Gulf countries unaware of US plan to attack Iran; diplomacy prevails

Some Gulf countries had no idea US planned to attack Iran on May 19 — media As Donald Trump said earlier, he was asked to hold off by the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, who convinced him to give diplomacy another chance

Euroclear refuses to unfreeze Russian Central Bank’s assets: what is known The decision is based on the fact that the Russian regulator’s claim against Euroclear Bank is not recognized under EU legislation, and "Euroclear does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction"

No military-political foundation exists for Russia-West security dialogue — MFA Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said it is impossible to build this foundation unless the Western countries are willing to genuinely take Russia’s fundamental interests into account

US military intelligence believes Ukraine is delivering chaotic strikes on Russia Ukrainian strikes lack the coordination, tempo, and concentration on critical Russian military infrastructure, according to a report compiled by inspectors general of the US Department of War, the Department of State and the Agency for International Development

Baltic states to be punished for assisting Ukraine in attacking Russia — MP Speaking about Lithuanian threats against Kaliningrad, Leonid Slutsky noted that by making such statements the "hotheads" in the Baltics "are drawing fire not only upon themselves, but also on Europe as a whole"

NATO countries importing 'HIMARS clones' from South Korea to use against Russia — expert According to Alexander Stepanov, contracts are currently known to be in place for the supply of at least 290 systems of this type to Poland, 9 to Estonia, and 16 to Norway

Latvia sets precedent by enabling strikes on Russia — expert Ruslan Pankratov said that a new legal reality is emerging in which the territory of a NATO member state is being used as a bridgehead for strikes against Russia

EU pays highest amount for Russian LNG in over one year in March The European Union purchased around 933 mln euros worth of LNG from Russia

US investigates 56 cases of corruption and theft of American weapons in Ukraine According to a report prepared by the inspectors general of the Pentagon, the State Department, and the now effectively dismantled US Agency for International Development, 13 other investigations have been closed

Lavrov sends another letter to UN chief in search of answers about Bucha — diplomat According to Vasily Nebenzya, Moscow views the incident as a "deliberate fake" used to derail the peace talks in 2022

Three plants for Volkswagen, Foton, and JAC brands to open in Uzbekistan by year-end The announcement followed a meeting where President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals to develop the automotive industry, expand production capacity, and enhance the sector's competitiveness

Iran’s new leadership agrees on no nuclear weapons — senior Russian diplomat Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov noted that the NPT provides Iran with the right to peaceful nuclear energy under IAEA supervision without any restrictions

US ready to let diplomacy try its luck in Iran situation until early next week — Trump On Monday, the US leader announced his decision to postpone the resumption of operations against Iran at the request of Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, as a deal with Tehran remains possible

Russian pipeline gas supplies to China up 1.8% in April — customs Russia ranked second in supplies of this energy source to China

IN BRIEF: Putin’s statements on unprecedented level of ties with China and mutual support The Russian president says that the two countries are ready to support each other on key issues, including the protection of sovereignty

Trump briefed on military options against Iran on May 18 — Axios According to information obtained by the news portal, the meeting was originally scheduled for May 19, with some officials expecting the US president to make a decision on potential strikes against the Islamic Republic during the consultations

US may need to deliver another 'big hit' on Iran — Trump The US president said that he is not sure

Russia, China concerned about confrontational policy of some countries — statement Moscow and Beijing called for putting an end to attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of other states and undermine the existing security architecture in various parts of the world

US continues to train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter jets — report According to the report issued by inspectors general of the US Department of War, the Department of State, and the Agency for International Development, the training commitments are coordinated by the Air Force Capability Coalition that the US co-leads with Denmark and the Netherlands

Nine fast-neutron reactors to be built in Russia by 2042 — Rosatom According to the statement, fast reactors with a closed fuel cycle are not just a means of increasing the efficiency of nuclear energy, but a prerequisite for its long-term existence

A number of US investors eye participation in Russian-Chinese projects — Dmitriev As Kirill Dmitriev noted, Russia and China maintain a partnership approach based on mutual cooperation and the understanding that sanctions are illegitimate

Erdogan says Iran conflict 'devastating' global economy The extent of the damage caused by the shockwave that has swept across the world like a tsunami cannot yet be accurately assessed, the Turkish president said

India wants to build metallurgical plant together with Russia — Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik also pointed to the possibility of establishing Russian-Indian joint ventures in the metallurgical sector

Russia to cooperate with Chinese universities, companies in high-tech sector — ASI Svetlana Chupsheva noted that international cooperation is expanding in high-tech medicine and creative industries