🇨🇳🤝🇮🇷 At least 3 Chinese cargo planes vanished from radar near Iran, The Telegraph reports. Speculation grows over Beijing secretly aiding Tehran as war with Israel escalates.

The first plane departed on June 14, the day after the conflict began, with the others following over the next two days. According to The Telegraph, the planes flew westward along northern China, crossed Kazakhstan, then headed south through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan before vanishing from radar as they neared Iran. Each flight was officially logged as bound for Luxembourg, though the aircraft apparently never approached European airspace.

These "mysterious" flights have sparked concern in the West. Analysts believe China is determined to prevent the collapse of its strategic partner. If Iran were to fall, the resulting upheaval in the Middle East could harm Beijing’s economic interests. While China is not driven by political motivations in the region, its economic and energy stakes are significant — and increasingly demand action.

What China needs from Iran is simple: energy. Iran supplies China with about 2 million barrels of oil per day. Beijing does not recognize U.S. sanctions on Iran and purchases nearly 90% of Tehran’s oil exports. In March of this year, anticipating a new wave of sanctions, China ramped up imports — reportedly leading to a surplus of Iranian oil on the Chinese market. As a result, Iranian crude accounted for 13% of China’s total oil imports.

🔗 https://news.az/news/-why-is-china-helping-iran

🇮🇱🇮🇷 Former Congressman Gaetz says that if the world is concerned about secret nuclear weapons programs in the Middle East, it should start with Israel.

Gaetz suggests that if Israel wants Iran to denuclearize, Israel should denuclearize as well.

🔗 AF Post

🇮🇷❌🇮🇱 — NYT reports that after six days of Iran launching ballistic missiles at Israel, Israel has begun rationing its supply of interceptors.

🇺🇸 — Donald Trump says the WSJ has "no idea" about Trump's thoughts on Iran, after the WSJ reported Trump approved attack plans on Iran but didn't order those plans to be carried out.

🇺🇸❌🇮🇷❓ — Multiple media reports indicate that Donald Trump is leaning towards not attacking Iran unless it is certain that the GBU-57 "Massive Ordnance Penetrator" bomb can destroy the Fordow nuclear facility and is asking his military advisers to investigate if the GBU-57 can do the job.

💣😱🚀The GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) is a 13600 kg precision-guided "bunker buster" bomb developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). The designation GBU, short for Guided Bomb Unit, reflects its use of precision guidance systems.

Significantly larger than earlier deep-penetration weapons such as the 2300 kg GBU-28 and GBU-37, the GBU-57 is designed to destroy heavily fortified, deep underground bunkers. Measuring 6.2 m in length, its size and weight limit its deployment to strategic bombers, with the B-2 Spirit being the only currently operational aircraft capable of carrying it.

There have been at least 20 built as of November 2015.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-57A/B_MOP

@FelipeChannel

🇺🇸❌🇮🇷 NEW: President Trump is hesitant to approve U.S. strikes on Iran unless it’s certain the Fordow nuclear facility can be destroyed using the GBU-57 “bunker buster” bomb.

➡️ While some defense officials believe the bomb could work, others argue only a tactical nuclear weapon could destroy the deeply buried site.

➡️ Trump has ruled out nuclear options and is holding off on strikes for now, hoping the threat alone might push Iran to negotiate.

— The Guardian

@TabZLIVE

🇮🇷❌🇮🇱🚨 Sirens are now activated across northern Israel.

@TabZLIVE

JUST IN:
🇸🇪-Swedish Parliament has approved a $31 billion borrowing plan to significantly boost national defense spending.

➡️This move aligns with NATO’s updated defense spending goal of 3.5% of GDP, as Sweden deepens its integration into the alliance