Good Monday evening. In this edition: U.S. and Iran plan for second round of peace talks after weekend saber-rattling.
Plus, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Kash Patel and Tim Cook.
Iran War
There was optimism late last week that the Iran war was nearing a close, but a series of events over the weekend cast doubt on whether a deal can be secured before the two-week ceasefire expires.
Nevertheless, both sides appear willing to return to the negotiating table in Islamabad as President Trump has set a deadline of "Wednesday evening Washington time" to reach a deal or allow fighting to resume.
Iran's foreign minister said Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was open, and President Trump said the country had agreed to "never close" the critical shipping route "again," but hours later, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired on two Indian-flagged commercial vessels as they attempted to transit the waterway.
On Saturday, the U.S. military fired on and seized a 900-foot Iranian cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman that allegedly tried to evade a naval blockade that President Trump said will remain in place until a deal is reached. Iran called the action "piracy" and threatened retaliation.
President Trump is dispatching Vice President JD Vance — along with son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff — to Islamabad for a second round of face-to-face talks with Iranian officials.
"The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA, commonly referred to as 'The Iran Nuclear Deal,' penned by Barack Hussein Obama and Sleepy Joe Biden, one of the Worst Deals ever made having to do with the Security of our Country," the president wrote on social media.
"If a Deal happens under 'TRUMP,' it will guarantee Peace, Security, and Safety, not only for Israel and the Middle East, but for Europe, America, and everywhere else. It will be something that the entire World will be proud of, instead of the years of Embarrassment and Humiliation that we have been forced to suffer due to incompetent and cowardly leadership!"
Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament who is expected to again lead talks for the Iranian side, said there has been "progress" but that a "big distance" remains between the two sides.
"There are some issues on which we insist … They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two," he said on Iranian state media. "We are still far from the final discussion."
Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, briefly fell to $87 per barrel on Friday but rose again on Monday, hovering above $94 following the weekend saber-rattling.
Energy Secretary Chris Wrighttold CNN on Sunday that he no longer expects U.S. gas prices to fall below $3 per gallon until 2027, drawing a rebuke from President Trump, who told The Hill that his Energy secretary is "totally wrong."
Senate Democrats plan to force another vote on a war powers resolution Tuesday, marking their fifth attempt to limit President Trump's authority to wage war against Iran.
The previous four measures were defeated largely along party lines, and the fifth is expected to meet the same fate.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is resigning after a tenure marked by internal investigations and controversy, including reports of an affair with a subordinate and drinking on the job. The Labor Department's inspector general was nearing the end of a monthslong investigation into whistleblower allegations of professional misconduct by Ms. Chavez-DeRemer, including claims that she was having an affair with a member of her security team and that she used government resources for personal trips. She is the third member of President Trump's Cabinet to leave in the last two months, following the ousters of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March and Attorney General Pam Bondi in early April. Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling will serve as acting labor secretary until a replacement is confirmed.
FBI Director Kash Patelsued The Atlantic for defamation after the magazine published a report alleging "excessive drinking" and "unexplained absences" while leading the bureau. The magazine, citing numerous unnamed sources, said Mr. Patel was often intoxicated around staff and that his security team had to use "breaching equipment" to access a room when he was reportedly unreachable. Mr. Patel's attorneys called the story a "sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece" and said they are seeking $250 million in damages. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called on Mr. Patel to resign, saying he posed a threat to America's national security.
Apple CEO Tim Cook will step down and transition to executive chairman on Sept. 1, the company announced, ending his 15-year run leading the tech giant. Apple senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus will succeed Mr. Cook as chief executive. Mr. Cook has served as Apple's top executive since shortly before the death of co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011. "It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company," Mr. Cook said in a news release. Mr. Ternus joined Apple's product design team in 2001 and was a leader in introducing the iPad and AirPods. "I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple's mission forward," Mr. Ternus said in a statement.
For your radar…
Kevin Warsh testifies Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee at his confirmation hearing to be next chair of the Federal Reserve. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN3 at 10am ET.
The House Ethics Committee holds a hearing Tuesday to consider sanctioning Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), who is facing federal charges for allegedly stealing $5 million in FEMA funds and using the money to support her congressional campaign. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN3 at 2pm ET.
