‘US meddlesome presence’
Iran has dismissed as baseless and utterly brazen US allegations of endangering maritime security in the Persian Gulf region. Tehran says the US seeks to justify its meddlesome presence in the region. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman says the allegations come as the US has long been creating insecurity and instability in the Persian Gulf region. Nasser Kan’ani said Iran is the most effective guarantor of maritime security in the region and beyond. He stressed that it’s the US that has been threatening freedom of navigation and trade by illegally seizing Iran’s oil consignments in international waters. Earlier this week, the US said it will bolster its "defensive" posture in the Persian Gulf after accusing Iran of carrying out attacks on commercial shipping in the region. In recent weeks, Iran has seized two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. One of the tankers collided with an Iranian vessel and tried to flee while the other was subject to a legal complaint.
Marking Nakba Day
The Palestinian Authority president has blamed the US and the UK for the ongoing plight of Palestinians. Mahmoud Abbas says it’s up to the colonial states to bring the suffering of the oppressed nation to an end. He made the remarks at a UN event in New York marking the 75th anniversary of the Nakba (Catastrophe) Day. He said Washington and London took part in rendering the Palestinian people a victim when they decided to plant another entity in their lands for their own colonial goals. Abbas also demanded that Israel be suspended from the UN if it does not respect UN resolutions and grant Palestinians a state and a right of return for millions of refugees’ descendants. This is the first time the UN is commemorating the Nakba Day. The general assembly adopted a resolution in November 2022 to mark the occasion on May 15. Meanwhile, Palestinians have rallied in the West Bank city of Ramallah to mark the 75th anniversary of the Nakba Day.
US gun violence
A shooting in the southwestern US state of New Mexico has left four people dead, including the suspect. The incident took place in a residential area of the town of Farmington. Two officers were also wounded in the exchange of gunfire with the suspect. Police said there were multiple civilian victims, at least three of whom died. The shooter was believed to have acted alone. So far, there is no detail on the reason behind the attack. The frequency of shooting incidents in the US has increased significantly in recent years. This, as politicians remain deadlocked on tighter gun control laws.