(2026-05-15). Israel, Lebanon say extending ceasefire despite new strikes. al-monitor.com Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire and hold new talks on a political settlement, the United States announced Friday, even as Israel carried out new strikes that it insists are not subject to the truce.Israel has been pounding Lebanon and invaded its south in response to fire from Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shia movement that is not part of the ceasefire diplomacy.Envoys from Israel and Lebanon's government, which has struggled to restrain Hezbollah, met for two days in Washington and said they would extend the ceasefire that was set to expire Sunday.
(2026-05-15). Headlines for May 15, 2026. democracynow.org House Narrowly Rejects Latest War Powers Resolution to End Trump's Attacks on Iran, CENTCOM Commander Denies U.S. Killed Civilians in Iran: "No Way That We Can Corroborate That", Iran's Foreign Minister Asks BRICS Nations to Unite Against U.S. "Bullying", Trump Departs China Without Agreements on Taiwan, Iran or Strait of Hormuz, CIA Chief Travels to Havana as Cuba's Oil Reserves Run Dry Amid U.S. Fuel Blockade, UNICEF Says Israeli Attacks Have Killed or Wounded 59 Children in a Week, Despite Ceasefire Deal, Israeli Nationalists March Through Jerusalem's Old City, C…
(2026-05-15). Pezeshkian's Diplomacy: Iran Balances Resistance, Regional Outreach and Global Pressure. ummid.com Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sharpened Tehran's diplomatic messaging amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and mounting pressure from the United States.
(2026-05-15). India raises retail fuel prices for first time since Iran war started. tribune.com.pk 
India's state-run fuel retailers have raised petrol and diesel prices for the first time in four years by 3 Indian rupees ($0.03) per litre, or more than 3%, according to dealers, to recoup some of the losses incurred due to higher global crude oil prices. | India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, is one of the last major economies to raise retail fuel prices following the disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz by the war started by US-Israeli attacks on Iran. | State-run Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Bharat Petrol…
(2026-05-15). Iranian FM says US sending 'contradictory messages'. tribune.com.pk 
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has blamed what he calls "contradictory messages" from Washington for complicating negotiations, according to Al Jazeera. | In comments carried by Iran's IRIB broadcaster, Araghchi said Iran is not to blame for disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and that Tehran did not initiate the war and is only defending itself. | Al Jazeera reported that Araghchi reiterated Iran's position that the strait is now open to vessels of "friendly countries", as lon…
(2026-05-15). Oil rises after Trump says he is losing patience with Iran. tribune.com.pk 
Oil prices gained more than 1% after President Donald Trump said he would not be much more patient with Iran and as concerns persisted over ship attacks and seizures despite Tehran saying about 30 vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz. | Brent crude oil futures rose $1.32, or 1.25%, to $107.04 a barrel by 0425 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were up $1.33, or 1.31%, to $102.50. | For the week, Brent has climbed nearly 6%, while WTI has jumped more than 7%, on uncertainty over the shaky ceasefire ‚Å in the Iran conflict. | "I am…
(2026-05-15). Alexander Zevin: Trump's Gulf War. newleftreview.org Asymmetries of the US-Israeli assault on Iran, as an uneasy balance holds between Tehran's tourniquet on the Strait of Hormuz—and the world economy—and the enormous firepower of the aggressors, at the end of the first round.
(2026-05-15). Trump leaves Beijing with few wins, many warm words for Xi. tribune.com.pk 
US President Donald Trump departed China on Friday, touting business deals that gave markets little to cheer, while Beijing warned Washington about mishandling Taiwan and said its war with Iran should never have started. | Trump's visit to America's main strategic and economic rival, the first by a US president since his last trip in 2017, aimed for tangible results to beef up his dented approval ratings ahead of crucial midterm elections. | The summit was filled with pageantry, from grand receptions with goose-stepping soldiers to lavish banquets and private tours of a secret garden, while Trump repeatedly he…
(2026-05-15). 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!
(2026-05-15). Why China didn't hand Trump a breakthrough on Iran. al-monitor.com Trump's landmark three-day visit to China — the first for a US president since 2017 — included plenty of fanfare, flattery and awkward selfies but failed to produce deals or breakthroughs on Iran.
(2026-05-15). Media miss: The questions never asked behind the US-Israel war on Iran. asiapacificreport.nz 
ANALYSIS: By Alison Broinowski of Declassified Australia Most of the Western media refuse to join the dots and explain Israel's decades-long obsession with defanging Tehran. The war in Iran is what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has planned for four decades. He has always wanted Israel to extend from Egypt to the Euphrates and in the…
(2026-05-15). Iranian filmmaker Farhadi condemns Middle East war, protest massacres. al-monitor.com Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi condemned Friday both the killing of civilians in US and Israeli attacks on his country and the "massacring" of protesters by the Islamic republic. Farhadi, who travelled from Tehran last week, trod a fine line when asked for his thoughts about events in his war-hit homeland at the Cannes Film Festival, where his latest film, the French-language "Parallel Tales", received its premiere.
(2026-05-15). Egypt's farmers hit by Iran war price surge. newarab.com 
Egyptian smallholders have seen their lives upended by Before the United States and Israel launched the war that would end up engulfing the region, Ashraf Abu Ragab cultivated a full acre with a small crew. | Now he farms just half on his own after sacking the workers he once relied on, and has quit growing wheat, a fertilis…
(2026-05-15). Explained: Multi-dimensional Implications of US/Israel War on Iran. ummid.com Far from reviving American supremacy, the Iran conflict exposed the limits of coercive power in an age where history is no longer shaped by a single empire, but by competing centres of influence struggling to define a new world order.
(2026-05-15). Israel army chief 'secretly visited UAE during Iran war'. newarab.com 
Israeli army chief It is the latest embarrassing revelation for Abu Dhabi which this week publicly denied claims by the Israeli government that Prime Minister According to Israel's public broadcaster Kan,…
(2026-05-15). 'A reckless act': Netanyahu sparks UAE fury by claiming secret visit. al-monitor.com Just as UAE-Israeli relations were deepening through cooperation against Iran, the Israeli prime minister publicly embarrassed Abu Dhabi by revealing his March visit.
(2026-05-15). Despite Repeated Bombings, CENTCOM Head Denies US Targeted Schools in Iran. truthout.org On Thursday, the head of CENTCOM denied reports of U.S. attacks damaging civilian sites in Iran — despite evidence that the U.S. has repeatedly bombed Iranian schools and health care facilities. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Admiral Brad Cooper, the standing commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) — which is responsible for U.S. military operations in the… |
(2026-05-15). Lack of trust impeding talks to end war with the US: Iran FM. newarab.com 
Iran's foreign minister said a lack of trust is the biggest obstacle in negotiations to end Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said contradictory messages have "made us reluctant about the real intentions of Americans." | "We are in doubt about their seriousness," he told reporters in New Delhi, adding that negotiations would move forward if Washington was ready for a "fair and balanced deal." | U.S. President Dona…
(2026-05-15). Rep. Jared Golden Joins GOP to Block House Iran War Powers Resolution Yet Again. truthout.org Maine Democratic Congressman Jared Golden was the target of fresh ire late Thursday after casting his party's sole vote against a war powers resolution in the US House aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's disastrous war against Iran. Though Golden, who is not seeking reelection this year, was an original cosponsor of the resolution ( H.Con.Res.75) offered by fellow Democratic Rep. |
(2026-05-15). Epic Fury, strategic failure: America's Iran debacle. independentaustralia.net 
(2026-05-15). While Pentagon Spends Billions on War, Military Families Say They're Getting Short-Changed. scheerpost.com Marcus Baram for Capital & Main On April 21, nearly two months into the Iran war, the Pentagon unveiled a $1.5 trillion budget request that promised to bolster services for members of the military and their families. The proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins in September includes $90 million in additional funding specifically for the design of military …
(2026-05-15). Iran to hold pre-World Cup training camp in Turkey: media. al-monitor.com The Iran team will head to Turkey for a training camp before taking part in the World Cup in the United States, local media reported Friday."The next phase of the national team's preparation is set to be hosted in Antalya, Turkey," Iranian Football360 website reported, adding that the squad would then travel to their World Cup base in Tucson, Arizona.Antalya also hosted the Iran team for training and matches in March.
(2026-05-15). Saudi Arabia pushes for regional non-aggression pact with Iran. newarab.com 
(2026-05-15). Mélenchon 2027: A presidential campaign that holds back workers' mobilization. wsws.org Sunday, May 3, Jean-Luc Mélenchon announced on TF1 a candidacy not to mobilize workers against austerity and the war against Iran but to smother that mobilization within a nationalist orientation toward French capitalist institutions.
(2026-05-15). Can Pakistan mediate war while opening trade routes to Tehran? responsiblestatecraft.org
(2026-05-15). French imperialism, the war on Iran and the EU assault on migrants. wsws.org This speech was delivered by Alex Lantier, Parti de l'égalité socialiste (PES) national secretary, at the 2026 May Day Online Rally, organized by the WSWS and the ICFI.
(2026-05-15). UAE to 'accelerate' new oil pipeline bypassing Strait of Hormuz. newarab.com 
The The West-East Pipeline will double state oil giant ADNOC's capacity through Fujairah port and is expected to become operational next year, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said. | Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan "directed AD…
(2026-05-15). UAE to fast-track construction of second oil pipeline, bypassing Hormuz: What to know. al-monitor.com ADNOC, the UAE's state-owned oil company, has been ordered to prioritize completion of the pipeline to double oil exports through the Gulf Oman.
(2026-05-15). Iraq forms new government with only 14 of 23 ministers. longwarjournal.org Iraq's parliament approved the new government six months after parliamentary elections in November 2025. Ali al Zaidi is now the prime minister, but key ministries remain unfilled amid disagreements between Tehran and Washington and their partners over the government's formation.