— 🇹🇷 NEW: The Erdoğan administration in Turkey has detained opposition leader and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on allegations of corruption and association with a terrorist group

Additionally, the Turkish government has started to limit internet access to social media networks such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. Authorities have also reportedly imposed a temporary ban on protests, leading police to close several streets in the city.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Lira (TRY) has plummeted to a new record low against the U.S. dollar.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇱 From the JFK files:

'Echevarria made a comment the day before the assassination: 'We now have plenty of money — our new backers are Jews. As soon as they take care of Kennedy....'

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇹🇷 NEW: Turkish opposition media confirm that the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, has been dragged to prison, alongside more than 100 of his associates.

A few days from now, Imamoglu was supposed to be selected as the main Presidential Candidate of the Republican People's Party, becoming Erdogan's main rival in the upcoming election in 2028.

Observers have called the crackdown a 'coup attempt against Turkey's next President', stating that Erdogan is trying to get rid of his political rivals, especially after his party's major defeat in the 2024 local elections.

@Middle_East_Spectator

Yeah, but let's be honest, who cares about Turkey

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 BREAKING: Trump's letter to Iran included a '2-month deadline' to reach a new Nuclear Deal, after which the possibility of an American or Israeli military strike against Iran would 'dramatically increase' – Axios

@Middle_East_Spectator

All jokes aside, considering Iran's current geopolitical situation, not going for a nuclear weapon is simply insanity, especially when we already know we have the capability. It's simply a matter of 'flipping the switch'.

The economy is already beyond saving, we are already internationally isolated, so at least go nuclear and guarantee our survival.

— 🇮🇷 NEW: The Iranian Parliament has announced the budget for the Armed Forces

Ministry of Defense:

$2.46 Billion USD

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC):

$2.03 Billion USD

Police:

$1.16 Billion USD

Artesh ('Conventional' Military, incl. Air Force, Army, Air Defense, Navy):

$860 Million USD

@Middle_East_Spectator

The Artesh, Iran's conventional army, has by far the most soldiers, and it also consists of the Air Force, Navy, and Air Defense.

It consistently receives a budget much smaller than its sibling, the IRGC, to the annoyance of many Artesh commanders, who seek to innovate and modernize Iran's Army.