Stories from Washington · United States

The United States has concluded its aerial assaults on Iran. He characterized the ongoing actions as defensive, stating the U.S. will only respond if attacked first. Rubio also affirmed the U.S. Premier Li Qiang issued instructions to urgently reduce casualties, fully treat the injured, scientifically organize search and rescue, prevent secondary disasters, and properly handle aftermath. This conclusion was reported 5 minutes ago. Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi stated on the 5th that the Israeli military is closely monitoring the situation in the Persian Gulf region. President Trump described his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as good, calling him an unpredictable person with whom he gets along well.

US President Donald Trump announced on social media that the plan to extradite individuals detained in the Strait of Hormuz has been temporarily suspended. He also mentioned that the cost of these dealings differs from previous arrangements. This follows reports of China facing agricultural impacts from climate extremes. The governor's office in Iran's Hormozgan Province reported sounds of intercepting small aircraft and inspecting drones near Qeshm Island. The Iranian province of Hormozgan reported the interception of small aircraft and drones near Qeshm Island on May 6th. This action defines a defensive stance in the region. The US and Israel are preparing for new strikes on Iran. The specific duration of the suspension was not detailed, but the stance is described as defensive. Iran previously seized a ship near the strait.

President Trump declined to specify what actions by Iran would be considered violations of a ceasefire agreement. The conflict around the Strait of Hormuz has a low possibility of ending quickly and could become prolonged, complex, or even expand.

The European Commission urged the United States to quickly reinstate agreed-upon tariff arrangements from a previous EU-US trade deal. The EU plans to cancel tariffs on imported US industrial products as part of a trade agreement. The EU expressed concern over the US threat to increase tariffs on European cars and trucks to 25%. EU Commissioner Schiev-Jovic and Greer discussed trade agreement tensions. The European Union is considering implementing trade countermeasures in response to US tariffs. The EU is considering raising tariffs on American cars and trucks to 25%, citing non-compliance with EU-US trade agreement terms. The move comes amid ongoing trade disputes between the two economic blocs. The EU aims to protect its industries from the impact of these tariffs. Discussions are underway among member states to formulate a unified strategy.

Biopharmaceutical company Merck has decided to invest $1 billion. Merck plans to invest $1 billion in biopharmaceutical research and development. This investment is intended to advance new treatments.

The United States has announced a pause in its naval effort to escort commercial ships. The administration is evaluating if an agreement can be reached to prevent a blockade. This suspension follows progress in negotiations and was done by mutual agreement with the Iranian regime to determine if a final agreement can be reached. The United States and UAE have agreed to briefly suspend Operation Freedom. Oil prices fell following the announcement of the pause. US media criticized the decision, citing project failure as the reason for the halt. Donald Trump is pressing pause on his flagship project to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The President and Secretary of State held separate news conferences to discuss the details of the decision to call off military action to seek an agreement with Iran.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that lasting peace depends on Iran meeting U.S. Donald Trump has refused to provide specific details regarding alleged violations of an agreement with Iran. President Donald Trump announced the suspension of 'Operation Freedom' in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The UAE Ministry of Defense stated on May 5th that its air defense systems were responding to missile and drone attacks from Iran. Iran warned the United Arab Emirates of a firm response if any hostile actions originate from the UAE. Iran has warned the UAE that it will take decisive action if any adversarial moves are made from the UAE's direction, following recent missile or drone strikes. President Donald Trump stated that the United States would temporarily halt its plans related to a deal with Iran aimed at ending the Middle East conflict.

US President Trump announced a temporary pause on the 'Freedom Navigation' operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing requests from Pakistan and other countries.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at a mental health and over-medicalization summit in Washington on Monday. The event was hosted by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Institute.

Opposition to the current war among the US public has reached 62 percent, according to a report on BCC News Taiwan. The conflict is also impacting natural gas supplies, for Taiwan's power generation.