EXPLAINER
Trump heads to Beijing for high-stakes talks with Xi Jinping as tensions over the Iran battle and the Strait of Hormuz proceed to escalate.
Printed On 13 Might 202613 Might 2026
United States President Donald Trump departed for Beijing on Tuesday for a high-stakes summit with Chinese language President Xi Jinping, pronouncing the 2 leaders would dangle a “long talk” on Iran whilst business stays the principle center of attention of the talk over with.
The summit comes as tensions over the battle involving Iran proceed to escalate, with Tehran accusing Washington and Israel of fabricating “justifications for atrocity”, whilst Trump insists the battle will finish “peacefully or otherwise”.
In the meantime, Kuwait mentioned it arrested 4 alleged individuals of Iran’s Islamic Modern Guard Corps (IRGC) accused of making plans “hostile” actions after making an attempt to go into the rustic by the use of Bubiyan Island, whilst Qatar has accused Tehran of “weaponising” the Strait of Hormuz and the use of it to “blackmail” Gulf states as necessary power provides stay trapped within the area.
Here’s what we all know:
In Iran
Iran presses US on peace proposal: Iran’s leader negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mentioned Washington will have to settle for Tehran’s newest peace plan or face failure. His feedback got here after Trump, who faces rising drive over the battle’s affect on america economic system, mentioned on Monday the US-Iran ceasefire was once on “life support” and that he was once making an allowance for restarting naval escorts during the Strait of Hormuz.
File says Iran keeps missile power: The New York Occasions reported Tuesday that labeled US intelligence exams say Iran nonetheless has considerable missile functions, with about 70 % of its cellular launchers and pre-war missile stockpile nonetheless in motion, and has restored get right of entry to to 30 of 33 missile websites alongside the Strait of Hormuz.
Warfare international relations
Chinese language supertanker crosses Hormuz: Chinese language crude oil supertanker Yuan Hua Hu was once reportedly transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, ship-tracking knowledge confirmed, passing Iran’s Larak Island whilst heading out of the Gulf.
Hezbollah laws out disarmament talks: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem mentioned his team’s guns weren’t a part of coming near near ceasefire negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. “This is an internal Lebanese matter and not part of negotiations with the enemy,” he mentioned prior to the 3rd spherical of Lebanon-Israel talks scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Qatar warns over Hormuz drive: Qatar’s high minister mentioned Iran will have to now not use the Strait of Hormuz, blocked since early within the battle, as a way of “blackmail” in opposition to Gulf states. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani additionally mentioned a up to date talk over with to Washington was once geared toward supporting Pakistan’s mediation efforts to lend a hand finish the battle.
Iran defends Hormuz stance: Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Almigdad Alruhaid mentioned Iranian officers reject ideas they’re the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a weapon, insisting vessels can nonetheless transfer safely via routes coordinated via the IRGC Military whilst Tehran tightens regulate over the strategic waterway.
Australia joins Gulf project: Defence Minister Richard Marles mentioned Australia will sign up for a “strictly defensive” project led via France and the UK to protected transport during the strait, as soon as it’s established, and give a contribution a surveillance plane to offer protection to the United Arab Emirates from Iranian drone assaults.
Turkiye sees probability for de-escalation: Turkish Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan mentioned he believes each america and Iran now have “enough will” to forestall the battle, caution that additional escalation would deepen international financial instability and regional tensions. Talking to Al Jazeera, Fidan suggested either side to pursue an enduring agreement, pronouncing the battle’s affect extends some distance past the 2 nations.
The Gulf
UAE fuel facility hit via battle: The UAE’s major fuel processing complicated, one of the crucial international’s greatest, won’t resume complete capability till subsequent 12 months, its operator mentioned, after it was once hit within the Iran battle. ADNOC Fuel mentioned the Habshan web page in Abu Dhabi was once working at 60 %.
Kuwait arrests alleged IRGC operatives: The rustic mentioned it arrested 4 males accused of belonging to Iran’s IRGC once they attempted to infiltrate Bubiyan Island via sea and injured a Kuwaiti soldier. Government mentioned the suspects, arrested on board a fishing boat allegedly chartered for “hostile actions”, admitted they’d been tasked via the IRGC with wearing out the operation. Iran has rejected the allegation and condemned the arrest of its nationals.
In america
Trump on Xi: Trump mentioned he does now not consider america wishes China’s lend a hand to finish the battle involving Iran, however showed the problem would nonetheless characteristic in his talks with Xi Jinping this week. “We’re going to have a long talk about it,” Trump instructed newshounds prior to departing for Beijing. On the other hand, he additionally mentioned: “We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control.”
Trump says battle’s finish will deliver down inflation: Going through rising home drive over emerging costs connected to the battle, Trump mentioned the battle “will not be long” and argued its finish would cause a pointy drop in oil costs and inflation. He instructed newshounds that masses of oil tankers have been ready to depart the area and predicted power markets and shares would surge as soon as the battle ends.
US says Iran battle has value $29bn: Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed lawmakers the battle has value Washington no less than $29bn in munitions and kit over 74 days, apart from injury to bases. He mentioned army escalation stays an choice. Democrats driven again amid rising public worry over emerging fuel costs and uncertainty surrounding the battle’s targets.
In Lebanon
Israel kilos Lebanon: Lebanon on Tuesday suggested america ambassador to Beirut to drive Israel to halt its assaults, after it pounded the rustic with air assaults on Monday in spite of a ceasefire within the Israel-Hezbollah battle.
Hezbollah says it struck an Israeli tank in Lebanon: Hezbollah claimed it hit an Israeli Merkava tank close to town of Hula in Lebanon’s Nabatieh area, as the crowd’s chief Naim Qassem pledged to show the battlefield into “hell” for Israeli forces amid escalating preventing.
Lebanon fears ‘lost generation’: Mavens warn Israel’s battle on Lebanon has displaced masses of hundreds of scholars, destroyed faculties and deepened inequalities in an training machine already strained via financial disaster. Whilst many colleges shifted to on-line finding out, professionals say scholars are nonetheless falling at the back of, with citizenship training more and more sidelined in a rustic already divided alongside sectarian traces.
Fatal assault hits Lebanese paramedics: Reporting from southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto mentioned an Israeli assault killed no less than two Lebanese Civil Defence paramedics and the wounded guy they have been looking to evacuate close to Tyre, as persisted bombardment deepens the humanitarian disaster and displacement around the south.
