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The United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from OPEC, while Mali's military leader resurfaced following rebel attacks as Russia claimed its mercenaries thwarted a coup attempt.

This comes as President Trump defended the Iran conflict against German criticism, Mexican forces captured a top cartel leader hiding in a drainage ditch, and the EU threatened Israel with sanctions over a vessel allegedly carrying stolen Ukrainian grain.

Read more below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇦🇪 UAE exits OPEC amid Iran war fallout: The United Arab Emirates announced its withdrawal from OPEC, citing national interests as the energy crisis triggered by the Iran war exposes divisions among Gulf states over their response to Iranian attacks. The move allows the UAE to increase production independently and represents a win for President Trump, who has long criticized OPEC for inflating oil prices.

2️⃣ 🇲🇱 Mali's Goita resurfaces as Russia claims coup prevention: Mali's military leader Assimi Goita made his first public appearance since weekend rebel attacks that killed his defense minister, meeting with Russia's ambassador as Moscow claimed its Africa Corps mercenaries prevented a coup attempt. Russian forces helped repel fighters from seizing key sites including the presidential palace, though they were forced to withdraw from Kidal in the north as al-Qaeda-linked and Tuareg separatist groups advance.

3️⃣ 🇺🇸🇩🇪 Trump rebukes Merz over Iran war criticism: President Trump criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for calling the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran "ill-considered," defending the conflict as necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Merz suggested Washington is being humiliated by Iran's refusal to negotiate before the U.S. lifts its blockade, marking a shift from his previously hawkish pro-Israel stance as the war drives up oil prices amid Europe's economic struggles.

4️⃣ 🇲🇽 Mexican forces capture cartel leader in drainage ditch: Mexican security forces arrested Audias Flores Silva, a senior leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, after finding him hiding in a drainage ditch in Nayarit state following a 500-member operation. Flores, known as "El Jardinero," was considered the right-hand man of cartel leader Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, who died two months ago from injuries sustained during a clash with soldiers.

5️⃣ 🇮🇱🇺🇦 EU threatens Israel sanctions over stolen grain ship: The EU warned Israel it is prepared to impose sanctions over a Russian vessel reportedly carrying stolen Ukrainian grain that arrived in Haifa, with a Commission spokesperson condemning actions that fund Russia's war effort. President Zelenskyy urged Israel to reject the Panama-flagged vessel Panormitis, which allegedly carries over 6,200 tonnes of wheat and 19,000 tonnes of barley, and said Ukraine would prepare sanctions in coordination with Europeans against those profiting from the scheme.

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🇮🇷 Iran War Update

Military

1️⃣ 🇱🇧🇮🇱 Hezbollah drone strikes persist despite ceasefire: Hezbollah has launched daily drone attacks on Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon using fibre-optic-guided drones that evade aerial defenses.

Diplomatic

1️⃣ 🇮🇷🇺🇸 Trump claims Iran wants Hormuz reopened amid stalemate: Trump claimed Iran told the US it is "in a state of collapse" and wants to reopen the Strait of Hormuz immediately. The claim follows Iran's proposal to reopen the strait before addressing nuclear talks, which Trump appears unwilling to accept as eliminating Iran's nuclear program remains his primary objective.

2️⃣ 🇮🇷 IRGC consolidates power after Khamenei's death: Iran's power structure has reportedly shifted from clerical to security dominance following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death, with the IRGC now driving military strategy and political decisions while his son Mojtaba largely legitimizes their choices. The concentrated wartime leadership has slowed diplomatic responses and rejected compromises.

3️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump aides fear prolonged Iran standoff: Trump aides told Axios the Iran conflict could become a prolonged "frozen conflict of no war and no deal," contradicting the president's initial promise of avoiding a lengthy Middle East conflict. Trump is wavering between launching fresh strikes or relying on financial sanctions to pressure Iran, with the conflict proving deeply unpopular ahead of midterm elections.

Oil/Economy

1️⃣ 🇮🇷 Iran bans steel exports after wartime damage: Iran banned steel exports effective April 26 following airstrikes that heavily damaged the country's steel industry during the war with Israel and the United States, according to customs authorities cited by local media.

2️⃣ 🇦🇪 First loaded LNG tanker exits Gulf since March: A ship fully loaded with liquefied natural gas passed through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since Iran virtually closed the route in early March, according to marine tracking firm Kpler. The LNG carrier Mubaraz, operated by Emirati national oil company Adnoc, left the Gulf in April with 132,890 cubic meters of LNG after switching off its transponder for a month.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇬🇧🇺🇸 King Charles addresses Congress on special relationship: King Charles addressed the U.S. Congress, emphasizing the enduring U.S.-UK "special relationship" while subtly touching on contentious issues including NATO's importance, Ukraine's defense, and climate change amid Trump administration skepticism. Trump, who watched remotely due to protocol, praised the royals and recalled his mother's admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth and King Charles during an earlier White House welcome ceremony.

2️⃣ 🇧🇦 Bosnia signs Trump-linked pipeline deal despite EU warnings: Bosnia signed a deal with Croatia to build a gas pipeline aimed at reducing dependence on Russian supply ahead of an EU ban on Russian energy imports next year, naming U.S.-based AAFS Infrastructure and Energy as developer. The EU warned the Southern Interconnection Agreement could jeopardize Bosnia's membership bid and over $1 billion in aid due to transparency concerns, as the project is led by Jesse Binnall, a lawyer who worked for Trump, and Joseph Flynn, brother of Trump's former adviser Michael Flynn.

3️⃣ 🇸🇰 Slovakia sues EU over Russian gas phase-out: Slovakia filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Justice on April 24 challenging the EU's ban on Russian gas imports set to take full effect in November 2027, arguing the regulation should have required unanimous approval as a sanctions measure rather than being adopted as a trade policy decision. Slovakia, which remains 86% dependent on Russian oil and has a Gazprom contract until 2034, is joining Hungary in contesting the Repower EU regulation.

4️⃣ 🇩🇪 Germany scrambles for oil route as Russia halts Druzhba: Germany is seeking alternative oil routes to supply the PCK Schwedt refinery after Russia announced it would halt Kazakh oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1, putting roughly 43,000 barrels per day at risk. Berlin is in talks with Poland to reroute replacement barrels through the port of Gdansk, though replacing pipeline crude with seaborne deliveries is costlier and more complicated.

5️⃣ 🇺🇸🇺🇦 US ambassador to Ukraine steps down amid frustration reports: The acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Julie Davis, will step down after less than a year in the role, with the Financial Times reporting she had grown frustrated with President Trump's lack of support for Ukraine, though the State Department denied this and said she is retiring. Davis's departure comes as U.S.-brokered ceasefire efforts have stalled while Washington focuses on the Iran war, with Trump pressuring Kyiv to cede territory for a peace deal with Russia.

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