NOTE: Our coverage of the election does not imply a recognition of the Israeli state or an acknowledgement of its so-called democratic process.

‘Israel’ is a Zionist occupation regime illegitimately in control of Palestine.

— 🇮🇱/🇵🇸 NEW: In the Bedouin community of Atawna, voter turnout in the previous election was 41% for the entire day

Now it’s at 64%, and the day has only halfway passed.

@Middle_East_Spectator

Ethiopia has received its first batch of Su-35 fighter jets.

From the batch that was ordered years ago by Egypt & cancelled afterwards.

And yes, Iran was interested in acquiring these. In fact it was widely believed they were intended to be delivered to Iran, but Russia seems to have other priorities, as usual.

— 🇮🇷/🇺🇸/🇶🇦 NEW: Iran has rejected the latest U.S. proposal conveyed through Qatar, which contained a 7-day plan for opening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the blockade – Reuters

According to Iran, the plan was simply a list of ‘unacceptable demands, not an offer’; the U.S. reportedly asked for Iran’s uranium to be transfered abroad upfront and for an immediate end to the Strait of Hormuz closure.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: Iran’s air defenses have shot down an American MQ-1C ‘Gray Eagle’ drone above the Strait of Hormuz

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: The IRGC Aerospace Force brought down an American MQM-170 ‘Outlaw’ drone with electronic warfare and captured it

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇵🇰/🇮🇷/🇸🇦/🇹🇷 Pakistan’s Army Spokesman: ‘We have no objection to Iran joining the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement; the decision rests with the parties involved’

@Middle_East_Spectator

I have nothing against Iran joining the Mecca Pact, in fact I welcome any initiative that brings Muslims closer together and creates a new geopolitical reality that could challenge Israeli hegemony in the Middle East.

Coming together as Muslims is a divine commandment and it is the only thing that makes us strong in the long-term.

However, this comes with important caveats; what is the true nature of this alliance, what guarantees will be given, and does it actually benefit Iran or is it just a name on paper? Important matters, like the war between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, need to be solved before any such alliance can happen.

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: Iran has brought down another MQM-170 ‘Outlaw’ with electronic warfare

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇮🇷 NEW: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, held an in-person meeting with the heads of Iran’s military branches

He met with Chief of the General Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, Commander-in-Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami, and Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that Iran’s armed forces must maintain the highest state of readiness to counter enemy plots.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that any renewed type of aggression must be met with an ‘immediate, decisive, and wide-scale response without any geographical restrictions’.

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇱/🇮🇷 Iran’s Chief of Staff, Major General Ali Abdollahi, after meeting Ayatollah Khamenei:

‘We are monitoring the enemy’s movements and preparations using our full intelligence capabilities, and we are continuously updating our target database.

Should signs of a hostile act by the enemy be confirmed, the Iranian Armed Forces will not wait for the aggression to begin, but will immediately determine the timing and manner of retaliation.

Our response will be immediate, effective, and without geographical limitations.’

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇷🇺 NEW: The U.S. has warned Russia of an imminent terrorist attack at Tsarytsino Museum Reserve in southern Moscow

The FSB has closed down the palace complexes to visitors as a precaution, and says it is taking the warning seriously, while urging people to remain calm.

@Middle_East_Spectator

People when a Telegram admin has a life besides posting news 24/7:

I’ll probably start being more active soon, had some matters in life to doZ

+ taking a small mental break before the inevitable upcoming U.S.-Iran escalation, during which I’ll obviously provide full live coverage, as always.

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: Several explosions were heard on Qeshm Island, Iran, amid unconfirmed reports that an anti-air platform was targeted by U.S. strikes

Reports of sporadic strikes against launch platforms in southern Iran have been published in recent weeks; these cannot be confirmed nor denied.

If true—Iran has made a conscious decision not to respond to these minor acts of aggression currently due to some security considerations.

@Middle_East_

—❗️🇮🇷/🇺🇸 NEW: Explosions heard in Bandar Lengeh too; cause unknown

@Middle_East_Spectator

— ❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 UPDATE: CNN reports that a U.S. fighter jet was targeted by an Iranian surface-to-air missile, after which the jet targeted the launch platform on Qeshm

U.S. officials say the strikes were ‘limited and defensive’ in nature.

@Middle_East_Spectator