Good morning! Start your Friday with SOFREP’s Morning Brief for May 23, 2025—your quick intel on defense and global affairs. US-Iran nuclear talks resumed but remain stuck over uranium enrichment. Microsoft fired an engineer after a pro-Palestinian protest during the CEO’s speech.

The publication noted that the drone’s design is entirely Ukrainian, although it was developed using Western documentation and tools. Produced by DeepStrikeTech, the Batiar has a flight range of more than 800 kilometers and can carry an 18-kilogram warhead.

While rising U.S.-Iran tensions over Tehran's uranium enrichment jeopardize nuclear talks, three Iranian sources said on Tuesday that the clerical leadership lacks a clear fallback plan if efforts to resolve a decades-long dispute collapse.

Iran's parliament approved a 20-year strategic partnership on Wednesday between Moscow and Tehran, state media reported. The agreement represents a deepening of bilateral ties including closer defence cooperation.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s top diplomat warned Thursday that his country would take “special measures in defense of our nuclear facilities” if Israel continues to threaten Tehran’s atomic sites, raising the stakes further ahead of a new round of talks with the United States.

President Trump concludes Middle East tour with major trade deals, lifting Syria sanctions, and addressing Iran's nuclear ambitions, while downplaying Russia-Ukraine talks.

Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s chief Iran negotiator, offered the clearest outlines of the administration’s position in talks over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on the killing of the two Israeli embassy staffers, nuclear talks with Iran and President Donald Trump telling the Europeans that Vladimir Putin is not ready to end the war in Ukraine.