| Middle East → Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are on hold while Tehran observes a week of mourning for deceased Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Large crowds participated in the funeral over the weekend and on Monday, with several reports of hanged effigies of President Trump and chants of “Death to America.” Despite the mourning period, however, Iran again fired on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Notably, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has yet to appear at any events related to his father’s funeral, increasing speculation regarding the severity of his injuries or even whether or not he is alive. There are rumors that he might appear on Thursday at his father’s burial. If he does not appear publicly at all this week, that would at the very least confirm that his injuries are severe enough to prevent a public appearance. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did appear at one of the mourning events. Recent reporting alleged that Ahmadinejad was coordinating with Israel to take power in Iran following the assassination of the elder Khamenei. Whether or not those allegations are being taken seriously by Iranian authorities, Ahmadinejad’s movements are almost certainly being tightly controlled. Iran is continuing to target commercial vessels transiting the Omani side of the Strait. The I.R.G.C. views free use of the Omani corridor as a direct challenge to its authority over Strait shipping. This has become the key piece of leverage Iran is unwilling to relinquish in its confrontation with the U.S. → On Monday, a lower-level Hamas official announced that the group would relinquish control of Gaza’s civilian government to the Board of Peace. Hamas has not agreed to disarm. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar argued that the move was designed to appease the international community and avoid disarmament. Meanwhile, negotiations between Israel and Hamas on implementing Phase 2 of the October 2025 ceasefire remain largely stagnant. International Affairs → On Tuesday and Wednesday, leaders will gather in Ankara for the N.A.T.O. Summit. A key topic of discussion will be defense spending within Europe. President Trump has criticized European allies throughout his term for not contributing enough to the alliance’s joint defense. Trump recently initiated a six-month review of U.S. military presence in Europe. European leaders increased defense spending by approximately €139 billion in 2025 and are expected to argue that this progress demonstrates their value as security partners. Turkey’s President Erdogan is also expected to request F-35 stealth fighter jets from President Trump, after earlier rejections due to Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 antiaircraft systems. If Turkey still possesses Russian systems, U.S. law forbids the sale of F-35s. → On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Erfurt, Germany, to protest the annual conference of the far-right Alternative for Germany (A.f.D.), blocking roads as delegates re-elected co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. Police clashed with protesters as security forces worked to clear access routes to the venue. The demonstrations coincided with the party’s efforts to position itself for upcoming state elections. A.f.D. is seeking to lead a regional government for the first time. Despite sustained public opposition and heightened security measures, the A.f.D. has continued to gain support in national opinion polls, reflecting Germany’s increasingly polarized political landscape. → On Thursday, Italian authorities launched a nationwide investigation after 80 vials of fentanyl were stolen from the pharmacy of Rome’s Israelite Hospital, an amount estimated to be sufficient to produce up to 20,000 illicit doses of the synthetic opioid. The Prime Minister’s office held an emergency meeting and prosecutors, anti-narcotics investigators, and the Ministry of Health opened parallel investigations into the hospital’s handling of controlled substances. Authorities reported no signs of forced entry, raising questions about internal security procedures. The incident has heightened concerns over the potential diversion of medical-grade fentanyl into Italy’s illicit drug market. The government reportedly plans to strengthen oversight of the storage and distribution of high-risk pharmaceuticals. → On Tuesday, China’s new Ethnic Unity and Progress Law entered into force. The law enacts measures to promote a unified Chinese identity and accelerate the assimilation of ethnic minorities. The law also expands Beijing’s legal authority to pursue violators. Chinese officials described the legislation as necessary to strengthen national cohesion and combat separatism. Critics, including U.N. experts and human rights organizations, argue that it further institutionalizes assimilation policies stifling China’s many ethnic minorities. → On Wednesday, the Democratic Republic of the Congo launched the first-ever clinical trial of treatments targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. The trial, led by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) and research partners, will evaluate the antiviral drug remdesivir, the experimental antibody therapy MBP134, and a combination of both treatments. Researchers hope the trial will establish the first effective treatment for the disease, although ongoing armed conflict and insecurity in eastern Congo continue to complicate patient access, surveillance, and outbreak response efforts. → Mali has established the Malian Office of Precious Substances, a new state agency tasked with regulating and centralizing the country’s artisanal gold trade as authorities seek to curb smuggling and recover lost government revenue. The reform follows findings that significant quantities of gold exported from Mali were not reflected in official trade data. The initiative forms part of the military-led government’s broader strategy to strengthen state control over the mining sector, increase transparency, and capture a larger share of revenues from Mali’s most important export. |
A Note From Interfor
→ Don Aviv and Sabrina Tan on the increasing threat of cyber attacks in Time Magazine.
| Resources: US Department of State Travel Advisories CISA: nation-state cybersecurity threats and other resources for cybersecurity matters. |
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