NPR News: 05-09-2026 1PM EDT

US Treasury imposes sanctions on China-linked entities aiding Iran's weapons program. The Treasury targeted one Chinese individual and seven companies in China and Hong Kong accused of supplying materials for Iran's drones and ballistic missiles. Separately, small private refineries in China that buy Iranian oil face penalties. These measures aim to cut off Iran's economic support for its military efforts. The announcement precedes a planned meeting in Beijing between President Trump and Xi Jinping, where the Iran issue could dominate discussions despite a broad agenda. China has instructed its firms to ignore the US sanctions, signaling potential friction.

## Putin Frames Ukraine Conflict as NATO Resistance

In a speech broadcast via BBC interpreter, President Vladimir Putin described Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine as a fight against an "aggressive force" armed and backed by the full NATO bloc. He invoked the "generation of victors" from World War II as inspiration for current soldiers, who he said continue to advance despite the odds. This year's Victory Day military parade in Moscow omitted heavy weapons for the first time in nearly 20 years, with state TV commentators noting the equipment's greater need on Ukraine's front lines, where the war enters its fifth year. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy directed his forces to avoid attacking the com