Uncertainty over Iran peace talks and a mass shooting in Louisiana: Morning Rundown

Key Points:

• The U.S. seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman for allegedly attempting to breach the American naval blockade, escalating tensions with Iran, which vowed retaliation and called the act "armed piracy and theft."
• Negotiations to resume peace talks between the U.S. and Iran remain uncertain, with U.S. officials planning a delegation to Pakistan, while Iranian media deny prospects for talks under current conditions.
• A Louisiana man, Shamar Elkins, killed eight children—seven of whom were his own—and wounded two women in a domestic violence shooting before being killed by police; many victims were shot in their sleep.
• A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck northeast Japan, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuations, with waves up to two and a half feet reported, though no tsunami threat was expected for the U.S. West Coast or British Columbia.
• Jeffrey Epstein survivor Rachel Benavidez called for accountability and justice for abuses at Epstein's New Mexico ranch, emphasizing that despite Epstein's death and Ghislaine Maxwell's imprisonment, investigations into others involved remain incomplete.