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Pakistan's Foreign Office has clarified that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent remarks to Deputy PM Ishaq Dar regarding mediation efforts between the US and Iran were misrepresented in media reports. The clarification comes after Xinhua reported Wang urged Pakistan to 'step up' its mediation role, while Islamabad insists the call was held with 'traditional warmth and cordiality.'
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed a BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi, urging member states to condemn US-Israeli 'international law violations' and to help build a more just, balanced world order. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister separately framed Tehran's BRICS membership as a strategic choice for multilateralism.
Seoul has sent a technical analysis team to Dubai to investigate the May 4 strike on the HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz, which initial findings attribute to two unidentified flying objects. The vessel has been towed to a UAE port for a detailed examination as South Korea pursues diplomatic and investigative responses, with Iran denying involvement.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping began a two-day summit in Beijing, covering trade, the war on Iran and Taiwan. The White House said the two leaders agreed the Strait of Hormuz must remain open, while China opposed its militarisation and any tolls, and expressed interest in buying more American oil.
US intelligence assessments indicate that China has provided significant support to Iran's military rebuilding, including intelligence on US forces and dual-use materials, and Chinese companies have allegedly plotted clandestine arms sales to Tehran. While Iran's capability to reconstitute drone attacks could be as soon as six months, a CENTCOM chief's testimony that its military is largely eliminated appears inconsistent with these findings.
President Donald Trump posted over 50 times on Truth Social in a three-hour late-night session, accusing Barack Obama of treason and espionage, sharing altered images, and reviving false claims about the 2020 election. The posts came ahead of a high-stakes meeting with China's president, and as the administration faces economic pressures linked to the Iran conflict.
The family of Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a British couple sentenced to 10 years in Iran on espionage charges they deny, say they have lost contact with them. The couple, held in Tehran's Evin prison, have been speaking publicly about their detention, expressing fears about their future as their son reports a week of silence.
At a Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Bishkek, Russian and Iranian security officials affirmed their commitment to joint efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Middle East crisis. Russia condemned US and Israeli strikes on Iran and expressed solidarity, while Iran praised Russia as a security guarantor and highlighted its UN veto.
Lebanon has filed a complaint with the UN Security Council accusing Iran of interfering in its internal affairs and violating diplomatic protocol, according to multiple sources. The complaint centers on Iran's failure to recall its ambassador after being declared persona non grata and alleged illegal activities by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The move comes amid ongoing US-facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon.
Iran has expanded its declared control zone in the Strait of Hormuz to a 'vast operational area' stretching up to 300 miles, according to a senior IRGC Navy officer. The move follows a US naval blockade imposed in April and a short-lived US effort to assist shipping. The expansion could affect global oil and LNG transit through one of the world's most critical chokepoints.
The South Korean won showed mixed performance on Wednesday amid lingering Middle East uncertainties and hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation, with reports from Yonhap indicating slight weakness by afternoon. Currency volatility persists amid stalled Washington-Tehran talks, while oil prices remain elevated above $102 per barrel.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the US-led aggression against Iran was aimed at preventing normalization between Tehran and Arab states, echoing past Russian proposals for a Persian Gulf security framework. He accused Western powers of using propaganda to justify the conflict and paint Iran as a pariah.
A UN Security Council draft resolution, co-drafted by Gulf states and the US, has gained 112 co-sponsors, demanding Iran halt attacks and ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The move underscores global concern, though China and Russia have reservations.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held two hours of talks in Beijing, with Taiwan, tariffs, rare earths, and the Middle East on the agenda. Xi emphasized Taiwan as the most important issue in bilateral relations, while analysts note the US enters from a vulnerable position. The visit is the first by a US president since 2017, with expectations of a state banquet but reduced pomp.
US intelligence assessments cited by The New York Times and The Washington Post indicate Iran has regained access to a majority of its missile sites, retains roughly 70% of its prewar missile stockpile, and maintains a significant portion of its mobile launchers, posing a continued threat in the region.
Pakistan rejected reports that it sheltered Iranian military aircraft from US strikes, while President Trump praised Islamabad's mediation role. The denials come as a US-brokered ceasefire appears fragile, and a US senator calls for reconsidering Pakistan's mediator status.
U.S. President Donald Trump traveled to Beijing for a three-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, focusing on trade, Iran, Taiwan, and North Korea. The leaders discussed a potential "board of trade" and China's purchase of Boeing aircraft. Following the summit, Trump confirmed talks on North Korea and Taiwan, while South Korean President Lee Jae Myung received a briefing on the outcomes.
Senator Jack Reed suggests the US will escalate bombing of Iran instead of deploying ground troops, citing public sensitivity to casualties. He also warns of a shortage of precision-guided munitions affecting US forces globally.
The U.S. Department of Defense has told Congress the war with Iran has cost nearly $29 billion, but independent trackers and Iranian officials put the figure much higher. The conflict, which began in late February and saw a ceasefire in April, has left Iran seeking compensation for what it says are hundreds of billions in damages.
Viral AI-generated images purporting to show Iranian 'kamikaze dolphin' drones are being debunked after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Iran does not have an active military dolphin unit. Analysts point to the long, real-world history of military marine mammal programs, which could be the root of the misinformation.