US-Iran war
- India on Thursday condemned the attack on an Indian-flagged commercial vessel off the coast of Oman, calling it “unacceptable”. New Delhi urged restraint to protect freedom of navigation and maritime commerce.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi. This is the first meeting between the two since the start of the Iran war.
- Iran said its military drills in Tehran showed it is ready to respond to any fresh US attack “at any place and at any time” as peace talks remain stuck.
- The US military said it has allowed 15 humanitarian aid ships to move through despite the blockade on Iranian ports that began on April 13.
- Iran executed two men on Wednesday, including Ehsan Afreshteh, who was accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the UAE and met President Mohammed bin Zayed, with Israel later calling it a “historic breakthrough” in ties.
- The European Union warned that if the Iran conflict continues, the world could face a longer-term jet fuel shortage as airline cancellations increase and fuel prices surge.
- As of May 14, 2026, Brent Crude oil is trading at approximately $105.60 – $108.28 USD per barrel.
- Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has begun a three-day visit to India for the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi amid rising West Asia tensions.
Trump says Xi Jinping offered to help keep Strait of Hormuz open
US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping offered to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain unresolved.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Xi wanted a diplomatic breakthrough and had conveyed willingness to assist. “He did offer, he said, ‘If I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help,’” Trump said.
Trump also linked China’s interest in the Strait of Hormuz to its heavy reliance on Iranian oil imports. “Anybody that buys that much oil has obviously got some kind of relationship with them. He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open,” he added.
Israel to sue NYT over op-ed alleging abuse of Palestinian detainees
Israeli government has directed officials to initiate a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times following the publication of an op-ed alleging widespread sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees by Israeli prison guards and soldiers.
In a statement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry described the article as “one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel in the modern press”.
The New York Times report, published on Monday, cited testimonies from 14 men and women in the Israeli-occupied West Bank who alleged they had been subjected to sexual assault by Israeli settlers or soldiers.
Two India-bound LPG tankers cross Hormuz; India-flagged vessel sinks after hit
Two India-bound liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions in the region, while an India-flagged vessel sank after being hit near the strategic shipping corridor, officials said on Thursday.
Ship reported seized off UAE coast and is heading toward Iran
A ship anchored off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates has been seized and is heading toward Iranian waters, the British military said Thursday.
Iran allowing transit of Chinese vessels in Strait of Hormuz: Report
Iran has started allowing some Chinese vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz following an understanding over Iranian management protocols for the waterway, the semi-official Fars news agency says, citing an informed source.
Iran’s FM accuses UAE of being ‘directly involved in aggression’
Iran’s foreign minister accused the United Arab Emirates of direct involvement in military operations against his country during a BRICS meeting in New Delhi today, the Iranian semi-official Mehr news agency reports.
“I didn’t name the UAE in my statement for the sake of unity. But the truth is that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country. When the attacks started, they didn’t even issue a condemnation,” Araqchi says, according to Mehr news.
Trump, Xi agreed Strait of Hormuz 'must remain open,' says White House
US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agree that the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open,” the White House said, as the two leaders meet in Beijing. “The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy,” it said.
Attack on Indian-flagged commercial vessel off Oman coast 'unacceptable', says MEA
India on Thursday condemned the attack on an Indian-flagged commercial vessel off the coast of Oman, calling it “unacceptable”. New Delhi urged restraint to protect freedom of navigation and maritime commerce.“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
Israeli army says it’s attacking southern Lebanon
Israel’s military has begun a new wave of air strikes on southern Lebanon. It claimed it’s targeting Hezbollah sites.
Vessel seized near UAE coast, heading toward Iran
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a vessel anchored about 38 nautical miles from Fujairah was taken by unidentified personnel.
The ship is now reportedly moving toward Iranian territorial waters.
Authorities are still investigating the incident.
UNICEF: 770,000 Lebanese children facing mental health risks
The UN children’s agency UNICEF has warned that more than 770,000 children in Lebanon are facing serious psychological distress due to ongoing conflict and displacement.
It said repeated exposure to violence and loss could leave long-term emotional scars if urgent help is not provided.
UNICEF’s regional director Edouard Beigbeder said children are being “killed and injured when they should be returning to classrooms and playing with friends.”
Israel signs $34m deal to extend F-35 fighter jet range
Israel’s Defence Ministry has signed a $34 million agreement with Elbit Systems’ subsidiary Cyclone to upgrade its F-35 fighter jets.
The deal focuses on developing external fuel tanks that will extend flight range, reduce dependence on aerial refuelling, and allow greater flexibility in long-distance missions, according to The Times of Israel.
F-35 fighter jet aircraft have been a key part of Israel’s air operations in the region.
China to send envoy amid Trump’s Beijing visit
China, which maintains ties with both Iran and several Arab countries, has taken a more neutral public stance so far. It will be represented at the meeting by its Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to skip the event due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing.
India hopes for a joint statement
Indian officials have already acknowledged the challenge. In March, the Ministry of External Affairs said some BRICS members are directly involved in the conflict, making it difficult to reach agreement on a common position.
Still, one official told Reuters that India is hopeful the meeting could produce a joint statement after discussions among foreign ministers.
Former Indian diplomat Manjeev Singh Puri said the situation remains complicated but sees value in the dialogue itself.
“Glad that the foreign ministers from all the BRICS countries, except China who is otherwise tied up, are coming. This is a good sign on efforts to build a BRICS coalition around a matter of interest to emerging economies and the global south,” he said.
He added that while political agreement will not be easy, the fact that talks are happening is “positive” and could help shape a way forward.
Iran pushes India for stronger stand at BRICS
According to Reuters, Iran has urged India, which will chair BRICS in 2026, to use the platform to build agreement among members to condemn US and Israeli actions in the Gulf conflict. Tehran wants the bloc to take a clearer collective position as the war escalates.
Rubio defends war against Iran
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the ongoing war against Iran and accused Tehran of building a huge missile and drone arsenal to protect its nuclear ambitions.
Speaking to Fox News, Rubio claimed Iran wanted to create such a large stockpile of missiles and drones that “no one could attack Iran”.
“They were going to have so many drones and missiles that no one could attack Iran, because the result would be catastrophic for the region,” Rubio said.
He further claimed Iran planned to move towards developing a nuclear weapon once it secured that protection.
Iran has repeatedly denied trying to build a nuclear weapon.
Rubio added that President Donald Trump rejected the possibility outright.
“Trump said, ‘That’s impossible,’” Rubio said.
Activists prepare new Gaza aid mission
The Global Sumud Flotilla also announced a new attempt to challenge Israel’s blockade on Gaza through both land and sea routes.
The group said aid convoys carrying supplies and mobile homes would continue towards Rafah, while another sea mission is planned to deliver humanitarian assistance.
“When governments fail to act, people organize,” the group said in a statement.
US court suspends sanctions on UN expert
In another major development, a US court suspended sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on Francesca Albanese, the UN expert on Palestinian territories.
Albanese said the judge ruled that protecting free speech remains in the public interest.
Human rights group Amnesty International welcomed the decision, calling it “a welcome step for justice and the rule of law”.
The sanctions had earlier barred Albanese from entering the US and limited her banking access after Washington accused her of anti-Israel bias and encouraging war crimes investigations against US and Israeli officials.
Iran warns countries against siding with Israel
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reacted sharply to the reports, warning countries against cooperating with Israel against Tehran.
“Enmity with Iran is a foolish gamble,” Araghchi said, adding that those “colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account”.
Iran also accused Kuwait of attacking an Iranian boat and detaining four Iranian citizens in Gulf waters.
Kuwait claimed the men were linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and had attempted to carry out hostile acts inside the country. Iran denied the accusations and said the boat had accidentally entered Kuwaiti waters because of navigation problems.
Huge destruction in southern Lebanon
Lebanese authorities say entire neighbourhoods in the south have been reduced to rubble.
Obaida Hitto, reporting from Tyre, said government agencies estimate that nearly half of all housing units in affected areas have been completely destroyed, while the rest are badly damaged.
Many residents still cannot return home because Israeli troops remain stationed in parts of southern Lebanon.
Places like Bint Jbeil, once home to nearly 30,000 people, remain heavily damaged and difficult to access.
Senate again fails to curb Trump’s Iran war powers
Back in Washington, the US Senate once again failed to pass a resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s ability to continue military action against Iran without approval from Congress.
The proposal lost by a 50-49 vote, though three Republican senators joined Democrats in supporting it.
Senator Chuck Schumer criticised Republicans for blocking the measure, saying it would have limited Trump’s ability to continue the conflict and reduce economic damage.
Senator Amy Klobuchar praised the Republicans who broke ranks and backed the resolution.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said she changed her position because the conflict is still active, pointing to Iran’s blockade and ongoing attacks on US personnel.
But Republican Senator John Barrasso argued the proposal would weaken Trump and encourage Iran.
Iran-Kuwait tensions rise
Iran also accused Kuwait of illegally attacking an Iranian boat and detaining four Iranian citizens in the Persian Gulf.
Araghchi claimed the incident happened near an island used by the US during attacks on Iran.
Kuwait, however, said the detained men were linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and had attempted to enter the country for “hostile acts”.
Iran denied those allegations, saying the group had accidentally entered Kuwaiti waters because of navigation problems.
Gulf countries push back against Iran
Meanwhile, six Arab nations — Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan — jointly appealed to the United Nations against what they called Iran’s attempts to impose unilateral control over the Strait of Hormuz.
In a letter sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council, the countries demanded that Iran withdraw its new claims over the strategic waterway.
The group also called for the immediate reopening of the strait and compensation for damages linked to the crisis.
The statement further condemned a recent drone attack on an ADNOC oil tanker from the UAE, calling it a violation of international law.
Iran warns it is fully ready
Iran's brigadier-General Mohammad Akrami Nia said the country’s armed forces are operating at “the highest level of readiness” and insisted there would be “no room for retreat” if fighting resumes.
His warning comes as uncertainty continues over the future of the ceasefire between Iran and the US.
Iran has repeatedly accused Washington and Israel of trying to weaken the country through military pressure and economic restrictions. Tehran has also continued to insist that it will defend itself if attacked again.
UAE rejects Netanyahu ‘secret visit’ claims
Another controversy erupted after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he had secretly visited the UAE during the war.
Netanyahu’s office said the visit led to a “historic breakthrough” between Israel and the Emirates.
But the UAE quickly denied the claim and called the reports baseless.
The disagreement triggered a sharp response from Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who warned countries against “colluding” with Israel.
“Enmity with the Great People of Iran is a foolish gamble,” Araghchi wrote on X. “Those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account.”
Trump lands in China as pressure builds
Trump landed in Beijing on Wednesday and is expected to hold talks with Xi over the next two days.
The visit comes after several failed attempts by Washington to convince China to help restart stalled negotiations with Iran and calm tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington hopes China can pressure Iran to change its approach in the Gulf.
Iran says there is ‘no room for retreat’
The fragile calm between Iran and the United States looked shaky again on Wednesday as leaders from both sides sent mixed signals over peace talks and the possibility of fresh conflict.
While US Vice President JD Vance said Washington was “making progress” in negotiations with Tehran, Iranian military officials warned that their forces remain fully prepared for war and would not back down.
The latest developments came as US President Donald Trump arrived in China for a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Vance says talks moving forward
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Vance said the US still believes diplomacy can work, even after Trump reportedly rejected Iran’s latest proposal to end the war.
“I think that we are making progress,” Vance said after speaking with senior US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, along with leaders from Arab countries.
But he made it clear that the White House has one major condition before agreeing to any deal.
“The red line is very simple,” Vance said. “The president needs to feel confident that we’ve put a number of protections in place such that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”
The comments suggest that negotiations are still active behind closed doors, despite weeks of rising tensions and public disagreements.
Iran says its 'right' over Strait of Hormuz is settled and non-negotiable
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Tehran’s “right to the Strait of Hormuz is established, and the matter is closed”. Iran’s ISNA news agency quoted Aref as saying the country’s future planning would now focus on “the security and wellbeing of our country and the region”. “Our plans were tailored to the sanctions and pressures of our enemies,” he said, signalling a shift toward a broader regional security strategy.
Iran FM arrives in India for BRICS
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in India for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ summit as Iran says its armed forces remain on the “highest level of readiness” amid a fragile ceasefire with the US. Iran on Tuesday said it would welcome any Indian initiative aimed at reducing tensions in West Asia. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi praised India’s “impartial” approach ahead of the BRICS meeting in New Delhi.