IRAN IS RATIONING THE STRAIT AND CHINA JUST BOUGHT ITS WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE

Tehran confirmed passage for at least four China-flagged vessels through a designated Iranian corridor after Beijing's foreign minister worked the phones directly with Iranian counterparts, cutting Washington out entirely. 2CRD Dozens of China-linked vessels cross Hormuz under Iranian 'supervision' At the same time, Iran seized the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan (a floating armoury storing weapons for private maritime security firms) and sank the Indian-flagged Haji Ali off Oman, killing no one but destroying the vessel. 1FOX Ship seized off coast of UAE near Strait of Hormuz may have been 'floating armory': report4BBM 'Floating armoury' ship reportedly seized by Iran The floating armoury seizure is pointed: those ships exist specifically because crews are arming themselves against Iranian interdiction. Iran just took the armoury. Rubio argued publicly that China's export economy depends on Hormuz staying open, which is true. 14TOI Iranian FM threatens UAE, claims Tehran knew of Netanyahu’s visit to Abu Dhabi Beijing's response was to negotiate its own lane rather than pressure Tehran on Washington's behalf, which is not the outcome the US was pitching.

A Joint Staff intelligence document reported by the Washington Post found the Iran war has benefited China across all four domains: diplomatic, informational, military, and economic. 7RTN US intel fears Iran war handed China strategic advantage, WaPo US cruise missile and air defence stockpiles are depleted in ways that matter directly to any Taiwan scenario. China has meanwhile positioned itself as an energy benefactor to Thailand, Australia, the Philippines, and others, leveraging its coal output and renewables base to fill gaps left by Hormuz disruption. 7RTN US intel fears Iran war handed China strategic advantage, WaPo One Brookings analyst quoted in the piece called it Beijing "seizing on an opportunity to drive wedges between America and its traditional partners." The assessment was produced for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, which means this read is not coming from the fringes.

Reuters is reporting, citing Iraqi, Western, and US-briefed sources, that Saudi jets hit militia sites near the kingdom's northern border and Kuwaiti rocket strikes killed Kataib Hezbollah fighters and destroyed a drone facility in southern Iraq during the conflict. 8RTN Gulf states attacked Iraq amid waning faith in US, Reuters12TOI Saudi warplanes struck Iran-backed militias in Iraq during war, sources say Neither government has acknowledged any of this. Combined with confirmed Emirati operations, the picture is now clear: the Gulf states ran independent offensive campaigns they publicly denied throughout. They are not passive recipients of US security guarantees. They fought, quietly, for themselves.

Foreign Minister Araghchi told the BRICS foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi that the UAE is an "active partner" in the US-Israeli war, called its cooperation with Israel "unforgivable," and warned that hosting US bases cannot bring Abu Dhabi security. 6CRD Iranian FM blasts UAE at BRICS summit over 'direct involvement' in US-Israeli war This came hours after Netanyahu's office confirmed a secret wartime visit to the UAE, which the UAE denied. 13BBC Netanyahu says he 'secretly visited' UAE during war with Iran Araghchi chose a multilateral stage with a Global South audience, not a private channel. That is a deliberate message about where Iran thinks its diplomatic future lies, and a warning delivered in public carries different weight than one sent through back channels.

Israel signed a $34 million contract to integrate external fuel tanks on its F-35 Adir jets, explicitly aimed at reducing aerial refuelling dependence on long-range missions. 9AAM Israel says it inks $35 million deal 'to extend F-35 fighter jet range' amid Iran war Israel has simultaneously raised its military alert level ahead of possible resumed conflict with Iran if diplomatic talks collapse. 9AAM Israel says it inks $35 million deal 'to extend F-35 fighter jet range' amid Iran war Extended-range F-35s with less exposure to interdiction en route means Tel Aviv is buying itself more independent strike options against Iranian targets. On the economic side: US wholesale inflation hit 6 percent year-on-year in April, with diesel up 12.6 percent in a single month and gasoline up 15.6 percent. 17APW Producer prices shot up 6%, adding to pressure on companies to raise prices for customers The national average is $4.51 per gallon, the midterms are six months away, and the producer price number has not yet fed through to consumer prices.