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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
IRAN WAR – NEGOTIATIONS
During weekend negotiations in Islamabad, the United States proposed a 20-year “suspension” on all nuclear activity, to which Iran responded that it would suspend nuclear activity for up to five years, according to two senior Iranian officials and one U.S. official. Pakistani, Egyptian and Turkish mediators are trying to bridge the gap and reach a deal before the ceasefire ends on April 21. David E. Sanger and Tyler Page report for the New York Times; Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
“The Iranians were pissed off about that press conference,” a source told Axios, referring to Vice President JD Vance’s announcement on Sunday morning that the United States and Iran had not reached an agreement. The source added that the Iranians thought they were close to an initial agreement and were caught off guard by Vance’s press conference. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Vance called him on his way back to Washington to say the main sticking point was removing all enriched material from Iran and ensuring no enrichment in the coming years. A member of Iran’s negotiating team confirmed that the two U.S. demands on the nuclear issue were the reason no deal was reached. Barak Ravid reports.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot yesterday that Washington’s “excessive” and continually changing demands thwarted an agreement during negotiations over the weekend. But Aragchi also said there was “progress on many issues discussed.” Ephrat Livni reports for the New York Times.
White House officials said yesterday that another round of in-person negotiations was being discussed. An official at the Iranian embassy in Pakistan said, “The coming rounds of talks can come sometime later this week or earlier next week [in Islamabad].” Another Iranian source said that “no firm date has been set, with the delegations keeping Friday through Sunday open.” David E. Sanger and Tyler Page report for the New York Times; Ariba Shahid and Mubasher Bukhari report for Reuters.
IRAN WAR – STRAIT OF HORMUZ
The United States blockade of the Strait of Hormuz began yesterday. Trump said on Sunday that “numerous countries” would be helping with the blockade, but so far only Israel has publicly supported the idea. NATO allies have said they would not be drawn into the conflict by taking part in the blockade. Tyler Pager, Peter Eavis, Jenny Gross, and Thomas Fuller report for the New York Times; Michel Rose and John Irish report for Reuters.
An Iran-linked tanker appeared to travel through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday after the U.S. blockade was imposed, according to tracking data from MarineTraffic. Two tankers traveling to and from the United Arab Emirates also crossed the strait safely yesterday, and a Guyanese-flagged tanker operated by a Chinese shipping company crossed this morning, according to Kpler. Peter Eavis reports for the New York Times; Francesca Regalado reports for the New York Times.
Saudi Arabia is pressing the United States to drop its blockade and return to the negotiating table, fearing Iran could retaliate by disrupting the Bab al-Mandeb shipping route in the Red Sea, Arab officials said. Summer Said and Jared Malsin report for the Wall Street Journal.
IRAN WAR – LEBANON OPERATIONS
Israeli troops launched an attack yesterday to seize Bint Jbeil, a town in southern Lebanon, from Hezbollah fighters. An Israeli military official said that full operational control of Bint Jbeil would be achieved within days. The town has symbolic and strategic significance as a Hezbollah stronghold, provincial capital, and gateway to surrounding villages. Laila Bassam, Steven Scheer, and Jana Choukeir report for Reuters.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said yesterday that a strike on a Red Cross Centre in southern Lebanon’s Tyre had killed one person. Israel’s military said it carried out a strike on a “Hezbollah terrorist” in Tyre and was investigating reports that the strike had caused damage to a Red Cross centre. Laila Bassam, Steven Scheer, and Jana Choukeir report for Reuters.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host a meeting today between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington to launch direct negotiations between the countries. The talks are set to focus on the possibility of a ceasefire, longer-term disarmament of Hezbollah, and a peace deal between the countries, sources say. A senior Hezbollah official said yesterday that Hezbollah will not abide by any agreements that may result from the direct Lebanon-Israel talks this week. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Abby Sewell reports for AP News.
IRAN WAR – OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
House Republicans postponed a scheduled hearing with senior Pentagon commanders about the war in Iran from April to late May. A spokeswoman for Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) said the delay was to ensure Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, could attend. “We are six weeks into this conflict. And we still haven’t gotten a public briefing from anyone in the administration about the war,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) said yesterday when asked about the delay. Megan Mineiro reports for the New York Times.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Israeli airstrikes killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza yesterday, according to health officials. Medics said the strike hit a group of men outside a school in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, killing three. Separately, another strike killed one person and injured another at a cafe in Gaza City. The violence comes as leaders from Hamas and other Palestinian factions have been meeting since Saturday in Cairo with mediators from Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar to discuss implementing the second phase of the Gaza deal. Nidal al-Mughrabi and Mahmoud Issa report for Reuters.
OTHER GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a majority government in Canada after new by-election wins and recent defections pushed his Liberal Party to 173 of 343 seats. Paul Vieira reports for the Wall Street Journal.
U.S. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
A man was arrested and accused of damaging a U.S. military plane at Shannon Airport in Ireland on Saturday, Irish and U.S. officials said. The incident briefly disrupted airport operations and comes amid ongoing scrutiny in Ireland over the airport’s long-standing role as a transit hub for U.S. military activity. Ali Watkins reports for the New York Times.
Vance said yesterday that he was “sad” but not surprised that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had lost the election on Sunday. “We didn’t go [to Hungary] because we expected Viktor Orban to cruise to an election victory,” Vance said during an interview. “We went because it was the right thing to do to stand behind a person who had stood by us for a very long time.” Eli Stokols reports for POLITICO.
“I find President Trump’s words towards the Holy Father unacceptable,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said yesterday in a statement. “The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal that he calls for peace and condemns every form of war.” Meloni’s statement followed Trump’s attack on Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night. Max Rego reports for the Hill.
U.S CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC OPERATIONS
The U.S. military said yesterday that it carried out a strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, claiming the targets were involved in “narco-trafficking operations.” The Hill reports.
U.S. IMMIGRATION DEVELOPMENTS
Local prosecutors in Minnesota yesterday announced that they are investigating whether federal immigration agents should face criminal charges, including kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment, over the wrongful detention of a U.S. citizen during a raid in January. ChongLy Scott Thao was forcibly taken from his home in freezing conditions before being released. Ernesto Londono reports for the New York Times.
Gov. Greg Abbot (R-TX) said yesterday that he will cut $110 million in public safety funding for Houston unless Mayor John Whitmire vows to stop enforcing a new ordinance that limits how police cooperate with ICE during immigration related stops. J. David Goodman reports for the New York Times.
U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
A federal judge yesterday dismissed Trump’s lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal for reporting on a letter he purportedly wrote to commemorate Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. The judge concluded that Trump came “nowhere close” to asserting that the newspaper’s actions revealing the existence and contents of the note amounted to the “actual malice” needed for Trump to prevail in a defamation case. Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein report for POLITICO.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced yesterday that he is resigning from Congress after allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staff member and engaged in misconduct with other women. Swalwell’s resignation followed an announcement from the House Ethics Committee that it would investigate the allegations. Michael Gold, Jill Cowan, and Emily Cochrane report for the New York Times.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) announced late last night that he is resigning from Congress after allegations of sexual misconduct. The House Ethics Committee formally launched an investigation into Gonzales last month. After initially denying the allegations, Gonzales admitted to having an affair with his former staffer in March, calling it a “lapse in judgment.” Kate Santaliz reports for Axios.
“Our bipartisan subpoena was very clear: Pam Bondi is supposed to testify tomorrow, whether she’s the AG or not,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) said yesterday. “If she doesn’t show up, she will face contempt.” Garcia and other Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have argued that, since Bondi was subpoenaed by name, she must appear for the deposition on Tuesday regarding her handling of the Epstein files. Max Rego reports for the Hill.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS
Trump yesterday deleted an AI-generated image he posted on social media depicting himself in a Christ-like healing pose, following widespread backlash from Christian commentators. When asked about the post, Trump said, “I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with Red Cross.” Finya Swai reports for POLITICO.
The Justice Department released a report today accusing the Biden administration of unfairly using a federal law meant to protect access to abortion clinics to go after anti-abortion protesters. The report is the first product from the DOJ’s “Weaponization Working Group.” Paula Reid and Casey Gannon report for CNN.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LITIGATION
The Trump administration yesterday reversed its earlier decision and will allow the Pride flag to be displayed again at New York’s Stonewall National Museum, according to a court filing. The flag will be reinstated within seven days and will not be removed save for maintenance or other practical purposes. It remains unclear why the administration reversed its course on the flag. Victoria Albert reports for the Wall Street Journal.
Did you miss this? Stay up-to-date with our Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions.
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ICYMI: Yesterday on Just Security
Mined and Blockaded: Iran’s Unlawful Mining and the U.S. Port Blockade
