一位分析人士表示，隨着11月美國國會中期選舉臨近，時間對特朗普總統越來越不利。目前，美國正陷入一場代價高昂且不得人心的對伊朗戰爭。奧地利前國防武官沃爾夫岡·普斯泰表示：“特朗普總統非常清楚，他原本希望基於這份諒解備忘錄啓動的談判並未取得成功。”他說：“伊朗已經恢復核計劃相關工作，且持續在霍爾木茲海峽襲擊過往船隻。因此，特朗普沒有任何成果可以向美國選民交代。”普斯泰補充稱：“如果特朗普現在對伊朗作出讓步，局面對他而言可能會更加糟糕，共和黨也將在中期選舉中爲此付出代價。”

Japan will press the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world’s largest pension fund, to lift allocations to unlisted equities, real estate and other alternatives. Finance Minister Kato said the government aims to steer the about $1.8 trillion GPIF and other national pension funds to significantly increase domestic asset holdings to support the weak yen; his comments on Friday pushed the yen higher and boosted Japanese government bond prices. Alternatives made up 1.7% of GPIF assets in March, well below the 5% cap; a government panel will soon issue a report recommending raising the share toward 5% to broaden asset management scope and reduce overall portfolio risk.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported two Israeli shells struck Kfar Taabunit in Nabatieh district, saying the fire originated from Israeli army positions in the occupied border area. It added Israeli artillery also shelled Zawtar Sharqiya near Mayfadun.