Iran Talks

• Asian stocks rose on Friday as investors maintained optimism for a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran peace talks, despite ongoing disagreements over key issues. • The U.S. dollar reached a six-week high while oil prices experienced volatility amid the geopolitical uncertainty. • In South Korea, the Interior Ministry announced it will stop offering products from companies that trivialize the nation's democratic history following a controversial Starbucks Korea marketing campaign.

• Asian stocks rose on Friday, May 22, as investors maintained a positive outlook amid ongoing diplomatic efforts. • The U.S. dollar climbed to a six-week high, reflecting shifting market sentiment and currency volatility. • Market participants are closely monitoring US-Iran talks, as the outcome of these negotiations could significantly impact global oil prices and geopolitical stability.

Ahead of the crucial talks, security has been heightened in Beijing, with the US president set to meet Xi at the Great Hall of the PeopleThe Trump-Xi summit will span two days. It was originally scheduled for late March or early April but was delayed due to the Iran war.Now that Trump is in China, here are some of the hazards the US president faces. Continue reading...

With US inflation at a three-year high, US president insisted he’s not focused on economic hardship sparked by the conflictSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump has said the growing financial pressure inflicted on Americans by the war on Iran is “not even a little bit” motivating him to make a peace deal with Tehran.With US inflation at a three-year high, and fuel costs still climbing after a sharp rise in oil prices, the US president said on Tuesday that he is not focused on the economic hardship sparked by the conflict. 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.

• Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani departed Miami on Sunday morning after meetings with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio focused on ending the Iran war. • The delegation discussed latest regional developments and Pakistani mediation efforts aimed at deescalation, while the month-long ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains fragile but intact. • President Trump stated Saturday he "expects to hear very soon" from Iranian officials regarding the latest U.S. peace proposal, with negotiations ongoing.

President indicated that deal had materialised, but truth was that Saudi Arabia had stopped US use of its basesWhen Donald Trump abruptly pulled the plug on “Project Freedom”, the scheme to open the strait of Hormuz, barely a day after it had been announced, he gave the impression that an opportunity for a peace deal had materialised that could not be missed.To the surprise of nobody who has been following the US’s recent adventures in geopolitics, Trump’s spin concealed a lot of the underlying reality. It turns out that Trump suspended Project Freedom after Saudi Arabia stopped the US military from using its bases or airspace to carry out the operation, which involved giving air cover to commercial shipping sailing through the strait. Continue reading...