People familiar with the matter said Baidu has folded its AI coding assistant Comate into its general agent platform DuMate, integrating the tool into the Intelligent Agent business unit's unified product matrix. The sources said that as of end-2025 AI-generated code had surpassed human-written code internally and AI programming tools supported daily R&D work for more than 99% of Baidu engineers.

The chairman of the Iran‑Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce told IRNA that U.S. sanctions are intended to raise the cost of Iran's economic transactions and that in a multipolar world a complete economic blockade is difficult. He said expanding shared economic ties can help counter these measures and urged reducing reliance on crude oil for foreign exchange by increasing exports of petrochemicals, refined products, industrial goods, technology services and agricultural produce. He also called for diversifying trade corridors — opening multiple land, sea and multimodal routes — and said development of regional corridors is essential.

After six months of conflict-driven market volatility, U.S. maritime blockades and tighter sanctions have materially curtailed Iranian oil exports and access to foreign exchange, leaving Tehran under one of the gravest economic squeezes in its history, according to Iranian and regional sources. U.S. and regional officials judge the pain could compel Iran to allow free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, arguing Iran’s economic losses now exceed the disruption it can inflict. Measures to choke exports have reduced government revenue, and Tehran’s attempts to disrupt shipping have not triggered a sustained global shock: oil markets have re-priced and alternative supplies continue to flow. Iranian analyst Arash Aziz says the balance has tilted slightly against Iran—Tehran cannot fully close the strait and U.S. maritime pressure is having an effect. It is unclear whether the pressure will force concessions; Tehran has not abandoned its demands, but mediators are reportedly discussing a new proposal to break the impasse.