The Supreme Electoral Council cancelled the elections yesterday by accepting the splendid opposition of AK Party regarding the cancellation of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality elections. The decision based on the irregularity claims on the balloting committee is passed by 7-4 majority. The re-election will take place on June 23, Sunday.

President of Iran Hassan Rouhani says that Iran will not surrender to US pressure and will never abandon its goals even if it is attacked. (Aljazeera)

On 16 May, the Kyrgyz service of Radio Liberty reported: “A meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of the SCO member states was held in Bishkek. The press was not allowed to meet. After the meeting, General Secretary of SCO Vladimir Norov and Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan Damir Sagynbayev briefed the journalists on the issues discussed at the meeting.

Pakistan on 16th May 2019 blamed the United States for heightening tensions with Iran in the ongoing crisis in the Persian Gulf and called on both sides to show restraint. “We expect all sides to show restraint.