The United States has initiated the formation of an international naval alliance called the Maritime Freedom Construct (MFC) to restore navigation through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked since February 28 following the outbreak of conflict between Iran and the Israel-US coalition. According to US media reports, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the proposal, which will be jointly coordinated by the State Department and the Pentagon. The alliance aims to facilitate intelligence sharing, coordinate diplomatic efforts, and enforce navigation restrictions among member states.

The blockade has halted the daily supply of about 15 million barrels of crude and refined oil to global markets, leaving hundreds of ships stranded on both sides of the strait. Iran is reportedly tightening its control over the waterway and has begun charging transit fees of up to two million dollars per vessel.

Uncertainty remains over which countries will join the alliance, as tensions between the United States and key allies, including NATO and the European Union, have intensified due to the ongoing Iran-Israel war.

In Gaza City, new luxury cafes and restaurants have appeared among the ruins and piles of debris, featuring glass walls, expensive furniture, and bright lights. Images of these establishments have been circulated by pro-Israel social media accounts to suggest that life in Gaza has returned to normal and that no genocide occurred. However, eyewitness accounts describe a starkly different reality, where most residents struggle to survive amid destruction and displacement.

According to a recent visitor to Gaza City, these upscale venues are owned and frequented by war profiteers who became wealthy through smuggling, looting, and hoarding goods during the conflict. Ordinary citizens, once able to afford cafes, now face tripled food prices and unaffordable transport costs. Many families live in tents without electricity, clean water, or stable livelihoods.

Analysts cited in the report argue that the rise of such luxury spaces does not signal recovery but rather highlights deep social inequality and ongoing abnormality in Gaza’s shattered society.

Iran has presented a 14-point peace proposal to the United States aimed at achieving a permanent end to the ongoing war, according to a report by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency published on Sunday. The report stated that the U.S. had earlier sent a nine-point proposal to Iran. Al Jazeera also reported on the exchange of proposals between the two countries.

Tasnim’s report said the U.S. had requested a two-month ceasefire period, while Iran insisted that all issues be resolved within 30 days. Iran emphasized that its focus was not merely on extending a ceasefire but on ending the war completely. The Iranian plan includes guarantees of non-aggression, withdrawal of U.S. forces from areas near Iran, lifting of naval blockades, release of Iran’s frozen assets, removal of sanctions, and cessation of fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon.

According to the report, Iran is now awaiting the U.S. response to its 14-point proposal.

An April 23 report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz stated that dozens of children are disappearing weekly in Gaza amid post-war chaos. The article cited the Palestinian Center for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared, which estimated that 2,900 children went missing during the war, with 2,700 believed trapped under rubble and 200 still unaccounted for. The report linked these disappearances to Israel’s military operations, which have reportedly killed over 72,500 Palestinians since 2023, with thousands more missing.

Al Jazeera Arabic’s February investigation found at least 2,842 Palestinians had vanished since the war began, with Gaza’s civil defense blaming U.S.-made thermal and thermobaric weapons for vaporizing bodies. The Israeli military rejected these claims, asserting it uses only lawful weapons and targets military sites in compliance with international law. UN experts have previously condemned reports of enforced disappearances from aid centers in Gaza.

The article connected these disappearances to a broader global pattern of state-backed abductions, citing U.S. involvement in similar cases in Latin America and Mexico. It concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to an attempt to erase the Palestinian population’s very existence.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to discuss rising tensions in the Middle East. According to a statement shared on social media, both sides expressed deep concern over the current situation and reviewed ongoing conflicts in Iran and the broader region. Tajani emphasized the urgent need to strengthen diplomatic efforts to prevent further deterioration.

During the discussion, Tajani highlighted the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and warned that the current deadlock could negatively affect food security and stability, particularly in Africa. He reiterated that for Italy, any military development of Iran’s nuclear program is a red line that could trigger a dangerous regional arms race.

Tajani also urged Iran to use its influence over Hezbollah to stop attacks against Israel and to support peace efforts in Lebanon. He reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to backing all international initiatives for peace and maintaining open dialogue with all partners to enhance stability in the Middle East.

The Israeli military has acknowledged damaging a Christian religious site in southern Lebanon, according to a statement released on Saturday. The incident occurred in the village of Yaroun, where Israeli forces said they were targeting what they described as terrorist infrastructure. The army confirmed that a building within a religious compound was hit during the operation.

A French Catholic charity, L’Oeuvre d’Orient, strongly condemned the attack, claiming that Israeli troops destroyed a convent belonging to the Greek-Catholic Salvatorian Sisters. The organization described the strike as a deliberate assault on a place of worship. In response, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that the damaged building bore no clear religious markings at the time, and that once religious symbols were identified on another structure in the same complex, steps were taken to prevent further harm.

Adraee also justified the military presence in the area, citing multiple rocket attacks launched from the compound toward Israeli territory by Hezbollah, despite an existing ceasefire.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that the country is fully prepared to counter any form of aggression. He made the remarks at a gathering of ambassadors and heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Tehran, according to Al Jazeera. Gharibabadi emphasized that Iran believes in interest-based diplomacy and continues to play a role in resolving ongoing crises accordingly.

He added that Iran has presented its plan to Pakistan as a mediator to achieve a permanent end to the imposed war, noting that the decision to pursue diplomacy or continue conflict now rests with the United States. Gharibabadi also said Iran remains ready for both paths to safeguard its national interests and security, while maintaining skepticism toward the United States but upholding honesty in diplomacy.

The report noted that the war, jointly conducted by the United States and Israel, began in late February and has been suspended since April 8.

Iranian human rights activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been transferred from prison to a hospital after her health deteriorated sharply. According to a foundation run by her family, she lost consciousness twice in one day and suffered serious heart-related complications. The statement, released Friday, said doctors at Zanjan Prison in northwestern Iran determined that her condition required urgent hospital care, as proper treatment was not possible inside the facility.

Lawyers reported that Mohammadi suffered a heart attack in late March, and her health had been worsening since then. Her family alleged that she was physically assaulted during her arrest in Mashhad last December, sustaining injuries to her head, neck, and body, which they believe worsened her condition. The 53-year-old was detained on December 12 and sentenced in February to more than seven years in prison for alleged involvement in “anti-state conspiracy.” She had previously served long sentences for similar charges and was temporarily released for medical reasons in late 2024.

The Nobel Committee condemned ongoing “life-threatening abuse” against Mohammadi in February, while the Iranian government has not issued any official response to the allegations.

China has announced counter-sanctions in response to US measures imposed on five Chinese companies accused of involvement in Iran’s oil trade. Beijing formally issued an injunction to block the US sanctions, which Washington said were aimed at firms violating its Iran-related restrictions. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce denounced the US move as an example of “long-arm jurisdiction.”

According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, the sanctioned companies include Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical, and Shandong Shengxing Chemical. The details of how Beijing’s injunction will be implemented have not yet been clarified.

Analysts cited in the report noted that this latest dispute over Iran could further complicate the already tense trade and diplomatic relations between Washington and Beijing.

Following an improvement in regional security conditions, the United Arab Emirates has restored normal airspace operations. At the same time, Qatar Airways announced that it will resume flights to Iraq’s capital Baghdad, as well as to Basra and Erbil international airports, starting May 10.

Qatar had temporarily closed its airspace on February 28 as a precaution due to regional tensions and security concerns, later reopening it partially on March 6. With the situation now stabilized, the airline has decided to fully restart its Iraq-bound flights. The UAE’s civil aviation authority stated that the decision to normalize airspace operations was made after reviewing security and operational conditions in coordination with relevant agencies.

According to the Emirates News Agency, the situation is currently under control, and real-time monitoring continues to ensure safe air travel. Observers believe Qatar Airways’ move will help strengthen regional connectivity and commercial activity with Iraq.

France has strongly condemned an attack on a French Catholic nun in Jerusalem, describing it as a heinous act. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the growing trend of anti-Christian assaults in the Holy Land is unacceptable. The incident occurred in West Jerusalem and has drawn widespread outrage internationally this week.

Israeli police released a video on Thursday showing a man following the nun, pushing her to the ground, and later kicking her while she lay injured. The nun suffered a head injury, and the attacker was later arrested. Barrot expressed deep sympathy for the injured nun and wished her a speedy recovery, calling for exemplary punishment for the perpetrator.

The French reaction comes amid increasing concern over the safety of religious minorities in the Holy Land. Experts cited in the report emphasized the urgent need for swift and effective measures to prevent such attacks in the future.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reaffirmed that he will visit China later this month as scheduled, despite the ongoing standoff involving Iran. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said he expects an excellent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, initially planned for late March, was postponed to May 14–15 due to rising tensions over Iran. Analysts view the trip as crucial for both nations amid current global uncertainty.

According to the report, Iran has sent a new peace proposal to the United States through Pakistan, but Trump expressed dissatisfaction with it, suggesting Iran’s weakened military position. Alongside the China visit, the Trump administration has announced other major international decisions, including expanding sanctions on Cuba and withdrawing 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, moves that could complicate relations with Europe.

Chinese analysts believe the visit aims to manage risks and stabilize ties between the two powers, focusing on rare earth supply, the Taiwan Strait, and the South China Sea. Experts caution that no major breakthroughs are expected, describing the trip as a gradual diplomatic effort to reduce tensions and maintain communication.

A senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official, Hossein Noushabadi, has declared that Iran will resist what he described as the 'aggressive' actions of the United States. Speaking to the ISNA news agency, he stated that the comfort, welfare, and progress of the Gulf region depend on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the area.

Noushabadi, who serves as Director General of the Ministry’s Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Department, said that foreign powers have long coveted the Gulf’s strategic maritime resources. He described the Gulf as an integral part of Iran’s identity and civilization, emphasizing the country’s historical role in expelling Portugal, the Netherlands, and England from the region.

According to the official, Iran now intends to confront U.S. military operations in the Gulf, portraying this stance as a continuation of its past defense of regional sovereignty.

The United States Embassy in Bangladesh has issued a new advisory regarding the proper use of B1-B2 visitor visas. The notice, released on Saturday, May 2, 2026, reminds visa holders that while certain business activities such as contract negotiations and conference participation are allowed during their stay in the United States, receiving payment or working for a U.S. employer is strictly prohibited.

The embassy emphasized that it is the traveler’s responsibility to use their visa correctly. It also reiterated that using a visitor visa to travel to the United States solely for the purpose of giving birth so that a child obtains U.S. citizenship is not permitted. Consular officers may deny visa applications if they determine that this is the applicant’s primary intent.

The advisory serves as a renewed reminder for Bangladeshi travelers to comply with U.S. visa regulations and avoid misuse that could lead to visa denial or other consequences.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei has called on the American people to challenge their government over what he described as an illegal war and atrocities committed against Iran. He stated that the conflict was an unprovoked act of aggression and that U.S. citizens have the right to demand accountability from the Trump administration.

Baghaei shared a video from a U.S. Senate hearing featuring Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who said there was no evidence that Iran had planned an imminent attack on the United States. Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces have warned of a strong possibility of renewed conflict with the United States and Israel, citing Washington’s alleged failure to adhere to international agreements.

According to Iranian officials, these developments reflect growing distrust toward the U.S. government’s commitments and raise concerns about escalating regional tensions.