01 Middle East Powder Keg Ignites
Last night, U.S. President Trump announced on social media: “We have very successfully completed strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, including Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. All (U.S.) aircraft are now outside of Iranian airspace.”
The U.S. military deployed over 125 fighter jets and 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), focusing the attack on the deeply buried underground nuclear facility at Fordo. This marks the largest-scale military operation launched by a Western country against Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran has reacted fiercely. In a call with French President Macron on the 22nd, President Pezeshkian sternly stated: The U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear facilities is an act of aggression, and Iran will respond. The Iranian Parliament’s National Security Committee quickly concluded in favor of closing the Strait of Hormuz—the strategic chokepoint that handles one-third of the world’s seaborne oil trade.
More dangerous chain reactions have already emerged. Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced they would resume attacks on U.S. ships in the Red Sea. Ali Shamkhani, a political advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei, issued a warning on social media: “The game is not over. The surprises will continue!”
02 Global Shockwaves
The U.S. strikes have acted like a massive stone thrown into the pond of the global economy, with shockwaves spreading rapidly.
The crude oil market was the first to be hit. Wall Street reacted instantly to the attack, with U.S. crude futures soaring 3.6% to $76.47 per barrel on Sunday evening; Brent crude rose 3.2% to $74.59 per barrel. Financial institutions are warning that if the Strait of Hormuz is closed, oil prices could skyrocket to $130 per barrel.
The cryptocurrency market experienced a panic sell-off. Bitcoin fell below $99,000, hitting a new low since May; Ethereum plummeted by over 10%, with Solana, Ripple, and others following suit.
Political divisions in the United States have intensified. The House and Senate have separately introduced resolutions to limit the president’s power to wage war. Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna jointly proposed a War Powers Resolution, pointing out that the U.S. was not facing an imminent threat and that Congress was not notified of the action during its recess.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres made an urgent statement: The U.S. military action against Iran has dangerously escalated an already perilous regional situation, posing a direct threat to international peace and security.
03 New Developments on the Russia-Ukraine Front
While global attention is focused on the Middle East, the conflict on the Eastern European front continues.
Ukrainian drone units have achieved new successes. From June 18 to 20, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched two drone attacks on the Russian Federation’s Instrument Design Bureau, causing a complete production halt at one of Russia’s largest military-industrial plants.
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, released startling figures: the Russian military is adding 8,000-9,000 troops per month and has recruited approximately 440,000 contract soldiers over the past year. Currently, there are 695,000 Russian troops in Ukraine, with an additional 121,000 in strategic reserves.
In terms of technological confrontation, Syrskyi admitted: While Ukrainian forces lead in the use of FPV drones, the Russian military has an advantage in fiber-optic guided drones, with an operational radius of 40 kilometers, far exceeding the 20-kilometer range of Ukraine’s domestically produced models.
The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Ukrainian drones of violating Kazakhstan’s airspace between June 19 and 20, calling on the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to strengthen collective defense.
04 China Dynamics
The “Cross-boundary Payments Connect” has been officially launched. On June 22, the People’s Bank of China and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority jointly initiated the interconnection of their respective fast payment systems. The nation’s first transaction was completed in Shenzhen.
This initiative will significantly enhance cross-border payment efficiency, providing real-time cross-border remittance services for residents of both regions. The first batch of participating institutions includes the six major mainland banks and six major banks in Hong Kong.
Economic data shows bright spots. According to the Ministry of Finance, the securities transaction stamp duty from January to May reached 66.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year surge of 52.4%, reflecting increased capital market activity. Total retail sales of consumer goods grew by 5% year-on-year in the first five months, with the growth rate for May alone accelerating to 6.4%.
Breakthroughs in technology continue. The National Medical Products Administration has passed ten measures to support the innovation and development of high-end medical devices. China has successfully used an interventional brain-computer interface to restore motor function in a patient’s limb, a key step forward in medical technology.
05 Global Briefs
The Asia-Pacific region sees new developments. Japan’s Mount Shinmoedake erupted for the first time in seven years, with an ash plume reaching 500 meters. Meanwhile, Japan protested the U.S. demands on defense spending and canceled the scheduled U.S.-Japan “2+2” security talks.
Tech giants make new moves. Elon Musk announced that Tesla has deployed its first batch of autonomous robotaxis in Austin, Texas, calling it “the culmination of a decade of effort.” Huawei’s HarmonyOS 6 developer Beta has been officially launched, bringing new connectivity and intelligent experiences.
International sports results. In the final match of the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong, the Chinese women’s team lost 0-3 to Italy, finishing the leg with a 3-1 record. On the domestic front, Peking University’s men’s basketball team won the CUBAL national championship for the fifth time.
06 Latest News Updates (as of 10:00 AM Beijing Time, June 23)
- Oil Prices Continue to Climb: Brent crude surpasses $78/barrel, a four-month high.
- Evacuation of Chinese Citizens: The Chinese Embassy in Iran has organized 17 buses, and the vast majority of Chinese citizens in Iran have been safely evacuated.
- Iranian Diplomatic Action: Foreign Minister Araghchi has arrived in Moscow and is scheduled to meet with President Putin today.
- Fed Rate Cut Disagreement: Fed Governor Waller stated a rate cut should come in July at the earliest, while the Richmond Fed President believes there is no need for urgent action.
- Tokyo Electric Power Company Report: Three new breaches have been discovered in the ice wall at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
