The United Arab Emirates has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to refrain from launching new military action against Iran, amid fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East. According to Bloomberg, the UAE is coordinating diplomatic efforts with Saudi Arabia and Qatar to prevent escalation. Leaders from the three countries reportedly told Trump in separate phone calls that military strikes would not achieve long-term U.S. goals and that dialogue should be prioritized.

Analysts noted that the UAE’s stance marks a significant shift from its previously hardline position toward Tehran. The Gulf states fear that another conflict could devastate the region’s economy, as seen during the February–April clashes when U.S. and Israeli forces attacked Iran, prompting widespread Iranian retaliation. Thousands of drone and missile strikes damaged ports and energy infrastructure across the Gulf.

Although a ceasefire was reached in April, tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high. Pakistan is mediating indirect communications, and recent visits by senior officials suggest cautious progress toward a possible settlement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for a 'Plan B' to address possible complications in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with NATO allies in Helsingborg, Sweden, Rubio said that if anyone fires in the strait, there must be an alternative plan. Referring to Iran, he noted that ideally, Tehran would reopen the passage, but contingency measures are needed if it refuses.

Rubio added that in such a scenario, the United States and other concerned nations might have to take action, though he did not clarify whether NATO would be directly involved. He also commented on ongoing diplomatic talks, saying US negotiators are engaging with tough counterparts and that some progress has been made, though the desired outcome has not yet been reached.

His remarks come amid renewed global attention on the strategic waterway, which is vital for international energy trade, and have sparked fresh discussion in diplomatic circles.

U.S. President Donald Trump is willing to give diplomacy more time as talks with Iran continue, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. In an interview with CBS News, Leavitt said Trump is keeping all options open and has made clear what consequences Tehran could face if no agreement is reached.

Her comments followed a Wall Street Journal report stating that Trump told his aides in a Friday meeting he wanted to allow more time for diplomatic engagement. Despite ongoing tensions, the report said Trump remains interested in reaching a solution through dialogue, though he has not ruled out military action if negotiations fail.

According to the same report, Trump has not yet made a final decision but currently leans toward continuing diplomatic efforts while keeping military options available.

SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft, developed by U.S. entrepreneur Elon Musk’s company, crashed into the Indian Ocean after a test flight and subsequently exploded. The launch took place at 5:30 p.m. local time on Friday, marking the first major test of the third-generation version of Starship. Live footage showed the spacecraft reaching space and completing several planned maneuvers before catching fire and exploding during a controlled descent over the ocean.

According to the source, SpaceX considered the test a success despite the explosion, as the main objective was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new design. During the flight, Starship executed a maneuver to flip from an inverted position and reignite its engines to regain control. Although one engine failed, the remaining engines allowed the spacecraft to maintain stability.

The test provided SpaceX with data on the performance of its redesigned systems, which the company views as a step forward in its ongoing development program.

A deadly shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego in Southern California has left the local Muslim community in shock and mourning. Two gunmen opened fire just before Monday’s noon prayer, killing Amin Abdullah, Nadir Awad, and Mansur Kazihah. Authorities recovered extremist writings from the attackers and are investigating the incident as a hate crime. Police said the suspects were influenced by neo-Nazi propaganda and previous anti-Muslim attacks, including the 2019 Christchurch massacre.

Community members expressed anger toward city leaders for ignoring years of warnings about growing Islamophobia. More than two thousand people attended the victims’ funeral, while rights groups reported a sharp rise in anti-Muslim incidents since the Gaza war began. Local lawyer Osama Shabaik and student Samar Ismail criticized Mayor Todd Gloria for failing to protect the community and for his past associations with pro-Israel groups.

The attack shattered the sense of safety many worshippers once felt at the mosque. Residents said the Islamic Center, which also runs a school for 140 children, had always seemed secure, but the tragedy has deepened fear and mistrust across San Diego’s Muslim community.

U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will not attend his son’s wedding in the Bahamas, citing ongoing discussions about the Iran war and his official responsibilities in Washington. The wedding of Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson is scheduled for this weekend. Trump made the announcement on Friday, emphasizing that government duties require his presence in the capital.

When asked about the matter at the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said his son wanted him to attend but described the event as small and private. He added that the timing was not favorable due to his busy schedule, which includes the Iran crisis and other pressing issues. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump expressed regret, saying he wished to be with his son and future daughter-in-law but that his duty to the United States prevented it.

Trump concluded his message by congratulating Donald Jr. and Bettina, stating that remaining at the White House during this critical period was essential.

Authorities in Orange County, California, have ordered about 40,000 residents to evacuate due to fears that a tank containing the chemical methyl methacrylate could leak or explode. The tank, located at a GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, has been overheating, prompting emergency teams to work for two days to prevent an explosion. The evacuation order covers a nine-square-mile area surrounding the site.

The incident began on Thursday, May 21, when gas started leaking from the tank filled with the highly flammable chemical used in resin and plastic production. Initially, a hazardous materials team directed residents to leave, later lifting the order when the situation seemed under control. However, a damaged valve worsened the risk, leading local authorities to reissue the evacuation directive.

Officials warned that the tank could rupture, releasing 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of toxic material, or explode due to rising temperatures, potentially igniting nearby fuel and chemical tanks.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new policy requiring foreign nationals currently residing in the US to return to their home countries to apply for permanent residency or green cards. The directive was issued in a policy memorandum released on Friday, according to the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS.

The department stated that the change aims to close loopholes in the immigration system and improve the agency’s capacity to process other applications more efficiently. It added that possible exemptions under special circumstances are still under consideration.

Human rights and refugee assistance organizations have criticized the decision. The nonprofit HIAS warned that the rule could force victims of human trafficking, abused women, and at-risk children to return to countries they fled to save their lives. The policy shift is viewed as part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to tighten US immigration rules, following earlier steps to shorten visa durations and cancel over 100,000 visas since he took office.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that revenue from Venezuelan oil has generated 25 times more money than the cost of the war against Iran. He made the remark while discussing U.S. actions involving Iran and Venezuela, saying the United States had taken so much oil from Venezuela that it covered the war expenses many times over.

Trump’s statement comes amid ongoing international debate about the U.S. military campaign against Iran. According to Pentagon data, by early this month the cost of the war had reached about 29 billion dollars, though analysts and observers suggest the actual figure could be higher. Trump also described Venezuela as a key part of the U.S. energy strategy, indicating that oil production and exports from the country had brought significant economic benefits to the United States.

The remarks highlight the administration’s emphasis on energy-linked economic gains while global scrutiny continues over the financial and humanitarian impacts of the Iran conflict.

Tulsi Gabbard, the United States Director of National Intelligence, resigned from her post on Friday amid the ongoing Iran war. Her resignation came at a time of heightened tension over US military activity and the broader Middle East crisis. Reports from international media indicated that Gabbard had policy disagreements with the Trump administration regarding its approach to Iran.

In a post on social media platform X, Gabbard explained that she decided to step down after her husband, Abraham Williams, was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. In her resignation letter, she expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for allowing her to lead the intelligence office for the past one and a half years. Trump confirmed her resignation on his Truth Social account, praising her performance and saying she would be missed.

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, served in Congress from 2013 to 2021 before leaving the Democratic Party to support Trump and take the intelligence post. Her resignation had been rumored for some time, though she had previously denied it.

International analysts suggest that U.S. President Donald Trump is stepping back from the Iran conflict, interpreting recent diplomatic efforts and ceasefire initiatives as a form of strategic retreat. According to reports, Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington is discussing a letter of intent with Tehran to formally end hostilities and begin 30 days of talks on Iran’s nuclear program and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The crisis began in March when Israel attacked Iran’s Pars gas field, prompting Iranian strikes on Qatari energy facilities. Since then, Iran has demanded war reparations, unrestricted uranium enrichment, control over the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of sanctions. The Institute for the Study of War reported that Iran is consolidating control over the strait, signing transit deals with oil-importing nations and imposing fees on others.

Analysts warn that the international sanctions system could weaken as more countries negotiate with Tehran. Netanyahu reportedly expressed concern that Iran may emerge stronger after the conflict, potentially undermining Israel’s security and regional influence.

The United States reportedly used about half of its advanced missile defense interceptors while defending Israel during its war with Iran, according to a Washington Post report published on May 22, 2026. The report stated that US forces launched more than 200 THAAD interceptors to destroy Iranian missiles targeting Israel, representing nearly half of the Pentagon’s total stockpile. Additionally, over 100 Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-6 interceptors were fired from US naval vessels in the eastern Mediterranean.

The report added that Israel relied less on its own defense systems during the conflict. Israeli forces launched fewer than 100 Arrow interceptors and around 90 David’s Sling missiles. A US official, speaking anonymously, told the Washington Post that if another war with Iran breaks out, the United States may need to deploy even more interceptors because Israel has decided to withdraw some of its missile defense batteries for maintenance.

The information was originally cited by Middle East Eye, which referenced the Washington Post’s findings.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group, stationed in the Arabian Sea, is maintaining peak combat readiness amid the ongoing war with Iran. CENTCOM shared images on social media showing F-35 stealth fighter jets taking off from the carrier’s deck, underscoring the high operational alert of US forces in the region.

According to CENTCOM, US forces are fully prepared while enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports. The statement came as Pakistan continues mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict between the United States and Iran. The timing of the announcement highlights the heightened military posture despite diplomatic initiatives.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face severe consequences if it refused to hand over its uranium stockpile to the United States, further intensifying tensions between the two nations.

The United States has temporarily suspended a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan in order to conserve ammunition for its ongoing conflict with Iran. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao informed lawmakers of the decision during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on Thursday. The suspension follows a recent meeting in Beijing between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, where the arms deal was a key topic of discussion.

Cao stated that the pause is intended to ensure sufficient ammunition for Operation Epic Fury, adding that the sale could resume when the administration deems appropriate. The final decision will rest with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Although the U.S. Congress approved the package in January, it still requires President Trump’s signature to take effect. Taiwan’s Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai said the island will continue efforts to purchase the weapons.

Analyst William Yang warned that the suspension could heighten doubts about U.S. support for Taiwan and complicate future defense budget requests. Trump also suggested the deal might serve as a bargaining tool in talks with Beijing.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described Cuba as a 'national security threat' to the United States, saying the likelihood of reaching a peaceful agreement with Havana is low. His remarks came a day after Washington formally charged former Cuban President Raul Castro over the 1996 downing of two planes that killed US citizens. Rubio said the US prefers a diplomatic solution but warned that President Donald Trump has both the right and duty to defend the country against any threat.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez rejected Rubio’s comments as false, asserting that Cuba has never posed a threat to the US. He accused Washington of orchestrating attacks and provoking military aggression against Cuba. The island nation is currently facing severe fuel shortages, prolonged blackouts, and food scarcity, worsened by US oil sanctions. Despite tensions, Cuba has accepted $100 million in US humanitarian aid, according to Rubio.

Rubio declined to reveal how Raul Castro would be brought before a US court, while Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said they expect Castro to appear voluntarily or by other means. President Trump described Cuba as a 'failed state' and said his administration is trying to help on humanitarian grounds.