NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN

Missiles cloud Mideast skies over the Persian Gulf. Iran shuts down the Strait of Hormuz. Arab oil is choked off to world markets. Hezbollah and Hamas launch scores of missiles into Israel. Terror cells initiate cycles of violence in America. Global economies begin to collapse. Radioactivity permeates the skies over Bushehr’s nuclear reactor. Countless Iranian’s hastily seek refuge into neighboring nations. The Arabian Gulf becomes a cesspool of contamination. Desalinization plants can’t process the polluted waters. A humanitarian crisis burgeons out of control. A disaster of epic biblical proportion has finally arrived in the Middle East!    

About 2600 years ago the Hebrew prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel issued parallel end times prophecies concerning modern-day Iran. Today the rogue country is becoming a nuclear nation and aggressively advancing its hegemony throughout the greater Middle East. Nuclear Showdown in Iran, The Ancient Prophecy of Elam is a non-fiction thriller taking the reader on a journey of discovery through the eyes of the prophets and the minds of today’s key national players.Can anything good come from the evil that is about to befall us? The ancient prophecy of Elam will reveal whatGod has ordained, what the prophets saw and what you need to know and do now.  (CLICK HERE)

"All The Jews Are Tired Of You": Trump Unleashes Severe Telephone Rant Against Defiant Israeli Prime Minister

An explosive new book by New York Times journalists reveals that President Donald Trump screamed, cursed, and told Benjamin Netanyahu that everyone was tired of him to force a ceasefire agreement.

Intense backstage rivalries and dramatic political ultimatums have completely reshaped the diplomatic trajectory of the Middle East during critical negotiations. Newly leaked historical documentation exposes the deep strategic fissures that developed between traditional global allies as they raced to conclude hostagetaking crises. These revelations present a stunning look at the immense pressure applied by Washington to force compliance from regional leaders.

A new book titled "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump" by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan exposes a fierce telephone confrontation. The publication documents the extreme frustration experienced by the American president during negotiations to end the war in Gaza last September. According to the text, Trump reached a boiling point and directly shouted and cursed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a tense phone conversation. The highly volatile phone call took place just days before the White House publicly presented its comprehensive twenty point peace blueprint. White House envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son in law Jared Kushner were also connected to the high stakes line. During the confrontation, Trump aggressively lambasted the Israeli prime minister over his perceived diplomatic stalling tactics.

The authors reveal that Trump used exceptionally blunt language to describe the regional leader's dwindling international standing. Trump told Netanyahu directly, "Everyone is sick of you, Bibi". He expanded the verbal assault to include his own inner circle, stating, "All the Jews are tired of you.  Even the two Jews on this call are tired of you". The acute diplomatic crisis originally erupted following an uncoordinated military operation executed by Israeli defense forces. The military conducted an airstrike targeting the leadership of Hamas terrorists in Doha, Qatar. This aggressive maneuver occurred just twenty four hours after Kushner and Witkoff met with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Miami to coordinate postwar strategies.  (Ed note: Hey, President Trump! You need to hear something that you don't know. Over four thousand years ago, GOD told a man named Abram, "And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse." Genesis 12:3. You sir, with your mouth, are writing a check that America will have to cash, and that's not good.)   (Read More)

US-Iran MoU a ‘declaration of America’s defeat,’ says Tehran’s chief negotiator

The Islamic Republic forced Washington to “retreat both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table,” said Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

The U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding was “a declaration of America’s defeat,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Wednesday. Iran’s armed forces imposed “heavy costs on the United States and the so-called Israeli regime” during the 110-day war, Ghalibaf told a meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tehran’s IRNA news agency reported. The Islamic Republic forced Washington to “retreat both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table,” Tehran’s top negotiator claimed. Ghalibaf told attendees that Iran defined the retreat of American forces from the Middle East as a “strategic objective” and denounced Washington’s presence in the region as a “source of instability.”

The parliament speaker in his remarks extended the regime’s “hand of brotherhood and cooperation to all Islamic countries.” “For us, a ceasefire in Lebanon is as important as a ceasefire in Iran, and ending the war in Lebanon is as important as ending the war in Iran,” Ghalibaf stated. He also defended Palestinian terrorism as “an expression of a nation’s legitimate resistance in the face of occupation.” Ghalibaf said that “the experience of the past eighty years” showed that no lasting security in the region could be achieved without a “just resolution” of the Palestinian issue. Iran remains ready to pursue security agreements with regional countries, including Gulf states, in addition to economic cooperation, he added.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday night claimed that he had Iran “ready to go down for the fall” and “willing to give us practically anything,” as he slammed the Senate for passing a war powers resolution directing him to remove American military forces from the conflict with Tehran. The resolution conveyed to “the number one sponser [sic] of terror in the world that the United States doesn’t like what I am doing to them, and I must stop,” according to the president. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said he lifted the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports after the regime agreed to open its nuclear facilities to inspections and made other “major concessions.” “However, all ships are remaining in place should it be necessary to reinstitute the blockade, which seems, at this point, highly unlikely,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump’s statement came after Ghalibaf vowed that conditions in the Strait of Hormuz “will never go back to the way they were before the war.” “Of course, international regulations will be observed, but Iran will administer the Strait of Hormuz,” Ghalibaf told Iranian media as he returned from talks with U.S. representatives in Switzerland. While the MoU calls for the immediate reopening of the strait to commercial shipping, Tehran reopened the strategic waterway “according to its own terms and timeline,” the negotiator claimed. “This is the power of the Islamic Republic,” Ghalibaf said. “We forced Trump to amend the tweet he had published. This is the result of combining our hard and soft power.” (Source)

Iran president says missile program will never be included in US MoU

The Iranian president stated that its missile program "was not in the MoU and never will be", adding that regional peace can only be achieved through honest discussion and cooperation.

Iran's missiles were not in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the US and "will never be," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at a joint news conference with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday. Iran will never negotiate its defense capabilities with any country and strongly believes that regional peace and stability can only be achieved through honest discussions and intraregional cooperation, Pezeshkian added.

Earlier, an Iranian envoy said that Tehran alone will decide how to use assets unfrozen under a deal with the United States, denying that Washington would have any control over the funds or that they must be used to buy US commodities. The US waived sanctions on Iran for 60 days starting Monday after talks in Switzerland aimed at turning an interim deal into a lasting peace agreement. Frozen Iranian assets worth about $12 billion are expected to be released under the initial accord.

Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that the US and Qatar would have control over the funds once they are unfrozen, and that the money ⁠could be ​spent on US corn, soy, and wheat. Ali Bahreini, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said on Tuesday the two sides had held "very good talks" but challenged Vance's statement on the use of the assets. "Iran is the only country to decide what to do with its assets, which are going to be defrozen, and so I reject any claim about that if there would be any role for any other country to have an influence on those decisions or on those processes," Bahreini told reporters in Geneva. (Source)

Sa’ar: Hezbollah and Iran breaching Lebanon’s sovereignty, not Israel

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected international criticism of Israel’s military presence in Lebanon on Tuesday, saying Hezbollah and Iran are the real violators. “I hear statements in the international community that Israel is breaching Lebanon’s sovereignty. Listen to the truth. Hezbollah is breaching Lebanon’s sovereignty. Iran is breaching Lebanon’s sovereignty,” Sa’ar said at the JNS 2026 International Policy Summit in Jerusalem. His remarks came as Israeli and Lebanese delegations met in Washington for a fifth round of U.S.-brokered political and security talks aimed at stabilizing the border and addressing longstanding disputes.

Sa’ar argued that Lebanon remains under Iran’s influence through Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist group that wields significant military and political power in the country. “The foreign minister of Lebanon decided to expel the Iranian ambassador from Beirut some months ago,” Sa’ar said. “It never happened, because the truth is—and not so many people are saying it—Lebanon is under Iranian occupation, indirectly by Hezbollah, but under an occupation on the soil of Lebanon.” The fundamental challenge is that Hezbollah remains stronger than the Lebanese Armed Forces, he added, calling it a “mutual problem.” “I hope that with the talks being held today in Washington, D.C., we will be able to build on that common ground to build the common future,” Sa’ar said.

Sa’ar addressed his recent decision to “sever all contact” with the office of European Union foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas after reports that she compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to apartheid-era South Africa during a closed-door meeting in Mexico. Kallas has declined to confirm or deny the reports publicly Sa’ar stressed that the move was directed at Kallas, not the European Union as a whole. He pointed to what he described as “very good, open and honest discussions” with EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica this week in Jerusalem. “I privately asked her to do something about it,” Sa’ar said of Kallas. “She could say, ‘I didn’t say that.’ She could have said, ‘I’m standing behind these words.’” (Ed note: And one thing that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar didn't say, was that both the Lebanese government and military have been very weakened and infiltrated by the terrotist group, Hezbollah.) (Read More)

‘A train wreck’: As Jerusalem and Beirut hold talks, Israeli envoy pans linkage to US-Iran deal

First talks held since inking of MOU, with partial IDF withdrawal from south Lebanon said under discussion; Hezbollah chief says timetable must be set for full pullout.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter laid into US President Donald Trump’s administration over its willingness to include the ceasefire in Lebanon as part of a memorandum of understanding Washington inked last week with Tehran, as Beirut and Jerusalem kicked off a fifth round of negotiations at the US State Department in Washington on Tuesday. The session, the first held after Iran and the US signed their MOU, was set to focus on both political and security issues before splitting off into separate sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. According to Channel 13, an issue being discussed at Tuesday’s meeting was a planned partial Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

An unnamed senior official was quoted by the network as saying the IDF “captured territory in recent days for the purpose of negotiations, to then withdraw from them.” Under a planned pilot program agreed to by Jerusalem and Beirut earlier this month, the IDF would leave certain areas of southern Lebanon and hand them over to the control of the Lebanese army. Israel and Lebanon were represented at the talks by their respective ambassadors in Washington, while State Department Counselor Dan Holler and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dan Zimmerman represented the US.

But Leiter was highly critical of the negotiations under the current context, declaring in a Hebrew statement as the talks began that “we are in a train wreck.” The talks were set up by the Trump administration specifically to detach Lebanon from the ongoing Iran conflict, as Tehran sought to secure an agreement with the US that also protected its Hezbollah proxy. The direct Israel-Lebanon channel has been used to negotiate several ceasefires in Lebanon in recent months. But those truces barely held at all, as Beirut has been unable to rein in the terror group, and as Israel’s efforts to disarm it exclusively through military means have failed as well. (Read More)

Rubio faces backlash over Iran deal as Vance pushes rival track

The US secretary of state landed in the Persian Gulf and encountered fierce opposition to the emerging memorandum of understanding with Iran. Diplomatic sources reveal that the United Arab Emirates is refusing to unfreeze $3 billion belonging to Tehran, and is demanding compensation for war damage and a commitment to halt maritime aggression. At the same time, Rubio is waging an internal battle against Vice President Vance, who tried to establish an oversight body in Lebanon with the participation of Iran and Qatar in order to torpedo the direct ceasefire talks.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is being greeted by a deeply concerned Emirati leadership. The reason for the concern is the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, which left the Iranian military threat in place and even strengthened it, contrary to American promises and expectations from the war. And the Emiratis are not only worried, they are also taking action. According to various diplomatic sources, the UAE is not prepared at this stage to release frozen Iranian accounts, as the Americans agreed with Iran. According to various reports, the understandings reached in the talks in Switzerland, mediated by Qatar, included the release of $12 billion in accounts from Qatar and another $3 billion from the UAE. The Americans boasted that the money would be used for civilian purposes and to buy food from the United States.

But the UAE is making it clear: Iran must pay for the damage it caused during the war, which is estimated in the billions of dollars. First, this involves direct damage, including hits to civilian facilities, hotels, airports, ports and more. Beyond that, there is the indirect damage caused by the halt in maritime trade, and especially by the disruption of oil exports from the UAE. The ports of Dubai and Abu Dhabi are vast trade hubs that move goods from the East to the region and to Europe. The Emiratis' second condition, according to the diplomatic sources, is the inclusion of a clause in the emerging agreement with Iran requiring it not to attack its neighbors and not to obstruct the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Under the demand, the clause would be ratified by the UN Security Council and backed by sanctions if violated. This is identical to Iran's demand of the United States. (Read More)

The MoU Trap: Secretary of State Rubio Demands Iran Halt Proxy Rocket Warfare to Secure Regional Deal

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that any regional deal demanding a complete end to hostilities must legally enforce the cessation of missile and drone strikes launched by Iranian proxies.

A decisive legal interpretation has emerged from the State Department regarding the strategic boundaries of ongoing diplomatic negotiations in the Middle East. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a clear policy directive clarifying the explicit connection between international diplomatic agreements and the activity of regional proxy networks. The assertive declaration has established a new benchmark for evaluating whether foreign states are genuinely complying with regional security frameworks.

The high-stakes assessment came during an official briefing where the American diplomatic chief addressed the precise conditions required to establish lasting regional stability. Rubio emphasized that a careful reading of the Memorandum of Understanding, or MoU, reveals that the scope of current diplomatic frameworks directly covers the aggressive actions of non-state actors funded by Tehran. The Secretary of State indicated that Washington will not overlook asymmetric warfare tactics while executing international accords.

The administration stated that achieving a complete end to hostilities in the region is fundamentally impossible if certain security factors remain unaddressed. Rubio noted that you can't have the end of hostilities as long as Iranian proxies are launching missiles and drones from Iraq and participate in terrorism like Hamas and Hezbollah. The statement signals a renewed commitment to counter synchronized drone and rocket strikes that continue to threaten international commercial lanes and allied sovereign borders.

Senior American officials intend to introduce these specific compliance concerns into the active negotiating agendas at the appropriate time during current talks. The United States maintains that any valid regional stabilization effort must directly address the cross-border influence of ideological organizations like Hamas terrorists, who launch destructive wars to subvert normalization. By reinforcing the legal language within the active MoU, the White House aims to hold foreign sponsors directly accountable for localized aggression. (Source)

The Northern Border Ultimatum: Qassem Dictates Terms for Total Israeli Ground Forces Withdrawal

Following a tense diplomatic shift, Hezbollah leadership has announced strict conditions regarding the immediate removal of foreign defensive positions along the southern border. The group insists on a rigid operational timeline while asserting complete autonomy over its upcoming internal cooperation strategies.

The political and military landscape in the region remains highly volatile as the terms of a recent ceasefire are put to the test. Leadership changes and strategic re-alignments continue to dictate how cross border security will be managed moving forward, particularly regarding the presence of foreign defensive installations. The dynamic between organized state militaries and regional armed groups is entering a critical new phase that could reshape the entire geographic landscape.

In a recent public address Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem outlined the strict expectations of his organization regarding the future of the region following the announcement of a ceasefire. Qassem emphasized that the subsequent stage of this process must center on the complete evacuation of foreign defensive positions from Lebanese territory. He noted that this transition must occur according to a clear, organized timeline to ensure full compliance.

According to Qassem, the opposing forces have no alternative but to fully withdraw from the area. He stated that not a single inch of land can remain under foreign control under any pretext whatsoever. The leader also demanded a complete cessation of all aggressive actions across land, sea, and air spaces, paving the way for the official deployment of the Lebanese Army. Addressing internal governance, Qassem highlighted that his group is currently cooperating with the Lebanese Army to the fullest extent possible. He asserted that outside nations, specifically Israel, have absolutely no role in any agreements reached internally within Lebanon. The leader concluded by stating that external entities must be strictly prevented from interfering in these domestic security arrangements. 

This stance comes amid a broader regional war that involves multiple fronts, including actions by groups like Hamas, who operate as terrorists in separate sectors. The insistence on complete sovereignty and the rejection of foreign intervention underscores the deep divisions that persist even after temporary agreements are reached. The coming weeks will determine whether these strict demands will lead to further stabilization or a renewal of hostilities. (Source)

Netanyahu: Israel must achieve ‘weapons independence’

(June 23, 2026 / JNS)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that he greatly appreciates U.S. support but that Israel must free itself from outside dependence and build an “independent armaments system.” He spoke on June 18 during a meeting at a combat officers course for Israel Defense Forces reservists, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Tuesday. “Right now we are facing Iran and its proxies. We have struck them. It is not over yet, but it depends on our strength. Where we will be in 30 years—that depends on our strength. Therefore, what we are doing now is building superior strength,” the prime minister was cited as saying.

“I want weapons independence. I greatly appreciate the support we have received, and that I have also brought over the years, from our American friends. Today I say: We need our own independent armaments system. We produce our own weapons,” Netanyahu continued. “[We must] free ourselves from dependence, to build more and more power, to introduce more and more technology, to train more and more generations of commanders like you, because that is what will ultimately determine where we end up.

With God’s help and with your help, we will be in a good place,” he said. Netanyahu had said in the past that he plans to gradually terminate U.S. military aid. Under the current 10-year Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries expiring in 2028, the United States provides Israel with roughly $3.8 billion in annual military assistance. (Ed note: And BiBi is exactly correct. Israel must free itself from ALL the US Presidents who don't know their Bible or Bible Prophecy.) (Source)

Contradicting Vance, Iran says no plans for IAEA inspections of damaged nuclear sites

In 2nd apparent pushback against Trump’s VP, envoy says Iran will be ‘only country’ to determine how to use its unfrozen assets, warns Lebanon clash poses risk to deal.

Iran has neither held a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi in Switzerland nor plans for the UN nuclear watchdog to inspect Iran’s damaged nuclear facilities, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday. Esmaeil Baghaei said there was no protocol for such inspections, adding that Iran will continue its current obligations as a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and under its safeguards agreement with the IAEA. The comments contradicted a statement by US Vice President JD Vance, who said Monday that “the Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country.” 

Speaking to reporters at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, Vance called Iran’s ostensible invitation to UN nuclear inspectors “a major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran.” Iran had already pushed back against Vance’s comments on Monday, with Baghaei telling the official IRNA news agency that Tehran had not negotiated on its nuclear program and had not accepted any new commitments during Sunday’s talks with the US.

The IAEA has accused Iran of obstructing inspections and failing to give a full account of its highly enriched uranium stockpile after the material was apparently buried in US strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites during last June’s 12-day Israel-Iran war. Tehran, which routinely calls for the destruction of Israel, maintains that its nuclear program is for purely civilian purposes. However, before the June war, Iran had been enriching uranium to levels far beyond what’s necessary for any peaceful application, and consistently obstructed international inspectors from checking its facilities. Israel has also said Iran was taking steps toward weaponization. (Ed note: Kind of makes one want to ask, "who's lying?)   (Read More)

No Handshake, No Photo-Op: Iran's Frosty Optics SHOCK Vance As Araghchi IGNORES Him At Peace Talks

A moment of striking diplomatic tension unfolded in Switzerland as U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared in the same room during high-stakes U.S.-Iran peace negotiations, but without any public interaction. Footage from the summit showed Araghchi greeting and embracing Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while Vance remained at a distance with his delegation. 

The optics quickly drew attention as both sides seek to build on last week's interim agreement aimed at ending the conflict and preventing further regional escalation. Reports from the talks claimed that the Iranian delegation refused to enter the negotiation hall until media personnel had left and also declined to take a joint photograph with the U.S. delegation (Source)

Iran brags that negotiators snubbed Vance during photo op at peace talks — here’s what the video shows

The Iranians bragged that the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi snubbed Vice President JD Vance during a photo op opportunity before peace talks Sunday. Footage showed Araqchi walking into the room where Vance, the rest of the US delegation, and mediators were waiting in front of the cameras — before he was then captured leaving after embracing Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Iranian state media also claimed that its delegation refused to participate in any joint media appearance before talks with the US — a claim which US officials have hit back at. “Iranian representatives previously agreed to a press availability at the beginning of the meeting,” a US official explained to The Post. “They even brought state media with them to cover it, who were pre-staged at the event. Despite this, they left the meeting upon seeing the volume of press in attendance and then distributed an inaccurate account of the situation through state media.”

Meanwhile, lefty critics of Vance on social media also harped on about another moment during the photo op before talks between the US and Iran unfolded. Right before the talks got underway, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani walked by Vance and embraced Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. (Read More)

Iran’s lead negotiator insists Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran

The lead negotiator of the Iranian delegation, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, insists the Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran and will follow international laws.

Ghalibaf, who is also the speaker of the parliament, speaks with Iran state media on a plane on his way back from Switzerland.

“Hopefully we can activate the strait again, in terms of passage, and bring prosperity back to regional and global economy,” he says. Ghalibaf confirms that the issue of releasing the frozen assets as well as the sale of Iranian oil were discussed in the talks with the US today. (Source)

Israel Katz's promises face tough reality when Trump limits the IDF - analysis

There is an interesting debate going on in Israel about when and where the country must listen to Trump imposing limits to maintain his support on other critical military and other issues.

What happens when you promise the country that there will be no limits on the IDF’s actions repeatedly, and then there repeatedly are limits? This is the dilemma that Defense Minister Israel Katz has after many prior promises and another promise Monday night. It happened in June 2025 when he publicly promised that Israel would strike Iran again on a massive scale after the Islamic Republic briefly, and without much impact, violated the ceasefire negotiated by US President Donald Trump.

Trump called back the aircraft that Katz sent to strike Iran. A small and insignificant symbolic strike was allowed. Katz never explained the turnaround.Similar incidents happened when Katz promised Israel would keep striking Iran after Trump’s April 7 ceasefire with Iran. He also leaked to many sources that Trump and Tehran were too far apart, so they would never reach a framework agreement – until they did. More recently, Katz has said the IDF can bomb and attack anything and everything in Lebanon, including in Beirut – except Trump has now said it cannot, so it has stopped.

Katz has said the IDF will not withdraw from any area it has taken over anytime in the near future. And yet leaks pretty much confirm that this promise will also be proved wrong. Late on Monday, Katz promised by direct video message to the public that the IDF will continue to act everywhere and anywhere it needs to. But leaks are rampant that on both the northern and southern borders, officially or unofficially, commanders are on edge about when they can use force and when they cannot, and how long they will need to retreat from their current positions.  (Ed note: This is not good on many levels.)    (Read More)

Netanyahu, Katz and Zamir issue a rare joint statement

The Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and IDF Chief of Staff issue a joint statement following reports of restrictions placed on the IDF's freedom of action in Lebanon.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir issued a rare joint statement on Monday evening amid growing controversy surrounding the IDF's rules of engagement in southern Lebanon and allegations of restrictions placed on troop operations. The statement was released following a conversation the three held with the Head of Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo. The statement declared that "the IDF will continue to act decisively to thwart threats against our soldiers and citizens, destroy terrorist infrastructure, and maintain the security zone in southern Lebanon." 

It further stated that "the Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and Chief of Staff made it clear that the safety of Israeli citizens and IDF forces will continue to be their absolute priority, without compromise." However, despite these declarations, military sources continue to claim that Israel's operational capacity is effectively restricted across the entirety of the territory beyond the "Yellow Line" in Lebanon. According to these sources, strikes that were previously approved by field commanders now require clearance from the highest echelons.

According to the same sources, the restrictions primarily impact proactive operations against Hezbollah targets deeper inside Lebanon. These include headquarters, weapons depots, manufacturing and military buildup sites, and terrorist infrastructure not classified as an immediate threat to forces on the ground. (Ed note: From the President who just said,"Can't put Hezbollah away." Now the IDF is back to, "restrictions primarily impact operations against Hezbollah targets deeper inside Lebanon.") (Read More)

Iran’s foreign minister says ‘major progress’ made to end Lebanon war in talks with US

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says there was “major progress” in talks with the United States over ending the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. “Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War,” Araghchi posts on X. He says the establishment of a de-confliction cell in the Lebanon conflict is the “1st real test.”

He notes other areas of progress in the negotiations in Switzerland. “Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran.”

The conflict in Lebanon between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group has continued despite multiple declarations of truces, and has threatened to derail US-Iran peace talks, to which Israel is not a party. The memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran declared a ceasefire in Lebanon, but Israel has vowed to keep its military in a buffer zone in the country’s south. (Ed note: Okay, so now I'm worried. Just what did our boys, JD, Steve and Jared give up to get FM Araghchi to give the press such a glowing report?) (Source)

Iran, US agree on roadmap to reach deal in 60 days, will continue talks all week, mediators say

Iran’s FM says ‘major progress’ made to end Lebanon war as Qatar, Pakistan announce creation of ‘de-confliction cell’; Netanyahu: War created conditions for regime’s fall.

Iran and the United States agreed on a roadmap toward reaching a final deal to end the war within 60 days, mediators Pakistan and Qatar said in a joint statement on Monday following the first day of talks between the sides, as Tehran touted “major progress.” “The High Level Committee has agreed upon a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days, laying the foundation for the immediate commencement of further technical talks,” the joint statement from Qatar and Pakistan read, adding that the High-Level Committee was established to oversee the talks. The statement added that talks would continue all week.    

The statement came after clashing reports from US and Iranian sources during a rocky first day of negotiations. A senior US diplomat said overnight Sunday-Monday that Iran’s delegation was still present at the Swiss venue where the two countries had held talks, after Iranian state media reported that the team from Tehran had left the site in protest of US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats against the Islamic Republic. The talks, building off of a memorandum of understanding the two sides signed last week, aim to permanently end the Iran war and reach an agreement on sensitive topics such as Iran’s nuclear program.

Israel, which began the war with Iran in partnership with the US, is not a party to the talks, and the MOU’s terms have caused deep concern among Israeli officials. Iran and the US, meanwhile, have clashed over Israel’s continued conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where the MOU calls for a ceasefire. The mediators’ statement also said that Iran and the United States had agreed to set up a “de-confliction cell” with Lebanon to stop military operations there.

“The parties agreed on the creation of a de-confliction cell, between the parties, the Lebanese Republic and facilitated by the Mediators, to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon,” the joint statement read. The statement mentioned neither Hezbollah nor Israel. Commenting after the first day of talks, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there was “major progress” made.  (Ed note: I don't like it. If FM Araghchi has a smile on his face, that can't be good for everyone else.)   (Read More)

Iran warns US to ‘be careful’ after Trump threat

Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warns the United States against making threats to the Islamic Republic, vowing that “our armed forces are ready to respond.”

“Don’t they think that if their threats had any effect, they would not have reached today’s state of desperation? We do not take American threats into account,” says Ghalibaf, after President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran over its support for Hezbollah.

“They would do better to be careful with their statements; our armed forces are ready to respond to them in a different manner. No matter what they say, we are the ones who act.” (Source)

Trump threatens Iran: "I’ll blow them to pieces"

US President Donald Trump told Fox News that Washington could become the “guardian angel" of the Strait of Hormuz and take 20% of the oil.

As talks on the Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran got underway in Switzerland today (Sunday), US President Donald Trump told Fox News that Washington could become the “guardian angel" of the Strait of Hormuz and take 20% of the oil. “We may take control of the strait if we need to. I’ll blow them to pieces. If they don’t make a deal, we’ll charge transit fees," Trump added, issuing a threat toward Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that “Trump’s positions have changed 180 degrees compared to the past," adding: “We will not give up the right to enrichment; they too will be forced to accept it." Trump responded: “He’d better watch his mouth, he’d better shape up, or we’ll take over the rest of his country." Following his statement to Fox News, Trump published a post on Truth Social warning Iran to stop Hezbollah. "Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!" he warned. (Source)

Iran delegation left talks venue after Trump threat — state media

The Iranian delegation left the venue of talks with the United States seeking to permanently end the Middle East war after President Donald Trump threatened to strike the Islamic Republic, state media confirms. “The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, after meeting with the Qatari delegation as one of the mediating parties, left the building where the negotiations were being held,” state news agency IRNA says.

“At the same time as the talks began in Switzerland, Donald Trump published a message on X in which he repeated his threats and remarks against Iran,” it adds.

At the same time, a diplomat with knowledge of the negotiations says Iran is still engaged the in talks. “The Iranian delegation remains engaged in the talks and has not indicated to the mediators any intention to leave,” the diplomat says. The cause of the discrepancy is not immediately clear. (Source)

IDF captures Hezbollah drone factory and launch site hidden inside south Lebanon mountain

Troops raiding ‘airbase’ dozens of meters below village near border find cache of 50 Iranian-made explosive UAVs that would have been fired into Israel from secret hillside shafts

MAJDAL ZOUN, Lebanon — Buried beneath a hilltop village in southern Lebanon, just kilometers from the Israeli border, the Hezbollah terror group built an underground drone “airbase” from which it launched Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles at Israel. The subterranean facility, guarded by massive steel blast doors, was built in the past decade with direct Iranian assistance, including planning and funding, Israeli military officials told The Times of Israel during an organized media tour of the site last week. Journalists were brought into Lebanon at dusk, so that the visit to the tunnel would take place under the cover of darkness — an attempt by the military to mitigate the possibility of Hezbollah attacks on members of the press.

As the sun set over the Mediterranean, reporters were driven in a convoy of Humvees along the Lebanese coast before heading east toward Majdal Zoun, some six kilometers (3.7 miles) from the Israeli frontier. With just the moonlight and glowsticks to illuminate the way, soldiers led the group to the tunnel’s main entrance, which was accessible from the ground level on the north side of the mountain. The tunnel and surrounding area, which was delineated as part of the southern Lebanon security zone buffer area in an updated IDF map Thursday, were captured this month by a reservist commando and paratroopers formation.

Tbe operation took place amid a porous ceasefire in which both Isreal and Hezbollah have continued to attack each otherAccording to the Israel Defense Forces, the tunnel runs several hundred meters into the mountain, reaching depths of 29 meters (95 feet) under Majdal Zoun — including beneath a mosque. The IDF has uncovered similar Hezbollah tunnels in southern Lebanon in the past, but commanders said this one was built to a “much higher standard,” comparable with an underground Iranian missile factory in Syriathat the military raided in September 2024. Soldiers and officers were made available to the tour on condition of anonymity, in line with military protocol. (Ed note: Do take time to check out all the pictures of the tunnel that the Times included in this article.)  (Read More)

IDF Exposes Massive Hezbollah Drone Factory Hidden Deep Beneath a Lebanon Mosque

The IDF has uncovered a massive subterranean Hezbollah drone factory hidden deep beneath a hilltop village mosque in Lebanon, revealing a highly sophisticated network engineered over a decade to launch aerial attacks.

An astonishing underground military network has been exposed following a detailed territorial discovery near the border, revealing the massive scale of hidden drone production facilities engineered right beneath civilian infrastructure. The IDF uncovered a highly sophisticated subterranean Hezbollah drone facility built over the past decade with direct foreign planning and funding assistance. The massive operation was hidden directly beneath Majdal Zoun, a prominent hilltop village located in Lebanon just kilometers away from the front lines, masking a complex tactical asset designed to sustaina prolonged war.

The sheer engineering scale of the underground compound demonstrates a long term strategic commitment to maintaining concealed production pipelines. Protected by massive steel blast doors, the specialized tunnel network extends several hundred meters directly into the mountain, reaching depths of 29 meters, which amounts to roughly 95 feet, while running directly beneath a local mosque. The subterranean passage was constructed with enough clearance and width to easily accommodate a standard vehicle, allowing for the seamless transportation of heavy military equipment, supplies, and drone components deep within the mountain side.

Inside the hidden facility, Hezbollah operatives assembled Iranian made unmanned aerial vehicles, utilizing specialized parts that had been systematically smuggled into Lebanon. Once the assembly process was complete, the group utilized the secure underground network to launch these aerial drones directly at Israel. The entire operation remained highly protected from aerial surveillance and standard reconnaissance due to its extreme depth and heavy reinforcement. (Read More)

Northern Israelis fear Trump’s Lebanon ceasefire will trap them in 'a living hell'

Mayor David Azoulay’s office in Metula, Israel’s northernmost town, features a portrait of US President Donald Trump and an American flag. It’s not an act of praise, but ironic protest. “Over the past four months, Israel’s policy has been driven entirely by Trump,” said Azoulay, from his office on the Lebanese border, which has become the central sticking point in US-Iranian negotiations to end the war. “Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu is trapped in a bear hug that is slowly suffocating us Israelis. Case in point: the memorandum of understanding with Iran.”

That’s especially true in northern Israel, which is at the heart of the fight between Israel and Hezbollah that even on Friday derailed the first round of peace talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland. It’s also become a source of tension in Netanyahu’s relationship with Trump, who has spent the week publicly slamming the Israeli premier and what he called Israel’s “vicious” approach to Lebanon.

The Galilee Panhandle, a strategic finger of land wedged between the Lebanese and Syrian borders, used to house 50,000 Israeli Jews before three years of Hezbollah rocket attacks left its communities hollowed out. While not entirely deserted, many residents have yet to return, and the streets sit empty amid widespread business closures. In Metula, which was evacuated in October 2023 on fear that Hezbollah would attempt a deadly cross-border infiltration similar to the Hamas assault from Gaza, only two-thirds of the residents have returned. Those who did harbor little faith that real change is feasible. (Ed note: The town of Metula is not just near the border; it physically sits directly on the border with the state of Lebanon.) (Read More)

Sharaa rules out Syria intervening in Lebanon after Trump again suggests it fight Hezbollah

I’m close to giving it over to Syria,’ US president says of war with Iran-backed terror group; Netanyahu defends buffer zone as Lebanon conflict threatens to derail Iran talks.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday ruled out intervening militarily in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon, after US President Donald Trump again suggested Damascus could get involved and expressed frustration with Israel’s fight against the Iran-backed terror group. Trump’s comments to Fox News on Sunday came as the conflict in Lebanon has threatened to derail US-Iranian negotiations underway in Switzerland. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on the Israeli military’s need to maintain a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, as the IDF reportedly urged Israel’s political leadership to intensify negotiations with the Lebanese government. The sides are slated to meet again this week.

Trump and US Vice President JD Vance have both repeatedly complained about Israel’s conduct in the Lebanon conflict, portraying it as a possible spoiler of the talks with Iran. Trump lashed out at Hezbollah in a social media post earlier on Sunday, but has chided Israel both for civilian casualties in its Lebanon strikes, and for not defeating Hezbollah quickly enough.

He repeated those sentiments in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, saying he is “disappointed Israel can’t put Hezbollah away.” “They can’t do anything without knocking buildings down,” the president added. Then, referriIAF ng to the fight against Hezbollah, he said, “I’m close to giving it over to Syria.” But Sharaa, who has been focused on rebuilding Syria and gaining domestic and international legitimacy since his Islamist forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, rejected the idea of Syrian forces going to war against Hezbollah, a former Assad ally. (Ed note: "Can't put Hezbollah away?" Come on, Trump! The IDF had Hezbollah in a hole and YOU told Israel to 'stand down' over the matter. The IAF had Hezbollah commanders in a building in a district of Beirut, and you screamed, "Why are you always blowing up buildings?" Because Hezbollah and Hamas always hide in buildings.) Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.) (Read More)

Trump claims he can control IDF actions in Lebanon because Israelis respect him

Nonetheless, Israel said to rebuff private US request to withdraw from Lebanon; president says relationship with Netanyahu is ‘good, but we have to keep him a little bit sane'.

US President Donald Trump said this week that he would be able to keep Israel from launching new attacks in Lebanon because the country has a lot of respect for him, thanks to his previous policies regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. Trump was asked during an interview with Axios — which was taped on Thursday and aired Friday — whether he’d be able to “control Israel from attacking Lebanon,” as Washington and Jerusalem have publicly disagreed about the decision to tie Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah to the controversial memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. “Yeah, I will be,” the president responded.

“They have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say,” he added, recalling how he pulled the US out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal orchestrated by the Obama administration and which Jerusalem opposed, and how he authorized a major attack on Iran’s three main nuclear sites during Israel’s 12-day war with Tehran last June. Trump has fumed over the scope of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon in recent days, insisting they have hampered efforts to reach and maintain an agreement with Iran.

Israel has agreed to refrain from attacking Beirut in response to that US anger but has kept its troops in a large buffer zone in southern Lebanon, which would appear to violate the terms of the deal that the US reached with Iran, given that the agreement states that all military operations in Lebanon must cease. The deal signed by Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, aims to end a conflict that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, calling for a cessation of fighting between the US, Iran and their allies on all fronts, including Lebanon. It also provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the launch of a 60-day negotiation period on broader issues, including Tehran’s nuclear program.

Israel had no part in negotiating the deal, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has distanced himself from it. Still, the terms of the opening clause, permanently ending the war and ruling out any resumption, indicate that it is binding on the US, Iran “and their allies.” Israeli officials are bitterly opposed to the deal’s terms, which resolve none of the war’s key goals, notably eliminating Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and creating the conditions for the fall of the regime. (Read More)

Iran says Israel-Hezbollah conflict to top agenda in today’s talks with the US

Iran says that the conflict in Lebanon between Israel and the Hezbollah terror group will top the agenda in talks with the United States in Switzerland today, as well as issues such as frozen Iranian funds and the sale of the country’s oil.

“The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon, this issue will be the main topic of discussion in today’s talks,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says in a video shared by IRNA state news agency. Tehran said on Thursday it had signed a deal with Washington to end months of hostilities that began on February 28 following US-Israeli attacks on the Iranian regime.

Israel had no part in negotiating the memorandum of understanding. Still, the terms of the opening clause, permanently ending the war and ruling out any resumption, indicate that it is binding on the US, Iran “and their allies.” Israel had resisted efforts for a ceasefire in Lebanon to be made part of the US-Iran deal. Channel 12 reported yesterday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the IDF to “hold its fire” in Lebanon, amid a flare-up that Israel blamed on Hezbollah’s attacks on troops in south Lebanon. (Source)

Tehran says closing Strait of Hormuz again following Lebanon flare-up

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June 20, 2026 / JNS)
The top command center of the Iran Armed Forces announced on Saturday it is again shutting maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of Israel’s actions in Lebanon, Reuters cited the Islamic Republic’s Mehr state news agency as reporting. “It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic; It is noted that this first step is a response to the enemy’s breach of promise, and if the aggression continues, further steps will be planned and taken to force the enemy to comply with its obligations,” the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a recorded message, according to AFP. The U.S. Central Command said on Saturday that commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz increased throughout the day.

“Safe passage through the international waterway remained intact today as 55 merchant ships transited, moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets,” it continued.
CENTCOM further said that the Joint Maritime Information Center issued an advisory this week affirming safe passage for all vessels along a designated route that is free of arbitrary requirement claims or impediments. The U.S. and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 17 that stipulates, in the first clause, that the “the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon” must be ensured. U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke with Fox News overnight Friday, saying that the choke point has been opened, facilitating the transportation of 16 million barrels of oil per dy.

Asked if Iranian forces are redirecting vessels from the Strait of Hormuz, Vance said he is “skeptical” of such reports. The vice president noted that mines are still present in the 20-mile stretch of the choke point, and therefore it could be that forces of the Iran’s navy warned ships against crossing in these areas. He continued that de-mining the strait could take up to 30 days, as stressed in the MoU. “But no, we’re not seeing any evidence of the Iranians still closing the Strait of Hormuz. It is going to take some time to clear those mines though,” Vance said. (Read More)

Dozen of Hezbollah terrorists trapped in terror stronghold

Political echelon orders IDF to hold fire in southern Lebanon; IDF opposes directive.

The IDF has received orders from the political echelon to hold fire in southern Lebanon. The military expressed opposition to the ceasefire directive. The IDF maintains high alert in light of threats from Iran and continues to operate in the southern Lebanon area. The ceasefire does not include the withdrawal of IDF forces from southern Lebanon. The troops continue to hold the forward defense zone, known as the "Yellow Line," and operate within it.

At the same time, IDF forces maintain operational control over the Ali Taher Ridge complex near the city of Nabatieh, considered a stronghold of the Hezbollah terrorist organization. According to a senior source, the IDF currently holds operational control of the area, and dozens of Hezbollah terrorists are trapped within the complex, unable to leave. Over the course of Saturday, heavy exchanges of fire occurred between the IDF and Hezbollah. Hezbollah claims 111 fatalities from Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the weekend, following the tank disaster in which the commander of the 52nd Armor Battalion, Lt. Col. Dor Ben Simchon, and three other soldiers were killed.

Lt. Col. Ben Simchon and the three soldiers, whose names have not yet been released, were killed during the night between Thursday and Friday in an operation in the village of Tabnit near the ridge, as part of efforts to seize Hezbollah’s underground complex at Ali Taher. A senior IDF official stated that the disaster resulted from a drone strike or an anti-tank missile hit, and not an operational accident. "Ed note: No wonder the IDF is mad. As they are fighting for their lives and the lives of the citizens in northern Israel and have the enemy, Hezbollah trapped, only to have yet another US President tells them to stop their attack. Enter Trump accusing Israel of taking too long to finish off Hezbollah.)  (Read More)

'Trump Has Changed His Attitude': Macron Reveals What Happened Behind Closed Doors at the G7

France Turns Up the Heat on Israel: Macron Says Trump Has Changed — and Netanyahu Has No Strategy.

French President Emmanuel Macron launched a sharp diplomatic broadside against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, describing his conduct of the war as destructive and lacking any strategic logic, while claiming that President Donald Trump has recently shifted his attitude toward the Israeli leader. Speaking in an interview on the French television network France 2, a day after the G7 summit concluded in Évian in the French Alps, Macron offered his most pointed criticism yet of Netanyahu's leadership. "It does not appear that Netanyahu has any strategic plan," Macron said. "He has achieved real security results and has defended his country against real aggression," he acknowledged, before adding that the policy as a whole was "destructive."

Macron accused Israel of causing widespread civilian harm in Gaza that was "completely unjustifiable," and condemned what he described as new settlement activity and unacceptable acts in Judea and Samaria, arguing the policy "feeds resentment and violence among all populations of the region." The most striking claim in the interview was Macron's assertion that Trump himself has grown frustrated with Netanyahu. "Trump has changed his attitude toward Netanyahu in recent days," Macron said, "and only under those conditions will it be possible to achieve real change." He did not elaborate on what had specifically triggered the shift, but the comments land against a well-documented backdrop of strain between Washington and Jerusalem. Trump confirmed in early June that he had called Netanyahu "f***ing crazy" during a heated phone call over Israel's continued strikes in Lebanon, though he later described the relationship as strong.

Some officials in the Trump administration have been working to establish informal channels with Israel's opposition, including former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot, amid growing concern over hard-right members of the Netanyahu government seen as extremists and frustration with the inability to advance various diplomatic agendas. (Read More)

JD Vance Breaks With Netanyahu: “America Is the Senior Partner, Israel Is the Junior Partner”

In a revealing podcast interview, Vice President JD Vance questioned the assumption that Washington and Jerusalem always share the same interests, described Netanyahu as a difficult leader, and made clear that America has no interest in turning Iran into a failed state. Vice President JD Vance delivered one of the clearest statements yet about the Trump administration's view of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and America's role in the Middle East.

Speaking on the popular "Diary of a CEO" podcast, Vance emphasized that foreign policy should be guided by national interests rather than personal trust or sentiment. When asked whether he trusted Israel and its government, Vance offered a blunt response. "I don't trust anybody." The Vice President explained that international relations are based on shared interests rather than personal confidence. "When our interests align, we work very well together," Vance said. "But do I trust anyone? No. We simply have to stay focused on our interests at all times."

The comments came as the Trump administration continues to defend its controversial agreement with Iran. During the interview, host Steven Bartlett referenced reports of a heated conversation between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Israeli military operations that reportedly took place shortly before a planned concluding of the agreement. According to the account discussed during the podcast, Trump expressed frustration with the timing of the strikes and described Netanyahu as "a very difficult person." The discussion quickly turned to the broader U.S.-Israel relationship. Vance rejected the idea that the two countries always share identical goals.

"Some people describe the United States and Israel as fundamentally aligned on everything. That's simply not true," he said. "We are different countries with different needs and different geography." The Vice President pointed out that historical examples demonstrate these differences. In the early 2000s, Israel viewed Iran as its primary strategic concern, while the United States was focused on the threat posed by Al-Qaeda. Perhaps the most striking part of the interview came when Vance openly described the balance of power between Washington and Jerusalem. "We are the world's superpower," he said. "Accordingly, we are the senior partner, and they are the junior partner. That's how it works. (Read More)