China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
U.S. to Begin Paying UN Dues as Financial Crisis Spurs Push for Reforms 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
U.S. Sanctions on Russia Could Expand as Ukraine Peace Talks Continue, Says Treasury Secretary Bessent 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
Trump Rejects Putin’s New START Extension Offer, Raising Fears of a New Nuclear Arms Race 
Trump Allegedly Sought Airport, Penn Station Renaming in Exchange for Hudson River Tunnel Funding 
TrumpRx.gov Highlights GLP-1 Drug Discounts but Offers Limited Savings for Most Americans 
Iran–U.S. Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Major Hurdles Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients 
Norway Opens Corruption Probe Into Former PM and Nobel Committee Chair Thorbjoern Jagland Over Epstein Links 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Ukraine-Russia Talks Yield Major POW Swap as U.S. Pushes for Path to Peace 
The US and Iran have been at odds over the latter’s nuclear program, with President Joe Biden keen on resuming negotiations with the Iranian leadership. However, the Islamic nation’s president-elect has ruled out meeting with Biden and sticking with his hardline stance.
Iranian president-elect Ebrahim Raisi says he will not meet with Biden following his election last week. Raisi, who succeeds Hassan Rouhani, will also not negotiate with the US over Tehran’s ballistic missile program and is sticking to a hardline stance as he takes office in August. Raisi made the comments in a news conference in Tehran and said that the US has an obligation to lift the sanctions it has imposed on the Islamic nation.
Raisi is a known protege of the country’s Supreme Leader, who has been sanctioned by the US over his involvement in mass executions back in 1988 of around 5,000 people. The president-elect described himself as a defender of human rights. Raisi’s election victory follows a low turnout in the history of the Islamic Republic, with millions of Iranians staying home in defiance of the vote they criticized as having already been turned to his favor.
With Raisi getting elected, a hardline stance would be in place as negotiations in Vienna continue surrounding Iran’s involvement in the nuclear deal. Raisi’s election also comes at a time when its nuclear facility is reaching 60 percent in its uranium enrichment.
In other news, Biden is restoring a White House tradition that has since been skipped over by his predecessor Donald Trump. Biden would be welcoming his former boss, former President Barack Obama, back to the White House to unveil his official portrait later this year. The unveiling of Obama’s official portrait was skipped over by Trump, who did not invite his predecessor, in an event that usually takes place in the East Room of the White House.
The paintings are commissioned by a privately funded White House Historical Association and are awarded to the artist chosen by the former president. Donald and Melania Trump are reportedly in talks with the WHHA and the National Portrait Gallery, and a Trump adviser said to NBC that their discussions are in line with historical precedent.
