Escalating Tensions in Middle East Amid Conflict

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed doubts that diplomatic talks with the US will resume quickly, citing concerns that the US might revert to military action during negotiations. He emphasized that "the doors of diplomacy will never slam shut." Araghchi made the comments after US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which he downplayed, saying Iran can quickly repair the damage and resume enriching uranium. He also questioned the legality of potential future US strikes and asserted Iran's readiness to defend itself.

CBS News producer Seyed Rahim Bathaei, who has been reporting from Iran for 16 years, says that a war between Iran and Israel was inevitable due to their longstanding rivalry and proxy wars. After a 12-day war, a ceasefire brokered by President Trump has held, but Bathaei is pessimistic about the future, saying "I think we are going toward darker things." He believes that a US attack on Iran could have disastrous consequences, including a failed state and terrorism. Bathaei thinks that dialogue between the US and Iran is necessary to eliminate misunderstandings and reduce tensions, and that many Iranians desire peace.

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, stated that Iran's nuclear enrichment "will never stop" and that it is an "inalienable right" under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iravani clarified that Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been suspended due to the agency's failure to fulfill its responsibilities, but there is no threat against IAEA inspectors or Director-General Rafael Grossi, despite calls for his arrest and execution in an Iranian newspaper. Iravani also said that Iran is ready for negotiations with the US, but only on a mutual basis and not on terms of "unconditional surrender". He dismissed President Trump's offer of a meeting, stating that the US must be willing to negotiate on equal terms.

Analysts warn that despite the US and Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the regime may still retain nuclear ambitions. The strikes, described as "obliterating" Iran's nuclear facilities, have severely damaged the country's known enrichment infrastructure. However, experts caution that covert elements of the program may still exist and enriched uranium stockpiles could resurface. The International Atomic Energy Agency's Director Rafael Grossi said the threat remains despite the destruction of key facilities. Nuclear experts note that Iran may retain technical know-how and residual capabilities to reconstitute its program, especially if it goes dark. A report by the Institute for Science and International Security found that while the centrifuge enrichment program was effectively destroyed, residuals such as enriched uranium stocks and centrifuges pose a threat. Experts emphasize that the intelligence picture is still developing and it remains to be seen what Iran's next steps will be.

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is calling on the US to support Iranians seeking regime change, advocating for a secular and democratic alternative to the Islamic Republic. Pahlavi, the eldest son of the late Shah of Iran, believes the current regime thrives on chaos and bloodshed, and that true peace can only be achieved by ending it. He has been in touch with former and current members of Iran's armed forces, who are increasingly showing signs of discontent with the regime, and has launched a formal channel for communications with them. Pahlavi's coalition for a post-regime Iran includes former officials, dissidents, technocrats, activists, and members of the diaspora, who are working together to build a democratic future. He has offered to partner with President Donald Trump to bring about regime change and establish a peaceful, democratic Iran aligned with regional stability and American interests.

Iran confirmed that an Israeli strike on Tehran's Evin prison on June 23 killed at least 71 people, including staff, soldiers, prisoners, and family members visiting the prison. Iran's judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir released the death toll, while human rights groups reported that top prosecutor Ali Ghanaatkar, known for prosecuting dissidents, was among those killed. The strike was part of a series of Israeli attacks on Iranian targets, with Israel claiming to have killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists, and damaged nuclear-related facilities and military infrastructure. The status of Iran's nuclear program remains unclear, with the International Atomic Energy Agency's head stating that while there was severe damage, Iran retained the capacity to restart its nuclear program.

Iran held a state funeral for IRGC commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians killed during the country's 12-day conflict with Israel, with at least 60 people being buried in Tehran according to state-affiliated media.

Iran's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, issued a fatwa labeling President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "warlords," or individuals who wage war against God, a crime punishable by execution, crucifixion, or exile under Iranian law. The decree was seen as an incitement to terrorism by some experts, with British-Iranian commentator Niyak Ghorbani condemning it as state-endorsed incitement to global terrorism. The fatwa comes amid heightened tensions following a period of conflict known as the "12-Day War," during which American and Israeli efforts targeted Iranian nuclear capabilities, prompting Iranian retaliation. This is not the first time Iranian clerics have used fatwas to incite violence, with the 1989 fatwa against author Salman Rushdie being a notable example.

President Trump signed an executive order terminating the US sanctions program on Syria, while maintaining sanctions on former President Bashar al-Assad and others linked to human rights abuses and terrorist activities. The move comes after Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in May and announced plans to lift sanctions. Syria has been under US sanctions since 1979, and the new transitional government has blamed them for hindering the country's ability to rebuild after a 13-year civil war. Some sanctions will still need to be formally revoked by Congress.

President Trump is pressuring Israel to end its 20-month conflict in Gaza and secure a hostage deal as he seeks to expand the Abraham Accords, a diplomatic achievement from his first term. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is set to meet with White House officials to discuss ending the war. Trump took to social media to urge Israel to "Make the deal in Gaza. Get the hostages back!!!". Israel has been in indirect negotiations with Hamas, mediated by others, but a deal has not been reached. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to send negotiators to Egypt, instead sending Dermer to Washington to align US and Israeli positions. Trump believes expanding the Abraham Accords, which normalize ties between Israel and other nations, is crucial, and has stated that several countries are interested in joining, though Saudi Arabia has conditioned its participation on progress in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Israel is also interested in expanding the Accords to include countries like Syria and Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US President Donald Trump next Monday, July 7, amid international calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. The visit, which has not been formally announced, was confirmed by US and Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The meeting comes as the Gaza conflict continues, with over 56,500 people killed since the war began 20 months ago, and Trump having recently suggested a ceasefire could be reached within a week. Trump has also urged Netanyahu to prioritize returning hostages held by Hamas and ending the war.

At least 20 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a popular seafront cafe in western Gaza, according to medics and eyewitnesses. The strike hit Al-Baqa Cafeteria, a outdoor venue used by activists, journalists, and local residents, with rescue teams evacuating 20 bodies and dozens wounded. The attack came after Israel carried out a wave of air strikes across the Gaza Strip, triggering mass displacement of hundreds of Palestinian families. The bombardment follows one of the largest evacuation orders issued since the war resumed in March, with residents saying dozens of Israeli air raids targeted densely populated neighbourhoods. The Israeli military has not commented on the strike, amid increasing pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue a new ceasefire agreement.

An Israeli airstrike hit a beachfront cafe in Gaza City popular with university students, killing at least 30 people and wounding dozens more. The cafe was one of the few remaining locations with reliable internet access. Witnesses described scenes of horror, with one saying "all I see is blood". The strike was part of a broader escalation in airstrikes across Gaza, with Israel intensifying its bombardment despite diplomatic efforts towards a ceasefire. A proposed 60-day truce remains on the table, but significant differences between Hamas and Israel remain.

Almost 60 people were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health authorities. The Israeli military ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians in northern Gaza, leading to further displacement. US President Donald Trump called for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, urging them to "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!". The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza has reached 56,500, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled over whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire, with Hamas willing to free hostages in exchange for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops, but Israel rejecting this offer.