Aletho News

Ukrainian drone strike kills 5 civilians in Crimea – governor

RT | May 5, 2026

Five civilians have been killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on the northern Crimean city of Dzhankoy, Governor Sergey Aksyonov has said.

Shortly before reporting the fatalities, Aksyonov warned that Crimea was under attack by Ukrainian drones. He said air defenses and mobile fire teams were engaging the incoming threats and had intercepted at least 12 UAVs. […]

The strike came after Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses had downed 289 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and the Azov Sea the night before. According to the ministry, the raid targeted 19 regions in western and southern Russia. Regional officials reported damage and injuries in several areas.

Ukrainian drone raids on Russian territory have intensified in recent months, with Kiev increasingly deploying large numbers of fixed-wing UAVs against infrastructure, industrial facilities, and residential areas. Moscow has described the strikes as desperate “terrorist attacks” meant to compensate for the setbacks Kiev’s military has been suffering on the battlefield. … Full article

Romania Strikes Back and Humiliates the EU After Their 2024 Electoral Coup

On May 5, 2026, the pro-European government of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan collapsed in a parliamentary no-confidence vote

By Freddie Ponton | 21st Century Wire | May 5, 2026

… The coup of December 2024 exposed the fraud at the heart of “European values.” An election was stolen in plain sight, justified by vague intelligence about algorithms, tools the West itself weaponizes daily through NGOs, think tanks, and social media giants. Georgescu’s ECHR appeal was dismissed. The message couldn’t have been clearer, and reminded Romanians that sovereignty is conditional on obedience.

Now the pro-EU experiment is crumbling from within. Negotiations for a new government will drag on. The same four parties may try to regroup without Bolojan. But the firewall is breached. AUR is no longer marginal. The narrative that only Brussels-approved liberals can govern has been shattered. Romanians have shown they remember who stole their vote.

This is not the end of EU influence in Bucharest, but it is a humiliating defeat for the regime-change architects. The same forces that engineered the 2024 annulment now face the consequences of their overreach. Austerity without legitimacy breeds revolt, while hybrid warfare against your own electorate breeds resistance. … Full article

Trump Adds Zionist Lobbyist to Iran Negotiating Team

By Kurt Nimmo | Another Day in the Empire | May 5, 2026

Donald Trump has appointed Nick Stewart as a negotiator along with the Zionist real estate developer Steve Witkoff and Trump’s settler-friendly son-in-law, Jared Kushner. On Iran, Witkoff is witless, while Kushner is a favorite of fanatical Zionist settlers in Bet El and other settlements on stolen Palestinian land. For Iran, the inclusion of Stewart represents another slap in the face and a further indicator the Zionists run the show in America. … continue

Israel threatens Gaza flotilla activists with death after abduction

Press TV – May 5, 2026

Israeli forces have threatened two Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla activists, seized in international waters last week, with death or long prison terms, according to a rights group representing them.

The two pro-Palestinian activists, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila, were among dozens detained during an Israeli raid on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off Greece on April 30.

On Tuesday, an Israeli court extended their detention until Sunday, May 10.

The legal rights centre Adalah, which represents the pair, said they have been subjected to psychological abuse and held in solitary confinement. According to the group, Israeli officers threatened to kill them or imprison them “for 100 years.”

Both men remain in “total isolation,” subjected to 24/7 high-intensity lighting in their cells and kept blindfolded whenever they are moved, including during medical examinations. They are also being held in very low temperatures, the group added. … continue

Met refuses to probe British nationals accused of war crimes in Gaza

Al Mayadeen | May 5, 2026

The Metropolitan Police has refused to open an investigation into ten British nationals accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the genocide in Gaza. According to Novara Media, the decision follows the submission of a 240-page dossier of evidence by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Public Interest Law Centre.

The Met stated that the material provided “did not meet the threshold required” to launch a formal investigation. This decision came despite support from more than 70 legal experts and proof of the targeted killing of civilians, attacks on hospitals, and the forced displacement of Palestinians involving the nationals between 2023 and 2024.

Human rights barrister Michael Mansfield KC condemned the Met’s refusal as a denial of accountability and a misapplication of legal standards, and legal representatives stressed that the police applied the wrong test by requiring evidence sufficient for prosecution before even opening an investigation. … continue

Armed settler storms Palestinian schoolyard in Jenin, chases students

Palestinian Information Center – May 5, 2026

JENIN – An extremist Jewish settler stormed the courtyard of a Palestinian school in the town of Silat al-Dhahr, south of Jenin in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday morning, driving his vehicle inside and chasing students while brandishing his weapon.

Eyewitnesses reported that an armed settler suddenly drove into the schoolyard, chasing students while aiming his firearm at them, sending them fleeing in panic.

The witnesses added that the settler withdrew from the school and town shortly afterward, with no injuries reported. … Full article

Israeli attacks on Gaza kill civilians, worsen health crisis

Al Mayadeen | May 5, 2026

At least two Palestinians were martyred by Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since early Tuesday, amid continued attacks across multiple areas.

According to reports from Gaza, one civilian was killed in an Israeli aggression near the Kuwait Roundabout, southeast of Gaza City.

In a separate attack, an Israeli airstrike targeted a police station in the Sheikh Radwan area, northwest of Gaza City, killing a child and injuring several police officers and personnel. … Full article

Hezbollah denies activity in Syria amid persistent and false claims

Al Mayadeen | May 5, 2026

Hezbollah’s Media Relations categorically denied the false accusations issued by the Syrian Interior Ministry, which claimed to have dismantled a “Hezbollah-affiliated cell” that was planning to carry out security operations inside Syrian territory.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Hezbollah noted the repeated accusations issued by the Syrian government despite the resistance’s consistent assertions that it maintains no activity in Syria.

It further said that the repetition of such allegations “raises serious questions and confirms that there are those seeking to ignite tension and discord between the Syrian and Lebanese peoples.”

Consequently, Hezbollah said it wishes only well for Syria and its people, and that any threat to Syria’s security would also constitute a threat to Lebanon’s security. It also reiterated that it never sought and would never seek to destabilize the security of any state, stressing that its confrontation remains against the Israeli entity and its expansionist project.

“Hezbollah has been and will remain in a defensive position in confronting the Zionist enemy and its expansionist projects, an enemy of Lebanon and Syria that occupies their lands and covets their resources and the wealth of their peoples,” the statement concluded.

Several statements have been issued by Syria’s transitional leadership accusing Hezbollah of operating inside its territories, which have been consistently rejected. This is also a trend that stretches beyond Syria, with recent fabricated allegations coming out of Bahrain and Kuwait.

Israel targets southern Lebanon with internationally banned phosphorus shells

Press TV – May 5, 2026

The Israeli regime’s forces are using internationally banned white phosphorus shells against civilian areas in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli army shelled towns in Bint Jbeil with white phosphorus munitions on Tuesday, while simultaneous airstrikes hit multiple areas across the Tyre district, according to the Lebanese state news agency NNA (National News Agency).

The towns of Kounine and Beit Yahoun in the Bint Jbeil district were also targeted by Israel with artillery shells containing phosphorus. … Full article

Israeli strike kills two people in southern Lebanon

Palestinian Information Center – May 5, 2026

BEIRUT – Two Lebanese men riding a motorcycle in southern Lebanon were martyred in an Israeli strike on Tuesday.

An Israeli army spokesperson claimed the two men were Hezbollah members and were killed by a drone after they approached Israeli troops operating in the area.

A Lebanese officer and a soldier also sustained minor injuries when Israeli forces targeted their vehicle in the town of Kafra in the Bint Jbeil district.

The Lebanese health ministry reported that the death toll from Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours has risen to 17, bringing the total number of fatalities since March 2 to 2,696, in addition to 8,264 wounded people.

Melkite bishops concerned over Israeli demolitions in South Lebanon

Al Mayadeen | May 5, 2026

The Council of Melkite Greek Catholic Bishops in Lebanon urged on Tuesday both the Lebanese government and the United Nations to take measures to protect civilian property and religious institutions.

The bishops specifically cited Yaroun, where local officials and community representatives say a Melkite convent was destroyed earlier this month alongside other structures, describing the destruction of the buildings as “a deep wound in the national and human conscience”.

According to Christian community figures in Yaroun, the convent belonging to the Melkite tradition was bulldozed by Israeli occupation forces in southern Lebanon.

Adib Ajaka, a local Christian community leader, said the structure was part of a religious complex that also included nearby facilities. He disputed claims that the convent remained intact, stating that rubble near adjacent buildings indicated its destruction.

In turn, the French Catholic charity L’Oeuvre d’Orient condemned the “deliberate act of destruction of a place of worship and the systematic destruction of homes in southern Lebanon aimed at preventing the return of civilian populations”. … continue

Israel’s Obliteration Ecocide from Gaza to Lebanon and Beyond

By Dan Steinbock | Palestine Chronicle | May 3, 2026

Lebanon accuses Israel of committing ecocide in country since 2023. It is an extension of Israel’s destruction of Gaza – and its obliteration doctrine.

Israeli military aggression has “reshaped both the physical and ecological landscape” of southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese report (which does not consider the impacts of Israel’s latest barrage of attacks this spring).

In her foreword, Lebanon’s minister for the environment, Tamara el Zein, notes: “The scale and intentionality of the damage to forests, agricultural lands, marine ecosystems, water resources, and atmospheric quality constitute what must be recognized as an act of ecocide, with consequences that extend far beyond immediate destruction.” … continue

Black tide from US-Israeli aggression on Iran chokes Persian Gulf turtle nesting sanctuary

By Mina Mosallanejad – Press TV – May 5, 2026

Black crude now clings to the shoreline of Shidvar Island – an uninhabited island in the Persian Gulf known for picturesque beaches and blue waters – like a second skin.

Days after US-Israeli military aggression targeted Iran’s civilian oil infrastructure on Lavan Island last month, the pale coral beaches of this protected Persian Gulf sanctuary were swallowed by a continuous band of tar as petroleum pollutants spread across its waters.

What was once an undisturbed crescent of white sand has been transformed into an oily black seam, raising urgent questions about the fate of the hawksbill turtles, migratory seabirds, and coral formations that make Shidvar one of the most ecologically sensitive islands in Iranian waters.

On this tiny, uninhabited refuge – known locally as Maro – there is still no complete accounting of what has happened beneath that black sheen.

Whether nesting turtles managed to crawl ashore to lay their eggs, whether hatchlings suffocated beneath contaminated sand, whether breeding colonies of terns abandoned their nesting grounds, or how much of Iran’s only protected coral reef ecosystem has already absorbed irreversible toxic damage – nothing is clear yet.

What is visible, however, is enough to establish one fact with brutal clarity: the consequences of the US-Israeli war of aggression did not stop at burning fuel depots and damaged refinery channels. They moved outward with the tide.

The contamination traces back to the April 8 attack on the Lavan refinery complex, one of Iran’s major civilian petroleum facilities in the Persian Gulf. Iranian officials say the strike took place even after a ceasefire had been declared, rupturing sections of oil transfer infrastructure and allowing petroleum materials to escape into adjacent marine waters.

From there, Persian Gulf currents pushed the contamination across the southern and eastern beaches of Lavan and through the narrow waters separating Lavan from Shidvar Island – a protected wildlife reserve only about 1.5 kilometers away.

Within days, images from the scene showed long stretches of coastline coated in dark residue, while field inspections confirmed that the spill was no longer a localized refinery accident but the beginning of a wider coastal ecological emergency.

According to Habib Masihi-Taziani, Director General of the Hormozgan Department of Environment, the pollution has affected far more than a single island.

“Nearly the entire coastal strip of Hormozgan – both the islands and the mainland – has suffered extensive petroleum contamination as a result of the enemy’s attack on non-military facilities,” he said. … Full article

US attacks civilian cargo boats heading to Iran’s shores, killing 5 on board

Press TV – May 5, 2026

The United States has attacked two civilian cargo boats heading from the Omani coast to the Iranian shoreline, claiming the lives of at least five people on board, a report says.

Tasnim News Agency reported the development on Tuesday, citing a military source.

The source, meanwhile, refuted the US claims of having targeted speedboats belonging to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), saying, “Instead of targeting IRGC speedboats, the United States, in a blatant crime, opened fire on two small boats carrying civilians’ goods.”

Detailing the developments on the ground following issuance of the false account by Washington, the source said, “Given that none of the IRGC’s combat vessels had been hit, local sources were consulted to verify the nature of the incident.”

“The investigation revealed that US forces had [actually] attacked and fired on two small cargo boats transporting goods belonging to civilians. The boats were traveling from [the town of] Khasab, along the coast of Oman, towards Iranian shores. The attack resulted in the deaths of five civilian passengers.” … Full article

UAE deports tens of thousands of Pakistanis, seizes their savings amid war on Iran: Report

Press TV – May 5, 2026

Authorities in the UAE are conducting a sweeping deportation campaign targeting tens of thousands of Pakistani workers, freezing their bank accounts and stripping them of their life savings amid growing regional fallout from the US-Israeli aggression on Iran.

While initial reports from New Lines Magazine placed the number of expelled individuals at 15,000, Pakistani sources recently confirmed to Press TV that the deportations are continuing at a rapid pace and now affect tens of thousands of workers.

The expulsions target Shia Muslims or individuals who have publicly expressed solidarity with Tehran following the recent US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

Those targeted are being expelled without formal charges or legal recourse. The systematic removals involve sudden arrests, phone confiscations, and transfers between various detention facilities before the workers are forced onto flights back to Pakistan. … continue

Wheels Down in Tbilisi: Was a Routine U.S. Military Stopover a Deliberate Signal to Iran?

By Seth Ferris – New Eastern Outlook – May 5, 2026

A brief and poorly explained landing of a U.S. military transport aircraft in Tbilisi at the end of March 2026 has become a subject of discussion and speculation about its real significance, fueling suspicions that more complex geopolitical signals may lie behind the official explanation of a “routine flight.”

Let’s pull apart the “routine flight” narrative and read between the lines, asking whether a fleeting stopover was less about logistics and more about sending a message — one that Georgia may end up paying for. If you think geopolitics is all press releases and polite diplomacy, think again. I would suggest that what is going on in the shadows, outside of mainstream coverage, is closer to theater — with Georgia cast in a role it never auditioned for.

Start with the headlines: last month, a US Air Force cargo aircraft made a brief stop in Tbilisi, purpose unknown – and just start reverse engineering, taking it apart, and you come up with what is between the lines as to the possible motivations for the US, a strategic ally of Georgia, to be willing to put Iran, its regional partner, in harm’s way. Moreover, it is interesting to know the news sites where this news first appeared, such as Georgian Today, and its history of paid hired gun articles supporting US policy in the region.

It is not as if Georgia and the US do not know that now is not the most opportune time to be perceived as supporting the illegal American-Israeli war against Iran. And let’s not forget C-130 Turkish Cargo Planes falling out of blue Georgian skies. Providing logistic support in a preempted war of aggression is still a recognized crime under the Nuremberg Codex. That puts the provider of such support in the crosshairs of the party being attacked, as has already been demonstrated by Iranian countermeasures, not to mention ‘protective reaction’ strikes in the Gulf States and Jordan. … continue

Macron: France Won’t Join Any Military Action to Open Strait of Hormuz

Al-Manar | May 4, 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Paris won’t take part in any military operation to open Strait of Hormuz, urging the United States and Iran to reopen the waterway in a “coordinated way.”

“What we want above all is a coordinated reopening by the United States and Iran — that is the only solution for reopening the Strait of Hormuz,” Macron said at the 8th European Political Community summit in Armenia’s Yerevan

“We are not going to take part in any military operation in a framework that to me seems unclear,” said the French leader, whose country has with Britain led efforts to assemble a coalition to reopen the strait once peace is secured.

Ships divert from Hormuz Strait, cluster off Dubai coast

Al Mayadeen | May 5, 2026

Hundreds of vessels have moved away from the Strait of Hormuz and gathered off the coast of Dubai, in response to Iranian navigation controls, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the Strait remains largely empty as ships divert from the key transit route, with maritime traffic shifting toward waters near Dubai. Nearly 60 vessels of various types were reported to have sailed to the area, an unusually high number even for waters that have seen tanker clustering since the start of the war. The total number of ships in the area has risen to at least 363, compared to an average of 294 over the previous seven days.

Dubai lies outside the new control zone defined by Tehran in the Strait, which extends southward from the strait to Umm Al Quwain along the UAE coastline and into the Gulf.

The buildup has intensified over the past day, with maritime crews reporting radio broadcasts warning vessels about boundaries enforced by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The force has said that the safety of civilian and commercial shipping in the strait depends on adherence to its naval protocols and prior coordination.

Iranian authorities have continued to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting US claims that vessels have freely transited the waterway under alternative arrangements.

Tehran has maintained since the start of the war that navigation in the strait is now governed by new rules, stating that the passage remains open to ships except those deemed to be supporting hostile actions against Iran.

Officials have also said that vessels must notify Iranian authorities in advance to ensure safe transit under the new framework, which they say is intended to prevent adversaries from using the route to transport weapons or support operations against the country.

In this context, a senior Iranian political-security source told Al Mayadeen on Monday that the Strait is fully under Iran’s control, asserting that this constitutes a clear message from the armed forces to the Americans.

In a series of statements to Al Mayadeen, the senior source warned the US against any action, or its assets would be targeted. “The message to the aggressor Americans is clear: move forward, and you will be targeted,” he said.

He further warned that if Washington’s hostile actions continue, Iran’s strategy in the Strait of Hormuz would be replicated and expanded along other maritime fronts. … Full article

Trump’s second strike on Iran would be suicidal. But that’s not the reason why he won’t go ahead with it

By Martin Jay | Strategic Culture Foundation | May 4, 2026

Trump has been presented with a report sketching out a second-strike plan against Iran’s infrastructure, which he is reported to be mulling over. The media has latched onto terms like “short, powerful” strikes aimed at Iran’s infrastructure – which the author predicted in two previous articles and which, if it were to happen, would occur over the summer period when temperatures reach unbearable levels in the region. But is Trump really serious about it, and does he even understand the extent of Iran’s retaliation? The very fact that Trump has military advisors who are even presenting him with such plans shows, if nothing else, the level of their disconnect from reality and his exaggerated sense of self-importance.

The US already did this the first time round and went through its stocks of ordnance, breaking all records for the volume of missiles used in such a short space of time. It did very little to bring Iran to its knees, rather making it stronger than ever, with greater support. But what it did succeed in doing was giving Iran a dry run with such an attack and allowing it to learn a great deal about how to cope with one. Militarily, Iran has never been stronger, more focused and more technologically advanced. For Trump to believe he has a shot at a second go is not only unrealistic but sheer madness in terms of what the US – and to a lesser extent Israel – is going to have to deal with as a response. Iran will almost certainly reduce Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure to dust, which experts estimate would take ten years to rebuild. … continue

UK chancellor, US treasury chief clashed ‘fiercely’ over aggression against Iran at IMF meeting: Report

Press TV – May 5, 2026

A heated exchange took place between British Chancellor of the Exchequer and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over the American-Israeli aggression against Iran during last month’s IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, according to a report.

The Financial Times carried the report on Tuesday, saying the officials had a “fierce row” on the sidelines of the gathering, clashing over the consequences of the aggression.

The disagreement followed remarks by Reeves, in which she said she was “not convinced” that “we are safer today than we were a few weeks ago.”

According to the Financial Times, Bessent responded by “berate[ing]” Reeves, arguing that the world had become “safer” as a result of the joint attacks. The report added that he even invoked, what he called, the “possibility” of Tehran’s launching a “nuclear attack on London.”

Reeves reacted strongly to the remarks, responding “angrily by telling Bessent she did not work for him and disliked how he had spoken to her,” the report noted.

She reiterated her concerns about the aggression, saying that it lacked clear objectives and had not necessarily improved global security.

Ahead of the IMF meetings, Reeves had already expressed criticism of the aggression in comments to the Daily Mirror.

“This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want. I feel very frustrated and angry that the US went into this war without a clear exit plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve. And as a result, the Strait of Hormuz is now blocked.” … Full article

Gottheimer and Lawler File Resolution, Encouraging Platforms to Censor Online Commentators

By Cindy Harper | Reclaim The Net | May 4, 2026

Two members of Congress have introduced a resolution pressuring social media and streaming platforms to deplatform two specific online commentators by name.

Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) filed H.Res.123, calling on tech companies to take “appropriate steps to enforce their policies against hate speech and prevent the spread of antisemitic content.”

The two people the resolution singles out are Hasan Piker, a popular Twitch streamer, and Candace Owens, a popular political podcaster.

The resolution arrives wrapped in language about combating antisemitism but it is nevertheless, a direct governmental push to deplatform commentary. […]

Gottheimer offered the moral framing. “Hatred is hatred, period,” he said. “We must stand up and speak out. I get that speaking up is not easy, but our constituents didn’t elect us to always take the easy path. That’s what principled leadership is all about.”

Last year, Senate Democrats introduced their own resolution condemning Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson after Carlson interviewed Fuentes on his podcast.

Every round picks new names but the idea stays the same. Congress identifies disfavored speakers, frames their speech as a category of harm that platforms have a duty to address, and lets corporate moderation do the work the First Amendment forbids the government from doing directly.

The resolution itself is non-binding. Its purpose is to send a signal to platforms about which voices Congress would prefer to see disappear, with the implicit understanding that the lawmakers asking now will be the same ones writing rules later if the platforms don’t oblige. – Full article

Palantir touts record expansion and ‘battlefield’ AI value

RT | May 4, 2026

Palantir Technologies reported a blowout first quarter, saying revenue rose 85% year on year to $1.63 billion as its US business more than doubled, driven by rapid growth across both commercial and government customers.

The company said in its Q1 report, published Monday, that US revenue jumped 104% to $1.28 billion, with commercial revenue up 133% to $595 million and government revenue up 84% to $687 million. The results beat Wall Street estimates, and the company also raised its full-year guidance, saying it now expects 2026 revenue of up to $7.66 billion, implying annual growth of about 71%. … continue

Israeli telecom networks used for mass surveillance across countries

Al Mayadeen | May 4, 2026

A probe by the digital research group Citizen Lab has uncovered that telecommunications infrastructure owned by Israeli companies has been weaponized to track citizens in more than 10 countries over the past three years, exploiting decades-old network protocols and modern 5G systems to transform them into sophisticated tracking devices.

According to a report published by the Israeli news outlet Haaretz, the investigation revealed that infrastructure ranging from legacy networks built in the 1970s to the latest 5G systems has been repurposed into surveillance tools using advanced spyware programs. Since November 2022, over 15,700 attempts to pinpoint phone locations have been detected across numerous countries, including Thailand, South Africa, Norway, Bangladesh and Malaysia, all routed through the networks of “Israel”-based telecommunications firms. … continue

Israel Army Demolishes A Palestinian Home Near Hebron

IMEMC | May 4, 2026

Israeli occupation forces demolished a 2-storey Palestinian home on Monday in the village of ad‑Deerat, east of Yatta in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, in the latest incident in a growing pattern of demolitions targeting Palestinian communities in the area.

Local anti‑colonization activist Osama Makhmara stated that Israeli forces invaded the village and demolished the two‑story home of Radi Al‑Jabarin and his son Monir. The structure, which measured roughly 300 square meters, housed about 15 family members. … Full article

Israeli Colonizers Steal Equipment, Attack International Volunteers

IMEMC | May 4, 2026

Illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers on Monday stormed Khirbet al‑Tawil, east of Aqraba near Nablus in the occupied West Bank’s northern part, and stole equipment belonging to Palestinian electricity technicians working in the community.

Local sources reported that a group of colonizers invaded the area, surrounded the technicians’ vehicle, and stole several pieces of equipment.

They added that the colonizers then assaulted international volunteers who were present to support residents facing escalating attacks and violations.

Two days earlier, another group of colonizers had sabotaged the main electricity lines, causing a full power outage in the community as part of ongoing assaults targeting Palestinian infrastructure and civilian presence.

Also Monday, an Israeli colonizer attempted to ram a Palestinian woman in the village of Al‑Maniya, southeast of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, as she was crossing the main road in the village. … Full article

Israeli attacks on Gaza kill several as ceasefire violations continue

Al Mayadeen | May 4, 2026

Israeli attacks on the central and northern areas of the Gaza Strip have resulted in multiple Palestinian casualties, as violations of the so-called ceasefire continue.

According to local sources, at least three Palestinians were martyred and several others injured in separate incidents on Monday, amid ongoing Israeli military operations across the besieged enclave.

An Israeli drone targeted a group of civilians in the Al-Bureij refugee camp, killing Anas Hamad and wounding several others.

The attack forms part of a broader pattern of aerial strikes reported across central Gaza, where densely populated areas continue to face repeated bombardment.

In southern Gaza City, 22-year-old Yahya Mousa al-Araj was killed in an Israeli strike on Street 10 in the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood.

Separately, Israeli occupation forces opened fire in the al-Atatra area in northern Gaza, killing 42-year-old Mousa Salem Fathi al-Abyad. … Full article

Israeli attacks on Lebanon kill six civilians

Palestinian Information Center – May 4, 2026

BEIRUT – At least six people were martyred and others were injured in Israeli strikes on towns in southern Lebanon on Monday.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that four people were killed in two Israeli airstrikes on the town of Yohmor al-Shaqif in the south of the country.

Two other citizens were also killed in an Israeli aerial attack on the town of Shehour in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district, amid a series of strikes across the area.

Lebanon’s National News Agency said Israeli strikes also targeted the towns of Debaal and Qana in the same district following prior military warnings ordering residents to leave several towns in southern Lebanon.

Earlier in the day, Israeli warplanes struck Zawtar al-Sharqiya in the Nabatieh district, while another airstrike hit Baraachit in the Bint Jbeil district. The town of Mansouri in Tyre district also came under artillery fire.

In response, Hezbollah announced that its fighters had carried out several attacks targeting gatherings of Israeli soldiers and military sites in southern Lebanon, involving direct shelling and anti-tank missiles.

The resistance group said its operations were in retaliation for Israeli attacks and ceasefire violations.

US claim of sinking Iranian boats ‘a lie’, senior military official tells IRIB

Press TV – May 4, 2026

A senior Iranian military official has rejected a claim by the United States military that it has sunk several Iranian boats as part of an attempt to open the Strait of Hormuz, the IRIB News reports.

The statement by the unidentified commander was cited in a Monday report by the IRIB News, where the official reacted to comments by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) about an alleged confrontation between Iranian and US naval forces in regional waters earlier in the day.

“The US claim regarding the sinking of a number of Iranian combat boats is a lie,” said the commander. … continue

New KC-46 Supertankers Promise Israel Conventional Samson Option Strike Сapability

Sputnik – 04.05.2026

The first of six customized, Boeing KC-46 ‘Gideon’ tankers has completed its maiden flight in the US, and will be delivered to Israel in about a month’s time, the Israeli Defense Ministry has announced.

The twin-engined ‘next-gen stealth tanker’ aircraft feature:

• standard 767 airframe married to new tech
• remote vision
• fly-by-wire refueling boom
• anti-jamming and secure datalinks
• the ability to refuel multiple jets (including F-35Is) simultaneously
• one tanker can support up to a dozen combat aircraft.

KC-46s can also be customized for refueler, cargo or passenger roles, and have a standard range of 11.8 k km and a 29.5k kg cargo or 96.3k kg fuel payload. They can also tap into their own fuel cargo, effectively giving them a global range.

Jpost says the planes will be a “game-changer in providing Israel much greater independence” to target Iran, Yemen, “and any other potential distant adversaries in the future, even if some later US administration may oppose such a strike.”

The planes could also provide Israel with something equivalent to a conventional Samson Option – a non-nuclear variant of a scary scenario where the IDF lashes out at enemies and allies alike if its home defenses are overrun.

Separately this week, Israel approved the purchase of additional F-35s and F-15s to double existing stockpiles from 50-100 and 25-50, respectively.

No, New York Times, We Don’t Need to Dam the Bering Strait

By Anthony Watts | Climate Realism | April 29, 2026

The New York Times (NYT) reports in “A New Idea to Save the Climate? Dam the Bering Strait.” that scientists have proposed building a 50-mile-long dam between Alaska and Russia to stabilize the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) in order to prevent climate catastrophe. This is a seriously risky idea. The proposal is not an engineering plan grounded in observational need, but rather is computer-model thought experiment based on speculative tipping-point scenarios not justified by data concerning the AMOC or an understanding of what the possible future consequences might be for humans, the oceans, and sea life.

The author describes an article published in Science Advances where the idea of a cross continental dam across the Bering Strait is proposed as a “proof of concept,” noting that the dam could, under certain modeled conditions, prevent an AMOC collapse. It further explains that the findings come from a computer model of Earth’s climate, not from direct evidence that the AMOC is about to fail. That distinction is critical. … continue

Gates-Funded ‘Big Catch-Up’ Delivers 100 Million Vaccine Doses — Including High-Risk DTP Vaccine Not Used in US

By Brenda Baletti, Ph.D. | The Defender | April 27, 2026

More than 18 million children in 36 countries across Africa and Asia were vaccinated as part of “The Big Catch-Up,” a global initiative launched in April 2023 and concluded last month. … continue

1977 Influenza Pandemic Sequence Shows Signs of Laboratory Creation: Journal ‘Cell’

NIH/NIAID-funded, peer-reviewed analysis finds defining sequence carries patterns consistent with controlled handling—meaning it looks man-made.

By Jon Fleetwood | April 19, 2026

A newly published study in Cell reports that the genetic sequence associated with the 1977 influenza pandemic carries clear, measurable patterns consistent with laboratory handling.

Meaning it appears man-made.

The analysis was led by scientists at UC San Diego, UCLA, Temple University, Cornell University, the University of Arizona, and The Scripps Research Institute. … continue

Government Kills the Spirit

By Ron Paul | May 4, 2026

One of the industries hardest hit by the spike in fuel prices caused by the Iran War is airlines. Jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the war. Airlines have reacted to the fuel price increase by raising fares and baggage fees, as well as by cutting routes.

Raising prices is not a good option for “budget” airlines since their main appeal to consumers is their low prices. Increasing prices could cause these carriers to lose business.

The financial strain from the increased fuel costs led discount airline Spirit to ask the Trump administration for a bailout. President Trump said a bailout would be conditioned on Spirit giving the government an ownership stake in the company. Spirit was unable to reach a deal with the government, so Spirit went out of business on Saturday. However, several other budget airlines are seeking a government bailout. … continue

Ukrainian strike kills two civilians in Russia – governor

RT | May 4, 2026

Two civilians were killed and four injured in Ukrainian drone strikes in Belgorod Region, Russia on Sunday, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

A drone struck a car carrying a married couple and their son in the village of Nechyaevka, the governor said on Telegram. The father and son were killed at the scene; the man’s wife was hospitalized.

A young man and a teenage girl were injured in an attack on a commercial building in the city of Gubkin. Both were sitting in a car parked outside. The girl was hospitalized with a brain injury and remains in critical condition. Another woman was injured in a separate strike in the regional capital, Belgorod. According to the governor, nearly a dozen residential buildings were damaged. … Full article

Russia warns of escalating NATO military activity in Baltic region

Al Mayadeen | May 4, 2026

Russia has accused NATO of significantly expanding its military operations in the Baltic Sea, particularly near the Kaliningrad region, warning that the alliance’s growing presence poses risks to regional stability and international navigation.

Artem Bulatov, special envoy at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that NATO is intensifying efforts to enhance its combat capabilities and infrastructure in areas adjacent to Kaliningrad, pointing to a sustained military buildup under various operational frameworks.

According to Bulatov, NATO launched its Baltic Sentry mission in January 2025 under the stated aim of protecting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, while continuing extensive air patrols and expanding the scope of its exercises. … continue

No commercial ship or oil tanker transited Strait of Hormuz in past hours: IRGC

Press TV – May 4, 2026

No commercial vessels or oil tankers have transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past several hours, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Monday, dismissing recent US claims as “baseless and outright false.”

In a statement issued by the IRGC’s Public Relations Office, the elite force stressed that maritime movements in breach of its declared naval regulations will face serious risks, and that any violating vessel will be stopped forcefully.

“No commercial or tanker vessels have transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past several hours,” the statement read. “US officials’ claims are baseless and outright false.”

The US military said earlier that two US Navy guided-missile destroyers had entered the Persian Gulf and that two American ships had transited the Strait of Hormuz, after the Iranian Navy said it repelled a US warship approaching the strategic waterway, which has remained under Iranian control since the early days of the war. … continue

Iran Navy confirms it fired missiles, drones to warn US warships approaching Hormuz Strait

Press TV – May 4, 2026

The Iranian Navy has fired missiles and drones to warn US warships approaching the Strait of Hormuz in an attempt to challenge Iran’s control over the key waterway in the Persian Gulf.

The Navy said in a Monday statement that it was forced to fire cruise missiles, combat drones, and rockets near US warships that had ignored its warnings not to approach the Strait.

The statement said the warships had turned off their transponders and attempted to approach the Strait in “dark mode” before reactivating their radars.

The Navy said its forces had warned the ships that any attempt to approach the Strait of Hormuz would be a violation of the ceasefire announced in early April, which had allowed a halt to the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

“At this stage, after the US-Zionist destroyers ignored the initial warning, the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran fired warning shots with cruise missiles, rockets, and combat drones near the aggressors’ vessels,” it said. … Full article

How ‘Israel’s’ Iran regime change plot failed – again

Al Mayadeen | May 4, 2026

Kit Klarenberg details how the US-Israeli regime change plan against Iran, built on covert operations, assassination, and insurgency, collapsed amid miscalculation and overconfidence, exposing deep strategic delusions in Washington and Tel Aviv. … Read article

Iran rejects Trump’s ‘Project Freedom,’ warns US over Hormuz role

Al Mayadeen | May 4, 2026

Iran has strongly rejected United States President Donald Trump’s announcement of a naval initiative dubbed “Project Freedom,” warning that any American involvement in the management of the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the existing ceasefire framework.

Head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian Parliament, Ebrahim Azizi, issued a sharp warning to Washington,  saying that any US interference in the emerging maritime arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz would breach ceasefire understandings. … continue

The US Sanctions Empire Runs Into China’s Great Wall

By Freddie Ponton | 21st Century Wire | May 4, 2026

… Beijing’s legal response does not end with telling firms to ignore Washington. Under China’s anti-sanctions and anti-extraterritorial framework, companies harmed by compliance with U.S. measures can seek relief in Chinese courts, while firms that help enforce those measures can face compensation claims, entity-list penalties, or wider trade restrictions. The point is not simply to protest American pressure, but to make obedience to that pressure more legally and commercially costly inside China itself. If Beijing follows this route through, it will be testing whether U.S. sanctions can still function as a near-automatic language of global commerce, or whether they now collide with a rival legal order prepared to punish compliance

Beijing’s challenge does not stop at Chinese law. It is also building a broader legal case that U.S. secondary sanctions and pressure on third parties violate basic norms of international law by extending American domestic measures beyond U.S. jurisdiction. That argument can be pushed through several channels at once, from Chinese courts and counter-sanctions rules at home to World Trade Organization disputes over trade-distorting measures and broader appeals to the United Nations, where unilateral coercive measures have repeatedly been challenged as incompatible with the UN Charter and human rights law. The point is not that these forums will suddenly stop Washington, but that China is assembling a legal and diplomatic record to show that punishing third countries for refusing U.S. dictates is not a rules-based order.

What Washington presents as sanctions enforcement, Beijing is increasingly preparing to cast as unlawful coercion against third countries in a world no longer willing to treat U.S. jurisdiction as global destiny. … Full article

China issues first prohibition order to safeguard international trade order under rule of law

People’s Daily | May 3, 2026

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Saturday issued a prohibition order in accordance with Rules on Counteracting Unjustified Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Legislation and Other Measures (the 2021 Blocking Rules), which explicitly stated that China shall not recognize, enforce, or give effect to the unilateral sanctions imposed by the US, which listed five Chinese petrochemical enterprises on the Specially Designated Nationals List and imposed asset freezes and transaction bans on grounds of alleged oil transactions with Iran.

This move marks a crucial step for China’s foreign-related legal tools to move from institutional framework to practical enforcement. Leveraging the power of the rule of law, China has delivered a targeted response to US long-arm jurisdiction. The move defends the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises while heeding the international community’s widespread call to oppose hegemony, injecting justice into efforts to safeguard the international economic order. … continue

Ukrainian drone hits skyscraper in Moscow

RT | May 3, 2026

A Ukrainian drone has struck a residential skyscraper not far from Moscow’s business district, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said.

The UAV struck the 52-story residential building known as the House on Mosfilmovskaya Street, a modernist landmark built in the early 2010s.

The impact reportedly occurred around the 36th floor. Sobyanin said there were no casualties.

Photos and videos from the scene show damage to the facade and debris scattered on the street. … Full article

“STAGED”: Conspiracy Theories Are Everywhere!

We can’t imagine why…

By Kevin Barrett | May 3, 2026

On April 23, the 410th death anniversary of William “All the World’s a Stage” Shakespeare (and his trusty Hispanic sidekick Cervantes) CNN published a thought piece entitled “How Would an Assassination Attempt Be Staged?” Two days later, on April 25, somebody staged yet another Trump assassination attempt, this time at the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington, DC Hilton. … continue

Gaza aid flotilla activists tortured in Israeli custody after being kidnapped in international waters: testimony

Press TV – May 3, 2026

New testimony has disclosed that two international activists abducted by Israeli forces after the humanitarian Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted in international waters earlier this week have suffered torture, beatings, and medical neglect.

According to a statement by the Global Sumud Flotilla, Israeli forces abducted the pro-Palestinian campaigners near Crete, and then transferred them to Shikma Prison in the city of Ashkelon in the southern part of the occupied territories.

The abductees, identified as Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, remain in custody without charges.

The Brazilian embassy said in a statement that Ávila showed visible injuries during a monitored visit. Diplomats said he described torture, beatings, and severe pain, especially in his shoulder.

The activist could not speak freely during the visit, as Israeli prison officials separated him from embassy staff by glass. … Full article

Israeli minister Ben-Gvir boasts noose-decorated cake on his birthday

Press TV – May 3, 2026

Israel’s so-called security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has celebrated his 50th birthday with a cake depicting a hanging noose and a Hebrew phrase reading “Dreams sometimes come true,” in reference to the passage of a controversial death penalty for Palestinian abductees.

Ben-Gvir, who oversees the police, celebrated his birthday at a venue in the agricultural community of Emunim, near Ashdod in the southern flank of the Israeli-occupied territories, on Saturday night. On the guest list were fellow senior politicians, far-right activists, and members of the police’s General Command Staff.

A photo posted on Instagram by the far-right minister showed that he had been presented with a large three-tier cake, topped with a golden noose — a reference to the controversial law mandating the death penalty for Palestinian abductees, which has long been championed by Ben-Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party and which was passed by the Knesset in March. … Full article

Fresh Israeli attacks in occupied West Bank kill 1 Palestinian, injure several others

MEMO | May 3, 2026

One Palestinian was killed and five others, including a child, were injured on Sunday in Israeli attacks in Nablus, a city in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, the Health Ministry said, Anadolu reports.

“26-year-old Nayef Firas Ziyad Samaro was killed, and four others were injured by live ammunition, during an Israeli military raid on the city of Nablus,” the ministry said. […]

According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli forces stormed the city, raided and searched several shops amid heavy military deployment, with no arrests reported.

In East Jerusalem, the governorate said a 13-year-old child was injured after being beaten by Israeli forces in the northern part of the city. … Full article

Jewish settlers bulldoze 1,000 olive trees in West Bank town

Palestinian Information Center – May 3, 2026

RAMALLAH – A group of extremist Jewish settlers uprooted and destroyed at least 1,000 olive trees in the town of Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on Sunday morning.

Abdullah Awad, a member of the Turmus Ayya municipal council, said settlers accompanied by a bulldozer from the illegal Shilo settlement stormed the al‑Sahel area at dawn, leveling farmland and uprooting long‑standing, fruit‑bearing olive trees across roughly 50 dunums of land owned by Palestinian families from the town.

For nearly three years, settler groups have been attacking the al-Sahel area of the town, blocking farmers from reaching their lands and repeatedly destroying olive groves, according to Awad. … Full article

US, Israel Reject Hamas Proposal to Disarm in Exchange for Palestinian Statehood

By Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute | May 3, 2026

The US and Israel have rejected a peace proposal from Hamas that would see the Palestinian group disarm in the process of the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

A senior Palestinian source speaking with Middle East Eye said that Hamas and other Palestinian factions sent the US and Israel the framework of an agreement to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza. The proposal includes the disarmament of Palestinian factions in Gaza in exchange for the granting of political rights for the Palestinian people “within the national framework.”

The senior Palestinian official said that the offer was rejected by the US and Israel. Washington and Tel Aviv are demanding that Hamas disarm before a new government is established in Gaza.

In October, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire brokered by President Donald Trump. While Hamas has upheld its commitments under the deal, including the return of all Israeli captives, Israel has refused to end attacks on Gaza or allow sufficient aid to enter the Strip.

Under that agreement, Hamas said it would be willing to disarm as part of the creation of an independent Palestinian state. However, Israel and the US have changed the demand to require Hamas to give up its arms before the IDF ends the occupation of Gaza.

Since the start of the ceasefire in October, Israel has killed over 700 Palestinians.

Israeli Army Kills Two Palestinians, Including a Child, in Gaza

IMEMC | May 3, 2026

The Israeli army continued its violations of the ceasefire agreement for the 206th consecutive day, killing two Palestinians on Sunday, including a child in Khan Younis, as Israeli forces carried out additional assaults across the Gaza Strip.

Medical sources reported that Riyad Naji Nimir Abu Nimir, 15, was killed when an Israeli drone dropped an explosive device toward a group of civilians in the Qizan Abu Rashwan area south of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

He sustained fatal shrapnel injuries before reaching the hospital, while others were wounded in the same attack.

Also in Khan Younis, a Palestinian man was killed after Israeli soldiers shot him near the Bani Suheila town junction east of the city. Medical teams transported his body to a local hospital, where he was officially pronounced dead.

Israeli forces also carried out a demolition attack at dawn east of Khan Younis, using explosives to destroy structures in the area.

Tanks also opened heavy fire toward eastern Khan Younis, while artillery units shelled the eastern edges of Gaza City, including the Tuffah neighborhood.

In northern Gaza, Israeli soldiers fired live rounds at displaced Palestinians in Jabalia refugee camp, injuring two, including a child.

On Saturday evening, Israeli occupation aircraft killed one Palestinian in the vicinity of the Al‑Qastal Towers east of Deir Al‑Balah in the central Gaza Strip. … Full article

Israeli Uri Tzafon group promoting settlement in southern Lebanon

Al Mayadeen | May 3, 2026

A report broadcast by the Israeli channel Kan revealed the reemergence of the Uri Tzafon settler group, which is openly advocating for Israeli settlement in Lebanon. The movement includes academics and pundits seeking to establish Jewish settlements inside Lebanese territory with backing from ministers in the Israeli occupation government.

The Uri Tzafon movement has moved beyond theoretical proposals into field activity. According to the report, activists and their families, including Dr. Amos Azaria, conducted tours inside Lebanese territory accompanied by their children.

During one field visit, an activist stated, “We are here inside Lebanon, we can see the border from the inside, and this land will be populated by Jews as soon as possible”.

The movement’s founder, Israeli biologist Anna Slutskin, argued that “Israel’s victory in wars is measured by the occupation of land”, adding that the initiative was partly inspired by her brother, an Israeli soldier killed in Gaza, whose dream was to settle on Lebanese lands.

Professor Azaria said the settlement project in Lebanon is no different from settlement expansion in the occupied Syrian Golan or the West Bank, emphasizing that activists are willing to challenge existing laws by creating unauthorized settlement outposts. … Full article

Israeli Army Withdraws Bulldozers from Southern Lebanon after Hezbollah Drone Attacks

Al-Manar | May 3, 2026

Israeli media outlets, citing the Hebrew daily Israel Hayom, reported that the Israeli occupation army has, over the past two days, withdrawn most of the bulldozers previously used to demolish infrastructure in southern Lebanese villages.

According to the report, the decision followed a series of drone attacks by Hezbollah Lebanese resistance, which exposed the vulnerability of these vehicles and effectively disrupted their ability to continue operating in the field.

The move comes amid growing debate within the Zionist entity over the mounting challenges of conducting operations near the frontier, particularly in light of what Israeli media describe as an escalating drone threat by Hezbollah.

In the latest weeks, Hezbollah has increasingly deployed drones as part of its tactical response to the ongoing Israeli aggression, targeting Israeli military targets and attempting to limit Israeli operational freedom.

Israel launches over 14 airstrikes across southern Lebanon

Al Mayadeen | May 3, 2026

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon reported that the Israeli occupation carried out a wide-scale aggression over the past hours, launching a series of intense airstrikes targeting several areas in southern Lebanon. The total number of raids recorded in recent hours has exceeded 15, targeting multiple towns.

The aerial aggression focused on the Tyre district, where the occupation targeted the town of Srifa with four consecutive airstrikes.

The attacks also struck Siddiqine and al-Shehabiyeh. This coincided with hostile artillery shelling targeting the outskirts of al-Mansouri, al-Qlayleh, and the hills of Majdal Zoun.

An Israeli drone also targeted a motorcycle in the town of Jwayya in the Tyre district, resulting in two injuries. The wounded were transferred to the hospital.

In the Nabatieh district, Israeli warplanes struck the town of Arabsalim, destroying a residential and commercial building, while two separate airstrikes hit and demolished a house in Jibchit. … Full article

Ukrainian drone strikes Europe’s largest nuclear power plant – operator

RT | May 3, 2026

The Ukrainian military has targeted an external radiation control laboratory at Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the facility’s press service has said in a statement on Telegram.

Ukrainian forces have repeatedly attacked Europe’s largest nuclear facility since it came under Russian control in 2022, soon after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. The power plant is located in Zaporozhye Region, which officially voted to join Russia in a fall 2022 referendum.

The laboratory targeted in the Sunday attack facilitates the round-the-clock monitoring of the radiological environment at the plant and is vital for planning any emergency response operations, the press service said.

“Such actions pose a threat not only for the nuclear security but also the for the radiological environment control system,” it added, warning that any damage to the laboratory could affect the timely assessment of the situation and response in case of emergency. … Full article

NATO courts screenwriters to embed alliance messaging in film, TV

Al-Mayadeen | May 3, 2026

NATO has been quietly holding closed-door meetings with film and television writers, directors, and producers across Europe and the United States, in what critics are denouncing as a coordinated effort to embed the military alliance’s messaging into mainstream entertainment.

According to The Guardian, the initiative has already spanned sessions in Los Angeles, Brussels, and Paris, with a fourth meeting planned for London next month, where NATO officials are set to meet with members of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB).

The meetings, held under Chatham House rules, meaning participants may use information discussed but are not permitted to identify other attendees, focus on what organizers describe as the “evolving security situation in Europe and beyond.”

A WGGB email reviewed by The Guardian indicated that three separate projects are already in development that were “inspired, at least in part,” by those conversations. … continue

Iran says it is reviewing US response to 14-point plan delivered via Pakistani intermediary

Press TV – May 3, 2026

Iran confirmed on Sunday that the United States has delivered its response to Tehran’s proposed 14-point plan through Pakistani mediators, and that the Islamic Republic is currently reviewing the document.

“The Americans have given their answer to Iran’s 14-point plan to the Pakistani side, and we are currently reviewing it,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a televised interview.

He clarified that the Iranian proposal is exclusively focused on ending the US-Israeli aggression against Iran and hostilities in the region and contains no provisions related to the country’s nuclear program.

“The plan we have presented is centered on ending the war. There are absolutely no details regarding the country’s nuclear issues in this proposal,” Baghaei said.

He dismissed recent reports, including a piece by Al Jazeera, which claimed the 14-point plan included a 15-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear activities and potential US-Iran cooperation on mine-sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

“These are among the things that I believe are fabricated by the imagination of some media outlets. No such thing exists in the plan,” the spokesman said. … Full article

A few observations on Iran’s latest proposal to Trump

By Trita Parsi | May 3, 2026

A few observations on what has been reported as Iran’s three-phase proposal to the United States. I have been able to confirm some elements, though not all. … continue

‘I urged that our objective be regime change… so did Netanyahu’ – ex-Trump adviser on Iran

RT | May 3, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has encouraged President Donald Trump to carry out a regime change operation in Iran for many years, former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has told Afshin Rattansi, host of ‘New World’.

West Jerusalem wanted Trump to launch an attack on Tehran already during his first presidential term and continued lobbying for it during his second one, Bolton said, who served between 2018 and 2019.

“I urged that our objective be regime change, so did Netanyahu,” he told Rattansi, explaining that “There is no change in what Trump has been hearing from” the Israeli prime minister over the years. He nevertheless denied that Trump’s decision to launch the attack in late February was influenced by Israel.

Bolton criticized the president for what he called the lack of a clear goal in his campaign against the Islamic Republic and said Trump had failed to “make the case to the American people” about “why the regime change in Iran is necessary” – despite it supposedly being a “very compelling one.”

Known for his hawkish foreign policy views, Bolton maintained that the US should continue to pursue regime change in Iran and claimed that the government in Tehran is “crumbling” from within. However, the former White House official came up short on any specific strategy the US could use to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping remains severely disrupted by the Iran conflict.

Watch the full interview here.

Iran replaces UAE ports with Pakistan corridor to break US blockade

Al Mayadeen | May 3, 2026

Pakistan has officially authorised the transit of goods into Iran through its territory and ports, positioning Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar as key logistical gateways for Iranian trade while Washington’s maritime blockade attempts to strangle the Islamic Republic’s access to global commerce, Tasnim News Agency reported.

Islamabad’s Ministry of Commerce issued the Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026 on April 25, bringing it into immediate effect. The order, which activates a bilateral road transport agreement signed with Tehran in 2008 but never previously used, opens six overland routes linking Pakistan’s three main ports to two Iranian border crossings, Gabd and Taftan, through Balochistan.

The announcement coincided with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The Gwadar-Gabd corridor, the shortest of the designated routes, reduces travel time to the Iranian border to between two and three hours and is projected to cut transport costs by 45 to 55 percent compared with routing cargo through Karachi, according to Pakistani officials. … continue

Gas prices hit new high in US amid Trump’s threats to continue war against Iran

Press TV – May 3, 2026

Gas prices in the US reached a new record again, as President Donald Trump threatens to continue the war of aggression against Iran.

The average price of regular gas in the US hit $4.30 a gallon on Thursday, up 27 cents from a week prior, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), which sets a new high since the US-Israeli aggression against Iran began.

With its average gas prices surpassing $6 a gallon as of Thursday, California stood out from the rest of the US on AAA’s map outlining the country’s fuel prices. … Full article

Iran sets one-month deadline for end to US-Israeli war, blockade: Report

The Cradle | May 3, 2026

The Islamic Republic has set a one-month deadline for an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz and a full end to the wars on both Iran and Lebanon, sources told US media outlet Axios on 3 May.

Iran “set a one-month deadline for negotiations on a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the US naval blockade and permanently end the war in Iran and in Lebanon,” the sources said. “Per the Iranian proposal, only after such a deal is reached, another month of negotiations would be launched to try and reach a deal on the nuclear program,” they added.

On the same day, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization said in a social media post: “Iran sets Pentagon a blockade deadline. China, Russia, Europe shift tone against Washington. Trump’s passive letter to Congress. Acceptance of Iran’s negotiating terms. There is only one way to read this: Trump must choose between ‘an impossible military operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran.’ The room for US decision-making has narrowed.” … continue

At the edge of the Strait: A superpower in a narrow sea

Al Mayadeen | May 3, 2026

Mahmood Rehman, drawing on his maritime experience, argues that US naval dominance in Hormuz does not translate into control in confined waters. Washington is strategically trapped, facing Iran’s asymmetric strengths in a narrow and high-stakes maritime environment. … Read article

Leader’s advisor warns US carriers, says graveyard ready for ‘pirates’

Press TV – May 3, 2026

A senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei says the United States is the “only pirate in the world that possesses aircraft carriers,” warning that such carriers will face destruction if tensions escalate.

Mohsen Rezaei, a former chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said in an X post on Sunday that Iran’s ability to confront “pirates” is no less than its ability to “sink warships.”

“Prepare to face a graveyard of your carriers and forces, just as the wreckage of your aircraft was left behind in Isfahan,” he wrote. … Full article