Early Edition: June 16, 2026

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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:

IRAN WAR – CEASEFIRE  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that the (unpublished) agreement between the United States and Iran, signed electronically on Sunday, was Trump’s decision, adding that for Israel “the struggle has not ended.” Netanyahu said Israel had its own interests and would keep Israeli forces in Lebanon “as long as necessary.” Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted on social media that “Trump’s agreement does not bind us,” adding “Israel is not subject to the United States, and we are an independent and sovereign country.” Jon Gambrell, Elena Becatoros, and Michelle L. Price report for AP News; Ephrat Livni reports for the New York Times; Gerry Shih and Lior Soroka report for the Washington Post.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said today that the deal would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. “The end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of complete end of the war,” Araghchi said. “Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end.” The United States has not said whether Lebanon was part of the final agreement. Jon Gambrell, Michelle L. Price, and Sam Metz report for AP News.  

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other senior U.S. officials are skeptical that Iran genuinely intends to make the nuclear concessions required in a final agreement, citing U.S. intelligence that Iranian officials’ private discussions differ from their public commitments, according to three sources. Ratcliffe raised his concerns with Trump over the weekend, with support from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, two sources said. Barak Ravid reports for Axios

U.S. lawmakers reacted cautiously to Trump’s announcement of a preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement, with Republicans and Democrats expressing frustration about the lack of clarity around the deal. “We do not have an agreement just yet, so we will see when there is text out there,” Sen. John Thune (R-SD) told reporters at the Capitol yesterday. “If it is a secret deal, then how can I take it seriously?” Sen Thom Tillis (R-NC) said yesterday afternoon. Robert Jimison and Michael Gold report for the New York Times.  

IRAN WAR – STRAIT OF HORMUZ 

Trump said yesterday that the Strait of Hormuz was “already partially open” and would be “completely open” on Friday, adding that U.S. forces are “doing a little hunting for a couple of mines.” Trump is expected to ask European leaders to provide help in locating and clearing mines laid by the Iranians during the war. French President Emmanuel Macron said that today’s working lunch at the G7 summit would focus on the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, including a possible Franco-British-led maritime mission. John Ismay and Nicholas Kulish report for the New York Times; Joh Irish, Michel Rose, and Gabriel Stargardter report for Reuters.  

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei yesterday disputed contentions by the Trump administration that ships will now be able to transit the Strait of Hormuz without charge, saying it intended to charge “fees…in exchange for the services that are provided” but not “tolls.” There was little indication of what services Iran would be providing. Iranian officials have said they might assess environmental charges. Ephrat Livni reports for the New York Times.  

Two international shipping companies told The New York Times today that their ships had not resumed crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The Japan-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said that its operations would not resume “until safety has been sufficiently confirmed.” Yesterday, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations said that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect, warning ships not to attempt to go in or out of those ports “until direction is given.” John Yoon reports. 

The United States has reportedly been using covert ship-to-ship oil transfers, similar to techniques Iran has long used to evade sanctions, to move Gulf oil exports around disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, according to satellite images and sources. The secret operation, overseen by the U.S. military and involving at least 92 vessels since May, has helped move millions of barrels of oil despite the conflict. Feras Dalatey, Jonathan Saul, Dmitry Zhdannikov, and Edward Carron report for Reuters.  

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR 

Israeli strikes and gunfire yesterday killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza, health officials said. The violence came as Nikolay Mladenov, the High Representative for Gaza on Trump’s Board of Peace, was expected to arrive in Cairo for further ceasefire talks, sources said. Nidal Al-Mughrabi reports for Reuters.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the G7 summit today and took part in the first session of the day dedicated to “Building peace ​in Ukraine.” Sources said Zelenskyy may speak separately with Trump while at the summit; he is also due to meet other G7 leaders individually. Zelenskyy said yesterday he had offered to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit, but that ‌Putin was ⁠not ready for peace talks. John Irish, Michel Rose, and Gabriel Stargardter report for Reuters.  

SUDANESE CIVIL WAR 

Drone strikes killed more than 1,000 civilians in Sudan in the first five months of 2026, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said yesterday. “In Sudan, the horrific conflict has expanded and escalated, marked by a sharp increase in the use of drone warfare,” Türk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Samy Magdy reports for AP News.  

OTHER GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS 

The U.N. Security Council yesterday unanimously adopted a resolution calling on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to reverse their crackdown on women, expand human rights, and address concerns about militant groups operating in the country. The resolution extends the U.N. political mission in Afghanistan until June 17, 2027, and authorizes it to facilitate talks between the Taliban and regional countries, and the wider international community. Edith M. Lederer reports for AP News.  

Thailand has appointed conciliators from South Africa and Germany for a U.N. arbitration process that was initiated by Cambodia to resolve a long-running maritime dispute, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters today. Cambodia launched the compulsory conciliation process under the United Nations Convention on the Law ​of the Sea earlier this month, after Thailand ​had unilaterally ended a 2001 agreement that provided a framework ⁠for negotiations over the disputed area in the Gulf of ​Thailand. Reuters reports. 

The Hague-based intergovernmental Permanent Court of Arbitration yesterday ruled that Russia flouted some sea laws during the construction of the Kerch Strait bridge between mainland Russia and annexed Crimea, but dismissed Ukraine’s claims that Moscow was unlawfully trying to keep the strait under its control. The five-judge arbitration panel did not award any reparations and ordered both parties to pay their own legal costs for the procedure that ​lasted a ​decade. Reuters reports.  

U.S. CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC OPERATIONS 

A Cuban state media report states that the U.S. energy blockade has severely worsened living conditions, with declines in child cancer survival, disrupted dialysis and surgeries, and widespread shortages of food, fuel, and medicines. Andrea Rodriguez reports for AP News.  

U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 

The Justice Department on Friday closed its antitrust investigation into Paramount’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery even though career staff were leaning toward challenging the deal on competition grounds, sources said. Senior DOJ officials reportedly believed Paramount CEO David Ellison, son of Trump ally Larry Ellison, persuasively addressed their concerns during a two-hour interview, helping convince leadership that the merger would not harm competition and should be allowed to proceed. Dave Michaels, Dana Mattioli, Sadie Gurman, and Jesica Toonkel report for the Wall Street Journal.  

A B-52 bomber yesterday crashed during a routine test mission at Edwards Air Force base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert and burst into flames, killing all eight people on board, military officials said. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, and it could take up to six months to complete an investigation, Col. James Hayes said. Christopher Weber and Konstantin Toropin report for AP News.  

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said yesterday that the Justice Department has opened an investigation into him and his wife. “In recent days, federal agents have knocked on the doors of family friends and former employees,” Newsom said in his statement. “Not because they found a crime. Because they are simply trying to find one. They are demanding records. They are abusing the grand jury process.” A source told Axios they “can confirm there are several investigations ongoing,” but they did not originate with the DOJ. The investigations began about a year ago, the source says. Josephine Walker reports for Axios.  

A group of lawmakers sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and two National Park Service officials yesterday, warning that officials could face fines or criminal prosecution if they push forward with the president’s 250-foot arch without congressional approval. Luke Broadwater reports for the New York Times.  

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS

Anthropic staff yesterday met with senior Trump administration officials in person for the first time since Anthropic pulled its latest model from the market on Friday following a federally imposed export ban, two administration officials said. Anthropic reportedly gave a technical presentation explaining its cybersecurity safeguards and testing methods in hopes of moving past the restrictions. A senior White House official said it would take longer than a few days to reach a resolution that eases the government’s Friday action. Cheyenne Haslett and Sophia Cai report for POLITICO.  

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LITIGATION 

The Supreme Court agreed yesterday to consider whether detainees locked up for “prolonged” periods eventually earn the right to a bond hearing in which an immigration judge must consider whether they present an ongoing threat to public safety or a flight risk. Kyle Cheney reports for POLITICO.  

A coalition of Washington-area preservation and cultural heritage organizations yesterday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over Trump’s plan to remake national parkland into a “National Garden of American Heroes.” The group said the plan must be halted until Congress authorizes the project. Dan Diamond reports for the Washington Post.  

Did you miss this? Stay up-to-date with our Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions.

If you enjoy listening, Just Security’s analytic articles are also available in audio form on the justsecurity.org website.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Just Security

The Continuing Saga of Chief Judge Boasberg’s Contempt of Court Inquiry Involving Todd Blanche and Emil Bove

By Marty Lederman

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