Day 75 of the U.S.-Iran War: Washington Urges China to Play a Bigger Role in Ending the Conflict

The U.S. and Israel’s joint campaign against Iran has entered its 75th day. Ahead of a U.S.-China summit in Beijing between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington wants China to play a more active role in ending the U.S.-Iran war. The U.S. Senate narrowly rejected a resolution to limit Trump’s war powers against Iran, voting 50 to 49. It was the first Senate vote on the conflict since the 60-day deadline expired for the White House to seek formal authorization. In an interview with Fox News, Rubio said the U.S. hopes to persuade China to take a more active role in pushing Iran to abandon its current actions and what it is attempting to do in the Persian Gulf. Iran, trade, and Taiwan are expected to be key topics when Trump and Xi meet in Beijing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Netanyahu held a “secret” meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the Iran war, calling the visit a historic breakthrough in Israel-UAE relations. The UAE did not directly deny such a visit, referring instead to “rumors,” while its foreign ministry denied reports that Netanyahu had visited the UAE or that the country had hosted any Israeli military delegation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Kuwait of attacking an Iranian vessel in the Persian Gulf and arresting four Iranian citizens. He demanded their immediate release and said Tehran reserves the right to respond. In financial markets, Wall Street’s major indexes hit new records despite a sharp and unexpected rise in U.S. inflation data, driven by bullish sentiment around artificial intelligence and expectations for the U.S.-China summit. Oil prices fell as traders saw the Trump-Xi meeting as a possible opportunity to resolve the U.S.-Iran war. Brent crude dropped 2.0% to 05.63 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate fell 1.1% to 01.02 per barrel. U.S. wholesale prices rose sharply in April as the Iran war pushed up energy costs, with the producer price index rising 6% over the previous 12 months, the highest level since December 2022. Lebanon’s health ministry said Israel intensified airstrikes on Lebanon, killing 22 people, including eight children. Lebanon’s National News Agency said Israeli strikes hit around 40 locations in southern and eastern Lebanon. The National Council for Scientific Research said more than 10,000 homes in Lebanon have been damaged or destroyed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect.