😵💫 Sen. Graham* persuaded Trump to strike Iran — reports
Neocon Senator Lindsey Graham has secured a prominent role among Donald Trump’s national security advisers and managed to convince the US president to approve high-risk strikes on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Despite tensions in their relationship, Graham rejoined Trump’s inner circle and urged military action, going against Trump’s domestic focus.
The WSJ notes that Graham, a Republican hawk often criticized by his own party, also works closely with Democrats on issues like supporting Ukraine. He has pushed for tougher trade sanctions on Russia and maintains close contact with Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he advised before Zelensky’s disastrous February White House visit.
Graham’s relationship with Trump has swung between fierce criticism and close alliance, notably fracturing after the January 6 Capitol riot but later mending.
*recognized as a terrorist in Russia
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Neocon Senator Lindsey Graham has secured a prominent role among Donald Trump’s national security advisers and managed to convince the US president to approve high-risk strikes on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Despite tensions in their relationship, Graham rejoined Trump’s inner circle and urged military action, going against Trump’s domestic focus.
The WSJ notes that Graham, a Republican hawk often criticized by his own party, also works closely with Democrats on issues like supporting Ukraine. He has pushed for tougher trade sanctions on Russia and maintains close contact with Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he advised before Zelensky’s disastrous February White House visit.
Graham’s relationship with Trump has swung between fierce criticism and close alliance, notably fracturing after the January 6 Capitol riot but later mending.
*recognized as a terrorist in Russia
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🛢 Haifa refinery hit by Iran strikes may fully restart by October – reports
The Haifa refinery, damaged in Iran’s strikes, is expected to fully resume operations by October, the Times of Israel reported, citing refinery owner Bazan.
It was previously reported that three people had been killed at Bazan facilities as a result of an Iranian missile attack that occurred on the night of June 16.
The company said in a report to the regulator that it was gradually resuming operations and will likely be fully operational by October, the newspaper said.
Earlier, Israel's state broadcaster Kan reported that the oil refinery of Israel's Bazan Group in the port city of Haifa had stopped working after an Iranian missile hit a power plant on the site. Iran's state broadcaster IRIB confirmed that Iran had launched a missile strike on the refinery.
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The Haifa refinery, damaged in Iran’s strikes, is expected to fully resume operations by October, the Times of Israel reported, citing refinery owner Bazan.
It was previously reported that three people had been killed at Bazan facilities as a result of an Iranian missile attack that occurred on the night of June 16.
The company said in a report to the regulator that it was gradually resuming operations and will likely be fully operational by October, the newspaper said.
Earlier, Israel's state broadcaster Kan reported that the oil refinery of Israel's Bazan Group in the port city of Haifa had stopped working after an Iranian missile hit a power plant on the site. Iran's state broadcaster IRIB confirmed that Iran had launched a missile strike on the refinery.
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🇰🇵🤝 🇷🇺 Kim Jong-un meets Russian Culture Minister in Pyongyang - reports
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova in Pyongyang, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Workers’ Party of Korea on June 29, marking the first anniversary of a new treaty between North Korea and Russia. Kim highlighted the importance of cultural and artistic exchanges and stressed the need to expand cooperation to strengthen ties between the two nations.
Earlier during her visit, Lyubimova laid flowers at the Liberation Monument in Pyongyang, honoring Soviet soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the liberation of Korea from Japanese occupation during World War II. She also announced that the Russian and North Korean culture ministries had signed a cooperation plan for 2025-2027.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova in Pyongyang, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Workers’ Party of Korea on June 29, marking the first anniversary of a new treaty between North Korea and Russia. Kim highlighted the importance of cultural and artistic exchanges and stressed the need to expand cooperation to strengthen ties between the two nations.
Earlier during her visit, Lyubimova laid flowers at the Liberation Monument in Pyongyang, honoring Soviet soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the liberation of Korea from Japanese occupation during World War II. She also announced that the Russian and North Korean culture ministries had signed a cooperation plan for 2025-2027.
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Sputnik International
🇳🇴❌🇷🇺 Norway restricting Russian activity on Svalbard – Russian ambassador Norwegian authorities are tightening control over the Svalbard archipelago (also known as Spitsbergen), making it harder for Russia to carry out scientific and economic work there…
Russia is worried that Norway and NATO are drawing the Svalbard archipelago into military planning, Russian Ambassador to Norway Nikolay Korchunov told Sputnik.
💬 “We are concerned about attempts to drag the archipelago into the military preparations of Norway and its NATO allies,” Korchunov said, accusing Oslo of violating the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, which guarantees the islands’ peaceful development and bans their use for war purposes.
He also criticized the lack of transparency around dual-use facilities on Svalbard that could support military operations.
💬 “Russia is interested in the peaceful use of the Arctic and calls for rejecting any steps that escalate tensions on Spitsbergen and in the region overall,” he added.
Under the Svalbard Treaty, Norway holds sovereignty over the archipelago, while other signatories—including Russia—have equal rights to exploit its resources and waters. Svalbard remains visa-free for citizens of treaty signatories.
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🇨🇳💥China unveils cutting-edge 'POWER GRID DISRUPTOR' weapon
China’s CCTV has showcased what appears to be a new graphite bomb designed to disable enemy power infrastructure.
🔸 The video shows a missile launched from a land-based vehicle, ejecting 90 submunitions that disperse fine, chemically-treated carbon filaments mid-air.
🔸 These filaments are meant to short-circuit high-voltage equipment, causing widespread power outages across an area of 10,000 sq meters (107,639 sq ft).
🔸 The missile reportedly has:
▪️Range: 290 km (180 miles)
▪️Warhead: 490 kg (1,080lbs)
▪️Goal: Crippling command & control by targeting substations and power grids.
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China’s CCTV has showcased what appears to be a new graphite bomb designed to disable enemy power infrastructure.
▪️Range: 290 km (180 miles)
▪️Warhead: 490 kg (1,080lbs)
▪️Goal: Crippling command & control by targeting substations and power grids.
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🇷🇺PACIFIC FIREPOWER: Russia launches missile drills in Sea of Japan
🔥 The flagship of the Pacific Fleet, the Guards missile cruiser Varyag, conducted a live launch of the Vulkan anti-ship cruise missile.
🔥 Two missile boat strike groups from the Pacific Fleet attacked targets with four Moskit cruise missiles.
🔥 The coastal missile system Bastion strike team launched an Onyx cruise missile from a coastal position in Primorye.
According to the control data, all targets were successfully hit.
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According to the control data, all targets were successfully hit.
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He stressed that he has not even spoken to Tehran since US strikes.
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IAEA may have been involved in sharing data on Iran with US ahead of strikes
He stressed the whole operation was illegal, did not meet the objectives, and was “kind of an embarrassment.”
What were the ramifications?
🔸 The analyst pointed out that international institutions were used blindly, and their reputation has been undermined — not only in the eyes of Iran, but the entire world.
🔸 Rasmussen underscored that the very fact that the US allowed Israel to act casts a shadow on the Trump administration.
What could be the goal?
🔸 One of the main goals of the operation was an attempt at regime change in Iran and the establishment of a puppet government—similar to the "Shah regime," according to the analyst.
🔸 Rasmussen suggested that the operation could also aim to disrupt China’s energy routes and undermine its Belt and Road Initiative.
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“That information was fed to the Israelis to help target those senior [Iranian] leaders,” US political analyst Earl Rasmussen said.
He stressed the whole operation was illegal, did not meet the objectives, and was “kind of an embarrassment.”
What were the ramifications?
What could be the goal?
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🇷🇺🪖 RUSSIAN DEFENSE BRIEFING: CRUCIAL STRIKES & ENEMY LOSSES
🟠 The Russian Armed Forces defeated the "Chimera" special forces unit;
🟠 Heavy Ukrainian losses: Over 1,350 troops eliminated in the special military operation zone;
🟠 Air defense superiority: 4 JDAM bombs and 144 aircraft-type drones shot down.
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🚨An ‘operation’ is being conducted at Sputnik’s office in Baku - the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan
The team of Sputnik Azerbaijan has not yet contacted the editorial office in Moscow.
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The team of Sputnik Azerbaijan has not yet contacted the editorial office in Moscow.
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Sputnik International
🚨An ‘operation’ is being conducted at Sputnik’s office in Baku - the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan The team of Sputnik Azerbaijan has not yet contacted the editorial office in Moscow. 📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt
🚨Russian Embassy employees in Baku head to Sputnik office amid announced 'operation'
“According to my information, employees of our Embassy in Baku are on their way to Sputnik’s office, where a 'special operation' is currently taking place. The employees have not contacted us — obviously, they have been denied access to their phones. There are Russian citizens among them,” Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik’s parent media group, said.
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🚨📹 Azerbaijani security forces have cordoned off the area in front of the Sputnik Azerbaijan office building in Baku
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🚨 Russian embassy contacted Azerbaijani MFA & State Security Service but received NO response regarding situation with Sputnik office in Baku - 🇷🇺MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
There is concern that for more than two hours, Russian diplomats in Baku have been unable to contact the journalists.
The staff of the Russian embassy’s consular section are not being allowed access to the Russian journalists, and no information is being provided about the reasons for such actions.
❗️ Sputnik's editorial team has stated that they have not received any official bans on their work in Azerbaijan, and throughout this time, there has been a constructive dialogue between the working groups of the foreign ministries of both countries regarding the resolution of potential disagreements.
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There is concern that for more than two hours, Russian diplomats in Baku have been unable to contact the journalists.
The staff of the Russian embassy’s consular section are not being allowed access to the Russian journalists, and no information is being provided about the reasons for such actions.
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