Marco Rubio:

The majority of the increase you’ve seen in oil prices over the last couple of weeks — it has stabilized now — has to do with the Black Sea, Ukraine and Russia, and Yemen, the Houthis.

Marco Rubio on Greenland:

Multiple American presidents understood the geographic importance of Greenland. Trump is the first president that actually has done something about it.

Marco Rubio on NATO:

If we can’t use our base when we have a contingency, then frankly, what’s the point of having the alliance?

Iran's Fars:

Iranian sources rejected reports by Kyodo and Reuters claiming Tehran was ready to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if U.S. military pressure was reduced and port blockades were lifted.

The reports, which suggested possible progress in Iran-U.S. negotiations, briefly pushed oil prices lower.

Iranian officials called the claims inaccurate and baseless.

Iraq Unveils Phased Plan to Disarm Iran-Backed Militias by June 2027

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi says Iraq will begin a phased process to disarm powerful Iran-backed factions by June 30, 2027, following an initial 90-day ceasefire.

READ MORE

WATCH: Yemen's Southern Giants Forces, historically backed by the UAE and now fighting alongside Saudi-backed government forces, claim their Falcons drone unit carried out precision strikes on Houthi vehicles and fighters around Al-Waziyah and Kahboub near Bab al-Mandab.

Xi Jinping is unlikely to bring a delegation of Chinese CEOs to his meeting with Trump in Washington this week, lowering expectations for major business deals from the summit.

Some industry officials had expected Chinese executives to attend a state dinner alongside U.S. technology and AI leaders, but preparations suggest the visit will focus more on maintaining trade stability than announcing major investments.

Trump and Xi are expected to discuss tariffs, rare-earth exports, artificial intelligence and trade cooperation.

Source: WSJ

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

A number of countries consider themselves entitled to do whatever they want and do not give importance to any international institution, any international law, or even what is called the collective conscience of humanity. They consider themselves immune.

They portray themselves as the champions of human rights and humanitarian rights, while remaining silent in front of these actions.

From Switzerland to Poland, Europe is rearming.

And Russia is the reason.

🛢️ Brent crude fell below $98 a barrel today, down from nearly $109 a week earlier, after Saudi Arabia partially restarted its East-West oil pipeline.

The restart reduces fears of a major Saudi supply shortage, pushing oil prices lower, although full repairs could still take weeks.

US Seeks to Rebuild Gulf Energy Infrastructure With $5 Billion Fund

Washington is proposing a $5 billion reconstruction fund to rebuild war-damaged energy assets and develop routes that reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.

READ MORE

Trump has told advisers he wants to meet Iranian officials attending the UN General Assembly in New York if “the conditions are right,” a U.S. official said.

No meeting has been scheduled.

Source: CNN

UN Secretary-General Guterres:

Military power alone cannot secure peace. Economic power alone cannot bring stability.

A networked multipolar world can create the conditions for more balanced and representative global problem-solving.

NEW: King Salman personally condemned the Houthis as a “terrorist militia” after Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone targeting Makkah.

He called the alleged attack a “heinous crime” against Islam’s holiest sites.

The Houthis deny targeting Makkah.

UN Secretary-General Guterres:

The fighting must stop! Humanitarian aid must flow, and navigational freedoms must be fully restored in accordance with international law.

UN Secretary-General Guterres:

We cannot allow the two-state solution to disappear before our eyes.

UN Secretary-General Guterres on Ukraine:

Civilians continue to be killed far from the frontlines, mainly in Ukraine but also more recently in parts of Russia.

UN Secretary-General Guterres:

We must reform the Security Council so that it reflects today’s world with the legitimacy and effectiveness that today’s challenges demand.

The Security Council was designed in the aftermath of World War II, but the world has fundamentally changed since then.

UN Secretary-General Guterres:

When the UN was founded, most of Africa was still under colonial rule. Today, Africa still has no permanent representation on the Council.

A 21st-century Security Council without permanent African seats is unjust and indefensible.

This must change.

WATCH: Dozens of Ukrainian FPV drones waiting near the front line in Donetsk, filmed by Russian drone operator.