Welcome to our live coverage of US politics and the Middle East. The tentative ceasefire between Iran and the US is looking increasingly fragile after a fresh exchange of strikes added yet more strain to the already delicate truce.
Escalation in the Gulf
Iran on Saturday launched a salvo of missiles at US military bases in the region after the US shot down a number of drones headed for the Strait of Hormuz. Bahrain and Kuwait, which host US bases, are understandably furious after seven ballistic missiles were launched their way. This escalation marks a dangerous turn in the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
World Cup Visa Dispute
The escalation comes as tensions of a different kind between the warring nations threaten to boil over. Iran has accused the US of discriminatory treatment against its national football team after a number of support staff were refused visas ahead of the World Cup. The players themselves and their technical staff were granted visas, but many on the managerial side—including the head of Iran's Football Federation—were not. Iran has called on FIFA to intervene, while a US official stated: 'We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.'
Hegseth's Normandy Address
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is in Normandy to mark the 82nd anniversary of the World War II D-Day landings in France. He used his address on Saturday to urge Europe to act on what he called a modern-day 'invasion'. He said 'dangerous ideologies' are storming beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria as 'boats and men arrive'. 'When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late?' he asked while standing in front of the 9,387 white crosses of American soldiers killed in action during the Battle of Normandy.
Read on for updates below.
