Melkite churches in the villages of Yaroun and Derdghaya, both classified as part of Lebanon's heritage”.

■ vile jewish bastards... (04/29/26)

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Moon of Alabama | Two remarkable pieces appeared during the last days. They are related to each other as both authors are seasoned right-wing strategist who were deeply involved with the George W. Bush administration and its war on Iraq. | The first piece is by Turki Al-Faisal:

A second op-ed, by arch-neoconservative Robert Kagan in the pro-war Atlantic, confirms that take. Kagan, who had pushed the Bush/Cheney administration towards its war on Iran is conceding that the U.S. has lost its war on Iran:

Tarik Cyril Amar | Tehran’s resistance to the US exposes Berlin’s dependence, turning the war into a brutal measure of who rules and who obeys | Sovereignty, as defined in international law, is both crucial and complex. In the real shark-pool world of geopolitics, it is not hard to spot: if you have the ability to rule at home and resist attack from outside (any outside), then you are sovereign. Otherwise not. No exceptions. ■ That’s why Iran has sovereignty, but Germany does not. Iran has withstood two months of a devious and brutal war of aggression waged by the US and Israel, which in turn is “merely” the culmination of decades of assaults levied via economic warfare, assassination campaigns, and subversion. ■ However, Iran has not only successfully foiled the current Israeli-American blitzkrieg-and-regime-change scenario, but also put the attackers on the backfoot. Tehran’s achievement is already historic. It has changed and will change the course of history. ■ Germany, by contrast, cannot even defend its own vital infrastructure, as the Nord Stream sabotage and its aftermath have demonstrated. What is even worse, its governments have had no will to do so. On the contrary, they have been rewarding the Ukrainian attackers with untold billions to feed Kiev’s ultra-corruption. Their backers – certainly including the US and Poland, and most likely Great Britain, too – need not worry about any trouble from Berlin either. ■ Case closed: Iran is sovereign, Germany is not. If you are German and find this uncomfortable, complain to Berlin.

The spokesperson for #Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Bloc in Parliament, Ebrahim Rezaei, warned on X that "as of today, our restraint is over," declaring, "Any aggression against our vessels will be met with a heavy and decisive response from Iran, targeting both the… pic.twitter.com/E652rxIWlG

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 10, 2026

📌 There is no good option left for Washington. Only harsh but predictable consequences. (The Islander)
■ Iran warns of 'decisive response' to any European naval deployment in Strait of Hormuz (Press TV)
✅ The important change in Iran’s latest response to Trump (Trita Parsi)

The circus that is the negotiations between the United States and Iran, continues. Sunday afternoon, Iran responded to the latest US peace proposal and President Trump says the response is "totally unacceptable." | If Trump commences attacks again, Iran has already made clear "all bets are off." They will respond massively, targeting all American bases in the region, the oil infrastructure of American allies, and perhaps even the water desalination infrastructure of American allies. ● This would utterly smash any possibility of resolving the lack of oil flow from the now-closed Strait of Hormuz because the oil infrastructure which would fill ships to/from a re-opened Strait, could no longer fill-up when the oil infrastructure is destroyed. ● Then, too, is the Diesel fuel situation. Without Diesel fuel, trucks and trains cannot operate. The United States presently has about 43 days of Diesel fuel remaining in its commercial supplies. ● Meanwhile, in an ominous sign that things are about to get very hot, an Ohio-class US nuclear submarine arrived in Gibraltar today, entering the Mediterranean Sea.

■ Trump rejects ‘unacceptable’ Iranian response after call with Netanyahu (The Cradle)

■ Iran says its proposal was generous as US insists on ‘unreasonable demands’ (Press TV) | "We did not demand any concessions. The only thing we have demanded is Iran's legitimate rights. Is it unreasonable for Iran to demand an end to the war in the region, a halt to maritime piracy against Iranian ships, and the release of assets belonging to the Iranian people that have been unjustly blocked for years? Is our proposal for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz unreasonable? Is establishing peace and security across the entire region irresponsible?"

No immediate U.S. military statement on the incident was available at the time of reporting. | U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter squawked emergency transponder code 7700 while flying over the Sea of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media outlets Fars News Agency and Tasnim reported. The code indicated an immediate emergency requiring landing, the media reported. The cause of the emergency was not immediately clear. Transponder code 7700 is a standard international aviation emergency squawk used to indicate a general in-flight emergency requiring immediate priority and assistance from air traffic control. Its activation does not in itself identify the nature of the emergency, which can range from mechanical failure to medical incidents to combat damage.

Both states, including Lithuania are well aware of such EU/NATO operations using their airspace to attack the Russian Federation. | The Latvian Defense Minister has just resigned over his incompetence to down Ukrainian drones over Latvia. Well, that's what they said, but that's different from reality. New reports show both Latvian and Estonian airspace bordering Russia-Belarus were leased by Ukraine. In Latvia, a temporary flight restriction zone EVR444 EVENTIDE has been published. The airspace is closed between 21:00 to 08:00 (MSK) from Feb. 2026 to Dec. 2026 on the initiative of the Latvian Ministry of Defense (MoD). In Estonia, a similar notice with the establishment of the EER2615 zone. According to the document, the closure of the airspace is in effect 24/7 from March 2026 to Dec. 2026 at an altitudes from 150m above ground level.

■ This is what we now know about the drones that fell in Finland (04/12/26)

Moments ago, Israel struck a small vehicle on the coastal road of Saadiyat, a vital transit point on the main highway connecting Beirut to the southern city of Sidon (Saida). In another attack, an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in Nabatieh and killed one man and critically… pic.twitter.com/6JahGuthP4

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) May 9, 2026

The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force has stated that Iran’s advanced missiles and aerospace drones are fully locked on American targets and enemy ships across the Persian Gulf region, with forces standing by for the final order to strike. | “The missiles and aerospace drones are locked on the enemy and we are waiting for the firing order,” Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi said in a statement posted on social media on Saturday evening. ● The senior IRGC commander’s statement comes amid escalating US provocations in the Persian Gulf and sends a crystal-clear message that the Islamic Republic will not tolerate further American aggression. ● This firm warning follows the IRGC’s recent decisive response to hostile American actions. After US forces launched strikes on Iranian ships and tankers near Jask, the IRGC Navy swiftly mounted a precise and overwhelming counter-operation using anti-ship ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and high-explosive drones. ● The Iranian strikes inflicted heavy damage on enemy assets and forced the US vessels to flee the area in disarray. ● Iranian officials have condemned these reckless US maneuvers as a dangerous threat to regional maritime security and international navigation.

The Russian president has said he could meet with Vladimir Zelensky once final agreements have been reached | Victory Day celebrations across Russia and around the world concluded on May 9, while President Vladimir Putin wrapped up a series of meetings with foreign leaders who came to Moscow and spoke to journalists about the Ukraine conflict, Russia-China ties, and other international issues. ● “I think the matter is heading towards the completion of the Ukrainian conflict,” the Russian leader said while answering questions from the press. He also did not rule out a possible meeting with Vladimir Zelensky in a third country once final agreements on a settlement are reached. ● Putin expressed confidence that Russia would restore relations with many Western countries in the future, even as he blamed Western politicians for triggering the Ukraine conflict.

Conversation - India's muted response to US attack on Iranian ship betrays 'civilizational bond': Journalisthttps://t.co/blRrnuR5pq

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) March 9, 2026

■ India not playing a balancing act in war on Iran, has sided with Israel and UAE: Journalist (Press TV)

Caitlin Johnstone | It’s always been about being able to more closely monitor the behavior of the public to make sure nobody’s plotting a revolution. | The EU is looking to ban VPNs, arguing that the ban is necessary to police recent online age verification laws. Critics have been warning for years that these age restriction laws are being rolled out around the world to erase online anonymity and enable greater surveillance of the entire population, and they are looking more vindicated than ever today. This isn’t about protecting children from social media addiction and porn, it’s about expanding the western empire’s surveillance network. This happens as the FCC moves to require ID verification for every phone activation in the United States, claiming the push is about stopping robocalls but effectively ending another form of anonymous communication.

Elena Panina | Happy Victory Day! | With each passing year, Victory Day becomes more relevant to us. Not because we can't forget the past, but because the future demands that we win again. ■ For Russia, Victory is not an episode in history or just a ceremonial date. It is the only acceptable form of existence. It is a way to breathe, to stand on the earth, and to look to the sky. Either we emerge victorious from wars, or we fade, fade away, disappear from history. There is no third option—not then, not now. ■ That is why May 9 is a living reality, and Victory itself is timeless. It belongs equally to those who captured the Reichstag and to those who today hold the skies above Russia. It is one for all—for the fallen, for the living, and for future generations of the people. ■ Over the decades, Victory has become a Russian Easter—a resurrection from the dead. It comes every time reality seems to leave us no chance. Our Victory will come in this war, too. ■ Happy holiday! Happy Great Victory Day! (Translation: Google)

■ Victory Day celebrations across Russia and the world (PHOTOS, VIDEOS) (RT)

Andrew Korybko | His article is the most detailed warning yet from the most senior Russian official thus far of what the Kremlin is contemplating, under the newfound influence of hardliners like Sergey Karaganov whose sway over Putin has grown in recent months, to avert this growing German-led 1941-like threat. | Former Russian President and incumbent Deputy Chair of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev published an incredibly detailed article ahead of Victory Day about Germany’s remilitarization. It’s much too lengthy to review point by point so the present piece will only highlight the main takeaways before analyzing its significance. Medvedev devotes considerable time to making the argument that Germany never fully denazified nor was this ever even sincerely attempted. That sets the stage for the present. ■ According to him, “The process of finally eliminating the political, legal and moral ‘vestiges’ of World War II in Germany has gained particular momentum following the beginning of the special military operation.” Likewise, “To mitigate the impact of failed geopolitical investments (in Ukraine), Berlin aims to consolidate its position as the leading military and political power of the European Union.” This led to its unprecedented remilitarization, which is dependent on the US, and informal talk of going nuclear.

✅ Germany’s new militarization: Revival of the spirit or blatant revanchism? (Dmitry Medvedev)

Moon of Alabama | Time is on the Iranian side. Its economy is used to work under sanctions and pressure. The U.S. (and global) economy can not do without the oil, gas, fertilizer and minerals which are currently blocked in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. can not win militarily. It is losing economically. | The current situation around the Strait of Hormuz is vague. We currently have what Chas Freeman calls (vid) a “ceasefire with Israeli characteristics”. Both sides continue to fight but try to avoid a larger escalation. The destroyers were driven off under intense Iranian fire:

■ Iran Caused Far More Damage to US Bases Than the Trump Administration Has Acknowledged (Antiwar)

■ Putin congratulates leaders, people of foreign countries on anniversary of Victory (TASS)
📌 Response to threats to disrupt Victory Day, reaction to Merz's words: Lavrov's statements (TASS)
■ Foreign leaders arrive in Moscow for Victory Day celebrations (RT)
■ Ветераны, отметившие 100-летие, рассказали свои истории "РГ" (rg.ru)
■ Moscow urges foreign missions to evacuate diplomats, citizens from Kiev (05/07/26)
📌 Germany’s new militarization: Revival of the spirit or blatant revanchism? (Dmitry Medvedev)

Iran's Army Navy has struck American destroyers with cruise missiles and combat drones near the Strait of Hormuz after US forces attacked Iranian oil tankers in violation of a ceasefire, forcing them to flee the area. | In a statement Friday, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army announced that its naval forces attacked American destroyers Thursday night “using various missiles, combat drones, and rockets,” after the aggressor vessels “in violation of the ceasefire, assaulted Iranian oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz and in territorial waters.” ● The operation came after a series of US military attacks on Iranian ships and port areas. According to a statement by a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the “aggressive, terrorist, and outlaw” US military targeted an Iranian oil tanker transiting from the Jask coastal region toward the Strait of Hormuz.

■ US disaster in Strait of Hormuz detailed (Press TV)
■ US Bombs Iran’s Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas (Antiwar)
■ US fires on Iranian-flagged tanker during Strait of Hormuz standoff (AOL)
■ US Project Freedom fell apart after 'backlash' from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait (The Cradle)
✅ Саудовская Аравия запретила США использовать свои базы и воздушное пространство (Елена Панина)

Washington and Tehran have exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing each other of “unprovoked” violations | The US military has launched a wave of strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran accused Washington of violating the ceasefire and retaliated against American warships in the area. ● US President Donald Trump downplayed the latest strikes as “just a love tap,” after Tehran “trifled” with Washington, while warning that the US would strike Iran “a lot harder, and a lot more violently” unless Tehran signs a deal “fast.”

✅ Germany’s new militarization: Revival of the spirit or blatant revanchism? (Dmitry Medvedev)

Russia will respond if Kiev goes ahead with its “terrorist plans” to disrupt the upcoming Victory Day celebrations | Moscow has formally warned all diplomatic missions and international organizations about a potential large-scale retaliatory strike on Kiev, urging them to leave the Ukrainian capital immediately, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. ● Earlier this week, the Russian Defense Ministry announced a two-day ceasefire on May 8-9 to mark the end of World War II in Europe, urging Kiev to follow suit and warning of a potential large-scale retaliatory strike on Kiev. The ministry pointed to comments made by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky earlier in the day, which it said contained threats to target Moscow during the Victory Day celebrations. Moscow’s warning must be taken with the utmost seriousness, Zakharova said in a statement on Wednesday. She revealed that the Foreign Ministry sent a formal note to all diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Russia, urging them to withdraw their personnel from the Ukrainian capital ahead of a potential retaliatory strike.

■ IDF in new Virgin Mary statue scandal (RT)
■ An Israeli soldier smashes a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon (04/19/26)

The EU is pumping money into a company that’s secretly run by one of the most corrupt members of Vladimir Zelensky’s inner circle | With €90 billion in EU funding set to flow into Ukraine, the case of ‘game changer’ weapons manufacturer Fire Point offers a glimpse into the black hole that swallows Western money and enriches Vladimir Zelensky’s cronies. ● Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen was elated when he announced last September that Fire Point – a Ukrainian film casting agency that pivoted to making drones and missiles post-2022 – would set up a rocket fuel plant on Danish soil. ● “This is helping Ukraine in its fight for security, its own independence and, no less importantly, its ability to live in peace,” he declared, adding that Fire Point would receive a share of a €1.4 billion ($1.64 billion) Danish fund earmarked for the Ukrainian weapons industry.

■ Zelensky ‘involved up to his neck’ in corruption – ex-Ukrainian diplomat (05/06/26)
■ Mindich leaks: What do they reveal about Zelensky’s fugitive business partner? (04/30/26)
■ One powerful man made Zelensky president, Ukraine his pocket state, and sent it to war (12/22/25)
■ No one asks any questions, everyone acts as if nothing happened... (11/20/25)

Leaked tapes expose “just the tip of the iceberg” of a vast corruption network and a “power grab” in Ukraine, Andrey Telizhenko has said | Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky is deeply implicated in corruption schemes and a broader power struggle in Kiev, former Ukrainian diplomat and ex-Prosecutor General’s advisor Andrey Telizhenko told RT on Thursday. He added that the recordings published by Ukrainian media as the “Mindich tapes” are exposing the early stages of a wider network of financial wrongdoing. ● Earlier this week Ukrainian media published transcripts of the covert recordings from an anti-corruption probe, indicating that businessman Timur Mindich, widely described as close to Zelensky, effectively ran the weapons firm Fire Point despite public denials. The materials show him discussing funding, contracts, and foreign investors with then Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, now head of the National Security and Defense Council. ● The head of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Public Oversight Council, Yury Hudimenko, said the recordings suggest “at least five to six crimes” that could be proven in court, pointing to potential links between the two.

■ Mindich at center of fresh leaks: What do they reveal about Zelensky’s fugitive business partner?(04/30/26)
■ One powerful man made Zelensky president, Ukraine his pocket state, and sent it to war (12/22/25)
■ No one asks any questions, everyone acts as if nothing happened... (11/20/25)

The US president has abruptly put ‘Project Freedom’ on hold after just two days | US President Donald Trump has temporarily paused a military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but said the blockade of Iranian ports will “remain in full force and effect” until a final agreement with Tehran is reached. ● Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ was launched to guide tankers and other commercial vessels through the key energy chokepoint, which accounts for around one-fifth of global oil flows. Announcing the mission on Sunday, Trump described it as a humanitarian effort rather than an offensive operation. ● Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also appeared to be caught off guard by the announcement. Earlier on Tuesday, he boasted at a press conference that “hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up to transit,” after US forces “embarrassed” Iran with the success of Project Freedom. ● The now-aborted operation is the latest flashpoint between Washington and Tehran. Iran warned that any foreign military entering the strait would be targeted, insisting that safe passage through the waterway must be coordinated with Iranian forces.

■ Trump's war on Iran a 'catastrophe' with zero gains, made Tehran 'very strong’: Ex-US jurist (Press TV)
✅ 'Project Freedom' perishes in 48 hours as Trump retreats under the wall of Iran's asymmetric deterrence

Western governments see all gestures of goodwill as signs of weakness, the former Russian president has said. | Only the “animal fear” of unacceptable losses will prevent Germany and the wider “United Europe” from launching another attack against Russia, the head of the Russian Security Council and former president, Dmitry Medvedev, wrote in an article ahead of the 81st anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany. ● Moscow has condemned what it described as reckless militarization by the EU, accusing Western governments of seeking to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia while trying to turn it into a “model external enemy” to divert attention away from domestic problems.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz openly vowed to turn the German military into the “strongest conventional army in Europe” in a speech just days after the world marked the 80th anniversary of the fall of the Third Reich last May. ● Last month, the German Defense Ministry unveiled a plan to reach this goal and field 460,000 combat-ready personnel by 2039, the 100th anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland. German and other EU officials repeatedly cited 2029 as the first stage deadline to be “war-ready” for a potential conflict with Russia. (Article soon to be published on RT)

■ German ‘militaristic frenzy’ could end in tragedy – Moscow (RT)
✅ From ‘subhumans’ to ‘orcs’: How Nazi race theory lives on in modern Russophobia (C. von Hoffmeister)