(2026-05-08). Headlines for May 8, 2026. democracynow.org Trump Downplays Renewed U.S. Strikes on Iran as "Just a Love Tap" and Claims Ceasefire Is Holding, UAE Expels Pakistani Workers as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Leaves 20,000 Sailors Stranded, Israeli Attacks Kill 12 in Lebanon, Including Paramedic and Two Children, U.S. Imposes More Sanctions on Cuba as Brazil's President Says Trump Ruled Out Military Action, Dozens Killed as al-Qaeda-Linked Insurgents Attack Villages in Mali, Tennessee Republicans Approve New Congressional Map Diluting Power of Black Voters, New York to Ban ICE Agents from Wearing Masks and Raiding Schools, Hospitals or Churches, Ch…
(2026-05-08). US resumes strikes on Iran, as Trump threatens further escalation. wsws.org US forces struck Iranian military targets on Thursday after sending three US Navy destroyers through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed since February.
(2026-05-08). US Project Freedom Fell Apart After 'Backlash' From Saudi Arabia, Kuwait. popularresistance.org Saudi Arabia and Kuwait suspended US access to their military sites in opposition to Washington's so-called Project Freedom, according to a 6 May report by NBC News. | "Trump's abrupt reversal on his plan to help ships go through the Strait of Hormuz came after [Saudi Arabia] suspended the US military's ability to use its bases and airspace to carry out the operation," two US officials told the US outlet. The officials said Washington's Persian Gulf allies were "surprised" by Trump's announcement of Project Freedom over the weekend, which the US leader framed as a means of breaking Iran's control over the Strait…
(2026-05-08). "Absolutely Vulnerable" : Over 20,000 Global South Ship Workers Stranded at Sea Due to Iran War. democracynow.org 
As Iran and the United States maintain rival blockades on the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, we look at the more than 20,000 seafarers stranded on commercial ships since the outbreak of the war and unable to move out of the region. These maritime workers are often working-class men from developing countries across the Global South who form the crews on about 1,500 oil tankers, cargo ships and other vessels currently stuck on the water. Unpaid for several weeks, they lack the visas to disembark in any of the Gulf countries near the ships. | "There is lack of food, there is lack of provisions, there…
(2026-05-08). Iranian forces strike US vessels in swift retaliation for tanker attack. coastaldigest.com
(2026-05-08). Kurds caught in the Middle of Israel-US War on Iran. juancole.com ( Rojava's Kurds spent years fighting…
(2026-05-08). Operation Trust Me Bro: Let Them Drink Bourbon. commondreams.org 
With no grown-ups in sight, a feckless war lurches and whipsaws on, run by a regime full of clowns, drunks, losers, grifters all steadfastly defying the will of the people. Trump rants, Hegseth lies, Rubio punts, and a shameless Ka$h Patel, who actually likes to spell his name that way, is gifting bottles of personally branded bourbon – "KASH PATEL, FBI Director," boasting "strong notes of insecurity" – on all sides. Nothing to see here.The dizzying pivots on Iran go on, with Dear Leader "paralyzed" by what he started and can't for the life of him figure out how to end. The military blockade of Iran's ports i…
(2026-05-08). US and Iran exchange fire in Hormuz despite ongoing ceasefire. geo.tv 
(2026-05-07). U.S. issues new Iran-related sanctions. ecns.cn U.S. issues new Iran-related sanctions – Treasury Department website…
(2026-05-08). Iraq denies US claims deputy oil minister helped Iran evade sanctions. newarab.com 
Iraq's oil ministry has denied US accusations against its deputy minister, who the United States hit with sanctions over alleged support to Iran as The US State Department on Thursday announced sanctions on Ali Maarij al-Bahadli, saying he "abused his government position to divert Iraqi oil in support of the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies." | It accused him of fraudulently mixing Iraqi and Iranian oil as part of a sche…
(2026-05-08). Iran war marks the end of American primacy as we know it. responsiblestatecraft.org The war in Ukraine shattered a core assumption about great-power dominance: that size and military strength are enough to impose one's will. Ukraine showed otherwise. With the right strategy, geography, and resolve, a weaker state can survive and blunt – and in key respects even defeat – a much stronger adversary.The United States now faces an uncomfortable parallel. The war with Iran is exposing similar limits to American power.For decades, U.S. grand strategy has rested on primacy — the belief that America's unmatched military capabilities enabled it to uphold global stability and shape outcomes acros…
(2026-05-08). US military struck empty tankers 'trying to break Iran blockade'. newarab.com 
(2026-05-07). US and Iran exchange attacks around Strait of Hormuz, testing ceasefire. scmp.com The United States and Iran exchanged fire on Thursday in the most serious test yet of their month-long ceasefire, but Iran said the situation returned to normal while the US said it did not want to escalate. | The renewed hostilities broke out as Washington was awaiting Iran's response to a US proposal that would stop the fighting but leave the most contentious issues, such as Iran's nuclear programme, unresolved for now.
(2026-05-07). US-Iran peace optimism fuels Asian stock market gains. scmp.com US President Donald Trump said conflict in the Middle East would be "over quickly", as Iran considered a peace proposal that could lead to the reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz. | "We've had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it's very possible that we'll make a deal," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The president has repeatedly played up the possibility of an agreement with Iran since the war began on February 28, without reaching an…
(2026-05-07). US-proposed Iran resolution at UN faces likely vetoes from China, Russia. al-monitor.com May 7 (Reuters) – The U.S. on Thursday urged countries to support its United Nations resolution demanding Iran halt attacks and mining of the Strait of Hormuz, but diplomats said China and Russia are likely to veto it.A Chinese veto would be awkward ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's trip to China next week, where the Iran war is like to be high on the agenda.
(2026-05-07). Crisis in New Zealand government over Iran war. wsws.org Foreign Minister Winston Peters, leader of the right-wing nationalist NZ First Party, released emails sent in early March which indicate that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon wanted the government to express stronger support for the criminal US-Israeli war.
(2026-05-07). 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.
(2026-05-07). Rubio meets Pope Leo at Vatican to defuse tensions with Trump. scmp.com US Secretary of State Marco Rubio left the Vatican on Thursday after seeing Pope Leo in what was expected to have been a fraught meeting following President Donald Trump's repeated attacks on the Catholic leader over the Iran war. | Rubio spent 2-1/2 hours at the Vatican before driving away in a convoy under tight security. He met initially Leo before ‚Äåsitting down with senior Vatican officials, including top diplomat Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
(2026-05-07). US, Gulf allies press UN to condemn Iran over Hormuz attacks. newarab.com 
The US on Thursday urged countries to support its
(2026-05-07). Trump says U.S. had 'very good' talks with Iran in past 24 hours. ecns.cn U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States has had very good talks over the past 24 hours with Iran on ending the war that has lasted more than two months.
(2026-05-07). China calls for immediate full ceasefire, opposes renewed conflict, stresses priority of talks on Iran situation: Chinese FM. ecns.cn China calls for an immediate and full ceasefire, opposes renewed conflict, and stresses the priority of talks on the Iran situation, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday.
(2026-05-07). Iran war almost over . . . and the end of an era a Global South perspective. asiapacificreport.nz COMMENTARY: By Prince Taofeek Ajibade The signals are now coming from both sides of the negotiating table. American sources confirm it. Pakistani mediators confirm it. The end of the US-Iran war is near, and the terms of that ending will echo across the international order for decades. Let us be precise about what has happened…
(2026-05-07). US media complain Iran War leaves Ukraine's air defense in limbo. infobrics.org Europe also severely lacks air defense systems.
(2026-05-07). US sets expectations for Iraq's next PM to confront Iranian militias. al-monitor.com The Trump administration is cautiously sizing up Iraq's new prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, as a potential partner in pushing back on Iranian influence.
(2026-05-07). China shores up Iran support as Trump seeks exit. al-monitor.com China understands how badly Trump wants an exit from the conflict. But timing is critical: if no agreement is reached before Trump arrives in China on Thursday, Beijing would be better positioned to set the agenda.
(2026-05-07). "UAE IS IRAN'S EASIEST TARGET NOW" Pepe Escobar On Iran War. thealtworld.com Mario Nawfal is the host of the largest show on X (formerly Twitter) with guests including Hunter Biden, Elon Musk, President Bolsonaro, President Novak, PM Imran Khan, RFK Jr, Bill Ackman, Marc Cuban, Marc Andreessen and Tucker Carlson reaching millions of people a week and leading the citizen journalism movement. | Mario is also the founder and CEO of IBC group which is the largest incubator in crypto and AI and is one of the leading voices in the industry.
(2026-05-08). European war flotilla en route to the Strait of Hormuz. wsws.org The mission is neither peaceful nor neutral. The former colonial powers France and Britain are pursuing their own imperialist interests in the Middle East, which do not align with those of the US. The same applies to Germany and the European Union.
(2026-05-07). Report: Trump Paused 'Project Freedom' Due To Backlash From Gulf Arab Allies. news.antiwar.com Updated on May 7, 2026 at 4: 03 pm EST NBC News reported on Wednesday that President Trump quickly ended the US military operation to "guide" commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz due to backlash from the US's Gulf Arab allies. The report said that the abrupt reversal came after Saudi Arabia was caught off …