Possible ceasefire of Iran war on 9 April 2026, Ghalibaf may be potential Iran post-war leader

 Direct translation

Israel reveals: Ceasefire on 9 April 2026

Editor: Fang Xun / Source: FX168 Finance / https://www.aboluowang.com/2026/0324/2363640.html /  Image : File photo

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday (March 23) that the US and Iran had held two days of talks on ending the current war, and that the two sides had reached a consensus on many key issues. As a result, the US withdrew its 48-hour ultimatum to strike Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. However, Iran quickly denied any negotiations with the U.S., while Israeli officials revealed that Washington has set April 9 as the target date for ending the war, and further US-Iran talks are expected later this week in Pakistan.

Trump stated on Monday that the U.S. and Iran had been talking for the past two days on ending the war, calling the discussions "very, very strong," and that the two sides were close to reaching an agreement on many major issues. According to Trump, this was a key reason for his decision to cancel the previous threat to strike Iranian power plants.

Following Trump's signal of negotiations, an Israeli official further revealed that Washington has set 9 April 2026 as the target date for ending the war, meaning that the situation in the Middle East may remain in a complex state of "fighting while negotiating" for the next three weeks.

The official stated that the U.S. and Iran are expected to meet later this week in Pakistan, possibly in Islamabad. According to current information, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and other officials may represent Tehran, while the U.S. side may be represented by Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and even Vice President JD Vance.

The Israeli official also stated that Israel was aware of some indirect communication between the U.S. and Tehran, but was surprised by Trump's sudden and high-profile announcement of progress in negotiations on Monday. "We didn't know things were progressing so quickly," he said.

Furthermore, the official mentioned that if the war ends before 9 April 2026, Trump might even visit Israel on Independence Day and receive the "Israel Award." This statement is seen by some as the White House attempting to set a politically and diplomatically significant milestone for the current conflict.

In stark contrast to the signals of engagement from Trump and Israel, Iranian officials continue to publicly deny any negotiations with the United States.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that Iran had indeed received messages from some "friendly countries" indicating that the United States was willing to engage in contact regarding ending the war, but Tehran had not yet responded. He also emphasized that Iran's position on the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending the conflict "have not changed."

Meanwhile, an Iranian military official told Tasnim News Agency, which has close ties to the government, that Iran has "prepared a surprise for the coming days," and the outcome will speak for itself.

In the post-Khamenei era, Iran's potential leader has officially emerged today

Editor : Zhongkang / https://www.aboluowang.com/2026/0324/2363614.html

In the post-Khamenei era, a potential leader for Iran has officially emerged: finding someone from the old ruling class who can be accepted by Iran's secular regime, the Revolutionary Guard, the United States, Israel, and the Arab world is extremely difficult, and even if found, their longevity is uncertain. Therefore, this is truly a technical and probabilistic endeavor. Now, this person has a basic outline. The U.S. delegation responsible for negotiations with Iran has just announced their top choice.

Foreign media reports that U.S. and Iranian representatives may meet in Islamabad this weekend; the Iranian parliament speaker denies any prior talks.

According to Politico, the White House is quietly assessing the possibility of Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf as a potential post-war partner.

Trump is clearly emulating Venezuela's approach, which fostered a cooperative leader who offered Washington favorable oil terms to retain power.

Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has been formally excluded. What they want is someone in a high-ranking position who can reach an agreement.

Not a change of regime, but a regime adjustment.

Ghalibaf publicly denied any negotiations and threatened to strike US Treasury bondholders last week. Whether he is truly willing to cooperate is the real trillion-dollar question, but that is not important. What is important is whether he can manage the various forces in Iran.

If he can, he will naturally choose to cooperate with the U.S.!

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VaU-UaGvgE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7gnmUYbWA4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo6LzCBqg9Y, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHrzTGjPHhc

Iran's de facto supreme leader Larijani killed

 Direct translation

Trump confirms assassination of Iran's de facto supreme leader

Editor : Fang Xun / Source: VOA / https://www.aboluowang.com/2026/0318/2361111.html

President Donald Trump said Israel had eliminated two key figures from the Iranian terrorist regime in the past day. He mentioned the killings during a meeting with the visiting Irish Prime Minister, as the joint U.S.-Israeli operation against the Tehran leadership entered its 18th day.

On Tuesday (March 17), Trump told Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office that after multiple rounds of eliminations in the joint operation, the Iranian regime's leadership was "no longer there." He also stated that the regime's "de facto supreme leader" had been killed in the past day; along with "another person responsible for the killing of 32,000 people," who had committed numerous crimes during the regime's brutal crackdown on the uprising against its authoritarian theocratic rule that began in January.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israel announced that through a series of strikes in and around Tehran, the Iranian capital, it had eliminated the "de facto" leader of the Iranian regime and a senior commander.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated in a series of posts on the X platform that it conducted a precision strike and killed Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, near Tehran before dawn on Tuesday.

The IDF claimed that Larijani established himself as the "de facto" leader of the regime after an Israeli airstrike that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the start of the operation on February 28. Larijani had previously served as Khamenei's chief aide.

The IDF also stated on Tuesday that it killed Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the regime's Basij paramilitary forces, in a targeted strike in central Tehran the previous day. The IDF claimed that Soleimani's forces played a major role in suppressing the uprising in January.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump stated that, according to his current understanding, the death toll from the crackdown has risen from the previously cited 32,000 to "approximately 41,000."

When asked by reporters about the next steps after the crackdown, Trump said, "We are not ready to leave at this time, but we will leave in the near future."

Irish Prime Minister Martin stated that Ireland and all other EU member states agree with the US view that Iran is a regime that supports terrorism and must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

President Donald Trump addressed the annual "Friends of Ireland" luncheon at the US Capitol with Irish Prime Minister Martin. (March 17, 2026)

"We must never allow a rogue state to possess nuclear weapons, or the capability to manufacture them," Martin said.

“Iran has been a financier of terrorism in the past. We imposed sanctions on Iran, and all European countries have done the same. Especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is a terrorist organization. They fund Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. They create chaos and are the most malicious force in the Middle East,” he added.

Martin also stated that, given Ireland's long history of deploying peacekeeping troops globally, the country is committed to resolving conflicts peacefully.

“We believe that, ultimately, all conflicts will come to an end; I think we must work towards that goal. I am confident that European leaders and the US government will actively participate and hopefully find a ‘landing zone,’” Martin said. A “landing zone” refers to potential room for compromise.

Earlier Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a statement released from his office that by eliminating Larijani and Soleimani, Israel was “weakening the regime in the hope of giving the Iranian people the opportunity to overthrow it.”

He said, “This will not happen overnight, nor will it be easy. But if we persevere, we can give them the opportunity to take their destiny into their own hands.”

Israel Defense Forces Persian-language spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Kamal Penhasi stated on Tuesday that in the coming days, Israel would continue targeted killings of figures within the regime, targeting individuals at all levels, “from senior officials and commanders to low-level agents engaged in repression at checkpoints.” Penhasi made these remarks at a briefing for international Persian-language media, including Voice of America Persian Service.

The Iranian regime announced on 9 March 2026 the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader; however, since the US-Israeli offensive, he has not appeared in public or spoken out.

On Monday, Trump told reporters at the White House that, given previous reports that Khamenei's son was injured in related military operations, he was currently unsure whether the new Supreme Leader was alive or dead.

201 drone experts have been dispatched to the Middle East

 Direct translation

War rages across the world, transcending geographical boundaries! Zelenskyy leaks information: 201 experts have been dispatched to the Middle East

Reporter : Wang Duruo / Editor : Fang Xun  / https://www.aboluowang.com/2026/0319/2361591.html

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently issued multiple public warnings that the rapid development of drone technology has fundamentally changed the nature of modern warfare, stating that "war no longer has distance." He pointed out that Ukraine currently faces attacks from 350-500 Russian drones daily, while Moscow is massively shifting to drone production, planning to increase the daily attack volume to 600-800 drones by 2026, with a final goal of exceeding 1,000.

In a March 16 interview with the New York Post, Zelenskyy stated, "Russia is cutting back on missile production and instead investing heavily in the mass production of drones. Today, they are launching 350-500 attacks on Ukraine per day, with plans to increase to 600-800 by 2026, but the ultimate goal is 1,000 per day." He emphasized that to intercept such a large-scale attack, Ukraine would need at least 2,000-3,000 interceptor drones daily (each costing only $3,000-$5,000), far less than the cost of using Patriot missiles (approximately $4 million each).

Zelenskyy specifically mentioned that Ukraine has shared this low-cost interception experience with Middle Eastern countries (having sent 201 experts to the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other countries to assist in defending against Iranian Shahed drones), and indicated that it could supply its partners with at least 1,000 interceptor drones daily.

In a speech at Sciences Po on March 13, Zelenskyy further pointed out the exponential growth in drone range: "Drones can already fly 3,000-5,000 kilometers, and will soon reach 10,000 kilometers. No continent is safe; this crisis is only months away, not decades." He emphasized that technology has made "distance" no longer an obstacle, and terrorists, criminal groups, and even individuals could easily acquire similar capabilities, calling on Europe and the world to prepare for a "drone tsunami" as soon as possible.

Zelenskyy's remarks come at a time of multiple geopolitical crises: The conflict with Iran has led to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices have rebounded, and Russia is using this opportunity to shift towards saturation attacks with cheap drones to maintain pressure. Ukraine itself has already achieved long-range strike capabilities exceeding 1,700 km (such as the February attack on the Ukhta oil refinery) and is accelerating the development of long-range/maritime drones in cooperation with the UK and others.

Analysts believe that Zelenskyy's remarks demonstrate Ukraine's technological resilience and export potential, while also putting pressure on Western allies (especially the Trump administration in the US): Ukraine's experience can be directly used for Middle East defense as leverage to obtain more military/economic support. The White House has not yet officially responded to Zelensky's Middle East aid proposal, but the Ukrainian Defense Industrial Base (DIB) has indicated its readiness to expand production capacity. Russia has not yet issued an official response, but intelligence indicates its Shahed drone production line is rapidly expanding.

High-ranking CCP officials go missing after leaving China

 Direct translation

Mysterious disappearance! Multiple high-ranking CCP officials go missing after leaving the country

Editor: Zhongkang / Source: Epoch Times / https://www.aboluowang.com/2026/0318/2361291.html

Image : Former Deputy Secretary of the United Front Work Department of Gansu Provincial Committee, Ma Ruilin, fled to the United States with his family and gave an interview to CNN (video screenshot).

Recently, the collective "disappearance" of several retired Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials after leaving the country has alarmed the CCP's top leadership. Multiple sources within the system revealed that relevant departments have significantly tightened approval procedures for private overseas travel and implemented routine monitoring of assets and cross-border flows for both active and retired personnel to prevent the outflow of funds and the leakage of sensitive information. Especially after former United Front official Ma Ruilin publicly spoke out, the authorities' control over the overseas travel of officials within the system has risen to a level of political security. These sources indicated that there is now widespread anxiety within the officialdom.

According to Shen Qingtian (pseudonym), a source within the CCP system, since January of this year, the whereabouts of several retired officials have been unknown after leaving the country. Shen Qingtian stated, "I heard from friends that there are at least six, but the exact number is unclear. Most of these individuals are bureau-level or division-level officials, and their families have long been settled in the US, Australia, or Europe. After leaving the country, they cut off all contact with China, disposed of their properties and withdrew most of their savings before leaving, even foregoing their pensions."

Shen Qingtian analyzed that these officials mostly "premeditatedly" fled. Although not currently on the list of those under investigation, witnessing the successive downfall of their colleagues and out of fear of the overall political climate, they were willing to forgo retirement benefits and take their overseas assets to "jump ship" for survival.

Recently, the escape of former Gansu Provincial United Front Work Department Deputy Secretary Ma Ruilin to the US with his family and his subsequent interview with CNN became the catalyst. In the interview, Ma Ruilin confirmed the existence of Xinjiang concentration camps and stated bluntly that most officials within the system only "superficially flatter" Xi Jinping, harboring extreme resentment towards him.

Shen Qingtian pointed out that Ma Ruilin's public statements have greatly embarrassed those at the top. He stated, "This is also the main reason for the recent strict control over retired cadres leaving the country; the authorities are deeply afraid that more insiders will go abroad and speak recklessly." As a Hui official of the CCP who has been deeply involved in ethnic and religious affairs for 20 years, Ma Ruilin's departure is seen as a major loophole in the United Front system.

An informed source, Xu Jian (pseudonym), added that Ma Ruilin's smooth departure was already exceptional, and subsequent revelations could very likely lead to severe accountability for those who approved his departure.

Officials' passport approval in a "No One Dares to Guarantee" stalemate

Xu Jian revealed that the CCP Central Committee and State Council-affiliated enterprises and institutions recently issued internal notices to strictly review the application and renewal of cadres' passports, and the border control system has also strengthened its verification mechanism. Xu Jian stated, "Now all units are investigating the family situation of retired personnel, including overseas relationships, children's whereabouts, number of properties, and bank deposits. Once discrepancies are found between assets and income, departure will be restricted."

He emphasized that the review process for retired officials in core departments such as the United Front, Public Security, and National Security is already strict, and now it has fallen into a stalemate of "no one dares to review, no one dares to guarantee."

Ding Yuqi (pseudonym), an insider, described the situation: “Serving officials simply cannot leave the country. The approval process for overseas travel is a ‘joint guarantee,’ meaning whoever approves it is responsible. If a retired official doesn’t return, the approver will be dismissed.” This extreme system of collective responsibility has led grassroots personnel departments to adopt a strategy of “delaying, blocking, and rejecting” all applications for overseas travel in order to protect themselves, effectively freezing the legal right to travel abroad for most officials.

A surge in asset liquidation creates panic among officials

Under the pressure of the CCP’s top leadership’s order to “investigate back twenty years” in retrospective anti-corruption efforts, retired officials from the section chief to bureau chief levels are accelerating the disposal of their assets. Ding Yuqi observed that many are eager to sell their properties, attempting to settle overseas to avoid risks. He pointed out: “The authorities have noticed this phenomenon and are launching a special investigation.”

Mr. Li, a scholar in Beijing, analyzed that this fear has spread to middle and lower-level officials: “The new wave of retrospective anti-corruption efforts has reignited the panic among those who felt they had ‘landed safely.’” This pressure is corroborated by the description of Lao Huang (pseudonym), a retired division-level official in Taiyuan, Shanxi. He lamented to reporters that the current atmosphere within the circle is one of extreme paranoia, with officials constantly anxious about when past misdeeds will be brought up again. Some even suspect they are under investigation simply because they haven't been promoted, putting them in a state of extreme tension.

Ma Ruilin's public rebellion and the subsequent disappearances of retired officials have further exacerbated the tense atmosphere within the CCP system, revealing to the outside world that the CCP's internal power structure is in a state of extreme instability.

Vietnam may cut flights starting in April after China and Thailand ban aviation fuel exports

Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to Reuters, Vietnamese authorities have issued a warning to the country's aviation industry, urging it to prepare for potential flight reductions starting in April. This comes after China and Thailand suspended aviation fuel exports due to the Middle East conflict, exacerbating the possibility of fuel shortages.

Related documents show that Vietnam relies on imports for more than two-thirds of its aviation fuel needs, with 60% coming from China and Thailand.

In a document dated 9 March 2026 to the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam stated: "From the beginning of April and in the following months, Vietnamese airlines face the risk of aviation fuel shortages."

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam stated that airlines should review their operational plans, especially domestic routes; and instructed airport operators to reserve additional parking spaces for Vietnamese airlines "in case airlines are forced to reduce operations due to aviation fuel shortages."

The document also shows that Vietnam's fuel supply from Singapore has decreased.

Hotel Review VIII : Miracle Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel

 Review, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

It is fine sunny weather when I visited the rooftop area of Miracle Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel after sleeping overnight in Room 407. 

                                         

I am grateful to the hotel for arranging me to visit Bangchak Gas Station along Suvarnabhumi 3 Road where I can shoot photos of aircraft approaching the airport runway before 7 am as the Miracle rooftop is only opened from 7 am to 8 pm daily.

As it is very hot on the day of check-out, I discover that only the fire exit of the rooftop is opened for a plane-spotter under shelter to shoot photos of planes taking off. The runway, the airport, the river and the neighbourhood can be clearly seen. It is a beautiful area of this hotel.

I will stay at Miracle again for plane-spotting if necessary as Bangkok Phoenix Hotel's rooftop for plane-spotting is only opened from 9 am to 5 pm daily.

Inflight Pictures : China Cargo Airlines in former livery

 Photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA