LiveLive Updates June 25, 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 25, 2026UpdatesIran's Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf denies unfrozen funds will be used to buy U.S. agricultural goods⁠Iran's ‌top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Thursday that ⁠the United States' ⁠claims that Iran will spend its unfrozen assets to buy U.S. agricultural products ‌were false."The U.S. ‌only exports GMO soybeans, broken promises and trash talks," Ghalibaf said in a post on X.America falsely claims our unfrozen assets will buy their agriculture. Interesting. The only crop we're harvesting is what you planted: decades of mistrust. It's organic, abundant, and homegrown. But apparently the US only exports GMO soybeans, broken promises and trash talks.Show moreU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed ⁠President Donald Trump on Wednesday and insisted ‌that a ⁠large percentage of ‌Iran's unfrozen assets would be used to buy ⁠U.S. foods and medicine even as Iran says it ‌would determine its spending.3 hours agoReports: Three killed in Israeli drone strike in south LebanonThree people were reportedly killed and one was wounded in a drone strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon on Thursday, which medical and security sources attributed to Israel. Women watch as people march through a neighborhood in Nabatieh during a religious procession ahead of Ashura, following an interim deal between the U.S. and Iran, Lebanon, Wednesday. Credit: Zohra Bensemra/ REUTERSWomen watch as people march through a neighborhood in Nabatieh during a religious procession ahead of Ashura, following an interim deal between the U.S. and Iran, Lebanon, Wednesday. Credit: Zohra Bensemra/ REUTERSIt is the second consecutive day such an event occurred, after a similar ⁠strike on Wednesday killed at ‌least ⁠two ‌people despite a cease-fire, Lebanese security and ⁠medical sources told Reuters.Read the full articleOil prices back to pre-war levels as Hormuz traffic rebounds, U.S. tries to reassure Gulf alliesOil prices fell to pre-war levels on Thursday as the United States said flows through the Strait of Hormuz were nearing normal and its top diplomat completed a Gulf tour aimed at shoring up support for a preliminary Iran deal.The Straight of Hormuz, on Friday. Credit: Stringer/ReutersThe Straight of Hormuz, on Friday. Credit: Stringer/ReutersU.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Wednesday shipments through the strait were approaching levels seen before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February ‌28, with at least 20 million barrels exiting the strait in the previous 24 hours.Data from the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization showed that 57 ships carrying about 1,100 seafarers have transited the strait since Tuesday under the evacuation plan.Report: Israeli settlers throw stones at West Bank village homes in response to dismantling of nearby outpostIsraeli settlers pelted Palestinian homes with stones on the outskirts of the West Bank town of Halhul early Thursday morning, in what residents said was a response to the dismantling of a nearby settler outpost.The confrontation came hours after the IDF and Civil Administration evacuated the Beit Anot outpost, which Palestinian residents said had been established on the edge of the town more than a year ago. Residents said settlers arrived in the area following the evacuation and began throwing stones toward houses, forcing families to shelter inside.A resident of Halhul told Haaretz he saw masked settlers attacking property and attempting arson. "I saw ten masked people throwing stones at the house and at a truck loaded with wood, he said. "They also tried to set the wood on fire."He added that a child was wounded. "He said settlers hit him in the face and stole his bicycle," the resident said. "Later, about 35 masked settlers arrived, according to my estimate, and threw stones at houses."According to the resident, Israeli security forces arrived after a significant delay and used tear gas near homes, but did not act against settlers. "It took the police three hours to arrive," he said. He added that similar incidents have followed previous evacuations of the outpost. "Every time they evacuate it, settlers attack the village afterwards." After forces withdrew, settlers reportedly returned to a nearby hill. "My children don't go outside at night."He said, "When settlers throw stones at my children, I tell them not to respond. If they throw one stone, my children go to jail while settlers can do whatever they want. Are these religious people? These are not Jews — they are terrorists. We have terrorists here too, you have terrorists there too."RECAP: Palestinian man shot dead by IDF inside West Bank home, IDF says he 'threw objects at the forces'Here areThursday's latest updates from Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and the Middle East:■ Senior Israeli and Lebanese officials denied reports that Israel has withdrawn from any part of the IDF-occupied buffer zone in southern Lebanon, pushing back on a U.S. official's claim that a partial pullback had taken place as a "good faith" gesture. Both Israeli and Lebanese military sources said there was no observable change on the ground, with Israeli forces continuing to enforce the zone.■ Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said any maritime safety arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz that are not coordinated with Tehran are "unacceptable" and a security risk, warning it would take action against non-compliant vessels.■ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington seeks a deal with Iran but will not accept any arrangement that undermines U.S. or allied security, adding that the United States does not accept exclusive national control over the Strait of Hormuz.■ U.S. President Donald Trump faced criticism from Republican lawmakers over the Iran war during a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill, as his administration requested roughly $70 billion in additional funding. Trump also repeated doubts over responsibility for a deadly strike on a girls' school in Iran and defended the administration's handling of negotiations.■ Israeli forces shot and killed Mustafa Taha Mustafa al-Khatib, 32, inside his home in the West Bank village of Sarta, according to Palestinian reports. The IDF said troops opened fire after he "threw objects at forces" during a raid linked to stone-throwing incidents on Route 5.■ Israeli soldier Master Sgt. (res.) Basil Sweid, 32, was killed during operational activity in southern Lebanon after his vehicle overturned, the IDF said. Another soldier was moderately wounded in the incident, which the military described as an accident.■ Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in southern Israel's Be'er Sheva against planned demolitions of homes in the Bedouin village of Tel Arad, gathering outside the Bedouin Development and Settlement Authority. Demonstrators, joined by Arab Israeli lawmakers, said the state was advancing evacuations without a long-term solution for residents.Israel, Lebanon deny that Israel has withdrawn from IDF-occupied buffer zone in southern LebanonSenior Israeli and Lebanese officials denied on Thursday that there had been any Israeli withdrawal from occupied southern Lebanon, after a U.S. official said Israel had pulled some of its troops back in a "good faith" gesture toward Lebanon's government.A senior Israeli official rejected the report, while an IDF source said the military was unaware of any such move. "I don't know of such a thing," the source said, adding that "de facto, we haven't moved from anywhere as of now."IDF soldiers at Fort Beaufort, Lebanon, earlier this month. Credit: the IDF Spokesperson’s UnitIDF soldiers at Fort Beaufort, Lebanon, earlier this month. Credit: the IDF Spokesperson’s UnitA senior Lebanese military official also said developments on the ground "show the opposite of a pullback," adding that Israeli forces had been enforcing their so-called buffer zone against anyone approaching it, including Lebanese army troops.Israel withdraws from part of southern Lebanon 'buffer zone', U.S. official saysIsrael has reportedly withdrawn from parts of southern Lebanese territory it occupies in war with Hezbollah, according to a U.S. State Department official on Thursday, who added that Lebanon's armed forces should now step in.There was no immediate comment from Israel. A senior Lebanese security official said they were ‌unaware of any withdrawal of Israeli troops from ‌Israel's so-called "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon.IDF forces maneuvering in southern Lebanon, last week. Credit: Gil EliyahuIDF forces maneuvering in southern Lebanon, last week. Credit: Gil EliyahuThe State Department official did not say how much territory Israel withdrew from or where exactly the pullback occurred. Israel and Lebanon have been holding U.S.-brokered talks in Washington aimed in part at halting fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia."Israel has already taken a concrete step by pulling back from a part of its buffer zone," the official said, calling it a "significant demonstration of good faith toward Lebanon's legitimate government.""The (Lebanese Armed Forces) should now move in and verifiably clear ⁠out terrorist weapons and infrastructure," the official added. "This model will be repeated across South Lebanon, enabling the safe return of displaced families, reconstruction ‌of the south, and the restoration of full Lebanese sovereignty."Read the full articleIn the NewsThree Killed in Israeli Drone Strike on Vehicle in South Lebanon, Reports SayIsrael's El Al Suspends Flights to Moscow Amid Ukrainian Drone StrikesSon of Maccabi Tel Aviv Legend Selected by Sacramento Kings in NBA DraftHigh Court Slams Israel Police for Failing to Probe Settler Attack on ActivistIsrael Denies Report of Partial Withdrawal From Southern Lebanon 'Buffer Zone'Remembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIAs the World Watched Gaza, Israeli Settlers Charged Ahead in the West Bank. 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