First Thing: Iran accuses US of plotting ground assault while publicly seeking talks

Key Points:

• Iran has warned the US of its readiness to confront any ground assault, accusing Washington of secretly planning a land attack despite publicly seeking talks, as the war enters its second month with significant casualties and global energy disruptions.
• President Donald Trump indicated a preference for seizing Iranian oil and expressed openness to oil shipments to Cuba, signaling a relaxation of the US de facto oil blockade on the island amid an ongoing energy crisis there.
• Democratic Senator Cory Booker criticized the Democratic Party for failing the current moment and called for new leadership and a broader coalition to address emerging challenges, reflecting internal party debates ahead of midterm elections.
• In other news, a major art theft in Italy resulted in the loss of paintings worth over $10 million by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse, while a historic protest against the Trump administration saw over 8 million participants across the US.
• Scientific progress includes the first full mapping of clitoral nerves, which may improve sexual health outcomes for women, and Hawaii begins recovery efforts after catastrophic flooding caused by recent storms, with damages estimated at $1 billion.