LiveLive Updates June 23, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeJune 23, 2026UpdatesOman affirms commitment to toll-free passage in Strait of HormuzOman's foreign minister affirmed his country's commitment to international law and toll-free safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz following meetings with top Iranian officials.Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said that he held constructive discussions in Muscat with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, during which "we affirmed commitment to international law and toll-free safe passage."📸 | استقبل معالي السيد بدر بن حمد البوسعيدي @badralbusaidi وزير الخارجية مساء اليوم، معالي الدكتور محمد باقر قاليباف، رئيس مجلس الشورى بالجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية، والوفد المرافق له، وبمعيته معالي الدكتور سيد عباس عراقجي وزير الخارجية بالجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية، وذلك في Show moreIran to establish a communication line for safe passage in Hormuz, top negotiator saysIran's top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that Tehran has agreed to have a communication line regarding ship passage in the strait of Hormuz to avoid conflict and incidents in the strategic waterway.In comments given to state TV on his way back from talks with U.S. in Switzerland on Sunday, the Iranian negotiator added that the signing for the release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets has been finalised in the talks.10 minutes agoTrump, seemingly unaware of Netanyahu statement on Lebanon: 'I can solve problems fast, including with Bibi'Asked Monday by a reporter in the Oval Office to comment on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertion that the IDF would not be withdrawing from southern Lebanon, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared unaware of the Israeli leader's recorded statement.When told that the statement was made publicly, Trump appeared surprised, before saying: "We are going to take a look at it. I am a problem solver. I can solve problems fast, including with Bibi."In a recorded statement published Monday, Netanyahu said that the Israeli military will remain in the Israeli-controlled buffer zone in southern Lebanon "for as long as necessary." "My instruction and that of the Defense Minister to the IDF is clear and has not changed," Netanyahu said. "Our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or emerging threat against them or against the residents of the north."Trump also warned that he "will do what I have to do" if Iran does not stick to its agreement with Washington. "If Iran doesn't live up to their agreement, or if they're not behaving, I will do what I have to do," Trump told reporters."As long as they respect us – I don't want to use the word 'fear' because it's inappropriate – as long as they respect us, we're not going to have any trouble," Trump added. Trump said Iran was supposed to use the money being unfrozen to buy food exclusively from the United States. "All that money's coming back in the form of purchases of food which they desperately need. They have 91 million people, they can't feed them. So, the money that we lift is going to go to our farmers," Trump asserted.RECAP: Iran denies U.S. reports of allowing entry of nuclear watchdog inspectorsHere are Tuesday's latest updates:■ A police officer and a civilian were killed in Montreal in a shooting incident in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood, an area with a large Jewish population, and an additional officer is in critical condition, police said.■ Emergency response IDF units in the communities along Israel's northern border will be released from reserve duty on Thursday morning, four months after the breakout of the war with Iran and Lebanon.■ U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that Iranian assets will not be unfrozen unless there is progress in truce negotiations, claiming, "We have the Iranians allowing weapons inspectors, nuclear inspectors into the country for the first time in a long time... and finally, we continue to make progress on these technical negotiations."■ Foreign ‌Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran did not ‌negotiate on its nuclear ⁠program and did ⁠not accept any new commitments, including the entry of nuclear watchdog inspectors, in talks with the U.S. ‌in Switzerland, according to the official IRNA news agency.■ The U.S. State Department announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain from June 23-25 to discuss the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz, and other safety and security concerns.■ Israel assassinated an operative of Hamas' elite Nukhba force for his alleged involvement in holding Omer Shem Tov hostage, the Israeli military and the Shin Bet security agency said Monday.■ Three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were killed on Monday by IDF strikes.In the NewsPalestinian Report: Israeli Settlers Raid Village Near Ramallah, Damage VehiclesWe're Still Afraid of Israeli-Palestinian EmpathyIt May Take Another Former IDF Chief to Defeat the Political Genius of NetanyahuAs a Palestinian Living in Israel, I'm Afraid of the Price of a Deal With IranForget About Doomscrolling. It's Daydreaming That Will Ruin Your LifeRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIIsrael Is Conducting a Systematic Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing in the West BankWhere Does Andy Burnham Stand on Israel and Palestine?Netanyahu's Mouthpieces Turn on Trump, Revealing a Deeper Israeli IngratitudeIsrael Is Bleeding Support in U.S. and Pouring Tens of Millions to Change ThatReport: Netanyahu 'Likely' to Sabotage Iran Deal, U.S. Officials Tell TrumpTrump's Iran Deal Castrates Netanyahu, but It's Still Catastrophic for Israel