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Friday, June 19, 2026

'Iran says US must ensure Israeli compliance with MoU'

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said the United States must ensure Israel complies with the terms of the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington, adding that Iran is ready to proceed “step by step” if the other side shows the same level of seriousness.

“The United States must make sure that Israel abides by the provisions of the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington,” Khatibzadeh told Al Jazeera. “We are ready to move forward step by step, if the other side shows the same degree of seriousness.”

Khatibzadeh said Iran seeks “peace on all fronts, including Gaza,” adding that Lebanon was included in the MoU because of its direct connection to the conflict.

“There will be no peace or stability in Lebanon and the region without an end to occupation and Israel’s adherence to international law,” he said.

On the Strait of Hormuz, Khatibzadeh said Tehran will continue providing shipping services in coordination with Oman and in accordance with international law. He said Iran will not charge transit fees during the 60-day period of the agreement, but will introduce a new mechanism for managing the waterway afterward.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202606139149

'Khamenei aide warns Hormuz lever must not be weakened in any war-ending deal'

Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei and a former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, warned that the Strait of Hormuz and the Islamic Republic’s regional “authority” must not be weakened in any deal to end the war.

Rezaei told the state TV that the war must end in a way that preserves the Islamic Republic’s deterrence for the next 50 years, signaling continued resistance among senior military figures to any arrangement seen as limiting Iran’s regional leverage or control over Hormuz.

He said the United States had been recognized as “the defeated criminal” in the war and warned that any enemy mistake would face a harsher response.

“In the armed forces, we respond to the enemy’s mistake much more severely than what it was,” he said.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202606139149

Israel to remain in Lebanon until 'mission' is complete: Leiter

Israel's Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter stated on X on Friday that Israel is "firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire," stressing that Israeli forces "halted offensive operations at 11:30 am" local time and rejecting Hezbollah and Iranian claims as "bold lies."

He added that Israel will remain in its security zone in southern Lebanon "until that mission is accomplished," referring to dismantling Hezbollah's infrastructure, and said lasting peace depends on the group's destruction.

The statement comes amid apparent contradictions, with official statements of around 150 Israeli strikes during the day. Lebanese authorities and media reported more than 40 casualties across over 10 strikes after the alleged 4 pm ceasefire start. On Thursday, US Vice President JD Vance mentioned that civilian deaths in Lebanon caused by Israeli strikes are "not acceptable."

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Israel-to-remain-in-Lebanon-until-'mission'-is-complete/66542161

Nawrocki strips Zelensky of Poland's highest decoration

Polish President Karol Nawrocki rescinded on Friday the country's Honorary Order of White Eagle that was previously awarded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The move came amid public protests in Poland over Ukraine adopting a decree naming a Ukrainian Special Operations Forces unit the "Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)," involved in World War II mass murders of Poles. "We cannot abandon our history, surrender our memory, or compromise the dignity of our victims. This is our solemn duty to those who can no longer speak for themselves. This is the true weight of the Order of the White Eagle. Poland lives as long as our memory endures," Nawrocki said in a statement.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, however, labeled Poland's decision as a "strategic mistake" that would benefit only Russia.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Nawrocki-strips-Zelensky-of-Poland's-highest-decoration/66542179

'Trump: Anthropic not a national security threat'

United States President Donald Trump told the Axios Show, in an extended version of the interview posted on Friday, that Anthropic doesn't pose a threat to national security at the moment. He added, however, that a week ago, he was "maybe" considering it as such.

"We didn't like what they were doing. And so far, I think, they behaved very responsibly to our request," he said. The US head of state praised Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei for responding quickly to the administration's concerns. "He seems like a nice, smart guy," Trump remarked.

He stated that he doesn't want to shut the company down, adding that Washington is currently "beating China by a lot" when it comes to artificial intelligence.

The world according to Trump | The Axios Show

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Trump:-Anthropic-not-a-national-security-threat/66542115