Iran

• President Trump departed for a two-day state visit to China on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, after the trip was initially delayed by the ongoing U.S. war with Iran. • The itinerary features a welcome ceremony, two bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping, a state banquet, a Temple of Heaven tour, and a tea session within less than 48 hours. • The visit underscores continued U.S.-China engagement, marking the first of four planned Trump-Xi meetings this year, including Xi's fall state visit to the U.S.

• U.S. stock markets declined Tuesday with the S&P 500 falling 0.9% from record highs as technology stocks weakened and oil prices continued rising amid uncertainty over the Iran conflict. • Benchmark U.S. crude jumped $3.43 to $101.50 per barrel, while Brent crude climbed $3.62 to $107.83 per barrel, as President Trump said the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was on "life support" after rejecting Iran's latest peace proposal. • Brent crude has surged 50% from pre-war levels around $70, contributing to inflation pressures globally and straining U.S. households through higher gasoline and goods prices tied to new tariffs.

President posted more than 50 times in three hours, attacking on Obama, NY Times and supreme courtDonald Trump unleashed a late-night social media tirade against his political enemies, attacking predecessors including Barack Obama with false accusations and amplifying calls for his Democratic rivals to be prosecuted.Just hours before a high-stakes trip to China for talks with Xi Jinping, the US president posted more than 50 times in a three-hour spree from Monday evening into the early hours of Tuesday. Posts included doctored images of himself on the $100 bill and demands that political opponents be arrested. Continue reading...

If current precarious ceasefire between US and Iran ends, Emirates are more likely to be targeted by TehranMiddle East crisis: live updatesThe risk of some Gulf states becoming embroiled in a direct war with Iran has risen after it was reported the United Arab Emirates had secretly launched a major attack on Iran during the conflict.In addition, Kuwait has said that at least four members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had been captured trying to carry out “terrorist attacks” on the Kuwaiti-owned Bubiyan Island, the largest island in the Kuwaiti coastal chain. Continue reading...

Prices rose 3.8% over the last year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, highest jump since 2023Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailUS inflation jumped to 3.8% in April as the war in the Middle East continued to drive energy prices and everyday costs for Americans.Prices rose 3.8% over the last year, according to the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest jump since 2023. Continue reading...

• Global equity markets including Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, Nikkei 225, and KOSPI reached fresh record highs driven by AI optimism overpowering US-Iran ceasefire tensions. • Rising oil prices, stronger inflation expectations, and hawkish Fed rhetoric pushed US Treasury yields higher while reinforcing higher-for-longer interest rates and USD strength. • President Trump is heading to China for a summit with Xi Jinping on Iran, nuclear issues, trade, and AI, joined by executives from Tesla, Apple, and BlackRock.

As human rights advocate is treated in Tehran hospital after transfer from Zanjan prison, prize winners demand her freedomMore than 110 Nobel laureates have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned Iranian human rights activist and Nobel peace prize laureate, after she was transferred to hospital amid concerns over her rapidly deteriorating health.In a statement released on Tuesday, 112 Nobel laureates urged the Iranian authorities and the international community to act “without delay” to secure Mohammadi’s release and ensure her continued access to medical treatment. Continue reading...

US president says Tehran’s peace proposal ‘totally unacceptable’ and ‘a piece of garbage’We are restarting our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran after Donald Trump said the ceasefire was “on life support” after rejecting Tehran’s peace proposal, calling it “totally unacceptable”.Referring to the ceasefire in force since 7 April, Trump said: “I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us – I didn’t even finish reading it. Continue reading...

Calbee to switch its brightly coloured packaging to black and white because war has disrupted supply of certain raw materials used in inkJapan’s biggest snack maker has been forced to use black-and-white packaging for some flagship products because of ink ingredient shortages caused by the strait of Hormuz blockade.Calbee said on Tuesday 14 of its products would switch to monochrome branding by the end of May. Continue reading...

• Iranian and Egyptian foreign ministers held a phone call on Sunday, May 10, 2026, to address latest regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington mediated by Pakistan. • The discussions occur amid heightened uncertainty in ceasefire diplomacy following US President Donald Trump's rejection of Iran’s latest response to a US proposal as “totally unacceptable.” • This outreach signals Egypt's potential role in bridging divides between Iran and the US, amid escalating Middle East tensions involving Pakistan as a key intermediary.

National average for gas prices has risen by well over a dollar per gallon since late FebruarySign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump pledged to suspend the US federal gas tax in a bid to reduce pressure on Americans after the US-Israel war on Iran sparked a sharp rise in fuel prices.The US president told reporters on Monday that his administration would look to pause the tax “till it’s appropriate”, as drivers count the cost of the surge in oil prices in the two months since US and Israel forces attacked Iran. Continue reading...

US president says he is considering restarting naval escorts in strait of Hormuz in attempt to end Iranian blockadeMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has said the ceasefire with Iran is on “life support” and that he is considering restarting US navy military escorts of ships through the strait of Hormuz in an attempt to end the Iranian blockade of the vital waterway.The US president dismissed Iran’s peace proposals as stupid, and denied he was under any domestic pressure to reach a deal. Continue reading...

President’s remarks came as Benjamin Netanyahu said the war was ‘not over’. Plus, American passengers of the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship travel to NebraskaGood morning.Donald Trump has condemned an Iranian response to a US peace proposal as “totally unacceptable” as the month-old ceasefire appeared to be wearing thin.What is the US position on Iranian nuclear facilities? The US parameters for nuclear talks reportedly included a moratorium on Iranian nuclear enrichment for up to 20 years; the transfer overseas, possibly to the US, of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), and the dismantling of Iranian nuclear facilities.What is the sticking point? According to the Wall Street Journal, the Iranian counter-proposal suggested a shorter moratorium, the export of part of the highly enriched uranium stockpile and the dilution of the rest, and refusal to accept the dismantling of facilities.How have markets reacted? After Trump rejected the counter-proposal on his Truth Social platform, there was a 4% jump in Brent crude on Monday to $105.50 a barrel, before it settled at $103.50.Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.What measures are being taken to control the spread? As well as one who tested positive, another passenger has mild symptoms of hantavirus, the US health and human services department confirmed. These passengers were travelling in the plane’s biocontainment units, it added.Is the World Health Organization mandating a quarantine? No – it has recommended, but not mandated, a 42-day quarantine once passengers have landed in their home countries. As some countries enforce stricter rules than others, here is how the responses vary. Continue reading...

It will be the first time a US president has visited China in nearly a decade, with the last visit being Trump in 2017Hello and welcome to our live coverage of US politics.Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to China this week to meet with Xi Jinping, China’s leader. It will be the first time a US president has visited China in nearly a decade, with the last visit being Trump in 2017. But given all that has happened so far in Trump’s second term – a trade war and then an actual war with Iran that has led to oil and gas prices skyrocketing worldwide – the mood of this visit is likely to be quite different. Continue reading...

US president calls Iranian response ‘totally unacceptable’ while Tehran says it will retaliate against any new US strikes or foreign warships in strait of HormuzTrump calls Iran’s response to peace plan ‘totally unacceptable’ as ceasefire fraysThe US parameters for nuclear talks reportedly included a moratorium on Iranian nuclear enrichment for up to 20 years; the transfer overseas, possibly to the US, of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), which could be used to make nuclear warheads; and the dismantling of Iranian nuclear facilities.According to the Wall Street Journal, the Iranian counter-proposal suggested a shorter moratorium, the export of part of the HEU stockpile and the dilution of the rest, and refusal to accept the dismantling of facilities. Continue reading...

• US President Donald Trump dismissed Iran's response to a US peace proposal as 'totally unacceptable' on Monday, escalating tensions amid ongoing Middle East conflict. • Tehran warned of new attacks in retaliation, as reported by Asia News Network, heightening fears of prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. • The rejection triggered market volatility across Asia, with investors seeking safe-haven assets amid potential impacts on regional energy security.

• U.S. stock-index futures fell early Monday, with Dow Jones futures down 0.30% at 49,540, Nasdaq 100 futures off 0.03% at 29,324, and S&P 500 futures dropping 0.4% amid rising geopolitical risks. • President Donald Trump called Iran's latest response to the U.S. proposal to end the war 'totally unacceptable,' triggering a surge in oil prices as markets braced for escalation. • The reaction compounds pressure from recent strong NFP data at +312K jobs versus +185K expected, with 2-year Treasury yields watched above 5% for further equity downside.

• MSCI’s Asian equities gauge climbed 1% at the open, with South Korea's market surging as much as 5% to a record high driven by artificial intelligence investment optimism. • Brent crude oil rose 3.6% to nearly $105 per barrel after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s response to his peace proposal, prolonging tensions and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. • US S&P 500 futures fell 0.1% amid the news, while the momentum strategy favoring recent winners like tech boosted Asian markets despite Middle East risks stoking inflation fears and lifting bond yields.

Airport reports 5% decline but transit passenger business rises as fliers use hub to avoid Middle East airportsBusiness live – news updatesThe number of passengers flying from London Heathrow fell last month, as war in the Middle East weighed on demand for international travel.About 6.7 million people flew through the airport in April, a 5% drop compared with the same period last year. Continue reading...

• U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing on Wednesday for two-day talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, marking their first face-to-face meeting in over six months amid strained ties. • Discussions will cover Iran, Taiwan tensions, artificial intelligence, nuclear weapons, and potential extension of a critical minerals deal, according to U.S. officials. • The summit aims to stabilize relations between the world's two largest economies, strained by ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, trade disputes, and tariff threats from Trump's first term.

• Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated on 'Face the Nation' that the U.S. military paused its ship escort operation in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran requested a halt to pursue peace talks. • President Trump announced the operation last week amid Iran's blockade, but suspended it two days later following Tehran's signal to 'make a deal.' • The pause supports a fragile ceasefire, with the U.S. now clearing the strait without active escorts, aiming to de-escalate tensions.