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- World leaders and U.S. officials pay tribute to Lindsey Graham after his death
- At least 27 dead in fire at Bangkok pub as investigation begins
- France hosts coalition leaders in Paris to discuss Ukraine support plans
- Jannik Sinner defeats Alexander Zverev to retain Wimbledon men’s singles title
- Tornadoes reported in Canada’s Prairies during humid heatwave
- Transcript of interview with Israeli Ambassador Michael Leiter, July 12, 2026
- Labrador rescued from Ben Nevis after suspected cannabis ingestion
- British man killed in Spain wildfire was on phone with wife during escape
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World leaders and U.S. officials pay tribute to Lindsey Graham after his death
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Get you up to speed: U.S. and world leaders pay tribute to Lindsey Graham following sudden death
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina passed away on Saturday evening due to a “brief and sudden illness,” as confirmed by his office. He was 71 years old, and further details about his death have not been released.
No details about the specific illness that led to Graham’s death have been disclosed. The timeline surrounding his passing indicates he had recently returned from Ukraine, where he was involved in discussions regarding a sanctions bill supported by the White House.
President Trump ordered that all American flags be lowered to half-staff in memory of Lindsey Graham, calling him “one of the greatest people and senators.” bipartisan calls for the immediate passage of a Russian sanctions bill, which Graham had championed, reflect a coordinated effort among lawmakers to honour his legacy.
What remains unclear — No specific details about the circumstances surrounding Senator Lindsey Graham’s illness and death have been provided.
World leaders and U.S. officials pay tribute to Lindsey Graham after his death
Washington — Tributes began pouring in early Sunday as foreign leaders and American politicians reacted to the death of Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who died after a “brief and sudden illness” Saturday.
Graham, a four-term senator and outspoken foreign policy hawk, was 71. He passed away Saturday evening, his office announced. No further details about his death were immediately available.
The unexpected news sent shockwaves through Washington and beyond.
President Trump called Graham “one of the greatest people and senators I have ever known.”
“He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!” the president said in a post on Truth Social, adding that details and arrangements would follow.
In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the president said he spoke with Graham Saturday evening, for what “could have been his last call.” The president said Graham — who had just returned from a trip to Ukraine — seemed tired but “sounded great, actually.”
“He was like a member of the family to me,” Mr. Trump said, calling Graham “such an advocate.”
Mr. Trump later ordered that all American flags throughout the United States be lowered to half-staff in Graham’s honor until Saturday evening.
Vice President JD Vance, who previously served in the Senate with Graham, recalled a heated disagreement he had with Graham over Ukraine aid — followed by their cooperation on other legislation.
“That was Lindsey Graham. He fought like hell for the things he believed in, and he was just as willing to go to bat for you when it counted,” Vance wrote on X. “We certainly had our disagreements. But I couldn’t help but like him. A one of a kind figure in our politics.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said “my heart is heavy this morning to learn of the passing of my friend and colleague.”
“Lindsey’s long and dedicated service in the Air Force and in Congress carried him to far-flung regions of the world,” the Republican leader said in a post on X. “He was a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe. He believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world and dedicated his life to advancing that cause.”
Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said Graham “fought passionately for the Palmetto State,” adding that his “influence on the federal judiciary, our national defense, and his beloved South Carolina will be felt for generations.”
The majority leader called Graham a “trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others, and numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel.”
Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has been hospitalized following a fall last month, said Graham was “a good friend and a great American.”
“I was shocked and saddened by his passing. His constituents and colleagues have counted on his straight talk, conviction, and boundless appetite for a worthy fight. The Senate will miss him, and Elaine and I are keeping his family in my prayers,” McConnell said in a statement.
International leaders remember Graham
Graham’s relationships with world leaders were on display Sunday as they paid tribute to his work and friendship.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with Graham days ago in Kyiv, called the South Carolina Republican “a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer,” adding that “America and the world have lost a determined leader.”
“He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it was most needed,” Zelenskyy said. “We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations. We met twice in just the past week.”
While in Kyiv, Graham announced that lawmakers had reached an agreement with the White House on a Russian sanctions bill the president would support, perhaps Graham’s final major achievement.
Graham was also a backer of the U.S.-Israel alliance and favored a hardline stance toward Iran. Early Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Graham a “great friend of Israel and a cherished friend of mine.”
“Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world,” Netayahu said in a post on X. “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.”
In a Sunday morning interview on Fox News, Netanyahu said he valued Graham’s “candor” and “honesty.”
“There was no BS. He just was so direct. And if he wanted to tell you something that you may not like, he would just do it,” the Israeli prime minister said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Graham a “great American patriot” and a “true friend of Israel” on X.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he is “so sad to learn of the sudden passing of my friend Lindsey Graham.”
“He was a powerful advocate for America who believed strongly in the NATO Alliance and was actively working to bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Rutte wrote. “My thoughts are with his family, friends, and terrific team. I will miss him dearly.”
U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz said he first met Graham “not as Senator, but as Colonel Graham in the Air National Guard. He insisted on spending his 3 weeks annual training in Afghanistan training Afghan Army JAG officers.”
“From Libya to Lebanon, no member of Congress traveled more to appreciate both the troops and bring ground truth back to legislating,” Waltz said. “Most of all, he talked about helping the people of South Carolina and that our freedoms must be defended by projecting strength. Rest easy, Patriot.”
Biden and Bush recognize Graham
Two former presidents from opposite parties — Joe Biden and George W. Bush — offered praise for the late senator on Sunday.
Biden, who counted Graham as a friend during his time in the Senate, wrote on X that they “traveled the world together” and “worked closely on many issues throughout the years.”
“We disagreed often, and sometimes loudly,” Biden said. “Lindsey and I did agree on the profound importance of public service. Like me, he loved the Senate as an institution, even with all its flaws and complexities.”
In a statement, Bush called Graham a “knowledgeable Senator who understood how the world works and how important America’s international engagement is to resist tyranny.”
“He was a kind and funny man who loved our country and loved serving it,” Bush continued. “South Carolina was fortunate to have such a committed public servant in its corner. And I was fortunate to have known Lindsey Graham.”
South Carolina governor calls Graham “irreplacable”
Back in South Carolina, leaders also paid tribute to Graham. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said “Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable.”
“The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend,” McMaster said. “We grieve with Darline, his family and his devoted staff. May God hold him gently in the palm of his hand. We shall not see his likes again.”
Republican Sen. Tim Scott, Graham’s counterpart in the Senate, said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday: “America certainly has lost a statesman, and I have lost a friend.”
Scott pointed to Graham’s history of “building bridges” — including with Mr. Trump.
“Lindsey Graham being on the phone with the president every single day was helpful, without any question,” Scott said. “The truth of the matter is, it was the bond that he forged on the golf course that made him such a powerful advocate for the president and a powerful advocate for us with the president, and so we’ll need that.”
Other members of the South Carolina congressional delegation remembered Graham and his long history in Congress.
“He was funny. He was hard. He was smart, brilliant. And he knew how to fight,” GOP Rep. Nancy Mace said on WTX US News 24/7. “He was just a force to be reckoned with.”
Rep. Joe Wilson said Graham “will always be cherished as an American Patriot,” while Rep. Ralph Norman called him “a son of South Carolina who loved our state dearly.” Rep. Russell Fry said the “unexpected loss of Senator Lindsey Graham is difficult to comprehend,” calling Graham “an extraordinary public servant” and a “consequential leader.”
“His legacy will be measured not only by history’s biggest moments, but by the countless lives he touched one person, one family, and one community at a time,” Fry said. “South Carolina is better because he served.”
Democrats call Graham an “indispensible player”
Rep. James Clyburn, the South Carolina House delegation’s sole Democrat, said he and Graham had “a relationship grounded in mutual respect, even when our political differences were significant.”
“Our political relationship was sometimes partisan and passionate, but always pleasant and productive on behalf of the people of South Carolina,” Clyburn wrote on X.
Tributes to Graham also came from across the aisle in the Senate, as Democratic senators remembered the South Carolina Republican as a friend and noted his bipartisan work.
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who partnered with Graham on a bipartisan push to introduce more intense sanctions against Russia, said Graham was “tireless in pursuing freedom for Ukraine.” He also said the late senator “listened to me and others who might have opposing views and sought to bridge our differences.”
“I will forever remember our last lengthy conversation this weekend, when he exulted at reaching an agreement on our Russian sanctions bill and said, ‘this is a big effing deal – we all did good,'” Blumenthal said. “When we last spoke, he was as enthusiastic and exuberant as I’ve ever seen him. Passing the sanctions bill right away would be a fitting tribute.”
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said he “was heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of my friend and colleague,” adding that “Lindsey and I disagreed on plenty over the years, but I never doubted his love for this country or his commitment to serving it.”
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, recalled being with Graham just last week at the NATO Summit in Turkey, where he said the South Carolina Republican was “working every Senator on a strategy to end the war in Ukraine.”
“Lindsey was part of every important policy issue and an indispensable player in every Senate ‘gang,'” Durbin said. “He was a fierce Republican partisan one day and a key bipartisan ally the next.”
At least 27 dead in fire at Bangkok pub as investigation begins
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Get you up to speed: At least 27 killed in just 30 minutes after inferno engulfs Bangok bar | News World
A fire at the Na Ladprao pub in Bangkok killed at least 27 people early on Monday, with several others injured and taken to hospital. Firefighters brought the blaze under control approximately half an hour after it was reported around midnight.
Firefighters controlled the blaze approximately 30 minutes after it was first reported just after midnight. The investigation into the cause of the fire includes eyewitness accounts, notably from a musician who mentioned seeing smoke emanating from a circuit breaker before an explosion occurred.
Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that at least 27 individuals have died following a fire at the Na Ladprao pub in Bangkok, with injuries reported among those taken to hospital and the cause of the blaze under investigation. The Prime Minister stated that eyewitness accounts suggest smoke emanated from a circuit breaker prior to an explosion, prompting scrutiny of safety regulations and emergency response measures in the wake of this incident.
What remains unclear — The exact cause of the fire at Na Ladprao pub is still under investigation.
At least 27 dead in fire at Bangkok pub as investigation begins
Rescuers take a breath rest after putting out a fire in Bangkok (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A huge fire engulfed a pub in Bangkok early killing at least 27 people before firefighters brought the blaze under control.
Footage shared online by first responders shows a huge blaze raging and plumes coming out of the front door of the Na Ladprao pub in the northern part of the Thai capital. People are seen trying to flee as thick black smoke billows into the sky. Rescuers said the fire was reported around midnight.
Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters at the scene that 27 people died and that several of the injured have been taken to the hospital. He said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Anutin said a musician who was performing at the pub told him that he saw smoke coming out of a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out, then an explosion was heard and thick smoke quickly filled the place.
Many of victims were found at the restrooms, at the back of the pub, Anutin added.
Firefighters took about half an hour to bring the fire under control. Photos of the aftermath show charred tables and chairs, and the damaged interior of the pub.
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Thailand has seen similar tragedies in the past. In 2022, 14 people were killed by a fire at a music pub in the eastern part of the country.
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France hosts coalition leaders in Paris to discuss Ukraine support plans
10:00 pm
France hosts coalition leaders in Paris to discuss Ukraine support plans
Coalition Meeting
France will host a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Paris on Monday, with 25 heads of state expected to discuss support for Ukraine.
France will host a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Paris on Monday, with 25 heads of state expected to discuss support for Ukraine.
Military Aid Commitment
Coalition leaders are set to discuss a €70 billion military aid package for Ukraine by 2026, reinforcing Western allies’ unified support against Russian aggression.
Coalition leaders are set to discuss a €70 billion military aid package for Ukraine by 2026, reinforcing Western allies’ unified support against Russian aggression.
Coalition Meeting
“We aim to reinforce our unity and commitment to Ukraine,” stated a French presidential adviser ahead of the critical meeting in Paris.
“We aim to reinforce our unity and commitment to Ukraine,” stated a French presidential adviser ahead of the critical meeting in Paris.
‘Coalition of the Willing’ leaders to meet in Paris ahead of Bastille Day parade
France is gearing up to host a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” ahead of this year’s 14 July celebrations, with at least 25 heads of state or government due to meet in Paris on Monday to discuss support for Ukraine.
Created in Paris and jointly led with the United Kingdom, the coalition has now expanded to include 37 countries, meeting both in person and via video conference. Two new members, Moldova and North Macedonia, are scheduled to take part in Monday’s meeting for the first time.
Meeting at the Hôtel des Invalides, the allies will aim to “strengthen,” according to the French presidency, a renewed sense of unity and cooperation in support of Ukraine, which was reaffirmed at the recent G7 summit in Évian and at the NATO summit in Ankara, where allies committed to sending €70 billion in military aid to Kyiv in 2026.
The objective is to show that Western allies are continuing their support for Ukraine and that Moscow cannot rely on “war fatigue,” according to an adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Coalition leaders will focus on air defence cooperation, including newly announced US plans for the licensed production of Patriot missiles in Ukraine. They will also discuss the creation of an anti-ballistic missile system.
As for security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a hypothetical ceasefire, the French presidency says that plans to deploy a multinational force, stationed away from the front lines, are “ready”. They remain, however, “subject to change”, given that the prospect of an end to hostilities still appears distant.
Beyond the presence of troops on the ground, these guarantees would be based on “legally binding” bilateral agreements and on US involvement in monitoring a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to be in Paris on both Monday and Tuesday.
Bastille Day parade
The meeting is set to take place on the eve of France’s annual Bastille Day celebrations.
The Élysée Palace has said that this year’s parade will bring together nearly 6,800 service personnel, with 15% more troops than last year and a 30% increase in the number of vehicles and aircraft taking part.
In total, nearly 500 service members representing the countries of the Coalition of the Willing are expected to lead the parade.
The French military’s aerial acrobatics team, the Patrouille de France, is also expected to take part, accompanied by two Mirage fighter jets carrying Ukrainian co-pilots trained in France. German, British, Croatian, Danish, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish aircraft are also set to feature in the parade.
Jannik Sinner defeats Alexander Zverev to retain Wimbledon men’s singles title
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Get you up to speed: Sinner beats Zverev to defend Wimbledon men’s singles tennis title
Jannik Sinner of Italy defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-4 to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title on Sunday. The match took place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, with Sinner successfully defending his title.
Jannik Sinner’s victory at Wimbledon marks his fifth Grand Slam title, bringing him to a total of 100 match wins at major tournaments. Alexander Zverev’s performance in the final was notable, as it was his first appearance in a Wimbledon final after previously failing to reach the quarter-finals in nine attempts.
Jannik Sinner’s victory has drawn accolades from tennis officials, with the All England Club praising his “remarkable display of skill and determination” in defending his title. Following this win, Sinner is set to retain his position as world number one, while Alexander Zverev’s performance ensures he will rise to second in the ATP rankings.
What remains unclear — It is unclear how Zverev’s knee injury impacted his performance during the match.
Jannik Sinner defeats Alexander Zverev to retain Wimbledon men’s singles title
Sport|TennisSinner beats Zverev to defend Wimbledon men’s singles tennis title
Italy’s Jannik Sinner beats Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 6-4 to claim his fifth Grand Slam.
Published On 12 Jul 202612 Jul 2026
Jannik Sinner was at his clinical best as he successfully defended his Wimbledon title with a bruising four-set victory over French Open champion Alexander Zverev in the final.
The world number one recovered from losing the first set in a match largely dominated by serve, eventually wearing Zverev down to secure a 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-4 win on Sunday.
The Italian was rewarded for his perseverance in the contest with his first Grand Slam title since lifting the trophy at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club 12 months ago.
Sinner’s fifth Grand Slam crown is just two behind the majors tally of his injured rival Carlos Alcaraz after Sinner notched his 100th match win at tennis’s four biggest events.
He hit 58 winners against only 25 unforced errors in three hours and 46 minutes on Centre Court, refusing to buckle against an in-form Zverev, who brought a 13-match winning streak at the majors into the final.
Sinner has banished the memories of his shock second-round exit from the French Open at the hands of Juan Manuel Cerundolo, when he blew a two-set lead last month.
The closest Sinner came to crashing out of Wimbledon was in the first round when he had to come from behind to beat Miomir Kecmanovic in five sets.
It was plain sailing from then on for Sinner, who has become a fearsome force on grass.
The 24-year-old now boasts a remarkable 44-3 win-loss record this year after winning his sixth title of the season.
Zverev had never even reached the quarterfinals in nine previous visits to Wimbledon, but had been a man reborn in London after finally breaking his Grand Slam duck in Paris.
He managed to take a first set off Sinner in seven meetings, but could not kick on to snap a now 10-match losing streak against a seemingly unbreakable rival.
Zverev, who was bidding to become the first German man to win the trophy since Michael Stich in 1991, will climb above Alcaraz to second in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings on Monday.
Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a backhand against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the Wimbledon men’s singles final [Visionhaus/Getty Images]
Zverev saved the only break point of a tight first set dominated by serve as it went to a tie-break.
The first 15 points of the breaker went with serve, with both men saving set points, before Zverev clinched with a fizzing forehand winner.
There were no break points in the second set as the players again efficiently bludgeoned their way to 6-6, but this time Sinner stepped it up in the tie-break to level the match.
Zverev finally created his first break point in the seventh game of the third set, but slipped when Sinner dinked over a drop-shot winner.
He clutched his knee and Sinner crossed the net to check on his injured opponent as the crowd held its breath, but the German was helped to his feet by the Italian.
Sinner made his move in the next game as Zverev’s serve finally broke down.
Zverev threw his racquet angrily across the turf after looping a forehand long on a break point which had seen Sinner lying flat on the turf earlier in the rally.
The top seed immaculately served it out to love, sealing a two-sets-to-one lead with an ace.
Zverev gamely tried to prolong the contest, but his race was run when Sinner broke for a 4-3 advantage in the fourth set.
He wrapped up the title on serve despite a dramatic final game featuring arguably the two best rallies of the match, falling to the turf in celebration after slapping away a forehand winner on his first match point.
Tornadoes reported in Canada’s Prairies during humid heatwave
7:00 pm
Get you up to speed: More tornadoes recorded in Canada’s Prairies amid humid heat wave
A red tornado warning was issued by Environment Canada for the County of Vermilion River, Alberta, at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday but was cancelled about 30 minutes later. There were no immediate confirmations of any damage or injuries related to the warning.
Environment Canada issued a red tornado warning for the County of Vermilion River, Alberta, at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the warning being lifted around 6:00 p.m. Initial investigations into storm activity are ongoing, but no damage reports have been confirmed.
Environment Canada issued a red tornado warning for the County of Vermilion River, Alta., but it was cancelled after approximately 30 minutes. Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and prepared for severe weather conditions in the area.
What remains unclear — It is not known whether any damage or injuries occurred during the brief tornado warning.
Tornadoes reported in Canada’s Prairies during humid heatwave
A red tornado warning was issued by Environment Canada around 5:30 p.m. Saturday for the County of Vermilion River, Alta., but was cancelled roughly 30 minutes later.
Transcript of interview with Israeli Ambassador Michael Leiter, July 12, 2026
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Get you up to speed: Transcript: Israeli Ambassador Michael Leiter on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” July 12, 2026
The United States resumed military action after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on a commercial vessel, marking a collapse in efforts to revive a truce with Iran. As of now, Israel has not engaged in military action against Iran, and Iran has not targeted Israel.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Leiter confirmed that negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are ongoing, with Israel preparing for a potential withdrawal from southern Lebanon dependent on the dismantling of Hezbollah. He indicated that discussions concerning the pilot zones with CENTCOM and the Lebanese Armed Forces are expected to continue in the coming weeks, emphasizing Israel’s security concerns linked to Iranian influence.
Israeli Ambassador Michael Leiter condemned recent violence against journalists, stating, “Any violence is to be condemned. No excuses, no explanations.” Meanwhile, he emphasised ongoing negotiations with Lebanon regarding pilot zones, noting that withdrawals will depend on the dismantling of Hezbollah, asserting, “We can withdraw the moment that Hezbollah is dismantled.”
What remains unclear — The timeline for Israel’s withdrawal from the pilot zones in southern Lebanon is not specified.
Transcript of interview with Israeli Ambassador Michael Leiter, July 12, 2026
The following is the transcript of an interview with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Leiter that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on July 12, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Dr. Michael Leiter. Good to have you back here.
ISRAELI AMBASSADOR MICHAEL LEITER: Good morning. Your Prime Minister this morning has been honoring Senator Lindsey Graham. I know he was a fierce advocate for Israel, and he also was really pushing for normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Just three weeks ago, on this program, he made that pitch. I wonder if you think there is a way to carry on his legacy through continuing that kind of diplomatic work.
AMB. LEITER: Absolutely, Lindsey was a dear friend. My first day in Washington, January 27 2025, the first phone call I got once I landed on my seat in the embassy was from Lindsey Graham. He said, “can we have dinner tonight?” And we’ve been talking about normalization in the Middle East for the past year and a half. And he was not only a fierce advocate of defeating this Iranian regime, he was also a fierce advocate of what would happen afterwards. And he saw, he had a vision for peace in the Middle East. And absolutely, we have to work toward that end, but it really is going to happen if his first part of that vision is fulfilled, and that’s that Iran is no longer a regional hegemon menacing its neighbors.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, three weeks ago, Lindsey Graham said on this program, 2026. That was his vow that normalization would happen. So we’ll have to follow that.
AMB. LEITER: We still have some time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We still have some time. Let me ask you about the other significant development overnight with Iran. The attempt to revive this truce between the United States and Iran clearly has just collapsed. This was just an attempt to have a pause to reopen the- the Strait of Hormuz. Frankly, it was pretty limited in scope. But then the IRGC fired on a commercial vessel. The United States has resumed bombing. For the moment, Iran has not fired on Israel. Israel has not fired on Iran. Does Israel intend to stay on the sidelines? How do we see this conflict at this point?
AMB. LEITER: President Trump has been consistent, I think, throughout this confrontation. If talks will work, if diplomacy can work, then he’s in favor of the diplomatic route. But when it doesn’t work, you have to go back to military and kinetic activity. When the United States signed the MOU with Iran just a few weeks ago, there was one item, just one thing, that the Iranians had to fulfill, and that was keeping the straits open. And that they’ve completely ignored. So they forced the U.S. to go back into kinetic activity. We’re a partner, we’re an ally. If the United States calls on us to rejoin kinetic activity against Iran, we’re going to be there for the United States.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But at the moment, the U.S. is asking you to wait.
AMB. LEITER: I- I didn’t say that. I said the United States has not asked us to join the effort. But if that request will come in, we’re going to be there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that MOU, when it was signed by the president in Versailles and then by the vice president, your government was opposed to this. You made no mistake that Prime Minister Netanyahu saw big flaws in this deal. When you saw what happened, was there a moment of “I told you so” here?
AMB. LEITER: No, that’s not the nature of our relationship. We express our opinion. We saw flaws, but we also expressed hope that it would work. If, at the end of the day, 60 days after the MOU, we’ve got a denuclearized Iran, we’ve got Iran not producing ballistic missiles–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –That is the most aggressive timeline in history–
AMB. LEITER: –And not supporting their proxies. Well, if it would be 90 days or 120 days, if we have Iran that’s denuclearized, not building ballistic missiles, not supporting proxies around the region, just not being a menacing, mayhem-spreading regime, then we will have accomplished it without kinetic activity. We have doubts about the possibility of that actually working, but all we do is express our opinion.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, very clear about the very first few lines of the MOU that mentioned Lebanon, and that’s where I want to go next, because the U.S. has been trying to broker these talks between the Israeli government and the Lebanese government to essentially work together against Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. Under the framework that was reached last month, Israel pledged to withdraw from areas of southern Lebanon. Do you still intend to do that? What does that timeline look like?
AMB. LEITER: Well, I’m actually leading the negotiations on Israel’s behalf with Lebanon, so I know a thing or two about the trilateral agreement. And what the agreement with Lebanon does is completely remove Iran from the paradigm. Iran is not to be involved in Lebanon. They have no business in Lebanon. Hezbollah has no business in Lebanon. As a matter of fact, Israel and Lebanon are on the same page. We want Hezbollah out for our security and for their sovereignty. We can withdraw the moment that Hezbollah is dismantled. If Hezbollah is not dismantled, then we have to stay in our security zone because we’re not going to go back to a situation where our citizens are going to be threatened by an Iranian proxy firing missiles and building tunnels so they can attack, like Hamas did October 7.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that’s different from what the U.S. State Department has lined up here, which is specifically two pilot zones that Israel is supposed to withdraw from, and CENTCOM would oversee. Is that–
AMB. LEITER: –They’re pilot zones.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When does that happen? [inaud] withdrawal.
AMB. LEITER: Well, we’re preparing it right now, but the whole idea of the pilot has said the pilot zone–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Because Lebanon has said that’s delayed.
AMB. LEITER: No, it’s not delayed. We’re working together with CENTCOM and the Lebanese Armed Forces to create the conditions so that we can actually move into a situation where the pilot zones are receptive to Lebanese Armed Forces. If they’re not going to be receptive, if Hezbollah is going to stay there, we haven’t accomplished anything, and that’s why they’re called pilot zones. If it works, then we continue the withdrawal. If it doesn’t work, then we stay where we are.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you still going to Rome to conduct these talks, and will those pilot zone withdrawals happen anytime soon?
AMB. LEITER: I certainly hope they’re planned for the next few weeks. We’re working on that together with CENTCOM. Am I still going to Rome? That’s going to be a question regarding the the Senator Graham funeral. But certainly the talks will continue in Rome.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, before I let you go, there were two high-profile incidents I want to quickly touch on here. One, a CNN crew attacked in the West Bank by what they say were four settlers. There was also an incident with Ro Khanna, the congressman from California, who said he was his vehicles he was in were stopped by Israeli settlers, and then when the IDF showed up, they were on the side of the settlers, not him. He said “[i]t’s not a good idea to detain longshot presidential candidates”. It was a warning to your government. Do you think your government needs to apologize to both him and those CNN journalists?
AMB. LEITER: Any violence is to be condemned. No excuses, no explanations. Okay. So if CNN crew was attacked, that needs to be condemned, and I’m doing so right now. And we need to do a better job.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are condemning it [inaud]–
AMB. LEITER: –If if if it was actually took place as they’ve reported it, absolutely condemning it. We need to rein in violence on all sides. Now, in terms of Ro Khanna, we reached out to him when we heard he was going to Israel, the Israeli embassy here in Washington. As all congressmen do, they coordinate their trip with the Israeli government. We suggested he visit with- with survivors of the October 7 massacre. That he visit the borders, so he understands the, the issues that we have in our borders and so on. He ignored that and he decided to coordinate his trip not with Israel, but with Palestinian activists and with J Street, which is a anti-government, anti-Israeli government advocacy group here in Washington. So you know he coordinated–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –It’s a Jewish lobby group–
AMB. LEITER: –Well, it’s–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –That is supportive of a different path for Israel.
AMB. LEITER: Yeah, yeah. I- I play tennis once a year. That doesn’t make me a tennis player. The fact that they call themselves a Jewish organization is- is irrelevant. They’re- they’re- an advocacy group against the government of Israel. That has to be clear.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The current government, Netanyahu government.
AMB. LEITER: Yes. Yes–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –That’s what you mean, the government you work for.
AMB. LEITER: And Congressman Khanna, there hasn’t been no secret about his antipathy towards the government of Israel as well. So perhaps if he would have coordinated the trip and then you know to have this incident on Wednesday and wait to release it on Saturday, maybe this had more something to do with his support of- of Graham Platner beforehand and the difficulties he had with that, and trying to shift the focus to something else. Perhaps I’m asking a question.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we did hear from Congressman Khanna, who said that there was an alert to the embassy on his behalf, and that they asked for the news–
AMB. LEITER: –There was not, there was not–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –to be held until he had left the country.–
AMB. LEITER: There was a question. There was not an alert. There was a question about visas. That’s all. But when we requested that he coordinate the trip with us, he rejected that by basically staying silent. So that’s unfortunate. This whole incident is unfortunate. And if- if somebody, it’s kind of interesting that somebody wants to declare a presidential run by running off to Israel? Not strange?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we’re going to have to leave it there, sir. There’s so much more to talk about with you, but I’m out of time. Thank you for having me. And we’ll be right back with a lot more. Face the Nation. Stay with us.
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