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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-05-26 at 02:06
HEADLINES
Iran Truckers Strike Sparks Nationwide Crisis
Israeli Dance Legend Yair Vardi Dies at 75
US-Iran Nuclear Talks Show Signs of Progress
The time is now 10:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Today at 10 p.m., we begin with a major development from Iran, where a nationwide truck drivers' strike continues to disrupt transportation across more than forty cities. The strike, now in its fourth day, was sparked by the government's proposal to introduce a tiered diesel pricing system, which drivers say threatens their livelihoods. Under the new plan, registered fleets with online freight documentation would retain a subsidized rate of approximately six-tenths of a cent per liter, but many drivers anticipate paying vastly higher prices—up to forty-two thousand tomans, or roughly one dollar per liter—on the open market.
Truckers argue that even at current subsidized rates, their freight payments barely cover operational costs, and with fuel prices expected to rise sharply, they have refused to operate. The protests have spread from Tehran and Sirjan to cities like Isfahan, Yazd, Bandar Abbas, Sanandaj, and Dorud, where cargo terminals, markets, and industrial depots have remained idle. Security forces responded in Sanandaj with arrests and pepper spray, highlighting the regime’s attempts to suppress the movement.
The drivers’ union has criticized official outreach as superficial, accusing authorities of hiding repression behind media promises. A member of Iran’s parliament’s budget committee dismissed the protests as “unnatural,” suggesting outside influences are pushing for unrest. The government defends the fuel reform as a measure to curb smuggling and improve efficiency, but many in the industry see bureaucratic delays and fuel shortages already forcing them to buy at inflated prices, undercutting the reform's rationale.
Meanwhile, Iran faces mounting economic pressures—blackouts, rising costs, and gas shortages—acknowledgments from officials that underscore a deep systemic crisis. The protest reflects broader discontent with the regime’s economic policies amid ongoing hardships.
Shifting to international news, in Israel, the death of Yair Vardi, a pillar of Israeli contemporary dance and former director of the Suzanne Dellal Center, marks the end of a half-century career that transformed Israel’s cultural landscape. Vardi, born in 1948 in Kibbutz Kfar Blum, rose from local roots to international prominence, performing with Martha Graham’s company, collaborating with notable choreographers, and establishing dance initiatives worldwide. His return to Israel in 1988 to lead the Suzanne Dellal Center was a turning point, fostering numerous programs and festivals that elevated Israeli dance on the global stage. His mentorship and vision left an indelible mark on Israeli culture.
In the cultural realm, an Israeli film titled "Dead Language," directed by Mihal Brezis and Oded Binnun, has been selected to compete in the Tribeca Film Festival's Viewpoints section. An expanded version of their Oscar-nominated short "Aya," the film reunites stars Sarah Adler and Ulrich Thomsen, exploring the nuances of a chance encounter during a drive in Jerusalem. The filmmakers hope to develop it into a full-length feature, following their previous success with "The Etruscan Smile." The film is a co-production supported by several European film funds and is scheduled to screen on June 9.
On the diplomatic front, US President Donald Trump described the recent negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program as "very, very good," following the fifth round of talks mediated by Oman. These discussions, which began in April, mark the highest-level contact since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. Trump expressed optimism about the prospects, suggesting that positive news may eme
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