The U.S. and Iran are locked in a dangerous cycle of retaliation. The U.S. military struck 140 Iranian targets overnight, while Tehran responded with fire toward Jordan and other Gulf Arab states, claiming it has closed the Strait of Hormuz [NPR, PBS]. The escalation raises serious questions about the June 17 interim peace agreement, which aimed to reach a permanent resolution within 60 days—now at its midway point [PBS].

Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a stark warning Sunday: the U.S. must honor the deal "or pay the price" [The Hill]. That message came hours after U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker called Iran "controlled by a bunch of crazy people," further inflaming tensions [The Hill].

**Domestic shockwaves:** Senator Lindsey Graham's sudden death Saturday at 71 leaves a significant void in Republican foreign policy circles. The South Carolina Republican was a key architect of Trump administration policies and a leading advocate for interventionist approaches [NPR, Bloomberg]. His passing comes as Maine Democrats face a tight deadline—July 27 at 5 p.m. ET—to nominate a replacement for their own vacant Senate seat [Newsweek].

**Ukraine shifts course:** Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has resigned as President Zelenskyy reshuffles key government positions [CBS News], signaling broader changes in Kyiv's leadership structure amid ongoing conflict.

**On the home front:** A heat dome is peaking across the western U.S., with 40 million people under heat alerts [CBS News]. Meanwhile, a Georgia teenager charged in the Apalachee High School shooting is set to appear in court for plea and sentencing proceedings [PBS].

Argentina advanced to the World Cup semifinals with Julian Alvarez's 112th-minute strike against Switzerland [NPR].