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Iowa news anchor quits live on-air in emotional plea for facts over 'sanitized news'
Local Iowa news anchor Dustin Nolan announced he would be leaving his job at KWQC TV6 during a live broadcast on Friday.
"I’ll try to get through this," Nolan said. "Well, before we go this morning, I have an announcement. Today is my last day here at KWQC TV6. I have chosen to step away from the news industry. Before I say goodbye, I just want to say, I hope every one of you that’s allowed me to be a part of your mornings know just how important that I have taken this job."
He began to tear up as he described feeling grateful for how viewers have trusted him during his years at the station and how he has pushed to be as transparent as possible.
Nolan did not explain his reasons for leaving but emphasized the importance of delivering more than "sanitized news" to the public.
"When it comes to this job, all I’ve ever wanted to do is report on the issues that really matter. I’ve always believed that we as a local news station, owe you, the viewers, the best that we can do because without you, none of us would be able to do this job," Nolan said.
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He added, "I also believe that we as a local news station have to be more than trends or sanitized news because it makes people feel uncomfortable. That’s why the facts matter and that’s why we do what we do here. We have to take people out of their bubbles and comfort zones and make them think about the world we all live in."
Nolan also thanked his co-worker and wife Jenna Jackson for their work together at the station.
Fox News Digital reached out to KWQC TV6 for comment.
Nolan has worked for KWQC TV6, an NBC-affiliate organization, since 2022. He and his wife previously took home a Mid-America Emmy in 2025 for Best Morning/Daytime newscast in the medium and small market category.
KWQC TV-6 later posted Nolan's farewell on its official TikTok account.
Meloni's spat with Trump is calculated strategy to boost her approval ratings: expert
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s escalating feud with President Donald Trump is nothing but a calculated political strategy aimed at boosting her standing at home, a leading Italian political analyst told Fox News Digital on Sunday.
After the row between Trump and Meloni escalated on June 20, analysts also said the Italian leader may see little downside in confronting Trump, particularly as she faces declining approval ratings ahead of Italy's 2027 general election.
The diplomatic dispute had reached a boiling point after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced June 19 that he was scrapping a trip to Washington, where he had been scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"Giorgia Meloni must have calculated that a public row with Trump yields no tangible consequences, other than an increase in her domestic and international standing," Mattia Diletti, a political science lecturer at Sapienza University of Rome, said.
TRUMP SAYS MELONI 'WANTS TO BE FRIENDS AGAIN' AFTER ITALY REFUSED TO HELP US AMID IRAN WAR
Giovanni Orsina, a political scientist at Rome’s Luiss University, also told the Financial Times that the row would offer a "positive image" for Meloni and a "silver lining" to a confrontation she had "desperately tried to avoid."
The friction between Trump and Meloni intensified after an interview broadcast by Italy’s La7 television network, where the president claimed she had asked for a photograph with him at the G7 summit and that he agreed only out of pity.
"She begged me to take a picture with her," Trump said. "She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her."
RUBIO MEETS MELONI AS TRUMP–POPE CLASH CLASH ESCALATES US STRAINS WITH KEY EUROPEAN ALLY
Meloni fired back, releasing a video statement on X rejecting the president’s narrative.
"I am frankly stunned," Meloni said in the video message. "I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. But there’s one thing he must remember: Neither I nor Italy ever beg."
Trump doubled down on Truth Social and tied the row directly to Meloni’s political fortunes.
"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G7 meeting in France," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America... when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a nuclear weapon ... She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience ... Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!!"
Within hours, Meloni responded on social media: "As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it ... My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest... In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours."
TRUMP ‘RIGHT TO BE OUTRAGED’ BY EUROPE’S BETRAYAL ON IRAN, SAYS FORMER THATCHER ADVISOR
The back-and-forth marks a reversal for two leaders who once enjoyed a close political alignment.
When Meloni first came to power, she positioned herself as a bridge between Washington and Brussels while pushing ties with Trump based on shared nationalism and stances on immigration.
"Politically, Trump has favored Meloni," Diletti noted, pointing out that she had previously visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 2025. She was the only European Union leader to attend his second inauguration.
The cracks also appeared in April when Trump criticized Meloni for siding with Pope Leo XIV’s condemnation of the U.S. conflict with Iran.
On Sunday, Trump also criticized Italy and Giorgia Meloni over their approach to Iran, accusing the NATO ally of failing to help confront Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
"As the 2027 Italian general election approaches, Meloni is facing a decline in approval ratings for the first time," Diletti explained.
"The opportunity to counter a President so unpopular in Europe and Italy helps bolster her approval ratings and allows her to build European solidarity," he claimed.
Albanian protesters flood streets demanding prime minister's resignation amid corruption accusations
The government of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama is under increasing pressure as Albanians continue taking to the streets to call for his resignation, as well as the leader of the opposition, Sali Berisha, faulting them and their parties for some thirty years of corruption ever since the end of the communist regime in 1991.
The catalyst for the protests first began over a multi-billion-dollar luxury resort plan by Jared Kushner and his business partners pursuing the creation of two resort properties through investment firm Affinity Partners that will add around 10,000 hotel rooms and villas to Albanian coastal lands.
One planned location, the abandoned Sazan Island, is the home of a former Soviet military base. The other property in Zvërnec is said to be home to the Vjosa-Narta protected landscape where monk seals and flamingos make their homes and sea turtles nest.
EUROPEAN CAPITAL ROCKED BY VIOLENT PROTESTS AS GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION PROBE FUELS UNREST
Agim Nesho, former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations, told Fox News Digital that, "Unlike some of the misinformation in the media, the protests in Albania are not against the family of President Donald Trump and foreign investors like Jared Kushner. These investors are bringing in $4 billion dollars into Albania that will create jobs and opportunity for our youth.
"They are building on private land whose protected status was revoked years ago by Rama and his oligarchs. Global investors have standards and demonstrate accountability, and there is a hope they will show more care and consideration for the environment than Edi Rama and the business interests around him, who would instead build there on their own," he said.
Nesho claimed that "After 12 years and at least three stolen elections, including last year’s parliamentary election which was not recognized by the United States, and which handed Rama a supermajority that can change laws and the constitution, Rama’s days now look to be numbered."
Eric Czuleger, Editor-in-Chief of The Under Report, has lived in Albania for five years and has documented the growing protests. He told Fox News Digital that "Rama’s government has never been under such direct pressure from the Albanian people and his response is instructive. First, he denied the existence of the protests, claiming that they were a couple hundred people with an axe to grind. When they grew, the international media forced the domestic media [to] stop its blackout. Suddenly, the protests were a ‘hybrid war’ spurred on by Iran and Russia."
The protests, which began in May, have not swayed Prime Minister Rama’s support for planned investments. The Rama government sent a lengthy response to Fox News Digital on behalf of the prime minister directed at "all interested foreign parties and individuals, who have spread all kinds of misinformation and launched all kinds of baseless attacks all over the globe against a highly ambitious project with the potential to become another role model for how next-generation tourism destinations can be built."
ALBANIANS RALLY BY THE THOUSANDS AGAINST RULING SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT
His statement added that "Sazan Island is state property and has never been intended, nor requested, to be sold." He also said that the "area in Zvërnec is privately owned land," and explains that additional claimants to the land have taken their claims to court.
In an effort to clear up misconceptions, Rama's statement said that "the project must undergo not merely an ordinary Environmental Impact Assessment, but an In-Depth Environmental Impact Assessment." Rama also claims that the project location "has no connection whatsoever with the Vjosa Delta," and says that claims that protected status labels were removed from development areas to allow for investment "is one of the greatest falsehoods inflated beyond all imagination."
Irrespective of Rama’s defense of the projects, on Wednesday, the European Parliament urged the Albanian government to stop construction on protected lands, Politico reported. They also called for a moratorium on further permits and construction in protected areas.
A source familiar with the situation with the luxury resort project told Fox News Digital that some of what is circulating online about the project is fabricated and doctored, and that some disinformation has emerged from outside the country.
Asher Abehsera, Chair of Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, told Fox News Digital that "for four years, we have worked toward creating a world-class destination on the Albanian coast—one rooted in thoughtful design, environmental stewardship, and long-term economic opportunity. Our goal is simple: celebrate Albania’s natural beauty, create jobs, and build something future generations can be proud of." Abehsera said that the project's "future will ultimately be determined by Albania and the Albanian people."
As the protests continue, Czuleger said that Albanians are both "concerned that nothing will happen" and "concerned that something bad could happen" if the Rama government does step down. "If leadership doesn’t change now, then people wonder if the corruption will ever stop," he said. "If leadership does change then it’s possible someone worse comes in." Czuleger said that "protesters are tired," and "the news cycle is moving on." Noting that the "only thing that will bring a change to the administration is patience, pressure, and a clarification of the movement’s goals."
Albanian actor and artist Florjan Binaj told Fox News that the protests "are the biggest protests that have ever happened in Albania since 1991." He called the protest atmosphere "amazingly powerful.
Binaj said that he plans to join the protests for "as long as [he] can," noting that "the protesters want Rama’s resignation" to pave the way for an alternative government.
Nesho added," The protesters have risen up due to the fact that one of the poorest countries in Europe can count billions and billions in corruption by a government that holds itself accountable to no one. It is difficult for the protesters to compromise and negotiate with PM Rama under these circumstances. The only path is resignation of the government and early elections under international monitors."
The Rama government did not respond to direct questions about protesters’ concerns.
Summer travelers warned after fecal bacteria levels in water exceed safety standards
Several New Jersey swimming areas remain under scrutiny after water testing found elevated levels of fecal bacteria at recreational water sites across the state.
As of June 21, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) listed swimming advisories at five coastal locations in Ocean and Cape May counties.
The advisories were triggered by elevated levels of enterococci, bacteria commonly used to measure water quality at recreational swimming sites.
POPULAR BEACHES CLOSED AS HIGH BACTERIA LEVELS RAISE HEALTH CONCERNS FOR SWIMMERS
The coastal advisories include Cedar Point Beach and Beachwood Beach West in Ocean County, as well as Wildwood and Bay, Baywyn and Bay, and Ferry and Bay in Lower Township, Cape May County, the department noted.
Water testing at New Jersey’s public recreational bathing beaches is carried out regularly by the DEP, working with the New Jersey Department of Health and local health officials.
State standards allow no more than 104 enterococci colonies per 100 milliliters of sampled water. If a test result exceeds that threshold, a swimming advisory is issued and additional samples are collected until water quality returns to acceptable levels, the department said.
However, a swimming advisory does not automatically result in the closure of a swimming area.
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Under state rules, beaches are shut down to swimmers only after two consecutive samples fail to meet water quality standards. They remain closed until testing shows bacteria levels have returned to acceptable levels.
As of June 21, the DEP's monitoring dashboard showed no active coastal or freshwater closures.
The advisories follow a broader round of testing conducted last week.
On June 16, elevated fecal bacteria levels were detected at three ocean beaches in Monmouth County and six river and bay locations along the Jersey Shore, NJ.com reported. Many of those sites returned to acceptable levels following additional testing.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists several possible sources of enterococci, including wastewater treatment plant discharges, leaking septic systems, stormwater runoff, sewage released from recreational boats and waste from domestic animals and wildlife.
While the EPA says enterococci are "typically not considered harmful to humans," the bacteria can serve as a warning sign that other disease-causing organisms may be present in the water.
Those pathogens can include viruses, bacteria and protozoa that may cause illnesses affecting the skin, eyes, ears and respiratory system.
The EPA also warns that consuming seafood harvested from waters contaminated by fecal matter may result in illness.
Officials will continue monitoring the affected locations and collecting additional samples until bacteria levels return to acceptable standards.
Jessica Mekles of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
Sea lion pulls off brazen tuna heist as fisherman tries and fails to hold onto his first big catch
Everyone remembers the kid who stole other people's lunches in school. As it turns out, sea lions never really outgrow that phase.
A viral video making the rounds online shows a fisherman celebrating what appears to be his first-ever yellowfin tuna. Unfortunately for him, a massive sea lion had other plans.
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As the angler proudly poses with the fish alongside the boat, the opportunistic marine mammal suddenly emerges from the water and makes a beeline for the tuna. The fisherman does his best to hold on, but he's badly overmatched.
Finally, he gives in and tosses the fish.
The sea lion grabs the yellowfin, sending the stunned angler stumbling backward as his hard-earned catch disappears into the ocean.
Check it out:
It's funny when you're watching from the comfort of your couch. It's probably a lot less funny when you've spent hours hoping to bag a gorgeous tuna only to watch a big blubbery bully swoop in and claim the reward for itself.
Believe it or not, this type of behavior is actually pretty common.
MASSIVE 2,000-POUND SEA LION SHOCKS TOURISTS AT ICONIC US HOT SPOT: 'HE’S LIKE A VOLKSWAGEN!'
Wildlife experts refer to it as "depredation" — when marine mammals steal fish directly from anglers, fishing lines, nets or boats. Sea lions are particularly notorious for it because they're highly intelligent animals that quickly learn to associate fishing activity with an easy meal.
In some areas, sea lions have become so skilled at stealing fish that anglers can practically predict when they'll show up looking for a free lunch.
And judging by the confidence displayed in this video, this certainly doesn't look like the first tuna heist on this sea lion's résumé.
The good news is the fisherman can still say he caught his first yellowfin tuna.
The bad news is no ahi dinner for him.
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Teenage golfer Miles Russell delivers his dad an all-time Father's Day experience during US Open final round
Miles Russell is the youngest player in the 2026 U.S. Open field at just 17 years old. Teeing it up in a major championship at that age, let alone making the cut as he did at Shinnecock Hills, made for an already unforgettable week for him and his family.
The young man had one final surprise up his sleeve for Sunday's final round, however, that not only his family will cherish forever, but made plenty of golf fans watching the moment unfold a bit misty-eyed.
After hitting his approach shot into the par-4 18th, Russell's caddie made his way over to the gallery. He proceeded to take off his caddie bib and hand it and Russell's golf bag over to Russell's father, Joe.
According to the NBC broadcast, the entire thing was Russell's idea. He approached USGA rules officials before teeing off on Sunday to ask them if it was okay to have his dad take over caddying duties for the final hole, and they gave him the green light.
Talk about a Father's Day gift that may never be topped.
"It was pretty cool," Russell said after Sunday's final round. "Just there walking up 18, that's when he stepped in. It was kind of a fun Father's Day gift. Kind of cool since it was my first one. Hopefully it's something he'll remember for a long time."
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Russell shot 3-over in the opening two rounds of the U.S. Open to make the cut by two shots. During Saturday's third round, he struggled a bit en route to a 74, but backed it up with a final round score of even par.
Russell qualified for this week's U.S. Open after advancing in the final stage of qualifying in a three-man playoff vying for two spots in the field. He had Charlie Woods, Tiger's son, on the bag as his caddie during the qualifier. Both Woods and Russell have committed to play college golf at Florida State.
In 2024, Russell became the youngest player in Korn Ferry Tour history to make the cut in a tournament, eventually finishing T-20
Concertgoer dies after apparent fall from upper level at Madison Square Garden
A concertgoer suffered a fatal fall during a Goose performance at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, police told Fox News Digital on Sunday.
The victim, a 51-year-old man, appeared to have fallen from the upper levels of the arena bowl, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Officers responded to the scene shortly before 10 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting an injured male at the venue, officials said.
"Upon arrival, officers observed a 51-year-old male unconscious and unresponsive with injuries indicative of falling from an elevated position," the NYPD said.
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Emergency medical personnel transported the victim to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Fox 5 New York reported that the man fell from the 300 level section of Madison Square Garden, which includes the arena’s balcony and upper-tier seating positioned well above the lower bowl and floor sections.
Police also reported that the man was attending the concert with his wife, according to the local station.
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The incident happened during the second night of the band’s two sold-out concert events held at Madison Square Garden.
The rock band, which consists of Rick Mitarotonda, Trevor Weekz, Peter Anspach and Cotter Ellis, released a statement shortly after the incident, extending their condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.
"We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show," the band said. "We extend our deepest sympathy to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support."
MSG Entertainment told Fox News Digital in a statement that, as police continue to investigate the incident, the media group is deeply saddened by the loss of a fan.
"While we await the police report on the tragedy at last night's Goose concert, we are deeply saddened by the loss of a fan's life at Madison Square Garden," an MSG Entertainment spokesperson said. "Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the concertgoer."
Goose’s next concert is scheduled for Sunday night at SummerStage in Central Park. The event is also sold out, according to the band’s tour listings.
Ridglan Farms rescue beagles find new life helping veterans overcome war trauma with Paws of War
For the first time in their lives, many beagles rescued from Wisconsin's controversial Ridglan Farms are learning how to be dogs.
After spending years in a breeding facility that supplied animals for laboratory research, hundreds of the dogs are now settling into their forever homes, where they're encountering grass, stairs, toys and affection for the first time.
"They right now don't even know they're dogs," Paws of War co-founder Robert Misseri said during a segment on "My View with Lara Trump."
RIDGLAN FARMS BEAGLES BEGIN LEAVING WISCONSIN FACILITY AFTER RESCUE GROUPS STRIKE DEAL FOR RELEASE
"They come in, [and] they're coming from a very, very difficult environment but, as we transition them to the families, as we've seen with the adopters, they are coming around."
Misseri's organization helps train and place shelter dogs to assist U.S. military veterans suffering from the emotional effects of war. He told Fox News that the group took 10 beagles into their care upon their release.
The dogs were among a group that was transferred from the facility after state investigators uncovered alleged violations of animal welfare laws, prompting a rescue effort that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called a "major win for animal welfare."
"It was just a very rewarding opportunity for this organization to be part of that [rescue]," Misseri said.
Adapting to life outside the controversial facility takes time. Stepping onto the grass, climbing up stairs and learning to be around humans poses a challenge for some time.
"When you see them and they're shut down, that's how they live. They lived like that," Misseri explained.
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"They weren't dogs, they were products. We see them from shaking and not knowing if we're going to hurt them. They don't know if they're going back to where they came from. Who knows what's going through their minds. But one thing we do know is they're safe.
But Misseri has a team behind him to help prepare the dogs for the transition.
Director of Adoptions Jodie Cohen described how the group helps the "traumatized little souls," from interviewing veterans and first responders to find good matches for the dogs, to teaching the dogs how to perform basic skills.
"They've never been walked on leashes, so we have to carry them out," she said.
"We have to teach them how to go potty. We teach them to keep their runs clean and basically get them ready for adoption. And then when the dogs are adopted, they can participate in our free group obedience training. Our adopters go home with hundreds of dollars' worth of supplies, and they make lifelong friends, so it's not only about adopting the dog, but it's making relationships, and that's why our program is so different."
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The organization says the program is designed to help both the animals and the people adopting them recover from trauma and build confidence together.
"The lives are being changed on both ends of the leash, and they really are," Misseri said.
"It's making tremendous, tremendous strides, and that's why we wake up every morning knowing we can do it again.
Serena Williams will return to Wimbledon singles as 44-year-old legend chases Grand Slam record
Serena Williams surprised the tennis world on Sunday, as the 44-year-old tennis legend will make her return to Wimbledon after accepting a wildcard.
Williams received the final women’s singles slot, which had a gap following a previous announcement on Tuesday.
She had already gotten a wild card to compete with her sister, Venus Williams, in Wimbledon’s doubles competition. However, she noted she would consider a singles return earlier this month.
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"You think I’m ready for singles? I need to get to work," Serena said at SW19, per Yahoo Sports.
Serena has won women’s singles at Wimbledon seven times across her illustrious career, but there is still something she can chase: Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam victories. Serena sits at 23 for her career.
It was 2019 the last time Serena won a women’s singles match, and it came at Wimbledon against Simona Halep from Romania. She’s only played just two doubles matches since returning to competition after being out of the game for four years.
Serena’s career accolades goes on longer than a CVS receipt, winning each Grand Slam – Australian Open, French Open and the U.S. Open included - at least three times. And alongside her sister, Serena has accomplished the career "Golden Slam" in singles and doubles.
She’s the most recognizable female player in the sport today, and fans from around the globe will surely be tuned in to see how far she can go in this year’s tournament.
At Wimbledon in 2022, Serena said she didn’t know if it would be her last appearance at the tournament.
"Who knows where I’ll pop up?" Serena, who also had a wild card for this Wimbledon, said at the time.
She has always loved playing on grass, winning 107 of her 123 singles matches on the surface, which bodes well for her return.
Serena will find out who she faces in the first round this Friday, while the tournament begins June 29.
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Iran's unprecedented 'whole-regime' delegation at US deal talks signals one goal: expert
The scope of the Iranian delegation at Switzerland’s first round of technical talks with the United States on Sunday underscored what an analyst described as Tehran’s red-line demand for "immediate cash flow" and significant financial concessions from the get-go.
The team’s arrival at Bürgenstock came within days of a breakthrough memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and after follow-up talks were called off, fueling uncertainty across the region.
"These are the most consequential negotiations America has entered in the Middle East in years. Iran knows that, and it is playing it very well," counterterrorism expert Dr. Omar Mohammed told Fox News Digital.
"Tehran arrived as if this were the moment to collect," Mohammed, director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, said.
TRUMP'S IRAN AGREEMENT RAISES A BASIC QUESTION: IS IT ACTUALLY A DEAL?
Iranian state media also confirmed that Tehran had sent a whole-regime apparatus, led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Their team includes top security, legal and financial figures, including Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, leading the economic committee; Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council; Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister handling legal affairs; as well as senior state oil and energy officials.
Mohammed noted that Iran purposely bypassed a narrow, diplomatic-only team to protect its domestic leverage.
"Iran has not only sent diplomats; it has sent the foreign ministry, the security state, the central bank, legal affairs and oil," he explained. "This is a whole-regime delegation built around implementation, money, leverage and red lines."
Araghchi, Mohammed said, is the diplomatic face, while Bagheri Kani brings the Supreme National Security Council into the room, meaning the security establishment is overseeing the process and "protecting the regime’s red lines."
The inclusion of Iran's top financial and energy officials also sends the clearest signal of Tehran's primary objective: immediate cash flow, "energy leverage" and control of maritime operations, the expert said.
TRUMP’S 'ECONOMIC FURY' SQUEEZES IRAN — BUT CAN TEHRAN OUTLAST THE PRESSURE?
"Hemmati’s presence on Sunday was one of the clearest signals. You do not send the central bank governor to a symbolic meeting. You send him when the question is money: frozen assets, sanctions relief, banking channels, usable currency and how quickly Iran can turn promises on paper into cash it can actually spend," Mohammed said.
"The oil official is another major signal. If oil is in the room, Hormuz is in the room. For an American policymaker, that means maritime security and energy leverage."
Gharibabadi’s presence, Mohammed said, pointed directly to a legal battlefield over verification and language, perhaps designed to ensure Iran can bypass future enforcement.
The U.S. delegation, which includes Vice President JD Vance, is anchored by U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff and former senior White House adviser Jared Kushner.
Vance had indicated that Washington was hopeful it could make progress on both the nuclear issue and the escalating Lebanon ceasefire crisis while in Switzerland.
On Sunday, he said Trump had asked to turn over "a new leaf" to transform the U.S. relationship with Iran and that the talks starting in Switzerland would allow both sides to work to resolve issues.
TRUMP ENVOY WITKOFF AND JARED KUSHNER IN GENEVA FOR CLOSELY WATCHED IRAN NEGOTIATIONS
In contrast, according to Iran International, hardline lawmaker Mahmoud Nabavian read excerpts he described as top-secret letters from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Iranian state TV.
He alleged the leader opposed nuclear talks, demanded compensation from Washington and insisted on Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz before the live program was cut.
Now, the differing composition of the two teams underscores the starkly different approaches both nations are bringing to the table, Mohammed said.
"Iran is not only negotiating substance, but negotiating the terms under which it can later avoid pressure," Mohammed warned. "If the money comes first and the concessions come later, Tehran will not interpret that as compromise. It will interpret it as victory."
"If Washington gives Iran cash, oil access and legal protection while Iran keeps Hormuz, proxies, missiles and nuclear options alive, then America has not bought peace. It has financed Iran’s next phase," Mohammed suggested.
"This delegation is not designed to end Iran’s leverage. It is designed to collect the benefits of the pause, preserve the regime’s pressure points and carry them into the next round."
On Sunday, talks between Iran and the U.S. were paused but not ended, Reuters reported.