Iranian lawmaker says Tehran considering closing waterway, described as ‘world’s most important oil transit chokepoint’.
Iran is considering closing the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian news agency IRINN has reported, citing key conservative lawmaker Esmail Kosari, as the conflict with Israel intensifies.
The move would send oil prices soaring and risk expanding the war. So what is the strategic waterway and why is it vital to global trade?
Hormuz is the only marine entryway into the Persian Gulf. It splits Iran on one side and Oman and the United Arab Emirates on the other, and it links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, about 20 percent of global oil consumption flows through the strait, which the agency describes as the “world’s most important oil transit chokepoint”. At its narrowest point, it is 33km (21 miles) wide, but shipping lanes in the waterway are even narrower, making them vulnerable to attacks and threats of being shut down.
During the Iran-Iraq conflict between 1980 and 1988, which killed hundreds of thousands on both sides, both countries targeted commercial vessels in the Gulf in what became known as the Tanker War, but Hormuz was never completely closed.
More recently, in 2019, four ships were attacked near the strait off the coast of Fujairah, UAE, amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States during Donald Trump’s first presidency. Washington blamed Tehran for the incident, but Iran denied the allegations.
Attacking shipping lanes has long been used to apply pressure amid conflict. Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen have been attacking ships around Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the entryway into the Red Sea on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula.
While the Houthi campaign has affected global commerce, ships can avoid the Red Sea by sailing around Africa – a longer but safer journey. However, there is no way to ship anything by sea out of the Gulf without going through Hormuz.
Even countries that do not import petrol from Gulf countries would be affected if the strait were to be closed because a major drop in supply would spike the price per barrel on the global market.
Despite the Iranian lawmaker’s threat, it is unclear whether Iran has the ability or willingness to shut down the strait.
Such a move would almost certainly invoke retaliation from the US, which has naval military assets in the region.
After Israel launched a wave of attacks across Iran early on Friday, targeting military leaders, residential buildings, army bases and nuclear sites, Iran responded with hundreds of ballistic missiles.
Although the US helped shoot down the Iranian missiles, Washington has not directly attacked Iran. US officials have stressed that Washington was not involved in the Israeli strikes.
Tehran has not targeted US troops or interests in the region, either.
Closing Hormuz, however, would hit Americans in the wallet and could spark a military response from Trump.
While an Iranian move against the strait may not be imminent, Kosari’s comments underscore that attacking shipping lanes is a card that Tehran may play amid the hostilities.
In April 2024, Iranian armed forces seized a container ship near the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions across the region after a deadly Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria. A limited Iranian strike on Israel in response was followed by an Israeli one on Iran. At the time, they were the most serious direct military exchanges between the two foes.
A man posing as a police officer shot and killed a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband in a brazen attack at their home early Saturday, and a second lawmaker and his wife were wounded in a separate shooting in what Gov. Tim Walz described as “targeted political violence.”
Police were searching for the gunman responsible for the attacks on the Democratic legislators. Writings found inside a fake police car recovered at one of the shooting scenes mentioned the names of multiple lawmakers and other officials, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said.
Melissa Hortman, a former Minnesota House Speaker, and her spouse were shot and killed early Saturday in their Brooklyn Park home. A second state lawmaker, Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, were shot multiple times in Champlin. Officials say both Hortman and Hoffman were mentioned in the suspect’s writings.
“When we did a search of the vehicle, there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials. We immediately made alerts to the state. We took action on alerting them and providing security where necessary,” said Bruley.
State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic asked people “out of an abundance of caution” not to attend any of the “No Kings” protests that were scheduled for across the state on Saturday.
Bogojevic said authorities didn’t have any direct evidence that the protests would be targeted, but said the suspect had some “No Kings” flyers in their car. Organizers announced that all of the protests across the state were canceled.
Hours after the shootings, hundreds of police and sheriff deputies from departments in the region, some in tactical gear with assault style weapons were scattered through the town. Occasional police roadblocks where cars are stopped and checked.
Walz said Hortman and Hoffman were deliberately targeted.
“We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence,” Walz said at a press conference Saturday. “Those responsible for this will be held accountable.”
Hoffman, a Democrat, was first elected in 2012. He previously served as vice chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which manages the largest school district in Minnesota. Hoffman and his wife have one daughter. He represents a district north of Minneapolis.
At the time of her death, Hortman was the top Democratic leader in the state Legislature. She was also a former House speaker. She was first elected in 2004. She and her husband had two children.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that authorities were actively searching for a suspect.
Autopsies will be done to determine extent of injuries, but Hortman and her spouse died from gunshot wounds, Evans said. A “shelter in place” order was in effect early Saturday.
Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said the suspect was posing as a law enforcement officer.
“Suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms, what our uniforms are meant to represent. That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility,” he said.
Bruley said the suspect fled out of the back of Hortman’s house after an exchange of gunfire with police.
The suspect was dressed like a uniformed officer and operating a vehicle that “looked exactly like an SUV squad car. It was equipped with lights, emergency lights and looked exactly like a police vehicle,” Bruley said.
President Donald Trump said in a White House statement that the FBI would join in the investigation.
“Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!”
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Spring, called the attack “evil” and said she was “heartbroken beyond words” by the killings of Hortman and her husband, Mark.
“With the law enforcement response ongoing and details still emerging, I will simply ask all Minnesotans to please lift up in prayer the victims of this horrific attack, as well as the law enforcement personnel still working to apprehend the perpetrator,” Demuth said in a statement.
The shootings happened at a time when political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated during a time of deep political divisions.
GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization led by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement.
“My family and I know the horror of a targeted shooting all too well,” Giffords said. “An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself. Leaders must speak out and condemn the fomenting violent extremism that threatens everything this country stands for.”
Giffords was shot in the head in 2011 by a gunman who killed six people and injured 12 others. She stepped down from Congress in January 2012 to focus on her recovery.
A Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband were shot and killed in their home early on Saturday morning in what Governor Tim Walz called a “act of targeted political violence”.
Walz said House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were killed.
State Senator John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife were targeted in their home as well in a separate shooting. They were shot multiple times and are out of surgery, Walz said at a news conference. He said he was “cautiously optimistic” they will survive.
Walz said the targeted shootings occurred in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, neighbouring cities to Minneapolis. A manhunt is underway for a suspect.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Ruley said a suspect was impersonating a police officer.
He added that a suspect was using a police “badge and uniform” to manipulate his way into the lawmakers’ homes, and was even driving a car that looks like a “police vehicle”, equipped with emergency lights.
Minnesota Superintendent Drew Evans said officers received a call at 02:00 local time regarding the incident involving Hoffman and his wife.
Evans said another call was placed to police at 03:35, when officers were proactively checking on Hortman.
The police exchanged gunfire with the suspect at Hortman’s home, but he managed to escape.
Chief Ruley said they are engaged in an “extensive manhunt” alongside the FBI, SWAT and hundred of police officers.
Authorities are warning people in the area not to answer their door for a police officer unless there are two officers together.
Brooklyn Park Police Department has issued a shelter-in-place order for a three-mile (4.8 km) radius of Edinburgh Golf Course.
Zach Lindstrom, the mayor of nearby Mounds View, said elected officials had received a “safety alert”.
Walz said he had activated a State Emergency Operations Center – used for managing disasters or emergencies.
Universal Music Group has formed a joint venture with WTSL, the Silver Lake-backed investment firm founded by prominent Hollywood agent and WME co-founder, Patrick Whitesell.
According to the official announcement, the venture’s goal is to “accelerate commercial opportunities for UMG’s artists and artist estates in rapidly growing areas outside traditional recorded music and music publishing”.
The press release added that the JV will pursue opportunities that “extend music’s value across film, television, fashion, consumer products, branded experiences, and other emerging growth areas”.
Citing an interview with UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge, The Financial Timesreports that examples of ‘ambitious projects’ Grainge wants to ‘replicate’ via the JV include the wildly popular Abba Voyage virtual concert series and Mamma Mia! musical.
The FT also reports that the ‘agreement’ between UMG and Whitesell will ‘have financial backing’ from private equity giant Silver Lake.
Patrick Whitesell launched his new platform with $250 million in backing from Silver Lake following the latter company’s acquisition of Hollywood agency giant Endeavor. Whitesell was previously Endeavor’s Executive Chairman.
Silver Lake completed its acquisition of WME owner Endeavor in March, taking the company private and rebranding it as WME Group.
According to UMG’s official press release about the new JV with Whitesell, as co-founder of WME and now founder of WTSL, he “has helped talent navigate moments of transformation – structuring groundbreaking deals that reshaped how creators engage with ownership, production, and brand expansion”.
In a statement issued on Thursday (June 12), UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge said: “We exist at the center of a vibrant ecosystem of partners from the worlds of technology, brands, retailers, and media who recognize the power of our artists to shape culture globally.”
“With this new venture we will be able to leverage Patrick’s deep experience in successfully creating non-traditional business models with world-class IP to accelerate the expansion and monetization of our ecosystem to the benefit of our artists and partners.”
Sir Lucian Grainge
Added Grainge: “With this new venture, we will be able to leverage Patrick’s deep experience in successfully creating non-traditional business models with world-class IP to accelerate the expansion and monetization of our ecosystem to the benefit of our artists and partners.”
According to Universal, by combining UMG’s and WTSL’s “strategic expertise and networks”, the two companies will “capitalize on how cultural influence is leveraged, making artists and their music the foundation for building scalable, multidimensional businesses that connect with audiences in new and lasting ways”.
“This is about building the future of artist IP with the scale and ambition it deserves.”
Patrick Whitesell
“This is about building the future of artist IP with the scale and ambition it deserves,” said Whitesell.
“Universal Music Group represents the most powerful collection of music and artists anywhere in the world. Together, we’ll explore new ways to extend that cultural force into every dimension of entertainment and consumer life — creating lasting business value while keeping music at the center.”
UMG argues that other entertainment industries like sports, film, and digital media “have already undergone a major shift where talent is even more valued,” and that “athletes and entertainers have become equity stakeholders, producers, and business leaders, building vertically integrated platforms around their personal brands”.
According to UMG, WTSL’s founder Patrick Whitesell has played a central role in that “evolution” via his work spanning live events, media, and creator-led ventures, “all with the goal of helping talent scale strategically and sustainably”.
This new joint venture, according to UMG, “reflects that same philosophy, applied to music”.
“It’s built to give artists the same tools and structure to turn creative equity into long-term enterprise that’s anchored by music and designed for multi-format growth,” the company said.
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Jake Nowoswiat from Newtown Square, Pennsylvania has announced his commitment to continue his academic and athletic careers at Bucknell beginning in fall 2025.
“I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Bucknell University! I’d like to thank God,family,friends and coaches for the support. #rayBucknell”
Nowoswiat swims for Suburban Seahawks Club and just finished his senior year at Malvern Preparatory School in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He was a dual sport athlete in high school as he also played water polo.
In April 2024, Nowoswiat swam to numerous lifetime best times at Y-Nationals. He finished 13th in the 400 IM in a 4:02.11 and 21st in the 200 breast in a 2:04.74.
Most recently, Nowoswiat swam at the 2025 Middle Atlantic Championships in March. There he finished 3rd in the 400 IM (4:05.97), 8th in the 200 breast (2:07.54), and 19th in the 100 breast (58.74). He also swam to a lifetime best 52.61 in the 100 back for 22nd.
Nowoswiat’s Best SCY Times Are:
100 breast: 58.72
200 breast: 2:04.74
200 IM: 1:52.75
400 IM: 4:01.36
The Bucknell men finished 4th out of 10 teams at the 2025 Patriot League Championships with 952.5 points. Loyola Maryland was 3rd with 1213 points.
Based on his best times, Nowoswiat is on the border of the ‘B’ and ‘C’ final in the 200 breast while his 400 IM would have made the ‘C’ final. The team was thin in the 200 breaststroke with only one ‘A’ finalist and one ‘B’ finalist.
Nowoswiat will arrive this fall as a member of the class of 2029 along with Finn Lukens, Evan Hepburn, Drew Davis, and Jason Kellerman.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Atmospheric water harvesting technologies have been a focal point of innovation in addressing water scarcity. Current methods often utilize hydrophilic gels or absorbent materials to capture atmospheric moisture, while others depend on condensation systems. Many of these approaches, however, require energy inputs to complete the process of producing potable water—an enduring challenge that impacts millions of people worldwide. A novel strategy, inspired by organisms such as beetles and lizards that inhabit arid ecosystems, could revolutionize this process by achieving unprecedented efficiency without external energy.
This cutting-edge approach has been proposed by researchers at New York University, in collaboration with scientists from Abu Dhabi and China. The technology, named “Janus crystals,” operates without the need for external power sources and holds significant promise for sustainable water harvesting.
Current strategies for extracting water from the atmosphere
Before delving into the specifics of Janus crystals, it is essential to review existing techniques for atmospheric water harvesting, especially in regions facing water scarcity, aridity, or drought. Atmospheric water generators (AWGs) typically employ one of the following strategies:
Passive condensation. This technique harnesses the temperature gradient between the air and a cooler surface to condense atmospheric moisture. Examples include fog-catching systems, which utilize specialized meshes to capture water droplets in arid regions with high fog density.
Active condensation. This method involves cooling air to its dew point using energy, causing water vapor to condense. Atmospheric water generators that mimic dehumidifiers are a key example of this approach.
Hygroscopic materials. These systems rely on materials such as silica gels or salt solutions that absorb water vapor directly from the air. The absorbed water is released by heating the materials, enabling water recovery.
Solar-based systems. Solar-powered technologies use sunlight to release water trapped in absorbent materials or to power condensation devices. These systems are particularly beneficial in remote areas due to their minimal reliance on external energy sources.
Advanced membranes for direct capture. These technologies incorporate membranes engineered with specific properties to trap and release water based on humidity levels. Examples include polymeric membranes and nanomaterials optimized for arid conditions.
Biomimetic technologies. Inspired by natural mechanisms, these systems replicate features observed in desert-dwelling organisms such as beetles and plants. Textures and surface chemistries are designed to enhance condensation and water collection efficiency.
Hybrid systems with renewable energies. These systems integrate active condensation methods with renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind, to enhance sustainability and minimize environmental impact.
Janus crystals: inspired by desert organisms
The water harvesting system developed by researchers at New York University falls within the realm of biomimetic technologies. Inspired by strategies used by desert organisms, the system mimics the interplay of hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, which are critical for trapping and transporting atmospheric water. Hydrophilic regions capture water vapor, while hydrophobic areas facilitate the movement of collected water.
The researchers, whose findings were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, created a novel type of elastic organic crystal. Among these, Janus crystals exhibit exceptional efficiency due to their unique structure, which combines hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. This dual functionality allows the crystals to capture water vapor and direct it toward a collector with minimal energy loss.
Remarkably, Janus crystals operate without requiring external energy. Their translucent and narrow design also enables real-time visualization of water droplet formation and transport under light exposure.
By leveraging these properties, Janus crystals have the potential to serve as the basis for next-generation atmospheric water harvesting systems. These systems could complement existing innovations, such as fog-catching harps, while offering greater efficiency and scalability for water extraction in arid regions.
For additional insights into water treatment technologies with larger daily production capacities, consider exploring reverse osmosis desalination, which extracts freshwater from seawater. This approach continues to address pressing global water challenges.
Rizwan Vahora lost three relatives on the Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad, India. His family was among the many grieving and waiting for answers.
As Israel prepares more waves of attacks on Iran that Donald Trump warned would be “even more brutal”, the Islamic Republic’s leaders have vowed to retaliate.
Major General Mohammad Pakpour, Iran’s commander of the Revolutionary Guards, who took office on Friday hours after the assassination of his predecessor, vowed to “open the doors of hell”.
But what can Iran do to significantly deter Israel? Tehran — strangled by years of sanctions, and with its main Shia proxies in the region severely weakened — stands in what it sees as an existential battle against a regional power buoyed by the latest western military kit and ample US support.
“The Iranians will struggle to muster a meaningful response,” said Dan Shapiro, former deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East at the Pentagon.
Iran’s first salvo of drones was successfully intercepted. On Friday night Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles, some of which penetrated Israel’s defences to hit buildings in urban areas. Scores were injured and some killed.
The bulk of the missiles were intercepted and the barrages were on a smaller scale than two Iranian retaliatory assaults last year in terms of numbers. But it appeared that Iran had shifted its tactics, launching in successive waves throughout the night and early morning, primarily targeting Tel Aviv, making them more destructive.
Rather than alter the calculus of the conflict, or deter further strikes, the assault prompted Israel to promise further escalation.
“The real dilemma for Iran will be whether to sprint to a nuclear breakout,” said Shapiro, who is also a former US ambassador to Israel. “They may calculate that will give them the deterrence to ensure regime survival — but that also runs the risk of drawing in the US.”
UN inspectors for years have diligently sought to monitor Iran’s nuclear programme and in particular its enrichment of uranium, which can produce both fuel and weapons-grade material. Iran has in recent years expanded its stockpile of near weapons-grade enriched uranium.
It has the capacity to produce sufficient fissile material for a nuclear weapon in less than two weeks, experts say.
The monitoring efforts make it unlikely — but not impossible — that Iran has already secreted away enough fissile material for a single, simple bomb, which would require less than 15kg of enriched uranium. Putting the uranium on a warhead and developing missile capacity are further challenges, but with enough fissile material, Tehran could in theory fashion a so-called “dirty bomb”.
Such drastic steps would have parallels with Israel’s own development of a secret nuclear arsenal, a “doomsday operation”, which evolved into the nuclear doctrine nicknamed the Samson Option.
During the 1967 war, Israeli officials had authorised a plan of last resort to detonate a hastily assembled nuclear device in the Sinai desert, with the aim of freezing the conflict before Arab armies crossed Israeli borders. (In the event, Israel won the war — the plan became public only in 2001.)
Other options are more traditional: attacking Israeli military facilities and diplomatic missions, or carrying out the threat, voiced by some commanders, of hitting US military targets in the Middle East.
Iranian forces could also turn to asymmetric warfare, attempting to shut off or disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway separating Iran from the Gulf states, through which almost a third of all global seaborne oil exports flow.
Each carries great risks for Iran, including the potential for spectacular failure or further escalation, with the US stepping in substantially to aid Israel, said a former Israeli official who worked on similar assessments in the past.
Analysts and people familiar with Israel’s defence plans expect Iran to continue to try to overwhelm Israel’s multi-layered aerial defences with a massive wave of drones and missiles. Such attacks could target Israeli nuclear facilities, air bases and other critical infrastructure, such as ports and the airport in Tel Aviv.
That would force Israel to ration its limited supply of interceptor missiles, many of which have had to be replenished on an urgent basis after 20 months of war with Hamas in Gaza, Hizbollah in Lebanon and two barrages from Iran in April and October 2024.
Iran’s barrage on Friday and those two earlier assaults showed Iran’s best missiles could pierce Israeli air defences, even when they were bolstered by an emergency deployment of US and other warplanes intercepting missiles and drones far from Israeli airspace.
Some two dozen missiles landed inside the Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel, satellite images later showed. One landed near the Mossad headquarters in north Tel Aviv. Others hit a second air base.
But two people familiar with that assault said it had also shown the limits of Iran’s capabilities. The damage to the air bases was quickly repaired, no aircraft were damaged and Israeli radar operators trained their algorithms on reams of data gathered during the attack.
An Iranian missile barrage fired at Israel in October was the first time the country’s air defences were so thoroughly tested by a regional power, instead of Hamas’s rockets, which are easily intercepted by the Iron Dome system. But that assault was telegraphed at a time when Iran was seeking to avoid the full-blown conflict with Israel in which it now finds itself. And in both of last year’s attacks Tehran targeted military sites, while this time the targets are broader and across multiple cities and towns.
One of Iran’s goals last year, according to an analysis carried out after the event by Israel’s military intelligence directorate, was to see how successfully a “rapid saturation event” could overwhelm Israel’s defensive systems.
Israel’s military doctrine on rationing interceptors — how many it has at any time is a national secret — takes into account the nature of the attack and the target.
If running low on the missiles, protecting military targets is considered more important, in order to protect the ability to counter-attack, for instance. Fox News on Friday reported the US had replenished a significant amount of the Tamir interceptors Israel used, which are partially manufactured in the US.
Another factor has also constrained Iran: the disruption from the first wave of Israeli strikes, according to Israel. The Israeli Air Force on Friday night hit Iran’s surface-to-surface missile arrays, it said, aiming to blunt any possible counter-attack.
Sima Shine, a former official at Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency who had a focus on Iran, said that would have affected the scale at which Iran would be able to mount an immediate counter-attack.
Iran also needed to take time to take stock after the assassination of senior Iranian officials responsible for military strategy. The military officers were “very vital, very knowledgeable, and had been in their jobs for many years”, she said.
Destroying missile systems is not as complicated as destroying Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, said a former air force pilot who had been trained for similar missions about a decade ago.
“Missile systems require very complex mechanisms to work together,” he said. “To disable the system, you don’t have to destroy it, only hitting a single [crucial] component is enough — the radar, the transport system, even the mechanical systems that position the missile.”
Knowing their location is significantly more useful than the kind of armaments used, he said.
The Israeli air force is expected to make repeated bombing runs in the coming days, and has been destroying Iran’s aerial defences — some of them made locally, others procured from allies such as Russia — to maintain aerial superiority.
That would force Iran to allocate its limited missile systems defensively, said the former pilot, instead of using them to punish Israel.
“It is clear now that our [pilots] can strike at will in Iran,” he said. “This was not always true, and it changes the equation completely.”
Graphic illustrations by Ian Bott and Steven Bernard
Brittney Griner has written to President Joe Biden with an urgent plea: “Please don’t forget about me.”
The message from the WNBA star was delivered via a letter she handwrote from the Russian jail where she has been held since being arrested in February at a Moscow airport on drug charges. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
“As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” Griner wrote.
Representatives for Griner shared sections of the letter with BuzzFeed News and other media outlets, but said the full message would be kept private between her and the president.
“On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran,” Griner wrote. “It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”
Griner, 31, also told Biden that her first-ever vote was for him in the 2020 presidential election.
“I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American Detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home,” she said. “I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore.”
“I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates!” Griner said. “It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”
Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said in a statement provided to BuzzFeed News that the White House was working “aggressively” to bring Griner home.
“We believe the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner,” Watson said. “President Biden has been clear about the need to see all US nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner. The US government continues to work aggressively – using every available means – to bring her home.”
Watson also said top officials were in regular contact with Griner’s family and teammates.
But Griner’s wife, Cherelle, told CBS on Tuesday morning it was “very disheartening” that she was yet to hear from Biden about the letter.
Cherelle said they were disappointed they had not been able to meet personally with Biden.
“It kills me every time … when I have to write her, and she’s asking, ‘Have you met with him yet?’ And I have to say, ‘No.’ … I’m sure she’s like, ‘I’m going to write him and ask now, because my family has tried and to no avail. So I’m going to do it myself,'” Cherelle said.
