LiveLive Updates June 24, 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 24, 2026UpdatesTrump says Iran talks 'would end immediately' if Tehran takes tolls in HormuzU.S. President Donald Trump threatened to end the U.S. talks with Iran if Tehran charges vessels that pass through the Strait of Hormuz.Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Iran had informed Washington that there are "NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS, & NO OTHER CHARGES OF ANY KIND BEING SOUGHT OR RECEIVED BY IRAN ON SHIPS TRAVELING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ." He added, "If this is false information, negotiations would end, immediately!"Trump also denied reports that the United States has released some of Iran's financial assets. "No money has been given to Iran, or released from their money to them," he wrote. According to Trump, some assets will be released for the purchase of food, which is "desperately needed in Iran."RECAP: IDF says it struck two armed Hezbollah operatives who posed threat; Defense minister: Israel won't withdraw from south LebanonHere are Wednesday's latest updates:■ The Israel Air Force struck two armed Hezbollah operatives who posed a threat to Israeli troops in southern Lebanon's Ali al-Taher Ridge area, the IDF said in a statement.■ Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon "even if there is an American demand to do so," leaving 200,000 displaced Lebanese residents "who will not return."■ The ‌European Union's diplomatic service has proposed ‌a three-year military and civilian mission to ⁠advise and train Lebanese forces, ⁠according to a document seen by Reuters.■ Gulf ‌states are ⁠expected to ‌push for no transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran could ⁠propose environmental, navigation and security fees in talks on the ‌reopening and future operation ‌of the Strait, a diplomat briefed on the talks told Reuters.■ Ships have already sailed through the Strait of Hormuz under the UN shipping agency's evacuation scheme, a UN spokesperson said. According to ship tracking data, at least two dry bulk ships and one cargo ship sailed through Hormuz under the UN scheme in the past 12 hours.■ Iran ‌will address matters related to ‌access to nuclear sites ⁠that have been attacked ⁠and to Iranian nuclear materials only in the framework of a final agreement with the United ‌States and after ‌practical steps are taken to lift U.S. sanctions, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said.■ Two people were killed, including a child, and 14 people were wounded and taken to hospitals in the past 24 hours, Gaza's Health Ministry said.■ An unarmed suspect was apprehended by the IDF and taken for questioning following a suspicion of the "presence of a Hamas terrorist" near Gaza's Kerem Shalom crossing, the military said in a statement.■ Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared some 115 acres in the central West Bank as state land for the purpose of expanding the Israeli settlement of Givat Haroeh.3 hours agoUN says ships have sailed through Hormuz under shipping agency's evacuation schemeShips have already sailed through the Strait of Hormuz under the UN shipping agency's evacuation scheme, a UN spokesperson said.Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Monday. Credit: Stringer/ REUTERSVessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Monday. Credit: Stringer/ REUTERSAccording to ship tracking data, at least two dry bulk ships and one cargo ship sailed through Hormuz under the UN scheme in the past 12 hours, and at least 35 other commercial ships, mainly dry bulk, cargo and container vessels, are preparing to sail through the Strait.IDF says it apprehended one suspect near Gaza's Kerem Shalom crossing due to suspected presence of Hamas operativeAn unarmed suspect was apprehended by the IDF and taken for questioning following a suspicion of the "presence of a Hamas terrorist" near Gaza's Kerem Shalom crossing, the military said in a statement.Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip in May. Credit: Eliyahu HershkovitzKerem Shalom crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip in May. Credit: Eliyahu Hershkovitz"The details and identity of the suspect are currently under review," the IDF's statement added.EU floats three-year mission to advise and train Lebanese forces, document showsLebanese soldiers stand guard at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck an apartment in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, June. Credit: Bilal Hussein,AP Lebanese soldiers stand guard at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck an apartment in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, June. Credit: Bilal Hussein,AP The ‌European Union's diplomatic service has proposed ‌a three-year military and civilian mission to ⁠advise and train Lebanese forces, ⁠according to a document seen by Reuters on Wednesday.EU diplomats are discussing a possible mission to help support the Lebanese ‌Armed Forces and Internal Security ‌Forces. Any such mission would require approval from the European Union's 27 member countries.In a document dated June 17 and circulated to EU member countries, the European External Action Service said a potential mission would "have an initial mandate duration ⁠of three years" and "would support the Lebanese authorities in reinforcing territorial control and ‌border security ⁠through strengthening the capacities of ‌the LAF and the ISF.""To this end, the Mission would focus on ⁠strengthening land border regiments; Mobile Force and Regional Gendarmerie Units; enhancing Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities; and reinforcing maritime ‌security capacities, including border and port security governance," it added.Smotrich announces expansion of Israeli West Bank settlement, declares 115 acres state land Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared some 115 acres in the central West Bank as state land for the purpose of expanding the Israeli settlement of Givat Haroeh.Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at a Religious Zionism party meeting in June. Credit: Olivier FitoussiFinance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at a Religious Zionism party meeting in June. Credit: Olivier FitoussiSmotrich, who also holds a Defense Ministry portfolio overseeing Israel's policy in the West Bank, said: "In the face of the Left's plans to evacuate settlements – we are fighting a Palestinian state that will never be established."Access to nuclear sites to be discussed only in final agreement, Iran's deputy foreign minister says⁠Iran ‌will address matters related to ‌access to nuclear sites ⁠that have been attacked ⁠and to Iranian nuclear materials only in the framework of a final agreement with the United ‌States and after ‌practical steps are taken to lift U.S. sanctions, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Wednesday.The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog director had said earlier on ⁠Wednesday that he expects inspections in Iran soon under ‌an ⁠interim understanding linked ‌to U.S.-Iran talks, although details are yet to be finalised. "Media ⁠noise cannot be used to impose facts on the ground," Gharibabadi said ‌in a post on X.در سوییس هیچ نشستی با گروسی، علیرغم درخواست وی، برگزار نشد. هیچ برنامه ای نیز برای دسترسی به تاسیساتِ مورد حمله واقع شده و مواد هسته ای وجود ندارد. این مباحث صرفا در چارچوب توافق نهایی و در نتیجه اقدام عملی طرف مقابل در خاتمه تمامی تحریم ها و... بررسی و تعیین تکلیف خواهند شد. (۱)Show moreQatari PM in Oman for talks on HormuzQatar's prime ‌minister visited ‌Muscat on Wednesday for talks ⁠with Oman on ⁠setting up negotiations involving Iran, Iraq and Gulf Arab states on the ‌reopening and future operation ‌of the Strait of Hormuz, a diplomat briefed on the talks told Reuters.Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani at the quadrilateral meeting between the U.S., Iran, Pakistan and Qatar at Buergenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, Sunday. Credit: Nathan Howard/ REUTERSQatar's Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani at the quadrilateral meeting between the U.S., Iran, Pakistan and Qatar at Buergenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, Sunday. Credit: Nathan Howard/ REUTERSThe discussions are separate from U.S.-Iran ⁠peace talks and de-mining arrangements, and Gulf ‌states are ⁠expected to ‌push for no transit fees while Iran could ⁠propose environmental, navigation and security fees, the diplomat said.4 hours agoIsraeli defense minister says IDF will not withdraw from southern Lebanon even if U.S. demands it Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz, speaking at the MUNI EXPO 2026, said that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon "even if there is an American demand to do so," leaving 200,000 displaced Lebanese residents "who will not return." Defense Minister Israel Katz at the Defense Ministry's National Commemoration Conference in Jerusalem, June. Credit: Olivier FitoussiDefense Minister Israel Katz at the Defense Ministry's National Commemoration Conference in Jerusalem, June. Credit: Olivier Fitoussi"There will be no civilians and no terrorists," Katz said. "Why? Because what happened in the past in security zones where there was also a civilian population was that there were explosives and attacks against soldiers, and therefore, we do not allow that. Soldiers inside, residents outside. The infrastructure is destroyed, the houses are dangerous and ruined. We are not withdrawing." "We have significant achievements that began with a terrible blow on 7 October," the defense minister continued. "Since then, the entire people, the leadership, and the army have acted with great determination. I am not aware of any situation in which, without that terrible blow, someone would have gone in to deal with the tunnels in Gaza."Katz also said Israel will not withdraw from captured territories in Syria either. "This is the security doctrine. The IDF must be on the enemy's side and protect the communities from within the territory itself."Read the full articleGaza Health Ministry: Two killed, including child, 14 wounded in past dayTwo people were killed, including a child, and 14 people were wounded and taken to hospitals in the past 24 hours, Gaza's Health Ministry said.The latest casualties bring the toll to 1,029 people killed, 3,294 people wounded and 785 bodies recovered in the Gaza Strip since a cease-fire was announced between Israel and Hamas on October 11, according to the ministry.Since Hamas' massacre on Oct 7, 2023, and the ensuing war, 73,041 people have been killed and 173,402 people wounded, according to the ministry.In the NewsIsraeli Defense Minister: IDF to Remain in Lebanon Even if U.S. Demands PullbackIn Israel's Eilat Area, Security Officials Warn of Breached Jordan BorderDespite Rabbis' Objections, IDF Chief Vows to Expand Women Integration in CombatShin Bet Chief Cancels Agency's Pride Month Events, Closes LGBTQ Employee GroupIsrael Braces for Mass Haredi Protest, Disruptions Expected Across Major RoadsRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIWhere Does Andy Burnham Stand on Israel and Palestine?Israel Is Conducting a Systematic Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing in the West BankAs the World Watched Gaza, Israeli Settlers Charged Ahead in the West Bank. A Clash Is ImminentNetanyahu'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 Israel