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, 2026UpdatesPezeshkian says Iran 'will never negotiate defensive ability'; 'Missiles were not in MOU and never will be'Iran's missiles were ‌not in the Memorandum ⁠of Understanding signed ⁠with the U.S. and "will never be", Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said ‌at a joint news ‌conference with Pakistan's prime minister in Islamabad on Tuesday.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian presents the signed memorandum on Iranian television. Credit: AFP/HANDOUTIranian President Masoud Pezeshkian presents the signed memorandum on Iranian television. Credit: AFP/HANDOUTIran will never negotiate its defence capabilities with any country ⁠and believes strongly that regional peace ‌and ⁠stability can only ‌be reached through honest discussions and ⁠intraregional cooperation, Pezeshkian added.U.S. Secretary Rubio rejects tolls on international waterways amid renewed debate over Hormuz transit feesU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said no country is allowed to impose tolls or fees on international waterways, calling it a matter of established international law, as debate intensifies over maritime transit rights in the Strait of Hormuz."No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway, that's existing international law," Rubio said, adding the issue "will be brought up at the appropriate time."His comments come after President Donald Trump said no tolls would be imposed on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz during a 60-day cease-fire period, or afterward. In a Truth Social post, Trump added that if the agreement is not completed, the United States could impose tolls "for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East," describing them as reimbursement for past, present and future costs.Israeli opposition leaders accuse Netanyahu of 'selling out national interests' over Haredi draft exemptionsIsraeli opposition figures on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over proposed legislation and coalition politics, accusing him of undermining national interests for political survival in posts on X.Former IDF deputy chief and opposition leader Yair Golan said Netanyahu was "selling Israel" to ultra-Orthodox coalition partners, adding that "the coalition is spitting in the face of the working, serving public." He said "everything is being sold off" in exchange for staying in power, and vowed to oppose any legislation he said harms the state, including laws affecting military service and "equality of burden."Former defence minister Benny Gantz said that in a future government, "no one will hold the state hostage," adding that ultra-Orthodox parties would not be able to extract budgetary concessions in exchange for political support, and that Arab parties would not be able to block security decisions.Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of "selling off national interests" through draft exemption legislation and political deals that he said weaken the military during wartime. He also called for a state commission of inquiry and warned that the public "will not forgive."Opposition leader Yair Lapid called for replacing what he described as an "exploitive and extortionist government" with a new agreement that would reset national priorities and unite the public around shared responsibility.Pakistan PM Sharif says Iran achieved cease-fire with 'dignity,' vows continued mediation effortPakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Tuesday that Iran had secured a cease-fire and memorandum of understanding "with dignity," adding that Islamabad would continue its mediation role until a lasting peace is achieved. Commuters ride past an electronic board featuring Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian (C), Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (L) and President Asif Ali Zardari, Islamabad, Monday. Credit: AFP/AAMIR QURESHICommuters ride past an electronic board featuring Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian (C), Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (L) and President Asif Ali Zardari, Islamabad, Monday. Credit: AFP/AAMIR QURESHISharif said he had conveyed a message to Iran's Supreme Leader that the agreement reflected a diplomatic outcome reached "with dignity," according to his remarks. He added that Pakistan "would like to continue our role until a lasting peace is achieved, dictated by courage and dignity."He also stressed that "there shouldn't be double standards that some countries should have ballistic missiles and Iran shouldn't have," and noted that "there is no mention of ballistic missiles in the MOU because it was never on the table."UN shipping agency begins evacuation plan for stranded crews in Strait of HormuzThe International Maritime Organization said it has begun contacting vessels to implement an evacuation plan through the Strait of Hormuz, as part of efforts to assist thousands of seafarers stranded in the Gulf.The agency said the plan covers an estimated 11,000 seafarers aboard 500–600 ships that have been unable to move through the waterway amid heightened regional tensions.Vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on Friday. Credit: Stringer/REUTERSVessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on Friday. Credit: Stringer/REUTERSAccording to the statement, coordination with ships is already underway to begin phased evacuation procedures through the strait, one of the world's most critical energy and trade chokepoints.Israeli envoy to U.S.: Iran not expected to play role in restraining Hezbollah, warns group may be 'emboldened'Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said Tuesday that a key assumption in talks with Lebanon was that Iran would not be involved in efforts to restrain Hezbollah, warning there was a risk the group had been "emboldened."Leiter, who is representing Israel in negotiations with Lebanon, said at the opening of the talks that the current round was a "train wreck" and warned the process was "in danger of going off the rails."Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, State Department Chief of Staff Daniel Holler, US Ambassador Michel Issa and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh attend a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese delegations, in Washington, DC, early June. Credit: AFP/OLIVER CONTRERASIsraeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, State Department Chief of Staff Daniel Holler, US Ambassador Michel Issa and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh attend a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese delegations, in Washington, DC, early June. Credit: AFP/OLIVER CONTRERAS"The assumption was that Iran is out, and that the main discussion is Lebanon and Hezbollah," he said. "Not the question of how much Iran can restrain Hezbollah. That is not Iran's role. Its role is to get out of Lebanon."He added that there was concern Hezbollah may have received a "boost," saying: "There is no doubt it feels strengthened and more daring."U.N. Security Council adopts resolution to boost accountability for attacks on peacekeepersThe United Nations Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution aimed at strengthening accountability for attacks on U.N. peacekeepers, amid concern over rising violence against U.N. personnel and low prosecution rates.The resolution, drafted by Denmark and Pakistan and co-sponsored by 152 countries, was adopted unanimously by the council.Members of UNIFIL, in armored vehicles, patrol the road of the southern Lebanese village of Tair Debba, April. Credit: Kawnat Haju/AFPMembers of UNIFIL, in armored vehicles, patrol the road of the southern Lebanese village of Tair Debba, April. Credit: Kawnat Haju/AFPThe move follows a series of deadly incidents involving peacekeepers, including the deaths of seven members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon after fighting resumed between Israel and Hezbollah in March.The resolution notes that prosecution rates remain low and stresses that accountability is essential to prevent future attacks. While reaffirming that host states bear primary responsibility for the safety and security of U.N. personnel, it calls on all parties to cooperate with investigations.It requests that the U.N. secretary-general designate a "senior focal point" within the U.N. system to coordinate efforts to improve accountability for crimes against peacekeepers.UNIFIL soldiers watch workers as they remove the rubble from a site targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of al-Taybeh last year. Credit: AFP/RABIH DAHERUNIFIL soldiers watch workers as they remove the rubble from a site targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of al-Taybeh last year. Credit: AFP/RABIH DAHERIt also encourages troop- and police-contributing countries to deploy investigators, at the request of host states, to assist inquiries, and calls for an annual U.N. report on investigations and prosecutions.The council expressed its intention to consider further steps to strengthen accountability, and said attacks on U.N. peacekeepers may constitute war crimes.U.S. Central Command: Two aircraft carriers continue to operate in the Middle East, forces 'present and vigilant'The United States Central Command said the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is operating in the Arabian Sea, noting that two U.S. aircraft carriers are currently deployed in the Middle East, "as U.S. forces remain present and vigilant" in the region. USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) sails in the Arabian Sea. Two aircraft carriers continue to operate in the Middle East as U.S. forces remain present and vigilant.On Thursday, CENTCOM said in a social media post that "U.S. forces lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, in accordance with the President's direction. American forces are not impeding the transit of vessels to or from Iranian ports. All U.S. military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased.""Our great Naval Ships will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect."Cyberattack disrupts electronic banking services at major Iranian state banksIran's state-owned banking technology provider ‌said on Tuesday that cyberattacks had disrupted card-based ⁠banking services at Bank Melli, Bank Saderat and Bank ⁠Tejarat.This prompted a temporary suspension of all card-related operations at the three banks to prevent further unauthorized access, the Informatics Services Corporation told state TV, ‌with cybersecurity teams working to restore normal operations.A woman rides a bicycle as others cross a street in downtown Tehran, Iran, May. Credit: Vahid Salemi/AP A woman rides a bicycle as others cross a street in downtown Tehran, Iran, May. Credit: Vahid Salemi/AP The ‌company's public relations head said ATM services, point-of-sale terminals and mobile applications linked to card systems were all affected.Disruptions were also reported on June 14 at major banks including Melli, Saderat, Tejarat and the Export Development Bank of Iran after a cyberattack targeting a shared communication system, Iran's Banking Coordination Council ⁠has said.A woman crosses a street in front of a painting of the late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini in downtown Tehran, Iran, May. Credit: Vahid Salemi/AP A woman crosses a street in front of a painting of the late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini in downtown Tehran, Iran, May. Credit: Vahid Salemi/AP Iranian state media cited the central bank as saying on Tuesday that the latest problems ‌should be resolved ⁠by Wednesday morning and all services ‌would then return to normal.Officials have said the earlier incident, which took several days to resolve, according ⁠to Iranian media, did not compromise customer data.Iran has not said who it suspects of the cyberattacks. Authorities have previously blamed hostile foreign ‌actors such as Israel for similar incidents. Israel has not commented on these allegations.Lebanese President says he will accept nothing less than end of 'Israeli occupation' of southern LebanonLebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Tuesday that Lebanon would accept nothing less than an end to the "Israeli occupation" of southern Lebanon, adding that a new round of U.S.-backed talks with Israel "could be decisive."Hours later, Aoun received a call from U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reiterated Washington's support for the Lebanese president and government in their efforts to extend the authority of the state across all Lebanese territory through the army and security forces, according to the Lebanese presidency.The presidency said Vance and Rubio also discussed plans agreed at last week's Switzerland talks, including the proposed creation of a U.S.-Lebanon-Iran cease-fire monitoring mechanism for Lebanon. تلقى رئيس الجمهورية العماد جوزاف عون اتصالاً هاتفياً بعد ظهر اليوم من نائب الرئيس الاميركي جي دي فانس ووزير الخارجية الاميركية ماركو روبيو تم خلاله التداول في آخر التطورات المتصلة بالوضع في لبنان ومرحلة ما بعد اجتماعات سويسرا. واكد السيدان فانس وروبيو على دعم الولايات المتحدةShow moreAccording to the statement, the two U.S. officials told Aoun that the "arrangements" for the mechanism and the way it would be formed are currently under study. The body would be tasked with helping "consolidate the cease-fire in Lebanon and monitor the implementation of related measures," the presidency said.The developments come as Lebanese and Israeli delegations hold a new round of U.S.-mediated talks in Washington aimed at addressing outstanding security issues following months of conflict along the border.In the NewsAmir Badran Becomes Tel Aviv's Second-ever Arab Israeli Deputy MayorBennett Angers Far-right by Saying 'Some' West Bank Outposts Should Be RemovedIsrael Smuggled Starlink Systems Into Iran, Former PM SaysTrump Says Iran Agreed to Nuclear Inspections, Tehran Denies U.S. ClaimsUN Inquiry Says Israel 'Deliberately' Targeted Gaza Children in Acts of GenocideRemembering 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 ThatTrump's Iran Deal Castrates Netanyahu, but It's Still Catastrophic for IsraelReport: Netanyahu 'Likely' to Sabotage Iran Deal, U.S. Officials Tell Trump