Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, publicly stated that the recent wild words and repeated threats by American and Zionist officials cannot change the realities on the battlefield. He warned that the Iranian armed forces have prepared plans for a possible new adventure that are more devastating than the previous 12-day and 40-day wars.
On October 18, 2026, US vice presidential candidate JD Vance stated publicly that if the United States withdraws from the Middle East and lets Iran control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, it would directly cause a sharp rise in gasoline prices. The remarks underscored the strategic importance of the strait to global energy supplies and to domestic US oil prices.
According to clashreport, U.S. Vice President Vance said regarding the situation involving Iran that the U.S. military had made major mistakes in the past regarding where troops are deployed and has recognized that it can do better, and that changes have already been made. Vance said that because military security is involved, he would not disclose specific details, so as not to let the Iranian side obtain them.
On October 18, 2026, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated in a public remarks that Ukraine will not be able to win the current Russia-Ukraine war. He emphasized that his personal policy goal is to ensure Ukraine's survival and to work toward bringing the war to an end. Crosetto said that previous statements in Italy about "Ukraine will win the war" were a misunderstanding, and he argued that the conflict should be viewed more pragmatically.
According to the X account @clashreport, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto commented on the Ukraine issue, noting that public opinion is largely against providing assistance to Ukraine and is influenced by external factors. He said that it is very difficult to explain to the public the position that a country must be helped to resist, and that such resistance does not mean getting drawn into the conflict.
According to clashreport, on October 18, 2026, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto made public remarks on the situation in Russia, saying that Russia has a strong desire and is attempting to piece back together the territory and status it had before the collapse of the Soviet Union, and pointing out that Russia does not accept the reality that it is no longer a superpower.
On October 18, 2026, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated in public comments that, in his view, China is currently the only enemy of former U.S. President Trump in the world. Crosetto believes that everything other than China is merely a distraction for Trump, and that Trump's core goal is the competition between the United States and China over technology and global dominance.
According to @clashreport, Iran's parliament officially approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the country's new defense minister on October 18, 2026. Ketabchi is a senior official of Iran's Ministry of Defense, was involved in the construction and development of Iran's missile industry, and previously led the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group.
According to open-source intelligence analysts and Radio Svoboda, satellite images show that Russia is replenishing its long-term military reserve bases. After emptying large stockpiles early in the war, Russia is currently transporting newly built and refurbished armored vehicles to multiple military facilities, including the 22nd Central Tank Reserve Base, indicating that it is restocking and restoring its military materiel.
According to Ukrainian President Zelensky, the United States has resumed sharing intelligence with Ukraine after the relevant intelligence sharing had been suspended for a period of time. The news was disclosed by media and related Twitter accounts on October 18, 2026.
On October 18, 2026, the Egyptian National Defense Council, chaired by Egyptian President Sisi, held a meeting and formally approved providing all necessary and feasible support to Saudi Arabia to help it deal with the escalating Houthi attacks. The council also announced full support for Riyadh and called for easing the current crisis through diplomatic channels.
According to clashreport, on October 18, 2026 Beijing time, photos show that a second Chinese vessel, believed to be intended as a mother ship for ultra-large underwater drones, is under construction at a shipyard in southern China. Unlike the first ship, which was launched at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, this hull is being built at a different shipyard, further demonstrating China's expanding capacity for supporting underwater unmanned equipment.
According to a Voice of Hope report, Hu Xijin recently wrote a post addressing the pension issue, claiming that ordinary Chinese people will not rely on the authorities when it comes to old-age support. The remarks sparked strong dissatisfaction among netizens, who criticized him for ignoring the social anxiety caused by the pension pool running dry and an aging population, arguing that his words were shifting responsibility onto the authorities, and accusing him of flattering those above while bullying those below, with no empathy for the survival struggles of ordinary people.
According to Sound of Hope, a truck driver loaded with grapes recently got into a dispute with staff at the Liuyuan Toll Station in Gansu after the weighbridge results were contested. The driver stated that the weight data showed significant discrepancies when passing through three consecutive lanes; in one lane, the screen displayed "not overloaded," yet the system still flagged it as overloaded. The driver questioned the accuracy of the toll station's weighbridge and expressed dissatisfaction.
According to a post by Twitter user Jie Lijian, at 2:30 p.m. on October 18, 2026, anti-communist figures in New York held a protest in front of the Flushing Library, strongly condemning the Chinese government's transnational repression and its human rights crimes of persecuting the domestic family members of anti-communists, and calling on anti-communist comrades from all walks of life to join in fighting the Chinese Communist Party.
According to X user @clashreport, Iran's new defense minister publicly announced on October 18, 2026 that Iran's independently built heavy fighter jet is expected to officially take off next year, and that the aircraft is made entirely within Iran.
According to @clashreport, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on October 18, 2026 that Iran has submitted a "seven-day plan" to the United States and has specified the relevant conditions. Araghchi said that the U.S. side has offered some feedback on the plan, which Iran is currently reviewing, but from the Iranian position, the plan remains valid.
According to @clashreport, Iran's new defense minister publicly stated on October 18, 2026, that Iran is ready to go to war with Israel (the Zionists), and stressed that his finger is already on the trigger. In addition, the minister revealed that Iran is no longer building factories at old sites, but is instead moving military production facilities into mountains and other secure installations in response to potential military threats.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly accused Russian President Putin of being an "aggressor" and a "terrorist," and accused Russian forces of killing civilians and children during the war. Zelensky also said he hopes former U.S. President Trump can clearly state a position on the matter and condemn Russia's aggressive actions.
According to reports, in the relevant interview, in response to Ukrainian President Zelensky’s question about the possibility of the United States slowing down Starlink service speeds, Trump administration official Bessent explicitly denied it. Bessent said that President Trump himself had nothing to do with the matter, and that both Trump and Rubio have publicly stated that no one in the Trump administration ordered restrictions on Starlink services for Ukraine.
According to a tweet posted by @clashreport, Bessent publicly questioned NATO member states while discussing the situation in Ukraine. He pointed out that when Ukrainian President Zelensky requested assistance with Patriot missile systems, European NATO member states had ample stockpiles but did not actively provide them. He specifically singled out Germany to question its stance and actions on providing aid.
Beijing time, October 18, 2026, on a related interview program, host Welker repeatedly pressed whether the United States views Ukraine as an ally. Bessent responded that the U.S. provides material assistance to Ukraine, which is what is done for an ally, and that it provides none to Russia, but when further pressed on whether he explicitly acknowledged this, he did not give a direct affirmative answer.
According to an interview video posted by clashreport, in response to Zelensky's remarks that "if the US sides with Russia, Ukraine will not be able to win," host Welker asked whether the US president is standing on Russia's side. Bessent denied this, calling it a false dichotomy, and pointed out that the US has provided intelligence and Starlink support to Ukraine, and allowed NATO to purchase US weapons.
On October 18, 2026, in response to Ukrainian President Zelensky's earlier claim that intelligence sharing had been interrupted, Bessent said in his reply that Zelensky should be very careful when making such false statements. The incident reflects the public disagreements and diplomatic friction between the United States and Ukraine on the issue of intelligence cooperation.
According to X account @clashreport, Bessent noted in his comments that European countries are still funding Russia's war machine. He drew a comparison, saying that the United States imports about $4 billion worth of Russian products each year, of which $1.8 billion is fertilizer, while European countries' imports are more than ten times that of the United States.
According to @clashreport, Bessent, speaking on the Russia issue, pointed out that the UK in May exempted the ban on diesel and jet fuel made from Russian crude oil, and questioned why there was no outrage over this practice in other parts of the world, while noting that Ukrainian President Zelensky had not criticized his European partners.
According to video footage posted by clashreport, when faced with Welker's questioning over "why lift sanctions on Russia now" and the president's failure to enforce the relevant sanction laws, Bessent explicitly denied it, stressing that no sanctions on Russia were lifted on Friday.
According to a tweet posted by the account @clashreport, Bessent said when discussing the Russia issue that during President Trump's tenure, sanctions were imposed on Russia's two largest energy companies, calling the move a devastating blow to Russia's energy industry, and used this to argue that Trump had taken a tough stance on sanctions against Russia.
According to a tweet posted by @clashreport, Bessent publicly stated that he had requested European allies in the spring to join the U.S. in imposing secondary tariffs on China and India, but was rejected by the European side. Bessent questioned this, arguing that the U.S. should not bear the associated economic burden alone.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly stated that he hopes former U.S. President Donald Trump will take Ukraine's side in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, or at least remain neutral. The remarks have drawn outside attention to the direction of U.S. policy toward Ukraine after the presidential election.
In an interview, Ukrainian President Zelensky said that if the U.S. switches to supporting Putin, it would be a historic mistake and a tremendous tragedy. He warned explicitly that if the official U.S. stance shifts toward supporting Russia, Ukraine will be unable to win the war and unable to hold on.
According to a report by @clashreport, Ukrainian President Zelensky was asked in an interview whether he still considers Trump an ally of Ukraine, to which Zelensky responded, "I hope so." The remark has drawn outside attention to the future direction of US-Ukraine relations.
According to a report by clashreport, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said of former U.S. President Trump that he hopes Trump can change the relevant decisions, because he believes those decisions are all wrong and help neither Ukraine nor the United States.
Ukrainian President Zelensky stated in a public remarks that only the United States has the intelligence capability to monitor Russia's use of ballistic missiles, but Ukraine experienced a three-day intelligence delay in the relevant incident and was not informed of Russian military movements in time.
Ukrainian President Zelensky stated in a public address that Putin currently feels a sense of victory in the war by circumventing sanctions, striking diesel trade deals, and making use of Starlink services. Zelensky stressed that these realities must be faced honestly, implying that Western sanctions against Russia and related technical support contain loopholes that have affected the balance of the war.
On October 18, 2026, Ukrainian President Zelensky, responding to the impact of Trump's waiver of Russian sanctions, said that the move would further strengthen Putin's war actions against Ukraine. The remarks were posted by the account @clashreport and drew attention and discussion on social media.
According to @clashreport, former US President Trump announced on October 18, 2026, that he would give incumbent Prime Minister Netanyahu "complete and total support" ahead of Israel's October 27 election. In a message to the Israeli people, Trump warned that if Israel chooses another leader, the United States would have to step in personally against Iran.
According to a tweet posted by X user @GFWfrog, Shenzhen state-owned enterprise Guosen Securities issued an announcement stating that its employees were publicly criticized by the Luohu District Cyberspace Administration for circumventing the Great Firewall to access the overseas internet. This incident reflects the relevant authorities' regulatory scrutiny of corporate employees' online behavior and has drawn attention online.
According to a Voice of Hope report, visas of more than 700 Chinese citizens have recently been revoked by U.S. authorities. With the executive order on birthright citizenship temporarily blocked by the Supreme Court, U.S. law enforcement agencies have begun strictly scrutinizing visa fraud and re-examining old cases from the past 6 years.
According to YouTube channel Terenceshen, a Chinese national living in Canada was arrested by relevant Taiwanese authorities after making radical remarks such as “take down Lai Ching-te” and engaging in disruptive activities while in Taiwan. The incident has drawn attention; the video notes that the individual attempted to speak up for the Chinese government, but ultimately paid the price because his actions violated local laws.
According to a post by X user @Terenceshen on October 18, 2026, former Canadian Conservative Party Member of Parliament Kenny Chiu was successfully elected as a city councillor in Richmond, Vancouver. The user congratulated Kenny Chiu and expressed thanks to the Chinese voters who supported him.
According to @clashreport, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated on October 18, 2026 that Israel has shifted its military doctrine to an offensive and proactive approach. He noted that what the Israeli military entered was not a genuine refugee camp but a fortress of terrorists, which the military has stormed, destroyed, and will continue to remain inside.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said that Turkey will receive part of the diesel that Russia releases to global markets under the recent agreement reached with the United States. As previously reported, former US President Trump announced the deal on October 9, under which Russia will supply more than 1.8 million tons of diesel to global markets.
On October 18, 2026, Beijing time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu commented on the situation in Gaza. He said that the Israeli military is continuing strike operations in the Gaza Strip, with the focus on eliminating Hamas armed commanders and members of the elite unit "Nukhba," and claimed that these armed fighters are currently in extreme fear.
According to reports from satellite tracking agencies, the Russian military satellite Kosmos 2612 has recently been conducting maneuvering orbits, closing in to within 136 meters of the US-registered radar-imaging satellite ICEYE-X36, with an even closer pass of about 48 meters expected on Monday.
On October 18, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his views on the security conflict through public remarks. Using his childhood experience of street fights as a metaphor, he emphasized the importance of launching preemptive strikes when facing attacks, and pointed out that acting first can bring enormous strategic advantages.
In response to former U.S. President Trump publicly voicing support for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, former Israeli Chief of Staff and current lawmaker Gadi Eisenkot responded. Eisenkot stressed that the outcome of Israel's elections should be decided by Israeli citizens alone, in reply to outside interference in Israel's internal affairs. According to Clash Report, the remarks were intended to reaffirm Israel's independence in electoral matters and to distance itself from statements by external political forces.
According to estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the U.S. military expended approximately 1,060 to 1,500 modern Patriot interceptors during roughly seven months of conflict with Iran. This expenditure is equivalent to the total number of Patriot interceptors the U.S. military procured over about 19 years, leaving only about one-third of the pre-war stockpile of roughly 2,200 to 2,330 interceptors.
According to a tweet posted by the X account @clashreport, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said regarding the military decision on Iran that he had explicitly told US President Trump he would act on his own, and that he had not sought the other side's approval and would carry out the plan regardless. Netanyahu also mentioned that he had asked the US side to deploy B-2 bombers to strike Fordow, and said he would be grateful if the US could provide assistance.
According to a video posted by @clashreport, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the Iranian nuclear threat, stating that Iran is not the Netherlands, which possesses nuclear weapons, and subsequently made a joke about the situation in the Netherlands. This remark has drawn attention to his stance on Iran's nuclear program and his views on the situation in Europe.