TASS5/18/2026World10 min readRussia

China reassures US of not providing material support to Iran — official

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China has assured the US it will not provide material support to Iran, while Iran claims readiness for "new surprises" against enemies.
Israel is reportedly building covert bases in Iraq for a potential Iran war, and US ammunition stocks are reportedly low due to the conflict.

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Why It Matters

The article presents a collection of brief news updates from various international sources, touching upon geopolitical tensions, military readiness, economic situations, and diplomatic statements involving major global powers and regions. Key themes include the US-China relationship, the conflict in Ukraine, and the situation surrounding Iran.

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China reassures US of not providing material support to Iran — official

According to Greer, the United States is not seeking "to have joint military options with the Chinese" in the Strait of Hormuz

Iranian military ready to unveil 'new surprises' to the enemy — Foreign Ministry spokesman

Esmail Baghaei said that Tehran is fully prepared for any contingency

IOC should allow all world's athletes to compete — Russian lawmaker

The IOC press office said earlier in the day that the organization must take into account the present-day political context, but does not take sides in global conflicts, as that falls outside its intended mission

Israel build two covert bases in Iraq for Iran war — media

According to The New York Times, Israel began preparations to build one of the bases in late 2024

Senior Russian official sees prospects for cooperation in energy, agriculture with China

Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev highlighted tourism as yet another promising sphere

Chinese embassy condemns planned trip by Canadian MP to Taiwan

A certain Canadian MP's visit to the Taiwan region and his meetings with officials of the Taiwan region authorities gravely contravene the one-China commitment Canada upholds and send a wrong message of support for 'Taiwan independence', the Chinese embassy said

Putin holds phone conversation with Kazakh President Tokayev — Kremlin

The two leaders discussed current matters pertaining to the preparations for Vladimir Putin's upcoming state visit to Astana and the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council to be held there

Putin's test for Europe, Nazi revival, US-China relations: Lavrov's statements

Russia will not be drawn into any triangulation attempts by the US to pit Moscow and Beijing against one another, the Russian foreign minister said

Russian presidential envoy urges EU to find constructive voice in support of peace

Kirill Dmitriev’s statement came in response to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said that the European Union has failed to use its diplomatic potential in the situation around Ukraine

Difficult to expect major peace talks under Zelensky, former Ukrainian PM says

Nikolai Azarov noted that the scenario of "Vladimir Zelensky stepping down and an interim government being formed at the helm for a transition period will be the best"

Superiority of Russian services and proactive work: statements by Mishustin

Advances in import substitution and development have reduced the urgent need for domestic software by a factor of four in recent years, the Russian prime minister noted

No signal from Kiev regarding new round of talks, senior Russian diplomat says

Mikhail Galuzin noted that for successful negotiations Vladimir Zelensky will need to order the Ukrainian armed forces to cease fire and pull troops from Donbass

Brent futures on ICE climb above $110 per barrel for first time since May 5

By 1:20 a.m. Moscow time, Brent pared gains to trade at $110.40 per barrel

Yermak leaves pre-trial detention center after spending four nights there — TV

He reluctantly answered journalists’ questions and confirmed that he had been held in a paid cell

Libya sends message to both friends, foes with major military exercise — general

According to the report, over 25,000 troops are participating in the exercises under the command of Marshal Khalifa Haftar

Naval blockade unlikely to undermine Iran’s economy, envoy says

Alireza Sanei noted that Iran shares borders with 15 countries, including Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Armenia

Ten-point plan for talks with US is 'red line' for Iran — lawmaker

Mohammad Saleh Jokar, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's Interior Affairs Committee, noted that Iran "never trusted the US," and his country has no other option but to "become stronger"

Kremlin views discussions on dialogue with Russia in Europe as positive thing

Russian presidential secretary Dmitry Peskov said that "the shift in thinking that ‘at some point we’ll have to talk to the Russians,’ that’s a good thing"

IN BRIEF: Drone attack on Moscow, surrounding region kills three people, leaves 18 injured

According to preliminary reports, three people were killed and another six suffered injuries in the Moscow Region

Russia has completely switched to its own software in oil, gas sector — PM

Mikhail Mishustin added that domestic software accounts for more than 90% in transport sector

Finland to practice forcefully crossing Russian border during naval drills — expert

Alexander Stepanov warned that industrial facilities in northwestern Russia as well as taking control of Karelia may be priority objectives in the course of potential aggression against Russia

Russia no longer looking for replacing Western products but introducing its own — PM

Mikhail Mishustin made this statement during the Digitalization of Industrial Russia conference

Iranian national football team to take part in 2026 FIFA World Cup — Foreign Ministry

According to the statement, the decision was made based on the evaluation of the Iranian Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Iranian Football Federation

German expert sees EU weakening on a scale unimaginable five years ago

"In response to this weakening, there's a perceived need to fight adversaries like Russia and China, to regain lost ground," Reiner Braun said

One civilian killed, four wounded in Ukraine’s attacks on DPR during day

Apart from that, according to Pushilin, two civilian infrastructure facilities, two cars, and two trucks were damaged

Cuban diplomat rejects allegations that Cuba poses threat to US national security

Earlier, the news portal said, citing classified intelligence data, that Cuba had allegedly purchased more than 300 combat drones and was looking at using them against the US base in Guantanamo

Belarus kicks off military exercise to practice nuclear weapons use — top brass

According to the statement, a key feature of the exercise is to check the preparedness of troops for accomplishing the tasks of combat use from unprepared areas across the entire territory of the republic

Putin, Xi to discuss most sensitive issues of bilateral relations — Kremlin aide

Yury Ushakov said that the Russian president will begin his meeting with Xi Jinping after the welcome ceremony in the Great Hall of the People

Iran wants to strike deal, but its proposals are irrelevant — Trump

The US president previously urged Iran to act quickly on the potential deal, noting that time is of the essence

Leaders of Russia, China to adopt declaration on emergence of multipolar world — Kremlin

Yury Ushakov said that Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will sign a Joint Statement on further strengthening the comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction

Cuba has right to self-defense in case of US aggression — Cuban diplomat

Ernesto Soberon Guzman emphasized that Cuba has the right to legitimate self-defense, which is based on the principle of international law and the United Nations Charter

Sarmat needs no advertising, no one else has analogues — Russian deputy foreign minister

This system allows guaranteed penetration of both existing and any missile defense systems still in the development phase, Sergey Ryabkov said

US needs stability on Taiwan issue — trade representative

Taiwan has been governed by its local administration since 1949 when the Kuomintang’s remaining forces headed by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) were defeated in the Chinese Civil War and took refuge on the island

Cuba to use its right to self-defense if attacked — Foreign Ministry

The New York Times reported on Saturday, citing sources, that the United States does not rule out capturing one of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution, Army General Raul Castro

Russian scientists peek into skull of Earth’s top predator from 250 million years ago

The Garjainia reptile genus that inhabited the Earth approximately 250 million years ago, was an archosaur - the ancestor of the dinosaurs

IN BRIEF: On consequences of Zaporozhye NPP shelling by Ukrainian military

According to Yevgenia Yashina, the Ukrainian armed forces are attempting to attack Energodar and the Zaporozhye NPP site not only to cause damage but also to exert psychological pressure on the plant's employees

US ammunition stocks running low due to conflict with Iran — experts

Retired Major General John Ferrari did not specify which types of ammunition were running low, but he called the current situation in US arsenals "a strategic red flag"

Iran ready to hand over enriched uranium to Russia instead of US — Al Hadath

The required conditions were not specified in the media report

US has no good options left to end Iran conflict — ex-ambassador to Israel

Dan Shapiro noted that the US leader continued to toggle back and forth between the same unappealing options

Russian MP warns of nuclear proliferation risk if Israel uses nukes against Iran

Alexey Pushkov noted that the question of whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will use nuclear weapons in Iran has been actively discussed on American television in recent days

Iran believes attack on Namu ship could be false-flag operation

Esmaeil Baghaei said it is important to consider that "there are forces interested in instability in the region"

Press review: Russia not done building nuke triad and Trump taps Xi to help with Iran

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, May 14th

New phase of crisis, oil price at $111 per barrel: situation on energy markets

The global energy crisis caused by the Middle East conflict is entering a new phase as the summer season approaches

Israel stepping up fight against FPV drones, analyzing Ukraine conflict experience — PM

Touching upon the issue of the use of drones during a war cabinet meeting, he recalled that six year ago he had warned about this threat

Political relations between Russia, China spearheaded by two leaders, senior official says

Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev also added that it is impossible not to say that these relations are built between specific people

Trump warns Iran of harder strikes than before if there is no deal

Earlie on Sunday, the US president urged urged Iran to act faster to move to a potential deal

Russia’s Battlegroup North artillery destroys over 500 Ukrainian troops in week

The platoon commander said that artillery crews of the Battlegroup North thwarted several attempts by the Ukrainian army to rotate personnel in the Sumy and Kharkov Regions, accomplishing over 350 firing missions

Open Questions

What specific material support, if any, has China provided to Iran in the past?
What are the exact nature and capabilities of Israel's covert bases in Iraq?
What are the specific 'new surprises' Iran's military is ready to unveil?
What are the implications of low US ammunition stocks for its military capabilities?