💬 "The only area where one can currently engage with the Americans is the question of the economic benefits—or lack thereof—of serious military conflicts," Mikhailov notes.

💬 "We and the Americans are two strategic nuclear powers that, since the mid-20th century, have divided the world into spheres of influence—and we continue to exist in this framework on a kind of superstructure," Mikhailov says.

💬 "The Americans find it advantageous to keep Ukraine as a factor destabilizing Russia’s borders, and more broadly, as a lever of pressure on Russia," the pundit says.

💬 "According to market reports, war risk underwriters began canceling policies for strait transits hours after Operation Epic Fury launched," Dr Tilak Doshi, energy editor at The Daily Sceptic, tells Sputnik.

💬 "A prolonged Hormuz closure would trigger a massive, multi-year oil price shock – doubling or more initially – rationing around 19% of global supply purely through demand destruction. This underscores the chokepoint’s strategic risk," Doshi says.

💬 "With the US midterm elections in sight, the Trump administration will want to ensure that global crude oil prices are brought back down as quickly as possible, so as to put a limit on US gasoline prices," Doshi stresses.

💬"As for the actual participants in the talks—why would they shift their positions, and what would they gain?" the expert asks — suggesting that it is not in Washington’s interest to change course at the last minute.

"Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, today they have zero," the statement reads.

💬 "If Patriot air defense missiles were used, it suggests the operators may have been either highly agitated — leading to numerous mistakes — or acting out of fear," Knutov says. "That fear could have prevented them from properly locking onto targets and engaging them accurately."

💬 "Such a massive expenditure of missiles — when no more than two should be needed per target — suggests that if the US and its allies continue using their missiles this way, their stockpiles could be depleted very quickly."

"The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now."

"The Qatar Armed Forces have repeatedly demonstrated their capability to defend the nation against external threats and remain at full readiness."

"The president has clearly defined what he wants to accomplish. He's not gonna let his country go to war unless there's a clearly defined objective," he told Fox News.

"We're very lucky to have him as the leader of the free world," he concludes.

"The US and Netanyahu openly declare their desire to change the Iranian regime without any moral or legal justification. International law is now non-existent for those who wield power."

"The American administration has not given the Arabs enough opportunity to diversify their alliances. It has provoked tension every time the Arabs have shown interest in opening up to Russia, China, or Europe," the expert added.