Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has become one of the most closely watched political figures in Iran as the country moves through a sensitive phase of diplomacy, conflict recovery and internal power balancing. The Iranian Parliament Speaker has gained attention for his role in Tehran’s political response during a difficult period marked by military pressure, sanctions concerns and renewed international negotiations. His growing visibility comes

A reported US-Iran draft agreement has brought renewed attention to Iran’s frozen assets, with the proposal said to include the possible release of around $24 billion in blocked Iranian funds. The plan is being discussed as part of a wider diplomatic framework involving sanctions relief, nuclear restrictions and a fresh round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Under the reported proposal, part of the money could be made avail

The United States will release $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets before negotiations begin on a final agreement, according to Iranian reports citing details of a proposed memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. Iran said talks with the United States would take place within two months of the immediate halt to hostilities announced on Monday, June 15. The reported asset release is being framed as an early confidence-building step before both sides move toward a broader set

Iran’s military declared victory over the United States and Israel on Monday after Washington and Tehran announced a peace agreement intended to end more than three months of conflict across the Middle East. In a statement broadcast by Iranian state television, Iran’s armed forces claimed that their campaign had forced their adversaries to accept defeat, framing the agreement as proof of Tehran’s strength rather than a compromise. The declaration came as both sides moved to present the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to meet during the 2026 G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, with trade likely to lead their bilateral agenda and Strait of Hormuz security shaping wider summit discussions. The Modi-Trump G7 meeting 2026 comes as Washington and New Delhi continue negotiations over a possible trade agreement. A senior U.S. administration official said the leaders would review the progress of those talks, although a final agr

WASHINGTON — The State Department will launch a six-month B1/B2 visa interview pilot on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, allowing a limited number of applicants to pay $750 for an interview appointment within 10 business days at selected U.S. embassies and consulates overseas. The paid option will be tested through Thursday, December 31, 2026. It is designed to measure demand for faster interview scheduling at consular posts where regular appointment waits can exceed one

LOS ANGELES — How U.S. Soccer funded Mauricio Pochettino returned to focus after the USMNT opened its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday, June 12, 2026. Folarin Balogun scored twice as the United States delivered a confident attacking performance in Los Angeles. The victory provided an encouraging first tournament result for Pochettino, although one match cannot determine whether the federation’s expensive coaching decision will produce a dee

Anthropic has said it will disable access to its advanced AI models Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for all users after receiving a US government order restricting access for foreign nationals. The directive cited national security concerns, but the company said it was not given detailed evidence explaining the specific threat. The decision affects two of Anthropic’s most powerful AI systems and comes shortly after the launch of Claude Fable 5, whi

Court Rejects Delay Request A US federal judge on Friday rejected an attempt by the Kennedy Center’s board and the Justice Department to delay an order requiring President Donald Trump’s name to be removed from the Washington performing arts venue. District Judge Christopher Cooper said the administration had not shown sufficient grounds to pause the removal requirement, which followed his earlier rulin

Israel Reaffirms Security Zone Policy Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel will not withdraw from security zones it currently controls in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, signaling that any future regional agreement involving Iran and the United States may not automatically lead to Israeli troop pullbacks. In a statement posted Friday, June 13,2026 Katz said Israel’s security doctrine remains focused o

US Forces Intercept Iranian Drones The United States said its forces intercepted and destroyed multiple Iranian one-way attack drones launched toward commercial ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most closely watched maritime routes. US Central Command said the drones were aimed at vessels transiting the waterway and that American forces downed them in recent hours. CENTCOM also sa

India has lodged a strong protest with the United States after three Indian seafarers were confirmed dead following a US strike on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello near the coast of Oman. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and conveyed India’s concern over the deaths of Indian mariners in the Gulf region. Jaishankar said lethal action against commercial shipping was not justi

Strike Announcement US President Donald Trump said American forces killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, widely known as Niño Guerrero, in what he described as a “swift and lethal” military operation against the alleged leader of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Trump said the strike was carried out by US Southern Command and coordinated with Venezuela, but officials had not immediately released

Deportation flight reaches Central African Republic A U.S. deportation flight carrying migrants from several countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Georgia, landed in the Central African Republic, bringing renewed attention to the Trump administration’s use of third-country deportations. The aircraft reportedly departed from Alexandria, Louisiana, stopped in Ghana and later arrived in Bangui, the capital of the Central African R

Aerial spraying in American farming Crop dusters, also known as agricultural aircraft, play an important role in American farming, especially across large crop-producing states where fields can stretch for hundreds or thousands of acres. These low-flying planes are commonly used to spray pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers over crops such as corn, soybeans, cotton, rice and wheat. Farmers often rely on aerial spraying when a fi

New World screwworm in Texas is raising concern among ranchers, veterinarians and pet owners after federal animal-health officials confirmed the parasite’s return in U.S. animals. The threat is serious because New World screwworm larvae can infest living tissue in cattle, pets, wildlife and, less commonly, people. But officials and experts also stress that the United States has defeated this pest before. New World screwworm in Texas: what officials confirmed

Chicago Midway airport food has become more varied, giving travelers local dining options beyond basic fast food before boarding a flight. For passengers looking for where to eat at Midway Airport, the current lineup includes Chicago-linked names, comfort food, burgers, fried chicken, Italian beef and made-to-order sushi. Chicago Midway Airport Food Options With Local Flavor Midway still has familiar quick-service choices, but

Netanyahu welcomes US assurances Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed assurances from U.S. President Donald Trump that any final agreement with Iran would include strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs. Netanyahu’s office said the two leaders discussed the proposed framework and that Israel appreciated Washington’s commitment to addressing Iran’s enriched nuclear material, enrichment infrastructure, m

National Mall markings trigger federal probe U.S. Park Police have opened an investigation after large “8647” markings appeared on the grass of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., adding a fresh flashpoint to the debate over a number sequence tied to opposition against President Donald Trump. Officials said the markings appeared as brown discoloration on the lawn near the World War II Memorial, with some digits mo

US Plans Third-Country Deportations The United States is preparing to deport several migrants, including Iranians who face over a 50% chance of persecution or torture if returned to their home country, to the Central African Republic (CAR). Reports indicate that other nationalities, including Syrians, Afghans, and a Turkish national, are also included in the planned deportations.