Iran Talks & Hormuz: US VP JD Vance says Washington has made “some” progress with Iran, but insists Tehran must show it can deliver longer-term changes; Iran’s top negotiator also attacks “theater diplomacy” as Trump signals a pending settlement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. US-Iran Escalation & Shipping: The US says it disabled most Iranian sea mines, yet Hormuz remains unclear as shipping stays constrained; the US also struck a Panama-flagged vessel after it ignored blockade orders. Regional Security Pact: Saudi Arabia’s cabinet praised the Makkah summit outcomes with Türkiye and Pakistan, calling for a long-term defense partnership and stressing protection of key waterways like Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb. Afghanistan Rights: UNESCO says 2.4 million Afghan girls are barred from secondary education five years after the Taliban return, warning of long-term economic and social damage. Lebanon Human Rights: Lebanon abolished the death penalty, becoming the first Arab country to end capital punishment. West Bank Flashpoint: A UN official urged the West Bank situation be treated as an emergency as settler violence and settlement expansion accelerate. Israel-Iran Politics: Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid calls the Iran ceasefire a “political disaster.” Venezuela-Israel Rapprochement: Venezuela and Israel agreed to a consular coordination mechanism after 17 years, alongside continued technical cooperation. Saudi AI Push: Saudi Arabia launched AI incentives for cultural projects, offering grants up to SR500,000.