China Overturns Death Sentence of Canadian Robert Schellenberg, Signaling Thaw in Canada-China Relations 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
Trump Congratulates Japan’s First Female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi After Historic Election Victory 
US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Before Summer Amid Escalating Attacks 
Nicaragua Ends Visa-Free Entry for Cubans, Disrupting Key Migration Route to the U.S. 
Bosnian Serb Presidential Rerun Confirms Victory for Dodik Ally Amid Allegations of Irregularities 
Federal Judge Restores Funding for Gateway Rail Tunnel Project 
Sydney Braces for Pro-Palestine Protests During Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s Visit 
Antonio José Seguro Poised for Landslide Win in Portugal Presidential Runoff 
Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party Wins Thai Election, Signals Shift Toward Political Stability 
Taiwan Says Moving 40% of Semiconductor Production to the U.S. Is Impossible 
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Secures Historic Election Win, Shaking Markets and Regional Politics 
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Iran Nuclear Talks Intensify 
Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Amidst stalled negotiations between Iran and world powers to restart the nuclear deal, Iran appears to be preparing to get involved in military activities. A student news outlet reported that Tehran is prepared to export military equipment and weapons.
The student-led news outlet Young Journalists Club reports this week that Iran’s army ground forces commander Kiumars Heydari said Tehran is ready is prepared to export military equipment and weapons.
Heydari’s comments Tuesday came a week after the United States accused Tehran of preparing to aid Russia with drones.
“Currently, we are ready to export military equipment and weapons,” said Heydari.
However, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian rejected the claims by Washington during his phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Friday last week.
Iran’s foreign ministry announced Saturday that it was sanctioning 61 more Americans, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, and the former attorney to former President Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani.
Pompeo and Bolton also served under Trump. The announcement also came as US President Joe Biden wrapped up his visit to the Middle East.
Tehran cites that the new sanctions are due to Pompeo, Bolton, and Giuliani among the 61 Americans, throwing their support behind an Iranian dissident group, the Mujahideen-e-Khalq. Iran has previously sanctioned 51 Americans in January and 24 more in April.
The spokesperson for the US State Department responded to the additional sanctions shortly after it was announced.
“The United States will protect and defend its citizens. This includes those serving the United States now and those who formerly served,” said the spokesperson. “We are united in our resolve against threats and provocations, and we will work with our allies and partners to deter and respond to any attacks carried out by Iran.”
This comes at a time when the ongoing indirect negotiations between Iran and world powers resumed after a months-long pause to restart the 2015 nuclear deal. The US, under Trump, withdrew from the agreement in 2018, with Trump saying that the deal was too soft on Tehran.
Trump instead imposed sanctions on Iran, leading to Tehran breaching the agreement in terms of nuclear limits.
