Key facts
- The US has paused strikes on Iran for a third night.
- Diplomatic negotiations are ongoing to avoid a return to all-out war.
- Tehran announced a pause in its 'retaliatory' attacks against US allies.
- The Pentagon reported 18 US troops killed and 624 wounded since February 28.
- Pop star Katy Perry condemned the use of her song 'Firework' in a White House TikTok video depicting military strikes.
The United States has paused strikes on Iran for a third consecutive night as diplomatic efforts continue to de-escalate the nearly five-month-old conflict. Top military officials have advised President Donald Trump to halt the bombing campaign, with Tehran stating it would pause its own retaliatory attacks against US allies in the region.
The Pentagon updated its war casualty database over the weekend, reporting 18 US troops killed and 624 wounded since the conflict began on February 28. This includes over 140 newly reported wounded service members.
In a separate development, pop star Katy Perry publicly condemned the White House for using her hit song 'Firework' in a TikTok video that depicted US military strikes on Iranian targets. Perry stated she did not approve the use of her music and that it was intended as an anthem of hope, not a celebration of warfare.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of 'fomenting hate' for calling Netanyahu a war criminal. The International Court of Justice has issued a warrant accusing Netanyahu of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Gaza.
In other news, German officials reported that a suspect in a van and knife attack near Berlin's Pride festival, which killed one woman and injured 29, was shot dead by police. Separately, two people were killed and five wounded in a shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival. In Oklahoma, a woman was fatally shot in an apparent murder-suicide by her husband shortly after she posted allegations of abuse online. Uganda has begun emergency food handouts following 19 deaths from hunger due to drought. Millions in the US are under extreme heat warnings, while Europe faces dangerous wildfires. In sports, Tadej Pogacar secured his fifth Tour de France title.