Alex Raufoglu
@ralexdc · International correspondents — Israel & region
Alex Raufoglu is an Azerbaijani-American journalist.
NEW!! Treasury is ramping up its Iran crackdown, sanctioning networks linked to Kata’ib Hizballah and Lebanese Hizballah across Iraq, Lebanon, the UAE and Türkiye. The action also tightens Iran licensing rules 👇 https://t.co/mZYoTQtVvr
NEW!!! Ukraine’s top sanctions official hails the U.S. strikes on five Iranian oil tankers, saying at least three — Kaviz, Charminar and Riesco — were linked to Russia’s shadow fleet: “The right approach.” 👇
NEW!!! Trump tells reporters that he thinks the war with Iran will end after midterms. “I think the war is going to end immediately after the election. I think the war will end immediately after the election”
NEW!! Ukraine’s sanctions adviser reflects on the U.S. strikes on five tankers tied to Iran’s “shadow fleet,” drawing a parallel with Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s shadow fleet. Both, he argues, help finance aggression and should be stopped. 👇
NEW!! Today's U.S. sanctions are hitting every remaining active Iranian airline -- but the bigger story may be how far the move reaches. Former @USTreasury official @kerri_bitsoff tells @RFERL the measures could touch “almost the entire global fleet,” given the reliance on U.S.-origin aircraft, engines and avionics. Her warning: fuel suppliers, ground handlers and banks now face a choice over whether to keep touching Iranian airlines. https://t.co/nSMltZtCFL
NEW!! Rubio Says Houthis Acting With ‘Iranian Hand’ As Saudi Arabia Faces Fresh Attacks Rubio just told reporters U.S. was closely monitoring developments and emphasized its “very strong defensive military relationship” with Saudi Arabia.
NEW!! U.S. sanctions 36 targets tied to Iran’s aviation sector, including all 27 remaining active Iranian airlines, as part of “Operation Economic Outcast.” The action targets networks accused of helping Iran procure aircraft, parts and other sensitive technology. 👇 https://t.co/O59st5egp7
NEW!! US Ambassador to Turkey downplays fresh Treasury sanctions on Turkish lender Golden Global over IRGC-QF ties, praising Ankara's "mature" cooperation and framing the friction as proof of a resilient alliance. 👇
NEW!! State Dept just dropped a massive wave of Middle East defense approvals, clearing potential arms sales deals worth over $1.8B total for Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Oman: SAUDI ARABIA: Upgrading its Abrams fleet with AGT-1500 engines and extending its precision-strike capabilities with JDAM-ER kits. IRAQ: Replacing its aging helicopter fleet with a major purchase of Bell 412 utility helicopters. OMAN: Locking in long-term sustainment and logistics support for its F-16 fleet.
NEW!!! U.S. Treasury sanctions Turkey’s Golden Global Bank over ties to Iran’s IRGC, severing a key financial route used to funnel oil money from China into cash and gold. https://t.co/oTRoPFOqv7
Trump on Iran: “… We’re doing it to help the Middle East. We're doing it to help Israel. We're doing it to help ourselves because after they annihilate Israel, which they would have done very gladly, and then the Middle East, then they come after Europe and they come after some of our cities.”
NEW!! Trump tells reporters that Iran is getting “weaker and weaker,” doubling down on his call for citizens to rise up -- while acknowledging why many hesitate. “Who can blame them?” Trump said, pointing to the regime’s history of deadly crackdowns on protesters.
NEW!! Rubio brushes off concerns over Russian aid to Iran, stating Moscow’s focus remains tied up in Ukraine. "Nothing that anyone is providing Iran is in any way impeding our ability to act as necessary to protect the United States," he says 👇 https://t.co/DplfuLL38z
NEW!! Russia secretly helped Iran build missiles to target U.S. warships 👇 https://t.co/wJjVDi2cfO
NEW!!! Bahrain issues third ‘potential threat’ alert in 6 hours
"The discussions focused on the importance and urgency of advancing and passing the Lindsey O. Graham 'bone crushing' sanctions bill, aimed at increasing pressure on Russia and Iran." 👇
NEW!! Türkiye has officially signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the 71st nation to join the U.S.-led framework for peaceful lunar and space exploration. 👇 https://t.co/uINLITItV7
NEW!! State Dept warns Americans in the Middle East to exercise "heightened vigilance" amid rising regional tensions, citing threats of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and targeted Iranian threats against U.S. interests globally 👇
NEW!! U.S. approves a possible $800 million arms sale to Iraq, including Bell 412EPX and Bell 407M helicopters, rockets, machine guns, targeting sensors and missile-detection systems. The deal is aimed at boosting Iraq’s transport, reconnaissance and air-to-surface capabilities. 👇
NEW!! EU steps up pressure on Iran, warning it is ready to take further measures to protect its security and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The bloc vows closer coordination with Washington and G7 partners. 👇 https://t.co/OxaBMahdlR
NEW!!! VP Vance tells reporters Trump’s AI-generated video depicting a bombing of Clark Island was intended to send Iran a message: Stop attacks on commercial shipping or face “consequences.”
NEW!! U.S. Strike On Iranian Launchers Signals Resolve To Keep Hormuz Open, Experts Say 👇 https://t.co/ehq940UoPb
NEW!! U.S. Strikes Iranian Launchers Near Strait Of Hormuz, Citing Mine-Laying Threat https://t.co/EceNDd9IXh
NEW!!! GOP Sen. Kennedy: “You need to put down the bong if you think that Iran and China are not helping Russia in that war. They're all related. The quarterback is Xi.” 👇 https://t.co/D36Z36SQhM
NEW: Ahead of Tuesday’s House Houthi hearing, written testimony shows a policy split among experts: @Ndawsari will push to empower Yemen’s government against the Houthis; @AllisonMinor_ will urge limited force paired with diplomacy -- and warn against another open-ended war
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