Survey shows most Israelis oppose ending Iran war A majority of Israelis oppose ending the war with Iran under current conditions, according to a survey by the Israel Democracy Institute. The poll found that 59 percent of respondents were against ending the conflict at this stage, while two-thirds of Jewish participants said doing so would be only slightly, or not at all, compatible with Israel’s national security interests. Arab citizens of Israel were more divided, with nearly half saying an end to the war would serve Israel’s interests “to a large extent”.
Draft UN resolution urges Iran halt actions in Hormuz The United States and several Gulf allies have drafted a resolution at the United Nations Security Council aimed at ensuring safe passage for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with a vote expected in the coming days. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the proposal calls on Iran to cease attacking vessels, laying sea mines and imposing fees for transit through the strategic waterway. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar participated in preparing the draft, which also urges Iran to disclose the locations of sea mines and assist in their removal.
'No one else can make us surrender': Iran defies US threats Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “No one can make us surrender” as he responded to US calls for concessions in negotiations to end the war, adding that members of the Shia faith “cannot be coerced by force”. Writing on the social platform X, Pezeshkian said he had spoken with Iraq’s prime minister and urged the United States to remove military threats from the Middle East. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in recent days that a new security plan for the Strait of Hormuz is aimed at preventing weapons and supplies from reaching US military bases in the region, a key sticking point in talks.
Eight killed, dozens injured in Iran shopping centre fire At least eight people were killed and 36 were injured after a fire tore through the Arghavan shopping centre in Andisheh, west of Tehran, on Tuesday, according to Iranian media reports. The blaze spread rapidly through the complex, with footage carried by state outlets showing large sections of the building engulfed in flames. Iranian newspaper Mizan reported the fire was caused by flammable exterior cladding, raising concerns about building safety standards.
US lawmaker says Trump falsely declared Iran war ended US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi has accused President Donald Trump of “falsely” telling Congress that the war with Iran has ended, arguing that US military activity in the region continues. Krishnamoorthi said the United States is still enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports and that US forces “exchange fire with Iranian forces”, contradicting Trump’s assertion that a ceasefire has concluded the conflict. In a letter to the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the lawmaker said the “underlying ceasefire arrangement remains contested and unstable” and requested classified briefings, including a “comprehensive intelligence assessment” on the war.
Germany says Israeli troops needed in southern Lebanon German foreign minister Johannes Wadephul said the presence of Israeli forces in parts of southern Lebanon is necessary, citing security concerns along Israel’s northern border. Speaking alongside Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar during a joint press conference in Berlin on Tuesday, Wadephul said the deployment helps protect Israeli communities from attacks. He argued that the continued presence is aimed at countering threats from Hezbollah, which has been engaged in cross-border hostilities with Israel.
Hezbollah reports drone attack on Israeli forces in Qantara Hezbollah said it targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in the southern Lebanese town of Qantara using an attack drone, claiming a direct hit,, according to a statement released by its media wing. Hezbollah said the attack was carried out in response to Israeli violations of a ceasefire and strikes on villages in southern Lebanon that it said resulted in civilian casualties. The Israeli military has not commented on the claim, which comes amid continued cross-border tensions.
Rubio speaks with Lavrov on Iran, US State Department says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov about Iran, bilateral relations and the war in Ukraine, according to the US State Department. The call, held at Lavrov’s request, comes less than a week after US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the conflict, as momentum builds around a ceasefire proposed by Ukraine. Russia’s foreign ministry said the two officials “exchanged views on the current situation in international affairs and Russian-American relations, and discussed the schedule of bilateral contacts”, describing the conversation as “constructive and businesslike”.
US lawmakers challenge ambiguity over Israel's nuclear capabilities Thirty Democrats in the US House of Representatives have called for greater transparency regarding Israel’s nuclear capabilities, urging the administration of Secretary of State Marco Rubio to clarify longstanding ambiguity. In a joint statement, the lawmakers said the United States is “fighting this war side by side with a country whose potential nuclear weapons program the United States government officially refuses to acknowledge”. The Democrats said Congress has a “constitutional responsibility to be fully informed about the nuclear balance in the Middle East, the risk of escalation by any party to this conflict, and the administration’s planning and contingencies for such scenarios”.
Qatar reviews regional security and bilateral ties in talks with US Qatar’s minister of state at the foreign ministry, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, met senior United States officials in Washington, to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments, Qatar’s foreign ministry said. Al Khulaifi held talks with senior presidential adviser on counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka and separately with Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur. The meetings covered bilateral strategic relations and the latest developments in the Middle East and Africa, the ministry said, adding that officials also discussed counterterrorism efforts and ways to enhance cooperation on advancing regional and international security and stability.
Iran’s foreign minister arrives in Beijing for strategic talks Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beijing on Wednesday at the head of a diplomatic delegation, marking the latest high-level engagement between Tehran and Beijing. During the visit, Araghchi is scheduled to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments, according to Iran’s foreign ministry. The visit comes amid heightened tension with the US as Iran and China continue to deepen political and economic ties under a long-term strategic partnership agreement signed in 2021.
Israeli forces block Bethleham road, deploy gas and sound bombs Israeli forces closed the main road in the town of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Local sources told the news agency that troops blocked the main road linking the al-Bawaba area and the Old Town with mounds of dirt, restricting movement in and out of the area. Wafa reported that the closure will hinder residents’ access to the Old Town, the school complex and the surrounding countryside, and cut off the only entrance to nearby towns, including Battir and Nahalin, as well as the villages of Husan and Wadi Fukin.
Trump: Project Freedom paused as talks with Iran near final agreement President Donald Trump said the United States will temporarily pause “Project Freedom”, the military operation guiding commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Citing a request from Pakistan, Trump said progress was being made toward a final agreement with Iran, adding that the US naval blockade targeting Iranian ports will remain fully in effect during the pause. “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
US pauses naval escorts in Strait of Hormuz amid renewed Iran dialogue The United States has paused its effort to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, after weeks of indirect talks with Iran, officials have said. Discussions between Washington and Tehran have continued through intermediaries, with Pakistan relaying messages between the two sides, US media reported. While recent direct talks in Islamabad produced no agreement, signs of progress have emerged.
Hezbollah says it struck Israeli vehicles as raids hit south Lebanon Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli military vehicles with artillery fire in the Wadi al-Jamal area between Meiss el-Jabal and Hula, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Israeli attacks continued overnight in southern Lebanon, with at least two people killed and others wounded in a strike on Deir Kifa, the report added.
Israeli settler attack in Masafer Yatta injures three Palestinians Three Palestinians have been injured in a settler attack in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to Wafa news agency. Local activist Osama Makhamra said settlers targeted the community of Rujum I‘li, leaving three people wounded, including a child. All those injured were from the al-Adra family.
Rubio says US military campaign in Iran ‘done’ US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington’s military campaign in Iran, known as “Operation Epic Fury”, is now complete following the ceasefire. Rubio said Iran has a “high pain threshold”, but not an “unlimited pain threshold”. He also criticised the War Powers Act, saying it is “100 percent unconstitutional… Nonetheless, we complied with elements of it to preserve good relations with Congress”.
Israeli strike kills one in southern Lebanon town of Adshit An Israeli air strike has killed one person in the town of Adshit in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The attack follows earlier reports of a deadly Israeli raid in Deir Kifa, also in the south.
Trump official insists overhauled visa system won't scare away foreign investment Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Tue, 05/05/2026 - 19:43 Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau expressed 'regret' over the deportation of South Korean businesspeople last year US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau takes questions from the foreign press corps at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor, Maryland, on 5 May 2026 (Yasmine El-Sabawi/MEE) Off The US government is working on overhauling its visa system to accommodate foreigners who come to do business in the US, a top Trump administration official said on Tuesday. Speaking at the SelectUSA Investment Summit - the largest annual convention to bring in foreign investment - Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau acknowledged that last year's immigration raid, detention, and deportation of more than 300 South Korean business consultants and workers from a Hyundai factory in the state of Georgia was one of "regret". "We are substantially overhauling our visa system to accommodate those concerns," that the US is unpredictable or potentially unsafe, Landau told a briefing for the foreign press corps.
Iran denies UAE attack claims, says actions targeted US only Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson has rejected accusations from the UAE that Tehran launched missile and drone attacks against it, saying the claims are unfounded. The spokesperson said Iran’s military actions were directed “exclusively” at the US, amid escalating tensions in the US-Israeli war on Iran. In a statement, the ministry added that Iran would not “spare any action in taking the necessary and appropriate measures to defend its interests and national security”.
