Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei said there has been no new progress in the negotiations. Parties continue to exchange information via intermediaries, and Iran has maintained defensive preparedness and readiness to respond forcefully to any aggression at the highest level. Past experience leaves Iran unable to be optimistic about U.S. diplomatic sincerity.

Russia's foreign minister Lavrov said he had noted Tucker Carlson's claim but that other sources have not corroborated it. He said measures are sometimes used ahead of midterm elections to stir voter sentiment, but he sees no basis for drawing that conclusion in this case.

Morgan Asset Management (China) senior global market strategist Zhu Chaoping says China’s economy shows structural divergence: exports remain resilient, consumption is modestly recovering, and property investment stays weak. The market sell-off since September may have priced in substantial pessimism; lower valuations are beginning to reveal selective investment opportunities. Greater policy support and a potential stabilization in overseas AI/technology stocks could help A-share market performance.