A 14-point diplomatic deal between the United States and Iran, signed by President Donald Trump in mid-June 2026 and intended to de-escalate tensions, is failing as the war between the two nations expands rather than winds down.
Iran is conducting an elaborate multi-day funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed four months ago at the outset of a US-Israeli war on Iran. The ceremonies, spanning five cities across Iran and Iraq from July 3-9, coincide with the reappearance of Revolutionary Guard General Ahmad Vahidi, who had been in hiding.
Iran is organizing a historic six-day, multi-city state funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei scheduled for July 9, more than four months after his death. The ceremonies will span Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala and Mashhad, with authorities mobilizing the Basij militia amid tight security and ongoing fragile US-Iran negotiations.
President Trump has publicly criticized Pope Leo over the pontiff's stance on Iran, accusing him of endangering Catholics, while the Pope denied Trump's claim that he supports nuclear weapons. The dispute comes ahead of Secretary of State Rubio's trip to Rome and marks what Vatican officials describe as an unprecedented low in U.S.-Vatican relations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the Vatican for talks with Pope Leo XIV in what observers view as an effort to repair strained relations between the White House and the Holy See. The Vatican emphasized the need to work for peace during the meeting, which follows weeks of tension including a reported clash over Iran policy.
