The U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding is eleven days old and already broken. Iran struck the cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely in the Strait of Hormuz June 28, U.S. Central Command responded, and a second Iranian drone hit the M/T Kiku hours later. The technical talks that were supposed to begin after the June 17 signing have not started. The 60-day clock on Iran’s nuclear status, enrichment stockpiles, and sanctions relief is running with nothing resolved.
In Venezuela, twin earthquakes on June 24 killed at least 1,450 people and left nearly 69,000 unaccounted for. U.S. Marines delivered disaster supplies at La Guaira Port on June 27 as international rescue teams worked past the 72-hour survival window. Venezuela’s government blocked more than 200 websites in the immediate aftermath, drawing a United Nations rebuke.
Ukraine struck the Russian missile plant that builds Iskander-M launchers and set two oil refineries ablaze over the weekend. Occupied Crimea declared a fuel emergency, suspending civilian gasoline sales.
In Britain, Trump posted Keir Starmer’s resignation before Starmer announced it. Andy Burnham is the only declared successor; if no rival reaches 81 MP endorsements by July 16, he becomes prime minister by July 17.
The Trump administration expanded Cuba sanctions June 23 under EO 14404 the same day the Supreme Court opened U.S. courthouse doors to Helms-Burton plaintiffs — while Cuba’s National Assembly approved 175 economic reforms that the sanctions are now designed to strangle.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup broke all-time attendance records at 3.6 million fans. International visitors reported finding an America far friendlier than the ACLU’s pre-tournament travel advisory had warned. The U.S. faces Bosnia on July 1.
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