(2026-05-14). South Korea official says unlikely anyone but Iran behind Hormuz ship attack, Yonhap reports. tribune.com.pk 
The possibility that an entity other than Iran was responsible for the attack against a South Korean cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz is low, a senior official in Seoul was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency on Thursday. | South Korea is analysing intelligence shared by the US on the May 4 attack against South Korean shipper HMM's Namu vessel, which caused a fire and damaged the lower stern hull, Yonhap quoted a senior foreign ministry official as telling reporters. | "Once we go through the investigation and present the evidence, I trust that the Iranian side will respond in an appropriate way,"
(2026-05-14). China's Xi signals trade progress as 'biggest summit' with Trump begins. geo.tv 
The scene as US President Donald Trump participates in events at the Great Hall of the People and does a greeting with the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, May 14, 2026. — Reuters First visit to China by US president since 2017.Xi: trade talks have…
(2026-05-14). China's Xi hails trade progress in Trump summit, sends Taiwan warning. geo.tv 
China's President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump visit the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on May 14, 2026. — AFPFirst visit to China by US president since 2017.Xi: trade talks have reached a "positive outcome".Nvidia CEO last minute addition to CEO delegation.BEIJING: …
(2026-05-14). Agent Orange to visit China, hat in hand! indybay.org POTUS 47 Donald Trump will be arriving in Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, May 14. The Western "Corporate-bin-Laden" media is full of NeoLiberal/Imperialist spin on how Donald (aka "TACO") Trump will try to pressure China into a moderating voice in getting Tehran to accept the American "peace" plan for ending the illegal Zionist-US War on Iran. The reality is, for Mr. WHO(White House Occupier), that'll happen when Pigs Fly!
(2026-05-14). Oil edges up as investors focus on Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing. tribune.com.pk 
Oil prices rose on Thursday, with markets focusing on the high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to see if it will yield any positive result on the Iran war, which has significantly disrupted global oil supply. | Aside from trade matters, Trump is expected to encourage China to convince Tehran to make a deal with Washington to end the conflict, but analysts doubt that Xi will be willing to push its long-time strategic partner too hard. | Brent crude futures were up 26 cents, or 0.25%, to $105.89 a barrel by 0250 GMT…
(2026-05-14). Tehran calls on BRICS members to condemn US-Israeli aggression on Iran: Iranian FM. tribune.com.pk 
Tehran has called on BRICS members to condemn US and Israeli aggression against Iran, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement upon arriving in New Delhi for a BRICS meeting among foreign ministers. | Araghchi said that the West's "false sense of superiority" must be shattered by the Global South. | Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi left Tehran for India's capital of New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting. pic.twitter.com/XkYfa28hpM | — Mehr News Agency (@MehrnewsCom) May 13, 2026 | While speaking to Press TV at the BRICS summit, he…
(2026-05-14). UAE 'denies reports' of secret Netanyahu visit. tribune.com.pk 
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said Thursday it "denies reports" that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the country, after Netanyahu's office said he had met with the UAE president during the war with Iran. | Netanyahu's office said Wednesday he had "paid a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates" during the war, "where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan". | The announcement came a day after US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced that Israel had sent its Iron Dome air defence systems, plus personnel to operate them, to the UAE during the war with Ir…
(2026-05-14). The Iran—Israel War from Beijing's Perspective: A Threat to Energy, an Opportunity for Influence. unitedworldint.com 
Interview with Dr. Hamed Vafaei, faculty member at the University of Tehran and specialist in Chinese affairs By Azar Mahdavan, from Tehran / Iran As military tensions among Iran, the United States, and Israel have intensified in recent weeks, growing attention has been directed toward the role of major powers in managing the crisis. In …
(2026-05-14). Pentagon admits $25 billion price tag for Iran war is an underestimation. wsws.org In congressional testimony Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and Pentagon Comptroller Jay Hurst told the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense that the running cost of the Iran war has grown to $29 billion — and that this figure does not include damage to US military bases.
(2026-05-13). Vance says US making progress in Iran talks. al-monitor.com (corrects title of JD Vance to Vice President)WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday he believes progress is being made in negotiations with Iran to end hostilities, after President Donald Trump rejected Tehran's latest proposal as unacceptable.
(2026-05-13). Factbox-How has the Iran war affected Middle East states? al-monitor.com LONDON, May 13 – The war that began on February 28 with a massive Israeli-U.S. bombing campaign against Iran has rocked the entire Middle East, wreaking damage to infrastructure and economies and overturning settled assumptions about regional security.On a second major front, Israel launched a ground invasion and bombing campaign of Lebanon in March in pursuit of Hezbollah fighters after the armed group fired across the border in solidarity with Iran.This is how some countries have been impacted: IRAN…
(2026-05-13). China wants Pakistan to step up peace diplomacy. tribune.com.pk 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Pakistan to step up mediation efforts and contribute to properly addressing issues related to opening the Strait of Hormuz, reports China's State-run Xinhua news agency on Wednesday. | Wang made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar a day earlier. | Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, appreciated Pakistan's constructive diplomatic engagement in facilitating contacts between Iran and the United States, noting that such efforts had helped extend a t…
(2026-05-13). South Korea moves towards joining war against Iran. wsws.org An attack involving two "unidentified airborne objects" on a South Korean-operated ship in the Strait of Hormuz last week is being seized upon by Seoul as a possible pretext to join the US-led war against Iran.
(2026-05-13). Trump says he does not need China's help to end Iran war. tribune.com.pk 
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he does not think he will need China's help to end the war with Iran, even as hopes for a lasting peace deal dwindled and Tehran tightened its grip over the Strait of Hormuz. | Ahead of a high-stakes summit in Beijing, Trump said he did not think he would need to enlist Chinese President Xi Jinping to resolve the conflict, which has continued to block maritime traffic that normally provides one-fifth of the world's oil supply. | "I don't think we need any help with Iran. We'll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise," he told reporters. | More than one mon…
(2026-05-13). Trump's Iran U-turn won't solve Israel's insecurity Trap. juancole.com ( It's possible that this latest instance, the pausing of military action over the Strait of Hormuz, stems from a realisation among some of his advisers that this is a war the US cannot win. More likely, though, it i…
(2026-05-13). Iran won't allow US weapons to transit Hormuz. tribune.com.pk 
Iran has tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war handled one-fifth of the world's oil supply, saying it will no longer allow US weaponry to transit the Strait of Hormuz to regional bases. | Iranian officials have signalled they see that control as a long-term strategic goal. An army spokesperson said supervision of the waterway could generate revenue amounting to twice Iran's oil income, while strengthening its foreign policy leverage. | "After this war ends, there will be no place for retreat," the spokesperson said, according to comments carried by ISNA news agency. | Iran said it wi…
(2026-05-13). First visuals of Trump in China: Xi Jinping hosts US President in Beijing for crucial State visit. hindustantimes.com Donald Trump arrives in Beijing for a high-stakes state visit as global attention focuses on his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. First visuals show Air Force One landing in China, marking the start of a key diplomatic engagement scheduled from May 13 to May 15, 2026. Trump is welcomed by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and other senior officials, while U.S. Ambassador David Perdue and Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng are also present. The summit takes place amid rising tensions over trade, Taiwan, and Iran, raising questions about the future direction of U.S.-China relations and global power balan…
(2026-05-13). Picking up on the vibes in Beijing before major Trump-Xi visit. responsiblestatecraft.org President Trump's impending meeting with President Xi in Beijing will naturally be largely devoted to discussing the Iran War. That war and this meeting are also a good opportunity to discuss U.S. establishment attitudes to China, and one pernicious illusion in particular. Much Western analysis of the background to the summit has emphasized that Trump's disastrous decision to attack Iran has put Xi in a much
(2026-05-13). Trump threatens Iran will be "decimated" if it does not accept US-dictated deal. wsws.org Speaking to reporters before departing for China on Tuesday, President Trump said the US would accept only a "good deal" to end the war against Iran, or the country "would be decimated," adding, "one way or another, we win."
(2026-05-13). Analysis-Trump wants help on Iran. Beijing may have other ideas. al-monitor.com By Andrea Shalal, Michael Martina and Trevor HunnicuttWASHINGTON/BEIJING, May 13 (Reuters) – When U.S. President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping this week he is expected to ask for help resolving his costly and unpopular war with Iran.He is unlikely to get the support he wants.Analysts said that while Xi might agree to nudge Iran's leaders back to the negotiating table, China's leader will be reluctant to cut economic support for Beijing's most important partner in the Middle East or to stop supplying it with the dual-use goods its military needs.
(2026-05-13). Iran war to cast a shadow on BRICS Delhi's meeting. tribune.com.pk 
The US-Israeli war on Iran is set to cast a shadow over a two-day meeting of the foreign ministers of the BRICS grouping that kicks off in New Delhi on Thursday, testing the bloc's ability to reach a unified position and produce a joint statement. | The grouping, which originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded over the years with the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. | Iran had urged India, the BRICS chair for 2026, to use the BRICS platform to build a consensus condemning US and Israeli actions in the Gulf conflict. | The main di…
(2026-05-13). European firms in China rethink supply chains as Iran war drives up costs, survey finds. scmp.com Some European companies operating in China are shifting more production to the country as part of broader supply chain adjustments in response to the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to a new survey by the EU Chamber of Commerce in China. | The flash survey of European companies found that more than a quarter of firms had adjusted their supply chain strategies in China following the Middle East conflict, as higher energy and logistics costs weigh on operations.
(2026-05-13). Exclusive-Saudi warplanes struck militias in Iraq during war, sources say. al-monitor.com By Timour Azhari, Ahmed Rasheed and Humeyra PamukRIYADH/BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) – Saudi fighter jets bombed targets linked to powerful Tehran-backed Shi'ite militias in Iraq during the Iran war, while retaliatory strikes were also launched from Kuwait into Iraq, multiple sources familiar with the matter said.The strikes are part of a broader pattern of military responses around the Gulf that remained largely hidden during a conflict that has drawn in the wider Middle East since joint Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran on February 28.
(2026-05-13). War On Iran: — Saudis blame Israel — Neocon Grandee concedes defeat. mronline.org 
Trump still hasn't recognized that, after he has lost the war, the sanctions game is also over. It is certainly not in Chinese, or anyone other's interest to help the U.S. to regain the hegemonic position it has now lost in the Gulf.
(2026-05-13). UAE denies Israel's Netanyahu made secret visit during Iran war. scmp.com The United Arab Emirates' foreign ministry denied on Wednesday a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office that he visited the country and held a secret meeting with its president. | The Israeli Prime Minister's ‚ÄåOffice said earlier he travelled to the UAE during the war with Iran and met Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. A statement by the Emirati foreign ministry said that Emirati relations with Israel "are public" and "not based on non-transparent or unofficial…
(2026-05-13). Israel's Netanyahu held meeting in UAE with president during Iran war: PM office. geo.tv 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participates in the state memorial ceremony for the fallen of the Iron Swords War on Mount Herzl, in Jerusalem, 16 October 2025. — Reuters
(2026-05-13). Great Satan at the Strait: Iran, International law, and the collapse of the "rules-based order" mronline.org 
This investigation excavates how Associated Press reporting frames U.S.-Israeli coercion as diplomacy while presenting Iranian sovereignty as instability and defiance. It reconstructs the omitted legal, geopolitical, and economic terrain surrounding the war, exposing the contradiction between the UN Charter system and the operational reality of imperial power. It reframes the conflict as part of a …
(2026-05-13). Israeli ally UAE quits OPEC, OPEC. ummid.com The United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the Israeli allies in the Middle East, has announced to quit OPEC and OPEC+ amidst the crisis the world is facing because of the US-Israel led Zionist war on Iran.
(2026-05-13). Iran hangs man on Israel spy charges, sixth since war started. newarab.com 
The Iranian judiciary's Mizan Online website described Ehsan Afreshteh, 32, as "a spy trained by Mossad in Nepal who sold sensitive information to Israel". | But the Norway-based Hengaw and Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGOs said in separate statements that Afreshteh had denied he shared top secret…
(2026-05-13). Why Gulf data centers became deliberate targets in Iran War. responsiblestatecraft.org Iranian Shahed drones
(2026-05-13). Asia stocks turn green as AI cheer trumps Iran, inflation gloom. tribune.com.pk 
Asian stocks found their footing after an initial selloff on Wednesday, helped by a turnaround in Korean shares as revived AI optimism dwarfed concerns about stalled talks between Washington and Tehran and hotter-than-expected US inflation. | MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.3% after rebounding from an earlier decline of as much as 1%. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.8%, while S&P 500 e-mini futures tacked on 0.2%. | Korean shares fell as much as 3.2% on news Samsung Electronics had failed to reach a pay deal with its union before rebounding 2.6% to a record close on reports the govern…
(2026-05-13). Pope Leo XIV grants Vatican's top diplomatic award to Iran envoy. newarab.com 
Pope Leo XIV awarded the The award, the Papal Order of Pius IX, was established in 1847 by Pope Pius IX and is usually given to diplomats and heads of state. | Iranian state media, including Press TV and Mehr News, reported that the knighthood was conferred to Mokhtari due to his efforts to promote "peace, justice, and opposition to war mongering". | Iran's IRNA news agency said that official…
(2026-05-13). May 14, 2026 in Madison: Weekly Vigil Against War and Militarism at Willy and Blair. wibailoutpeople.org Weekly Vigil Against War and Militarism at Willy and Blair 4: 30 — 5: 30 pm Palestine. Venezuela. ICE in Minnesota. Iran. Lebanon. All the aggression and harm the U.S. is inflicting and supporting around the world. Bring your sorrow and solidarity and stand with all who are suffering from U.S. unhinged warring and militarism, both domestically …
(2026-05-13). Iran releases prize-winning rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh. newarab.com 
Iranian authorities on Wednesday released on bail the prize-winning rights lawyer Sotoudeh was arrested at her home on April 1 as part of what activists say is a crackdown on civil society during "Mum was temporarily released on bail a few hours ago," her daughter Mehraveh Khandan wrote on Instagram. | Sotoudeh, who has won…
(2026-05-13). The electric car is the only winner in the latest Iran war. nationofchange.org The Hormuz Choke Point and the Twilight of Petroleum.
(2026-05-13). As Trump Floats Gas Tax Holiday, Experts Say Ending Iran War Is Best Option. truthout.org As Americans struggle to afford rising prices at gas pumps across the U.S., President Donald Trump is promoting the idea of a federal gas tax "holiday" — but experts widely agree that the best way to lower gas prices is to end the war on Iran. As of Wednesday, prices for regular grade gasoline stood at $4.511 per gallon, on average, across the country. That number is nearly 54 percent higher… |
(2026-05-13). Ritter backs Pakistan for Nobel Prize. tribune.com.pk 
Former UN weapons inspector and ex-US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter has praised Pakistan's diplomatic role in ongoing regional tensions, saying Islamabad remains central to efforts aimed at securing a breakthrough between Iran and the United States. | Speaking during senior anchorperson Fahd Hussain's programme 'Full Frame' on Express 24/7, Ritter described Pakistan as "the only game in town" capable of helping bring the crisis toward a final resolution. | "I, first of all, want to commend Pakistan for the leadership that it has played in this," Ritter said, adding that Pakistan's leadership d…
(2026-05-13). FO convenes envoys' moot to review Iran ñUS conflict. tribune.com.pk 
The Foreign Office will convene a regional envoys' conference in Islamabad starting Thursday, as part of the government's effort to discuss the ongoing Iran ñUS conflict and recalibrate Pakistan's strategy to protect its economic and geostrategic interests. | "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will convene a Regional Envoys' Conference in Islamabad from 14 ñ18 May 2026," wrote Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on X. | "The conference will review regional and global developments and Pakistan's bilateral relations with brotherly countries, focusing on multifaceted areas. | The reco…
(2026-05-13). Wholesale Horror: Producer Price Index Spells Disaster for Economic Outlook as Trump's War in Iran Drags On. commondreams.org Trump's war in Iran is now bleeding through the wholesale pipeline. April's Producer Price Index (PPI) report shows wholesale prices rose 6% over the past year, the largest annual increase since December 2022, with core wholesale inflation at 4.4%. Despite the grim report, Trump said this week that he "[doesn't] think about Americans' financial situation," and it's clear. The president could not be more out of step with Americans. For working families struggling with high prices, their financial situation is top of mind. The PPI reading comes just one day after the April CPI report revealed that consumers face…
(2026-05-13). IRGC holds anti-helicopter drills in Tehran: What to know. al-monitor.com Iran said it downed two US helicopters last month as American forces use the aircraft for strikes in the Gulf.
(2026-05-13). Hegseth threatens US senator for revealing info he already shared himself. thecanary.co 
Calamitous US 'secretary of war' Pete Hegseth has launched a Pentagon investigation into a US senator for supposedly disclosing classified information. However, the information had already been made public by Hegseth himself under oath. Hegseth said he ordered the investigation into Senator Mark Kelly after Kelly discussed massive US munitions expenditure against Iran during a TV […] | By
(2026-05-13). US Senate blocks latest bid to rein in Trump Iran war powers, support grows. al-monitor.com By Patricia ZengerleWASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked the latest Democratic-led effort to end the Iran war until it is authorized by Congress, but the measure edged closer to passage as a third Republican voted to advance the bill.The Senate voted 50-49 not to advance the war powers resolution, nearly along party lines. Three Republicans joined every Democrat but one in backing the measure sponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon.
(2026-05-13). Iran says naval officers 'accidentally' entered Kuwaiti waters. newarab.com 
(2026-05-14). Will The Strait Of Hormuz Sink The American Empire? levernews.com 
(2026-05-14). Mr. Trump goes to Beijing: No Progress likely on Hormuz. juancole.com
(2026-05-13). Trump lands in China for Xi summit as Tehran-Washington ceasefire teeters. geo.tv 
US President Donald Trump participates in an arrival ceremony at Beijing Capital International Airport during his visit to the country, in Beijing, China, May 13, 2026. — Reuters | Trump and Xi set to hold series of talks May 14-15.Nvidia's Huang added to trip last minute, source…
(2026-05-14). History's Greatest Energy Crisis could wreck the US. juancole.com Here is a transcript of my interview for IAN MASTERS: Background Briefing, available 24/7 at backgroundbriefing.org. Joining us now is Juan Cole, Professor of Middle Eastern and South Asian history at the University of Michigan. He is also the author of the blog Informed Comment at juancole.com, and the author of The Ayatollahs and Democracy in Iraq,…