Negotiators from Washington and Tehran left Pakistan on Sunday without a peace agreement and are facing the potential for a return to fighting.
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“We were negotiating in good faith,” Vice President JD Vance said. “We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”
With just eight days remaining in the current ceasefire, the failure to find a more permanent agreement in Islamabad raises the prospect of a return to a war that saw President Donald Trump threaten to wipe out an entire civilization, with the death toll already in the thousands and the impacts rippling through the global economy.
Hours after the talks ended, Trump on Truth Social said he instructed the U.S. Navy to begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Iran of trying to extort vessels for passage. The president had previously criticized Iran for blocking the critical oil shipping chokepoint.
More news on the Iran war:
- Fuel crisis: Kitchens across India are running low on gas canisters as the Hormuz crisis sends shock waves through a country heavily dependent on Gulf oil imports.
Viktor Orbán concedes election defeat in a blow to Hungary’s far right
Orbán, whose right-wing policies toward universities drew praise from Vice President JD Vance, signaled defeat Sunday as he spoke to supporters in Budapest, saying the election result is clear and it is painful for his party.
“The responsibility and possibility of governing was not given to us,” he said.
Orbán added that he had congratulated the winning party, and his party, Fidesz, would serve Hungary from the opposition. Magyar posted on Facebook to say Orbán congratulated him.
‘Meet the Press’
President Miguel Díaz-Canel stood by Cuba’s leadership and didn’t concede a need for any changes to its government amid Trump’s pressure campaign against the communist country.
In an interview in Havana with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Díaz-Canel said that if the U.S. launches any military aggression, “there will be fighting, and there will be a struggle, and we will defend ourselves, and if we need to die, we’ll die.”
Moderator Kristen Welker asked Díaz-Canel whether he was willing to commit to responding to demands from the U.S., including releasing political prisoners, scheduling multiparty elections and recognizing unions and a free press.
“Nobody has made those demands to us, and we have established that in respect to our political system or constitutional order, these are issues that are not under negotiations,” he answered.
Meanwhile, efforts to expel Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, from Congress gained bipartisan steam following separate sexual misconduct allegations against each of them.
Swalwell is under investigation in New York over a sexual assault allegation, following reports from multiple women alleging the gubernatorial candidate sexually assaulted or harassed them. Swalwell has denied the allegations.
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., told Welker on “Meet the Press” that he would vote in favor of expelling the two lawmakers from Congress if given the opportunity.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash said that expelling Gonzales and Swalwell would send an important message.
“This is also important for staffers across the Capitol to see that their bosses don’t get to do this to them,” the congresswoman said.
A green jacket up for grabs at the Masters
It’s a tradition unlike any other — the world’s top golfers competing amid the bucolic setting of azaleas, dogwoods and pines to finish off the final round of the golf season’s first major on Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club. NBC News is covering the decisive final round of the first major of the season.
The ‘Vulnpocalypse’: Why experts fear AI could tip the scales toward hackers
As AI grows more capable of identifying software vulnerabilities, experts are increasingly warning of a potential disaster scenario: the so-called “Vulnpocalypse.”
Hackers could quickly turbocharge their attacks with AI technology designed to identify holes in cyber defenses, security researchers warn.
Some theorize that the tech could help crash financial systems or lock up hospitals and manufacturing plants. It could help countries like Iran shut down American critical infrastructure. Or it could be used to cause mass system outages affecting travelers or internet users.
The concerns come as Anthropic announced that it would withhold its latest AI model, Mythos Preview, from the public, citing unprecedented vulnerability-discovery capabilities that could cause significant damage in the wrong hands. The company is instead sharing the model with a limited group of tech giants and partners to help shore up their defenses.
Notable quote
It’s a special thing to be a human, and it’s a special thing to be on planet Earth.
Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman
The four Artemis II astronauts said they’re “bonded forever” in their first public remarks since completing NASA’s first lunar mission in more than 50 years. Not only was the 10-day journey historic — it was also a feast for the eyes. The crew captured never-before-seen parts of the moon, took a selfie in space and snapped pictures floating in the spacecraft. From launch to landing, check out the best images.
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