Former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking in Riyadh, expressed strong hope that Saudi Arabia would soon join the Abraham Accords. “It would be a matter of great prestige for Saudi Arabia and crucial for the future of the Middle East,” said Trump. The Abraham Accords have already normalized relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. While Saudi Arabia has yet to establish formal diplomatic ties with Israel, discussions have taken place. Trump also warned Iran of renewed “maximum pressure” if it refuses to rejoin a nuclear agreement, pledging to drive Iran’s oil exports down to zero.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria, stating, “After discussions with the new Syrian foreign minister and the Crown Prince, and a call with Turkey’s President, I’ve decided to authorize the lifting of sanctions to help Syria move forward.” He noted that while the sanctions played a significant role during Bashar al-Assad’s rule, it is now time for the country to recover. Trump added that he will meet Syria’s new President Ahmed al-Sarar in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Amid ongoing tensions, the US State Department has imposed fresh sanctions on Iran. The sanctions target three senior officials and one organization associated with Iran’s military arms research. Their assets in the US have been frozen, and they are barred from entering the country or engaging in financial transactions with any US entities. US Secretary of State remarked, “Iran is the only country in the world without nuclear weapons that possesses a stockpile of 60% enriched uranium.”

The United States and China have reached an agreement to significantly reduce mutual tariffs by 115% for a 90-day period, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant announced. The deal follows high-level bilateral talks in Switzerland, marking the first major breakthrough since President Donald Trump imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports in January. As part of the new arrangement, the US will lower its tariffs on Chinese goods to 30%, while China will reduce its tariffs on American goods to 10%, with both reductions taking effect for 90 days.

U.S. President Donald Trump praised the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, calling it a historic and heroic decision. “Both countries showed wisdom and restraint, understanding that further aggression could have led to catastrophe,” he said. Trump commended their leadership and reiterated that millions of innocent lives were potentially saved. He stated that the U.S. played a key role in achieving the ceasefire and expressed pride in the outcome. Trump also announced his willingness to work with both nations to resolve the longstanding Kashmir conflict, which he described as a “thousand-year issue.”

In a statement issued by US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, it was revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a conversation with Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir on Saturday. Rubio urged both India and Pakistan to find ways to de-escalate tensions and offered US support to initiate constructive dialogue aimed at preventing future conflicts.

A Gulf diplomat told Middle East Monitor that Donald Trump plans to announce U.S. recognition of Palestine as a state—excluding Hamas from any governance role. The announcement is expected during a mid-May U.S.-Gulf summit in Saudi Arabia. If confirmed, this move could significantly shift Middle Eastern geopolitics and push more nations to join the Abraham Accords.

According to Israeli Army Radio journalist Yair Kozen, close aides of Donald Trump informed Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer that Trump feels “betrayed” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A U.S. official noted, “Nothing angers Trump more than feeling manipulated or deceived.” Kozen added that Israel’s failure to provide a clear strategy regarding Iran and Yemen has also strained U.S.-Israel relations. Meanwhile, Israel’s continued assault on Gaza claimed 27 more Palestinian lives in the last 24 hours.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated Washington has no intention of engaging in the India-Pakistan conflict. “We may encourage de-escalation but will not enter a war that doesn’t serve our direct interests,” he said, adding that the situation is being closely monitored.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed concern over the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan, urging both nations to cease hostilities immediately. He offered U.S. assistance in resolving the dispute. In an earlier reaction following the airstrikes, Trump called the attack "shameful."

Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran-backed Houthi rebels have agreed to stop obstructing American naval operations in the Middle East. "They’ve told us they no longer want war. They’ve surrendered," Trump said. "We will respect that decision and halt our bombing operations as well." His statement follows a recent missile strike by the Houthis near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday. In retaliation, Israel launched over 50 airstrikes on Yemen's Hodeidah port city on Monday.

The U.S. State Department has called on India and Pakistan to choose a responsible path toward resolving tensions, emphasizing the need for long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia.

Speaking to reporters, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, "We urge both governments to move forward responsibly while maintaining peace and stability in the region. We have maintained communication with both sides at multiple levels."

Following the April attack that escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, the United States expressed sympathy toward India. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held phone calls with senior officials from both countries, urging restraint and de-escalation. Earlier, former President Donald Trump had described India's strike as "shameful."

Source: Al Jazeera

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has labeled India’s missile strikes on Pakistan-administered territory as “shameful.” Speaking to reporters, he remarked, “Anyone familiar with the history could sense this was coming. These two countries have been in conflict for decades, even centuries. Still, I hope this ends quickly.” India’s early morning missile assault on Wednesday led to the deaths of two civilians and left several others injured. In response, Pakistan downed two Indian aircraft later the same day.

For the second consecutive night, Moscow has come under heavy drone assault from Ukraine. In response, four major airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky—have been temporarily shut down for security reasons. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that at least 19 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and shot down across the city. Debris from some drones landed on a major highway, but no casualties have been reported. Meanwhile, in Russia’s Kursk region, a Ukrainian attack damaged a power substation in the town of Rylsk, injuring two people.

The Trump administration has declared that Harvard University will no longer receive federal research grants. In a letter to the university, Education Secretary Linda McMahon accused Harvard of mocking higher education and failing to uphold academic standards. McMahon criticized the university for allegedly admitting foreign students who exhibit violent behavior and anti-American sentiment. She stated that Harvard will now function solely as a privately funded institution. The university claims the letter is a retaliatory move following a lawsuit it filed on April 21.