Iran

Iran's economy is under severe strain from war and blockade, with soaring inflation and plummeting economic activity. Oil prices swing wildly on US-Iran deal hopes and strike threats, while gold buying surges in India as a hedge against the conflict. The internet is gradually restored after a months-long blackout.

• 19Oil prices surge as US-Iran tensions escalate in Strait of Hormuz
• 15Oil Gains 2% as Fragile U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Fuels Concerns
• 15India tries ‘unusual move’ to stop gold buying as Iran war bites forex
• 13Iran internet starts coming back after months-long blackout
• 13Soaring inflation and plummeting economy test Iran's ability to withstand war and US blockade

US-Iran diplomacy is volatile: Trump rejects Iran's response to a peace proposal, then claims a deal is 'largely negotiated' after calls with regional leaders, while clashing with Netanyahu over strategy. Rubio defends the deal in India, and Trump meets Xi in Beijing as Netanyahu secretly visits the UAE.

• 135Trump Rejects Iran's Response to Peace Proposal
• 74Trump and Netanyahu clash over Iran strategy as deal talks advance
• 69Rubio in India discusses Iran deal, defends against critics
• 68Trump meets Xi in Beijing as Netanyahu secretly visits UAE during Iran war
• 61Trump says US and Iran close to deal, threatens renewed bombing

Active hostilities continue: the US launches new military strikes in southern Iran in late May, following earlier clashes in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran rebuilds drone capabilities faster than expected, and the Supreme Leader insists enriched uranium must stay. Trump calls off a planned strike after Gulf allies request, but warns strikes could still happen.

• 85US military launches new strikes in southern Iran amid talks
• 60Iran and US clash in Strait of Hormuz over blockade and Project Freedom
• 36Iran war’s skyrocketing diesel prices hit American farmers already facing historic drought - MS NOW
• 33Iran rebuilds drone capabilities faster than expected, Supreme Leader says enriched uranium must stay
• 32US strikes on Iran fail to halt nuclear program, intelligence finds

Civil society is under pressure: Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi suffers a cardiac crisis in prison and is hospitalized, prompting international demands for her transfer. The regime promotes mass weddings for couples pledging war sacrifice, while a Tehran cafe is shuttered over alleged 'satanic' activities, and an earthquake rattles Tehran.

• 8Nobel laureate Mohammadi in Iran hospital after 'cardiac crisis', foundation says
• 7Iran holds mass weddings for couples pledging war sacrifice
• 7Nobel Committee Demands Transfer of Narges Mohammadi to Tehran
• 4Iranian authorities shutter Tehran cafe over alleged ‘satanic’ activities
• 4Death toll from shopping center fire in Iran rises to 11 - news.cgtn.com