Beijing and Washington are poised to extend a fragile economic truce during President Trump’s visit, but core disputes over technology controls, Taiwan and the Iran war will largely remain unresolved. The meetings are designed to stabilize ties without substantive movement on the hardest security issues, keeping the rivalry managed but intact.
Source: Stratfor
U.S. signals possible return to strikes on Iran as cease-fire talks stall
With negotiations deadlocked, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned the United States may resume major strikes on Iran. Both sides are holding to positions the other deems unacceptable, while the prolonged disruption of the Strait of Hormuz continues to deepen global economic pain.
Source: The New York Times
Intel indicates Iran’s missile force remains largely operational
New U.S. intelligence assessments conclude Iran retains operational access to most of its missile infrastructure along the Strait of Hormuz despite months of attacks. The finding undercuts assumptions that Iran’s strike capacity has been decisively degraded, complicating calculations for coercive diplomacy or renewed military action.
Source: The New York Times
Russia moves to field Sarmat ICBM by year’s end, advancing nuclear posture
President Vladimir Putin said the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile will be placed on combat alert this year, marking another step in Russia’s strategic modernization. The development, showcased as a “major event,” adds to pressure on already strained arms-control frameworks and crisis communication channels.
Source: TASS
Hezbollah’s ‘unjammable’ drones present evolving threat to Israel
Hezbollah’s deployment of low-cost, hard-to-jam drones has expanded the group’s strike options and strained Israel’s air defenses. The adaptation underscores how rapid tech diffusion can offset state-level advantages, even as Hezbollah adjusts to the loss of a Syrian safe haven and the broader U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
Source: The Washington Post
Report: Pakistan hosted Iranian military aircraft during U.S. strikes
Pakistan allowed Iranian reconnaissance and other aircraft to use Nur Khan Air Base near Rawalpindi during U.S. strikes on Iran, CBS News reported, citing U.S. officials. The move, if confirmed, highlights the region’s fluid alignments and raises questions about Islamabad’s role as a mediator amid widening conflict.
Source: Khaama Press
Russian strikes target U.S.-linked firms in Ukraine as Washington stays quiet
Facilities tied to major American companies operating in Ukraine have repeatedly come under Russian attack, appearing to be deliberately targeted. The White House’s muted response is alarming executives and analysts who warn the pattern risks normalizing attacks on foreign commercial assets in warzones.
Source: The New York Times
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