Iran war could cause job losses in Britain, minister warns Pat McFadden said the impact of the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz could feed through to the UK labour market. Evening Standard · May 6
European stocks rally, oil falls on hopes of US-Iran breakthrough Some of Europe’s leading stock indices climbed more than 3% on Wednesday, while oil prices retreated as hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough in the Iran conflict boosted market sentiment. Euronews · May 6
Iran war briefing: Trump pauses ‘Project Freedom’ after just two days US president Donald Trump has announced he will pause his ‘Project Freedom’ plan to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing “great progress” toward a deal to end the war with Iran. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said the US is pursuing “a policy of maximum pressure” while also expecting… The Independent UK · May 6
Oil and gas prices fall sharply, driven by hopes of strait of Hormuz reopening – as it happened Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy has announced the strait of Hormuz could reopen following the end of ‘threats from aggressors’ The Guardian - UK · May 6
EU squares up Trump’s tariff threat As tensions flare between Russia and Ukraine over competing ceasefires, and the Iran war shows no signs of ending, politicians in Brussels will spend Wednesday searching for a way to thrash out the final details of the EU-US trade agreement, lest they suffer more import levy threats from Trump. Euronews · May 6
The Iran war's oil shock causes a plastic shortage in Asia, squeezing industries and prompting a 'Middle East plus one' rethink of supply chains South Korea is probing firms suspected of hoarding syringes, which, alongside products like needles and gloves, are produced from petrochemicals. Fortune · May 6
Retailer Next warns of clothing and homeware price hikes as costs increase due to Iran war Brand increased its estimated cost of Middle East conflict to £47 million - up from predicted £15 million The Independent UK · May 6
Next to hike prices overseas as it faces higher Iran war cost hit The fashion and homewares chain increased its estimated cost of the Middle East conflict to £47 million from the £15 million guidance given in March. Evening Standard · May 6
Supermarkets warn food costs due to Iran war will keep soaring unless ministers take action Higher food inflation not just down to Iran conflict, plead supermarkets The Independent UK · May 6
Wednesday briefing: How Trump’s attempt to reopen to strait of Hormuz brought war closer again In today’s newsletter: The brief US effort to steer trapped vessels through the waterway put the fragile ceasefire under strain The Guardian - UK · May 6
Macron says ‘all parties must lift the blockades’ – as it happened This blog is now closed The Guardian - AU · May 6
Resilience amid ruins: Why markets are hitting record highs despite the Iran war Global indices in the US, Japan and South Korea have reached all-time highs despite the economic fallout from the ongoing Iran war. Investors are clearly looking past immediate geopolitical risks but what is driving the rally? Euronews · May 6
Local elections: 'Don't believe Polanski promises,' says Starmer as Labour and Greens battle over Inner London Exclusive: The Prime Minister also blamed Iran for ‘proxy’ attacks on the capital’s Jewish communities Evening Standard · May 6
The Independent UK · May 6 Local elections could hasten the exit of Britain's embattled prime minister British voters are casting ballots in elections that could hasten the end of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s troubled term
Euronews · May 6 Top Trump advisers urge China to leverage Iran ties to reopen Strait of Hormuz to global traffic US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have both expressed a need for China to leverage its tight relations with Tehran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz for “their own interests”.
The Independent UK · May 6 Oil prices fall as Trump pauses Project Freedom to seek final peace deal with Iran Wall Street had already set records on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 rising 0.8 per cent to a new all-time high
The Guardian - UK · May 6 Totally grounded? How the jet fuel crisis could change our holidays – and world history Jet fuel has doubled in price since the start of the war on Iran. How bad will the disruption get and could this accelerate the route to jet zero?
The Guardian - UK · May 6 Four in five Britons worried Iran war will make food more expensive, poll finds Shoppers concerned about effect of Middle East conflict, as UK retailers say government running out of time to cut costs
Euronews · May 6 Trump renews feud with Pope Leo XIV days ahead of planned Marco Rubio visit to the Vatican In an interview with US media outlets, Trump said Pope Leo XIV’s words are helping Iran and making the world “less safe”, slamming him for his stance which Trump perceives to mean indifference about Tehran acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Independent UK · May 6 Iran-US war latest: Trump’s pause on plan to escort ships through Strait of Hormuz follows backlash from allies, reports claim Trump quickly announced the pause of ‘Project Freedom,’ citing ‘great progress’ with Iran towards a permanent peace deal
The Times of India · May 6 'Operation Epic Fury concluded': Trump aide declares 'objectives achieved' in Iran action “Operation Epic Fury is concluded,” US secretary of state Marco Rubio declared early Thursday, marking the end of over two months of unrest triggered by a major military escalation involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
The Independent UK · May 6 Iran proxies carrying out antisemitic attacks could face 14 years in prison The report of tougher sentences comes as the Met announced a community protection team of 100 extra officers to help safeguard the Jewish community.
The Guardian - US · May 6 Trump news at a glance: Marco Rubio, in White House press room, puts a spin on rising gas prices Secretary of state says US is ‘very fortunate’ as Trump’s Iran war pushes gas price near $4.50 a gallon – key US politics stories from Tuesday, 5 May at a glance
The Independent UK · May 6 US to pause effort to guide ships out of Strait of Hormuz to focus on Iran deal The announcement came after military leaders and US secretary of state Marco Rubio insisted a ceasefire in the Middle East was still holding.