The Babylon Times

📜 IRANIAN FM MEETS CHINESE COUNTERPART AMID DUAL-USE DRONE PARTS FLOW TO IRAN AND RUSSIA Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi huddled with China's Wang Yi in China, chatting bilateral ties while Chinese outfits like Xiamen Victory Technology keep shipping drone engines, batteries, fiber-optic cables, and chips to Iran and Russia. These "commercial" goodies power Iran's Shahed-136s in recent dust-ups and dodge those pesky U.S. sanctions with ease. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 TRUMP PAUSES PROJECT FREEDOM ESCORTS THROUGH STRAIT OF HORMUZ FOR IRAN TALKS President Trump temporarily paused "Project Freedom," the U.S. military operation escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz. He did so to give ongoing negotiations with Iran more breathing room. The broader U.S. blockade strangling Iran stays firmly in place. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 EXPLOSION ROCKS QESHM ISLAND IN IRAN AMID ISRAELI STRIKE REPORTS Reports note the sound of an explosion near Qeshm Island in southern Iran. The island sits in the Strait of Hormuz, packed with civilians and key infrastructure. Unverified sources, Al Jazeera among them, tie it to Israeli attacks on Iranian turf. No word yet on casualties or damage. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 IRANIAN ADVISOR WARNS US FORCES: NO NORMANDY PICNIC, JUST TABAS AND ISFAHAN REPLAY Brigadier General Mohsen Rezaei, Iranian military advisor to the Leader, says Iran's armed forces are fully prepared and on high alert. He warns any US forces entering the country won't get a Normandy or Sicily walkover, but a taste of the Tabas and Isfahan incidents—urging them to ditch the illusions. This amid reports of an earthquake along the Iran-Iraq border strip. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 IRAN SLAMS UAE FOR COLLUDING WITH US AGGRESSORS HOSTING THEIR BASES Iran's Foreign Ministry called out UAE bosses in Abu Dhabi for sabotaging moves alongside warring parties against the Islamic Republic, like keeping US military bases and gear on their soil. The statement flags serious fallout for regional peace. Past two days, as US forces ramp up illegal provocations—including navy ships posing as aid—Abu Dhabi cozied up to the aggressor, ditching neighborly vibes and UN Charter rules, all to poke at Iran's security. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 GERMAN CHANCELLOR MERZ DEMANDS IRAN END NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND STRIKES ON ISRAEL Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz insists Iran must immediately join negotiations, quit delaying, and stop holding the region hostage. He calls for a complete, permanent shutdown of Iran's military nuclear program, plus no more strikes on Israel and its partners. This as Iran rolls out new Strait of Hormuz rules: ships notify authorities, follow electronic navigation, get permits from a fresh government body. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

UPDATE:📜 IRAN LAUNCHES SHIP SNITCH SYSTEM FOR HORMUZ STRAIT Iran's state TV announced a shiny new regulatory setup for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Ships must now tip off Iranian authorities before entering, snag an electronic message spelling out the navigation rules, and meekly accept them for a transit permit. Permits come courtesy of a fresh government body, because why not. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 CARGO SHIP STRUCK BY MYSTERY PROJECTILE IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ British Maritime Authority got a "reliable" alert about some cargo ship taking a hit from an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. That's the word they're passing along, straight-faced. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 US SENATOR RUBIO CLAIMS STRAIT OF HORMUZ DOESN'T BELONG TO IRAN US Senator Marco Rubio declared the Strait of Hormuz doesn't belong to Iran. He insisted Iran has no right to shut it down. Rubio warned that normalizing such actions won't fly. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER BACKS ISRAEL'S SECURITY WHILE TUT-TUTTING SETTLER VIOLENCE German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul declares Germany stands firmly for Israel's security. He vows Germany will never allow threats to Israel's existence as a state. This follows his recent criticism of violence by some Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, urging Israeli authorities to prosecute those responsible. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 RUBIO DECLARES ISRAEL'S "EPIC FURY" ON LEBANON WRAPPED UP US Senator Marco Rubio announced Israel's "Epic Fury" military operation against Lebanon has concluded, ending that phase. This comes after his recent denial of territorial disputes between Israel and the Lebanese government, while he pins regional tensions on Iran. No details on outcomes or impacts from his remarks. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 US SENATOR RUBIO CLAIMS NO ISSUES BETWEEN LEBANESE AND ISRAELI GOVERNMENTS, ISRAEL MAKES NO TERRITORIAL CLAIMS US Senator Marco Rubio insists no issues exist between the Lebanese and Israeli governments. He adds that Israel makes no territorial claims in Lebanon. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 UAE TELLS ISRAEL TO TWIST TRUMP'S ARM FOR WAR ON IRAN Israeli Channel 14 says the United Arab Emirates notified their Israeli ambassador that Tel Aviv needs to lean on Donald Trump for a military operation against Iran. The message highlights UAE-Israel coordination to prod the US into war with Iran. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 US SENATOR RUBIO CALLS IRAN'S TOP OFFICIALS MENTALLY UNSTABLE US Senator Marco Rubio claims Iran's top government officials are mentally unstable. He dropped that gem straight-faced, as if anyone's buying the projection from Washington. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 TRUMP FALLS ASLEEP AGAIN ON LIVE BROADCAST AFTER SPREADING UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS Former US President Donald Trump nodded off on live TV right after peddling false statements during his public appearance. Camera caught him with eyes shut and head drooping, just like in past events. The dozing underscores his knack for conking out mid-stream. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 US SENATOR RUBIO WANTS PRE-WAR STATUS QUO FOR STRAIT OF HORMUZ US Senator Marco Rubio stated the preference is to return to the pre-war status for the Strait of Hormuz. Because nothing says "bold diplomacy" like rewinding the clock on contested waters. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 MARCO RUBIO SAYS IRAN'S INFLATION AT 70 PERCENT WITH CURRENCY IN TOTAL FREEFALL Marco Rubio claims Iran's inflation has hit 70 percent. The country's currency, he says, is in a total and complete freefall. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 MARCO RUBIO DENIES STRICT OIL BLOCKADE ON CUBA WHILE PROMISING EVENTUAL FIX Marco Rubio claims there's no oil blockade on Cuba in the strict sense. He calls the status quo unacceptable and says it'll be addressed—just not right away. This lands amid U.S. talks on tightening the screws on Cuba's government. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 MARCO RUBIO THREATENS SECONDARY SANCTIONS ON ANYONE HELPING IRAN DODGE U.S. SANCTIONS Marco Rubio laid down the law: any foreign bank or business propping up Iran's sanctions evasion gets hit with secondary sanctions and booted from the U.S. financial system. Because nothing says "global cooperation" like strong-arming the world into compliance. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 IRGC NAVY WARNS US DESTROYER WHICH PROMPTLY FLEES IRGC Navy personnel delivered a warning to a US destroyer at sea, straight from the video footage. The clip catches the moment, then shows the destroyer turning tail and hightailing it out of there. No collision, no further nonsense. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum