Victor Davis Hanson: Iran, Part 2—The Two Wars in Iran
10:15
VDH always hits the nail on the head.
https://youtu.be/P6K38ueZ6h4
🚨BANKRUPT: Virginia Gerrymander ruled Unconstitutional, Democrats in Debt After Wasting $70 Million1 day ago
Virginia Democrats plead for help from the Virginia Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court after the Virginia court threw out the redistricting referendum today. Democrats panic as another $72 million is flushed down the drain amid the party's severe debt.Too bad for democratsKEK
https://www.youtu.be/pmo5GrQcTeI
1:34:04
US escalates China row over Iran ahead of Trump-Xi summit – Politico
22 hours ago
The United States sanctioned three Chinese companies accused of helping Iran’s military carry out strikes on US forces in the Middle East, escalating tensions with Beijing days before President Donald Trump is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The US State Department said Meentropy Technology (Hangzhou) Co., Earth Eye and Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. provided satellite imagery that enabled Iranian military strikes against US forces in the region.
“The targeting of US service members and partners will not go unanswered,” the State Department said, according to Politico.
Washington said it would continue to hold China-based entities accountable for supporting Iran and to prevent Tehran from rebuilding what it called “proliferation-sensitive programs” after Operation Epic Fury.
Politico said the sanctions are likely to give Trump additional leverage before his talks with Xi,where he is expected to push Beijing to pressure Tehran toward a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to normal shipping.
The administration also sanctioned 10 other entities and individuals in countries including Belarus, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, accusing them of helping Iran’s military secure weapons.
The new sanctions come less than a week before Trump is expected to travel to Beijing with a delegation of US CEOs seeking deals with China, even as US defense officials worry the draining conflict with Iran could give Xi more leverage in talks with Washington.
The latest measures add to a growing trade and sanctions dispute between the world’s two largest economies.
Last week, China’s Commerce Ministry banned enforcement of, or compliance with, separate US sanctions on five Chinese oil refineries accused of buying Iranian oil.
Despite the tensions, Trump has suggested he believes Xi can be helpful on the Iran crisis.
“That’ll be one subject,” Trump said at an Oval Office press conference last week, referring to Iran. “But he’s been very nice about this. In all fairness, he gets like 60 percent of his oil from Hormuz. I think he’s been very respectful. We haven’t been challenged by China.” (Personally Xi is going to be really nice to him, he knows the full power of who Trump is, and maybe Trump is the only president that treated Xi the best.)
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202605090300
Ceasefire tested as Iran, US exchange strikes near Hormuz
Summary
• US President Donald Trump described Iran’s leaders as “LUNATICS” on Thursday and warned Tehran to quickly sign a deal with Washington after American destroyers passed through the Strait of Hormuz amid Iranian attacks.
• Iran’s top military joint command says the US violated the ceasefire by targeting two Iranian oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz
• Oil prices rose and US stock futures edged lower early Friday after Iran and the United States exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz, raising doubts over the durability of a month-long ceasefire.
•US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Pakistan had asked Washington not to proceed with Project Freedom while negotiations with Iran remain underway.
May 8, 2026 at 05:28 GMT+1
Pakistan asks Singapore to help repatriate seafarers from US-seized ships
Pakistan’s foreign minister said Islamabad hadasked Singapore to help facilitate the welfare and repatriation of 11 Pakistani and 20 Iranian seafarers aboard vessels seized by US authoritiesand currently near Singaporean waters.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he spoke with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and requested Singapore’s support in the case.
Dar said he also spoke with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and that Pakistan remained in close coordination with Tehran.
He added that Pakistan was ready to help facilitate the safe repatriation of Iranian nationals to Iran via Pakistan.
Dar said Pakistan’s Foreign Office and relevant authorities were coordinating with US authorities and others to ensure the safety, welfare and earliest possible return of Pakistani nationals.
May 8, 2026 at 04:42 GMT+1
UAE reports 'missile threats' hours after US-Iran escalation
TheUnited Arab Emirates said Friday morning local time that its air defenses were engaging Iranian missile and drone threats, in a fresh sign of strain on the fragile ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.
Few details were immediately available about the reported attack, which came a day after US and Iranian forces exchanged fire around the Strait of Hormuz.
May 8, 2026 at 04:12 GMT+1
INSIGHT
Tehran hails China’s support, but Beijing’s limits are showing
Iranian media have welcomed Beijing’s unusually sharp rhetoric in support of Tehran, portraying recent Chinese diplomacy as evidence of a deepening strategic partnership.
Much of thecoverage has focused on Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Beijingand his meetings with senior Chinese officials.
During the trip, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered some of Beijing’s strongest language to date on the conflict, condemning what he called “warmongering by the US and Israel” and warning that the region had reached a “decisive turning point.”
Iranian outlets quickly cast the remarks as evidence that China was moving closer to Tehran.
But beneath the celebratory tone lies a more complicated reality: China sees Iran as a useful junior partner, not an ally worth sacrificing its broader economic interests for.
Read the full article
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202604294038