The Babylon Times

📜 IRANIAN SPOKESMAN CALLS HEZBOLLAH LEBANON'S PRIDE FOR STANDING UP TO ISRAEL Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei declared Hezbollah a source of pride for Lebanon and the Islamic nation. He credits them with confronting Israel.

"Hezbollah is a source of pride for Lebanon and the Islamic nation," Baghaei stated, "and [...] Hezbollah is confronting Israel."

@TheBabylonTimes

UPDATE:📜 IRAN SLAMS UAE FOR COZYING UP TO IRAN'S AGGRESSORS, PRAISES HEZBOLLAH'S STAND AGAINST ISRAEL Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei called out the UAE for its inappropriate behavior over the past few days, mainly cooperating with and hosting parties aggressing against Iran. On Lebanon, he hailed Hezbollah as a source of pride for the country and the Islamic nation, confronting Israel. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 IRANIAN SPOKESMAN CALLS IRAN A SUPERPOWER TO COUNTER AMERICAN MIGHT Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei fielded a cheeky question from an Arab network correspondent: "America is a superpower—what are your tools to confront it? Why don't you back down?" Baghaei shot back,

"We are also a superpower."

Straight talk, no backing down. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 IRANIAN SPOKESMAN CALLS URANIUM CLAIMS SPECULATION, SAYS TALKS ONLY ABOUT ENDING WAR Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei dismissed uranium enrichment claims as mere speculations. He clarified that current negotiations cover nothing beyond ending the war. Baghaei noted Iran's important relations and agreements with Russia and China, with direct contact ongoing. This follows his description of Iran as a major power when asked about confronting the United States. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 IRAN SHURA COUNCIL WARNS ENEMY EXPLOITS NEGOTIATIONS TO REARM Iran's Shura Council—61 members strong—calls out the enemy for using talks as cover to regroup and beef up forces. They urge max vigilance to smack down this sneaky ploy. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 EX-PM BENNETT: JEWISH ISRAELI NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT MILITARY SERVICE Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared a Jewish Israeli isn't complete unless he serves in the military for his country. Because nothing says fulfillment like gearing up for the occupation grind. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 EX-ISRAELI PM BENNETT CLAIMS MIDDLE EAST NEEDS ISRAEL TO STOP JIHADISTS HITTING TWIN TOWERS LIKE 9/11 Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says if Israel didn't exist, the Middle East would teem with jihadists, al-Qaeda, and ISIS, who'd pull off 9/11-style Twin Towers attacks. He figures that's what happens when you treat the region as someone else's headache. Bennett, who watched the burning towers from Manhattan that day, warns radical Islamists would lob nuclear ballistic missiles at America—from Manhattan to California and everywhere else. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

UPDATE:📜 US OFFLOADS SEIZED IRANIAN SHIP TUSKA AND CREW TO PAKISTAN ABC News says the United States handed over the seized Iranian ship Tuska and its detained crew to Pakistan. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry confirms the Tuska crew gets passed to Iranian authorities today, like shuffling pawns after the grab. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 GERMAN CHANCELLOR MERZ DOUBLES DOWN ON TRANSATLANTIC TIES WITH TRUMP DESPITE US TROOP SHUFFLES Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz vows to keep the transatlantic alliance humming along with US President Donald Trump. He shrugs off recent US military tweaks as old hat, just hyped up this time—America's always shuffling its troops worldwide anyway. Over 30,000 US soldiers still parked in Germany, he points out. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 EX-PM BENNETT SLAMS NETANYAHU FOR FEEDING HAMAS LIKE CHURCHILL SUPPOSEDLY FED NAZIS Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett took a swing at Benjamin Netanyahu without "attacking directly," likening his policy to feeding Nazis. Bennett quipped,

"Winston Churchill did not feed the Nazis with $360 million a year during the 30s."

He meant the Qatar cash Netanyahu greenlit for Hamas. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 EX-ISRAELI PM BENNETT ADMITS HAMAS HAS 30000 WARRIORS GROWING DAILY AND REARMING Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett let slip that Hamas boasts 30,000 warriors, with their numbers swelling daily as they rearm. He conveniently declared the days of brushing off enemies as weak officially over. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 GERMAN CHANCELLOR MERZ SAYS IRAN HIDES OVER 400 KG OF HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz laid it out straight: over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium are still tucked away in Iran. He stressed that until this stuff vanishes, the push to stop Iran from grabbing a nuclear weapon rolls on.

"As long as this material exists, efforts must continue to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon."

@TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 GERMAN CHANCELLOR MERZ BRUSHES OFF HATE-FILLED SOCIAL MEDIA BARRAGE Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the hate-filled remarks aimed at him on social media. He noted they sour society's mood far more than they bother him. Merz avoids engaging, especially when they get vicious, and accepts them without whining. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

UPDATE:📜 TRUMP'S IRAN TEAM SWELLS WITH FDD HAWK NICK STEWART Donald Trump's crew drafting Iran nuclear talks now features Nick Stewart, the FDD Action Iran hawk pushing sanctions and maybe some military muscle on Iran. Rounding out the squad: JD Vance, Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff, all primed for that aggressive squeeze. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 EX-PM BENNETT PUSHES FULL-BLOWN STAR WARS TO SMASH IRAN'S NUKES AND MISSILES Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett envisions a "full-blown Star Wars" to tackle threats, meaning fancy tech and boots-on-ground action. He wants Iran's nuclear program halted, ballistic missile factories shut down, and terror networks dismantled—no need for massive U.S. troop hauls. Israel, naturally, stars as the frontline bully. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 EX-ISRAELI PM BENNETT ADMITS SUITCASES OF $30M CASH WENT TO HAMAS EVERY MONTH Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spilled that "every month, $30 million in cash was delivered to Hamas in suitcases." He called the whole racket almost unbelievable, then bragged he slammed the door by declaring no more suitcases for Hamas. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 EX-ISRAELI PM BENNETT CALLS FOR DIRECT STRIKES ON IRAN LEADERSHIP IN 'HISTORIC' WAR Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described the ongoing war with Iran as historic. He claimed Israel has pushed back Iran's nuclear program and pushed for targeting its leadership directly. Bennett demanded zero uranium enrichment forever, no expiration date, an end to ballistic missile production, and a stop to Iran's support for terror groups. He made these remarks in a recent public statement. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 EX-ISRAELI PM BENNETT TELLS US NO NEED FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ITS TROOPS Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett assured the United States it doesn't need to send hundreds of thousands of troops to the ground. He pitched Israelis as their own "10 million boots on the ground" and Israel as a handy "aircraft carrier" parked there for good. Bennett made clear Israel just needs America watching its back. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 IRANIAN GENERAL WARNS AMERICA'S PALS TO WATCH THEIR STEP OR REGRET IT BIG TIME Brigadier General Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran's Central Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, issued a heads-up to America's cheerleaders: tread carefully, or brace for irreparable regret. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 NORTH KOREA’S WOMEN’S TEAM TO FACE SOUTH IN RARE AFC SEMIFINAL SHOWDOWN North Korea’s Naegohyang Women’s FC draws South Korea’s Suwon FC Women in the AFC Women’s Champions League semifinals. Kickoff’s at 7 p.m. on May 20 in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul. A 39-member North Korean crew—27 players, 12 staff—lands in the South on May 17. First such visit by DPRK athletes since 2018, despite the neighbors’ endless technical sniping. @TheBabylonTimes