📸 Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the state dinner at the White House.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran will help Japanese ships safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Tehran.

Source: Kyodo News

The Pentagon is preparing to make Palantir’s Maven AI system a permanent part of U.S. military operations, ensuring it will be widely used and receive long-term funding.

Source: Reuters

Democrats are increasingly frustrated with Senate leader Chuck Schumer, with some privately discussing replacing him.

Critics, including Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy, say his leadership style, handling of negotiations, and support for centrist candidates are hurting the party.

While Schumer still has enough backing to stay, tensions have grown after recent political conflicts and the government shutdown.

Source: WSJ

Türkiye’s domestically developed SOM-J cruise missile, designed by TÜBİTAK SAGE, successfully hit its target with full accuracy in its latest live-warhead test.

Features: low radar visibility, sea-skimming flight, precision IIR guidance, mid-course datalink updates.

The Economist: We’ve both been critical of the Israeli government.

Tucker Carlson: Well, I’ve been critical of the Israeli government.

The Economist: I’ve been plenty critical.

Tucker Carlson: What do you think of what happened in Gaza?

Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis:

Greece has become a satellite of Israel. We have lost our independence.

We are in the clutches not only of the U.S. but also of Israel.

Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis:

Greece is in a pathetic state. Our Prime Minister, supposedly to protect Cyprus, sent four F-16s and a frigate.

In reality, he is protecting the British base there. The U.S. is using this land to kill people in Gaza and Iran.

Europeans are cowardly and carry guilt regarding anti-Jewish sentiment. In the past, they supported the Jewish genocide; now they support the genocide of the Palestinians.

NEW: Iranian Atomic Energy Organization:

The Natanz nuclear facility was targeted again this morning in a U.S.-Israeli attack.

The attack did not result in radioactive leakage due to precautionary measures taken.

The attack on the uranium enrichment complex in Natanz violates the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The White House is being accused of directly plagiarizing a 2025 report by Israel-backed Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) in its document justifying U.S. strikes on Iran.

Multiple entries appear copied almost word-for-word.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Iran:

I believe that there's a reason we went to war. And I believe at the end of the war, the Middle East will be more stable than before.

IDF:

During an operational activity of the Air Force over Iranian skies, a surface-to-air missile was fired at an Israeli fighter jet.

The crew acted according to procedures, no damage was caused to the aircraft, and the mission was completed as planned.

French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, de facto leader of La France Insoumise (LFI):

Iran is in a state of legitimate defence.

The Cuban government refused a U.S. Embassy request to import diesel fuel, calling it “shameless” due to the ongoing U.S. fuel blockade.

Source: WaPo

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it hit a third Israeli F-16 fighter jet over central Iran early this morning.

Western intelligence agencies believe Mojtaba Khamenei is alive, though possibly wounded and either unable or unwilling to appear publicly for security reasons.

His absence—especially during Nowruz, when leaders traditionally deliver a speech—has raised concerns about who is truly in charge.

With no clear central authority, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) appears to be filling the power vacuum and may now be effectively running the country.

Source: Axios

CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper:

Their Navy is not sailing, their tactical fighters are not flying, and they've lost the ability to launch missiles and at the high rates seen at the beginning of the conflict — our progress is obvious.

CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper:

Just two days ago, the U.S. Army launched the longest field artillery strike in Army combat history using precision strike missiles.

Iran's Tasnim, citing a military source, says the U.S. would face an unprecedented response if it attacks Kharg Island, with Washington unable to secure the island and potentially suffering heavy losses.

It adds that disrupting security in the Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea is among the options being considered.