Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, declared significant progress after the first day of high-level talks between Washington and Tehran in Switzerland, despite a tense opening marked by President Donald Trump's crude threats to restart attacks. Araghchi stated that Pakistani and Qatari mediation had delivered major progress toward ending the Lebanon war, a key Iranian demand. Iran has insisted that Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon must cease as part of any agreement, though Israel is not directly participating in the talks.
Agreed Roadmap and Sanctions Waiver
A joint statement from mediators Qatar and Pakistan confirmed that the US and Iran have agreed on a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days. Technical talks between lower-ranking officials will continue for the remainder of the week. In a critical development, the US Treasury is preparing to issue a 60-day waiver lifting sanctions on oil, petrochemicals, and derivatives, which is essential for unlocking progress.
Trump's Threat Over Strait of Hormuz
Over the weekend, Iran announced it had reinstated its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in protest against continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Trump responded on social media with a profanity-laced threat, stating, "You close it and you won't have a country. You won't even make it back to your fucking country." The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway for global oil shipments.
Impact of War on Iranian Support
According to Saeed Shah, the war has triggered a rare moment of solidarity in Iran, a country that had been reeling from the killing of thousands of protesters by authorities earlier this year. The conflict appears to have temporarily shifted public focus away from domestic unrest.
UK Prime Minister Starmer to Step Down
Keir Starmer has announced he will step down as UK prime minister after intense pressure from Labour Party MPs, including cabinet ministers, following the return of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to Westminster. Starmer will remain in Downing Street until a leadership contest or handover of power is complete. His exit marks a dramatic fall from grace after winning the 2024 election with a historic landslide, only to be undone by misjudgments such as appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite a failed security vetting and policy reversals that led to devastating losses in May elections.
Far-Right Victory in Colombia
Abelardo de la Espriella, a far-right millionaire lawyer and self-styled outsider who admires Trump, has won Colombia's presidential runoff, defeating leftwing senator Iván Cepeda. The victory signals a sharp swing to the right after four years under Colombia's first leftwing president, Gustavo Petro, who was barred from re-election. The result adds to a wave of far-right victories across Latin America, including recent wins by Nasry Asfura in Honduras and José Antonio Kast in Chile, while Keiko Fujimori leads in Peru's vote count. De la Espriella emphasized the need for a close alliance with the US in fighting organized crime.
Other News
Wyndham Clark won the US Open amid a fierce challenge from Sam Burns and jeers from a hostile crowd. At least seven people were killed in Chicago shootings since Friday, prompting Trump to renew calls for military deployment, though a nonpartisan study found the National Guard's presence in DC had minimal effect on violent crime. US investment firm Castlelake publicly proposed a £4.7bn bid to buy easyJet after earlier rejections. Almost three tonnes of cocaine was found buried under a Sydney property in Australia's largest seizure. Repair work will begin immediately at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, with Trump blaming vandals without evidence.
Stat of the Day: Boston Airport Near Miss
A Delta jet was approximately 300 feet (90 meters) from an American Airlines plane during a close call at Boston's airport, forcing the Delta aircraft to abort a landing attempt over the weekend.
Building Power: Rosa Parks Monument
Bronze hands rising from the pavement in Montgomery Square hold a placard reading 7053, Rosa Parks's booking number from her 1955 mugshot. The monument preserves the memory of Black resistance to racism and asks what that memory demands, especially as the current administration works to erase victories from that era.
Don't Miss: White Working Class and Political Currency
Boston University professor Saida Grundy argues that access to power over other racial groups is the preferred political currency of the white working class, who continue to measure their gains racially even when siding with conservatives costs them economically.
Africa Can End Aids on Its Own Terms
Aids-related deaths have fallen by 59% since 2010 and new infections by 68% in Africa, but external health aid to the continent has dropped by 70% in the last four years. Jean Kaseya and Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah write that the era of externally financed health progress is over, and Africa must now lead its own health agenda.
Climate Check: Utah Wildfire Forces Evacuation
Extreme heat and dry, windy conditions are fueling multiple wildfires across the US west, including a massive blaze in Utah that forced the evacuation of a small town. Hot weather in the forecast raises the risk of more blazes.
Last Thing: Green Boots Mystery on Everest
Thirty years after a climber known only as "Green Boots" perished near the top of Mount Everest, his body may finally be heading home, and his identity may be confirmed. The climber, named for his lime-colored Koflach boots, has been a landmark on the mountain for decades.
