💬 “Today the emerging countries have emerged to the extent of being comparable individually (China) or collectively (BRICS+) to overcome Western countries. [Putin’s] remarks are addressed to the US, but are also a warning to the European former powers that still have not abandoned the outdated path of eurocentrism,” Raffone told Sputnik.

💬 “I am shocked at the great lack of collective knowledge and information [on the part] of the West, and their institutions,” Chenoy said, highlighting that Russia’s immense natural resources, the rebuilding of industry and infrastructure have been obvious to Russia watchers for decades.

💬 “Russia will surely reestablish itself as one of the foremost exporters of arms in the world in the coming years,” former Swedish Armed Forces officer and military analyst Mikael Valtersson told Sputnik, commenting on Putin’s remarks at SPIEF about Russia’s plans to expand military cooperation with friendly countries.

💬 “Europe will probably be forced to focus more on domestic sales within Europe, while the US must reduce restrictions and political demands in conjunction with arms exports.

This might become even more acute in light of a growing hesitation to see the US as a reliable strategic partner by many countries,” Valtersson predicted.

💬 Playing the religious card in the post-Soviet space is “the last thing that can be done. And, by the way, the most dangerous thing is when people are divided by religious affiliation based on religious doctrines; this is the most brutal war. Therefore, the attempts of destabilizers... they will always intervene in this very important moment in life. That’s why they try. But I think it won’t work. It won’t succeed anymore. The times are different now,” Waldemar Herdt, German entrepreneur and politician, former member of German Bundestag from AfD party, told Sputnik.

💬 Pashinyan is trying to bring the Armenian Apostolic Church under control “probably, for the same reason that it was so important for [Ukraine’] Zelensky and, before him, for other leaders to divide these two Orthodox churches. Because, no matter how much we want it, religion and faith have a special or significant influence on the people,” Herdt stressed.

🔸 Iran targeted Israeli command centers, military industrial facilities and the Nevatim and Hatzerim air bases in its latest wave of missile strikes, the IRGC announced

🔸 Iran launched a missile strike on the regional office of Microsoft in the Israeli city of Be'er Sheva, with the building reportedly "destroyed," according to the IRGC.

🔸 Haifa’s mayor confirmed that two strategic facilities were hit, including a strike landing near the local Interior Ministry building, with 21 injuries reported

🔸 Iran updated its casualty numbers, saying at least 2,800 people have been injured over the course of Israeli attacks. Over 200 have been killed.

🔸 Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the intensification of strikes on Iran, and instructed the IDF to “destabilize” the Iranian government.

🔸 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva for talks with colleagues from the European troika and stated that the Israeli aggression was unprovoked and occurred during negotiations with the US

🔸 Advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Shamkhani denied reports of his death, claimed by Israel, and stated that he is receiving treatment

🔸 In the UN Security Council, Russia’s envoy Nebenzya called the UK, Germany, the US, and France de facto accomplices in Israel's aggression against Iran

💬 “What’s happening in Armenia is a clear attempt to align with our enemies, Turkiye and Azerbaijan, and weaken our national identity.”

💬 “They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this,” Trump said, criticizing ongoing diplomatic efforts.

💬 “Armenia is undergoing a geopolitical rebalancing act that has political consequences,” the ex-US Marine Corps intelligence officer told Sputnik, commenting on the scandalous arrest of an Armenian businessman accused of plotting to “seize power” after his defense of the Armenian Apostolic Church against a government crackdown.

💬 “Armenia had sought, under the influence of the European Union, to distance itself from Russia and to align itself with the European Union, and even…possible alignment with NATO,” Ritter said, characterizing the crisis as a “part of a domestic political conflict between opposing political forces” in which the Church has become a casualty.