The Babylon Times

UPDATE:📜 IRAN WARNS US FORCES TO STAY OUT OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ OR FACE ATTACK Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters states the Strait of Hormuz security rests solely with Iran's Armed Forces, demanding all navigation coordinate with them. They warn any foreign armed force—especially the aggressive US military—will come under attack if approaching or entering. This follows reports of an oil tanker hit by an unknown projectile while crossing the Strait, with UKMTO notified of the incident 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah, UAE. Video captures the missile strike impact on the tanker. @TheBabylonTimes

UPDATE:📜 TRUMP ANNOUNCES US MISSION TO "GUIDE" SHIPS OUT OF PERSIAN GULF WITHOUT NAVY ESCORTS Trump's laying out a U.S. effort to steer ships safely from the Persian Gulf, skipping actual Navy muscle. Instead, they'll hand out safe-route tips through the Strait of Hormuz and chat up shipping and insurance outfits. Officials spin it as mere info-sharing and diplomacy, not the usual armed flex. Iran warns any U.S. meddling counts as ceasefire-breaking. WSJ @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 WHY CANCEL IRAQ-US STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT Caption straightforwardly asks why Iraq's Strategic Framework Agreement with the United States shouldn't just get the boot, linking to usainiraq for whatever details they think pass muster. No events, spots, timelines, or anything resembling verification in sight. No media either—just the question hanging there. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 UKRAINE CLAIMS DRONE STRIKES CRIPPLED 38 RUSSIAN AIR DEFENSE TARGETS FOR $1.1 BILLION HIT Ukraine says its drone crews nailed 38 Russian air defense spots across Russia last April, racking up about $1.1 billion in damage. Targets were Tor, Buk, and Pantsir missile systems, plus radars and electronic warfare gear. Officials admit the hits are meant to soften Russian defenses for deeper pokes at logistics and infrastructure. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 BAHRAIN KING HOOKS UP KUWAITI DIPLOMAT TOSSED BY HIS OWN COUNTRY WITH CITIZENSHIP AND TOP JOB Kuwait yanked citizenship from diplomat Badr Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Awadi earlier this year, right after posthumously stripping his late father Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Awadi—a former security officer. Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa promptly handed Badr Bahraini citizenship on a dependency basis and slotted him as a high-ranking foreign ministry advisor at the loftiest diplomatic rank, outranking his old gig as Kuwait's UK ambassador. Al-Awadi's a career Kuwaiti diplomat. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 GERMAN CHANCELLOR MERZ HAILS US AS TOP PARTNER IN NATO TO BLOCK IRAN NUKES AMID STRAIT CRISIS German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared the United States is and will remain Germany's most important partner in the North Atlantic Alliance. He stressed Germany and the US share the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This comes as Iran-linked IRGC actions in the Strait of Hormuz force neutral ships worldwide to anchor, with Trump launching "Project Freedom" Monday to escort them out safely. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 UAE SHIPS ORDERED TO FLEE RAS AL KHAIMAH TOWARD DUBAI ON IRGC WARNINGS Ships anchored near Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE got abrupt radio commands to shove off and steam toward Dubai. Reports tie the warnings to Iran's IRGC. The vessels are hightailing it away, all in the name of crew safety. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 IRAN CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR HEMMATI PROMISES VICTORY AND ESSENTIALS AMID CHALLENGES Iran's Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati says his team is burning the midnight oil to keep the public stocked with livelihood basics, meds, and other necessities despite the ongoing challenges. He tells citizens to chill—no need for worry—with better results coming if everyone chips in, and good times ahead. Iran, he stresses, stays victorious. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 TRUMP TO ESCORT NEUTRAL SHIPS OUT OF HORMUZ UNDER PROJECT FREEDOM AMID IRAN TALKS Trump claims a bunch of countries, mostly sitting out the Middle East mess, begged the U.S. to free their ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. will shepherd these neutral vessels through the restricted waters starting Monday morning Middle East time, dubbed "Project Freedom." He mentioned upbeat chats with Iran that might benefit everyone, but any meddling gets a forceful response. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 SPANISH PM'S PLANE FORCED INTO EMERGENCY LANDING IN ANKARA Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's airplane pulled an unscheduled pit stop in Turkey's capital, Ankara, thanks to a technical glitch, per news sources. It was bound for Armenia when the malfunction hit. No word yet on the glitch details or if Sanchez is kicking back unscathed. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 UKRAINIAN FORCES HIT TWO RUSSIAN SHADOW OIL TANKERS AT NOVOROSSIYSK PORT ENTRANCE Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his forces struck two vessels from Russia's shadow oil fleet right at the Novorossiysk port entrance. He called the tankers key players in hauling Russian oil while dodging international sanctions. Zelensky added the strikes make sure those tankers won't be operating anymore. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 TRUMP WANTS TO WIPE OUT IRAN'S REMAINING MISSILE CAPACITY AFTER 85% ALREADY SMASHED Reporter informs ex-President Trump that 85% of Iran's missile-making setup is gone, probes if the leftover 15% matters. Trump shrugs, "Well, I'd like to eliminate it." This gem drops as U.S.-Iran bad blood simmers, with Iran floating a 14-point plan to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz—Trump says he'll peek but deems it too skimpy for Iran's antics. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 KUWAIT EXPORTS ZERO CRUDE OIL IN APRIL FIRST TIME SINCE 1991 AMID STRAIT OF HORMUZ BLOCKADE Kuwait shipped out no crude oil last month, the first full monthly halt since 1991. They kept producing but stashed or refined it at home instead. Reason? A blockade choking tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. TankerTrackers called it, with U.S.-led naval meddling in the region linked to their war on Iran. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 ISRAEL OKS TENS OF BILLIONS IN F-35 AND F-15IA JETS FOR TWO NEW SQUADRONS Israel greenlit buying two fresh fighter jet squadrons—F-35 Lightning IIs and F-15IAs—dropping tens of billions of shekels on the occupier's latest toys. Because nothing says "defense" like stockpiling more warbirds to rain hell on civilians. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 ZELENSKY SCRAMBLES TO TÜRKIYE AND EUROPE AS US SUPPORT DRIES UP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweaks his playbook with U.S. backing on the ropes. After a year cozying up to President Donald Trump, he's now leaning on Türkiye for negotiation hand-holding and dialing up the Europe dependency. POLITICO @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 HUNGARY OPPOSITION LEADER PÉTER MAGYAR DEFENDS NEPOTISTIC JUSTICE MINISTER PICK Péter Magyar, Hungary's prominent opposition bigwig, shrugs off nepotism gripes by appointing his brother-in-law as justice minister. Claims the guy's professional competence is "unquestionable." To dodge conflict-of-interest whiffs, Magyar's sister—wed to the new minister—will quit her judge gig. Politico reports. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 U.S. AND ISRAELI STRIKES HIT IRAN'S ENERGY GRID AND IRGC BITCOIN FARMS U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iran's energy infrastructure and grid, disrupting IRGC-linked crypto mining ops guzzling 2,000 MW—20% of the power deficit. These Bitcoin farms, gorging on cheap electricity, fueled blackouts while dodging sanctions to rake in billions for state and proxies. Strikes sparked local outages but slashed mining hashrate, freeing juice for temporary stability amid the war. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

UPDATE:📜 IRGC DEploys 40+ SPEEDBOATS NEAR QESHM ISLAND AMID US NAVAL BLOCKADE OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ Satellite imagery shows over 40 IRGC speedboats cruising in tight formation near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz in recent hours. The boats maneuver as the U.S. naval blockade chokes off Kuwait's crude oil exports and strangles vital regional energy shipping. This show of force ties into the latest U.S.-Iran talks on wrapping up the war, ditching sanctions, and maybe unclogging the strait. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 IRAN'S SECURITY HAWK SAYS ISLAMABAD TALKS ONLY LEGIT WITH LEADER'S NOD Majtaba Zarei, National Security Committee member in Iran's Shura Council, laid it out plain: Islamabad negotiations happened with the Leader of the Revolution's permission. Without that green light, they're neither legitimate nor legal. @TheBabylonTimes

UPDATE:📜 COVERT CAMPAIGN FUNDS INFLUENCERS TO PUSH PRO-US AI PROPAGANDA AND BASH CHINA ON TIKTOK, INSTAGRAM Undisclosed sources tied to OpenAI, Palantir Technologies, and Andreessen Horowitz bankroll influencers peddling pro-U.S. AI policies and anti-China lines. Payouts hit $5,000 per post, complete with scripts like "China beating the US in AI could threaten our kids’ data." No disclosure of payments or the group Build American AI required. Source: Wired. @TheBabylonTimes