Sep 26, 2026, 07:30 AM UTC

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have heightened after American military forces conducted strikes on Iranian coastal targets near Bandar Abbas and Sirik. US President Donald Trump cautioned that further military operations remain possible if Tehran retaliates, claiming Iranian leadership is seeking diplomatic dialogue with Washington.

In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that his nation does not seek broader conflict but pledged to "respond decisively" to any future actions. Iranian military officials also maintained that their naval operations remain fully functional despite the recent bombardment. The strikes represent the first direct military engagement between the two nations in a month.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro).

Former Slovenian national football team captain Aleš Čeh and striker Jan Mlakar have provided reflections on their careers alongside insights into domestic club dynamics. Čeh, who served as an assistant coach to Srečko Katanec for over a decade—including a seven-year stint in Asia—reaffirmed his passion for Olimpija Ljubljana and Austria's Grazer AK while expressing strong respect for NK Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar has returned to NK Maribor for a third spell. Despite being born in Ljubljana, Mlakar stated that he was "never close to Olimpija" and expressed confidence in Maribor's leadership. Previewing the upcoming derby, Mlakar remarked that while Olimpija "is in crisis, but in a derby it can only gain," underscoring the unpredictable nature of the match.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

The United States military has executed a series of strikes against Iranian naval targets near the Strait of Hormuz following an escalation in maritime hostilities. U.S. Central Command confirmed military forces targeted three Iranian oil tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles at two American warships. U.S. officials also stated that naval mines previously deployed in international shipping lanes have been cleared.

The actions follow warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened strikes against Iranian energy and civilian infrastructure should maritime attacks continue. Media analyses highlight that the conflict reflects an emerging era of energy warfare, defined by attacks on commercial fleets and supply chains alongside increased drone deployment.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

An analysis published by Austrian newspaper Die Presse frames 1989 as the defining turning point shaping 21st-century global politics. While Western memory focuses heavily on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe, the report emphasizes that simultaneous global developments reshaped international power dynamics elsewhere.

In Asia, the Chinese leadership's suppression of pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square reinforced single-party rule, laying the groundwork for Beijing's state-driven economic rise. Meanwhile, the Soviet military withdrawal from Afghanistan created political vacuums that fueled decades of regional instability. Together, these concurrent crises marked the end of Cold War bipolarity and established the current global framework, defined by competition between democratic nations and autocratic regimes.

Sources: Die Presse.

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have dismissed media reports claiming American ammunition reserves are dangerously low following military engagements with Iran. Recent news coverage suggested missile shortages had curtailed additional strikes against Iranian targets. Trump asserted on social media that the military retains "huge amounts" of munitions, while threatening journalists and leakers with severe prison sentences.

However, a new oversight report submitted to the US Congress directly challenges the administration's narrative. The official document acknowledged "strategic inventory bottlenecks and supply constraints" caused by the conflict, detailing financial costs and material depletion. Reports indicate Trump also questioned Hegseth internally regarding the state of military stockpiles.

Sources: Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.