Iran suspends cooperation with IAEA; WHO makes first medical aid delivery to Gaza in nearly 4 months | LIVE

That concludes our live coverage for today. Thanks for joining us. We'll be back tomorrow with more news updates and analysis. Goodnight!

The site of an Israeli drone strike in the morning of June 26, 2025, in Shaqra, Bint Jbeil district, southern Lebanon. (Photo sent to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South)

👉 Click here for a summary of the Israeli attacks against southern Lebanon today, which killed two people, the latest in a string of hundreds of violations by the Israeli army of the cease-fire deal it signed with Hezbollah seven months ago.

European intel points to Iranian uranium stockpile still being intact

Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile remains largely intact following U.S. strikes on its main nuclear sites last weekend, European capitals believe, according to the Financial Times.

Following Trump's claims that the nuclear facilities were "obliterated" by U.S. bombers, a report by the Financial Times found that European "preliminary intelligence assessments" show that Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile remains "largely intact."

Two officials told the British newspaper that "Iran's stockpile of 408kg of uranium enriched close to weapons-grade levels was not concentrated in Fordow, one of its two main enrichment sites, at the time of last weekend's attack."

Yesterday, an initial Pentagon assessment was leaked to the press, revealing that U.S. intelligence believes Iran's nuclear program was only set back a few months and that its uranium enrichment facilities were not permanently damaged.

Israel meant to assassinated Khamenei but had 'no opportunity'

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed in an interview with the Israeli Channel 13 that Israel had intentions to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but the opportunity never presented itself, Times of Israel reports.

“If he had been in our sights, we would have taken him out,” Katz said, adding, “We wanted to eliminate Khamenei, but there was no operational opportunity.”

Asked whether Israel had sought American approval for such an action, Katz responded: “We don’t need permission for these things.”

However, shortly after Israel launched its first attack on Iran, several American news outlets reported that Trump had opposed an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei, citing three U.S. officials. Trump reportedly told Netanyahu that assassinating Khamenei was "not a good idea."

Iranian regime cracks down on internal dissent following cease-fire

Iranian authorities are pivoting from a cease-fire with Israel to intensify an internal security crackdown across the country with mass arrests, executions and military deployments, particularly in the restive Kurdish region, officials and activists told Reuters.

Within days of Israel's airstrikes beginning on June 13, Iranian security forces started a campaign of widespread arrests accompanied by an intensified street presence based around checkpoints.

While Reuters has spoken to numerous Iranians angry at the government for policies they believed had led to the Israeli attack, there has been no sign yet of any significant protests against the authorities.

Read the full report here.  👈

Hegseth says unaware of intel that Iran moved uranium stocks

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was unaware of any intelligence suggesting Iran had moved any of its highly enriched uranium to shield it from U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear program over the weekend, despite numerous reports to the contrary, Reuters reports.

"I'm not aware of any intelligence that I've reviewed that says things were not where they were supposed to be, moved or otherwise," Hegseth said.

After the strikes, several experts also cautioned that Iran likely moved a stockpile of near weapons-grade highly enriched uranium out of Fordow before the strike early Sunday morning and could be hiding it and other nuclear components in locations unknown to Israel, the U.S. and U.N. nuclear inspectors.

Read the full report here. 👈

WHO makes first medial delivery to Gaza in nearly 4 months

The World Health Organization has delivered its first medical shipment into Gaza since March 2, the WHO chief has said, according to an AFP report, adding that the much delayed aid is still "a drop in the ocean."

"Nine trucks carrying essential medical supplies, 2,000 units of blood, and 1,500 units of plasma" crossed into the Palestinian territory, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X, adding that the supplies would be distributed to priority hospitals within days.

Gaza has been under total Israeli blockade since early March, two weeks before Israel collapsed the cease-fire brokered by Witkoff upon Trump's coming into office.

Israel left with billions in damage after its war with Iran

Israel has sustained an estimated $12 billion in direct losses from its 12-day war with Iran, according to Israeli media and official economic reports released yesterday.

To finance the war’s costs, Israel is expected to raise its national budget deficit to around six percent — well above the Finance Ministry’s previous 4.9 percent cap.

The estimated costs include military expenditures, missile damage, reconstruction efforts, and compensation to civilians and businesses. Analysts project the total could rise to $20 billion once indirect damages and civilian compensation are fully calculated.

Read the full report here. 👈

IAEA warns of damage at Iran's nuclear sites

The director of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog says that Iran’s nuclear program has sustained “very, very, very considerable damage” and has warned of a potential crisis if Tehran blocks inspectors from accessing its nuclear sites.

Asked in an interview with a French radio network whether Iran’s nuclear program had been destroyed, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi replied: “I think ‘destroyed’ is too much. But it suffered enormous damage.”

“What I can tell you, and I think everyone agrees on this, there is a very, very, very considerable damage.”

Asked about Iran’s decision to suspend its cooperation with his agency, which was just approved, Grossi said he would need to assess the scope of Iran’s decision. “Iran is a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and therefore must have an inspection system,” he said, adding that if Iran was unilaterally suspending its involvement and blocked inspectors from accessing nuclear sites, “we would be on the brink of a new crisis.”

Israel halts aid to Gaza for two days

Israel has halted aid supplies to Gaza for two days, Reuters reports, citing an Israeli official. The move is supposedly to prevent aid from being seized by Hamas, after images circulated of masked men on aid trucks whom clan leaders said were protecting aid, not diverting it to the militants.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz, said yesterday that he had ordered the military to present a plan within two days to prevent Hamas from taking control of aid.

The decision was made after Netanyahu and Katz cited new information indicating that Hamas was seizing aid intended for civilians in northern Gaza. In response to the accusation, a coalition of influential Gazan families released a statement ensuring this was not the case.

Gaza leaders say they are “securing” aid that Netanyahu claims has been looted by Hamas

The coalition of influential families in Gaza, claiming to be involved in the distribution of humanitarian aid in the Palestinian territory ravaged and starved by more than 20 months of war, has rejected the Israeli accusation that this aid is being diverted by Hamas, AFP reports.

“The aid is entirely secure under the direct supervision of the High Commission for Tribal Affairs in Gaza and is distributed only through international agencies,” the group of local leaders said in a statement.

Yesterday, Netanyahu ordered his army to come up with a plan “to prevent Hamas from seizing the aid,” accusing the group of having “regained control of humanitarian aid entering the northern Gaza Strip.”

“False claims,” according to the commission of Gaza dignitaries — not affiliated with Hamas — which is calling on the U.N. to send observers to verify its claims. “Palestinian movements have no connection” with the aid, the statement continued.

Iran approves bill suspending cooperation with IAEA

The Iranian body tasked with vetting legislation approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog this afternoon, AFP reports. The Parliament decision cites recent U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Iranian lawmakers voted in favor of the bill yesterday, a day after a cease-fire ended a 12-day war with Israel that saw Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Since Israel sparked the war with its June 13 attacks against Iran, Iranian officials have sharply criticized the IAEA for failing to condemn the attacks.

Iran has also criticized the agency for passing a resolution on June 13 accusing it of non-compliance with its nuclear obligations. Iranian officials say the censure motion was "one of the main excuses" for the Israeli and U.S. attacks.

Pope Leo laments 'diabolical intensity' of conflicts in the Middle East

Pope Leo said this morning that conflicts in the Middle East were raging with an unprecedented "diabolical intensity" and appealed for greater respect for international law, in comments to Catholic bishops and aid agencies operating in the region, Reuters reports.

At a meeting in the Vatican, the pontiff said countries in the region were being "devastated by wars, plundered by special interests, and covered by a cloud of hatred that renders the air unbreathable and toxic."

"Today, violent conflict seems to be raging... with a diabolical intensity previously unknown," he said, adding that the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza was "tragic and inhumane."

Read more here. 👈

Israeli drones over Beirut and southern Lebanon

As Khamenei was speaking, Israeli drones hovered low and loudly over Beirut's southern suburbs and over several districts in southern Lebanon. Already today, two people have been killed by Israeli drone strikes in the South's Bint Jbeil district. One of the drones dropped leaflets over the village of Kfar Shuba, in Hasbaya district.

Khamenei notes Iran's ability to reach US military bases

During his televised speech just now, Khamenei also warned that any future aggression against Iran would come at a great cost, noting that Iran's ability to potentially reach major U.S. military bases is a considerable achievement, and adding that such actions could be repeated if aggression is renewed.

His comments were echoed in a post on X published simultaneously to the speech: "The fact that the Islamic Republic has access to key U.S. centers in the region and can take action whenever it deems necessary is a significant matter," the post reads. "Such an action can be repeated in the future too. Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price."

Khamenei gives first address post-cease-fire

“[The U.S.] attacked our nuclear facilities, which of course would merit criminal prosecution in international courts, but they did nothing significant,” Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said during his first address since the U.S.-brokered cease-fire came into effect on Tuesday. "Donald Trump needed to do some 'showmanship.'"

"Iranian armed forces managed to break through Israel's multi-layered defense system and target urban and military areas," he added, according to Reuters. "Any future aggression against Iran will come at a great cost."

Around 550 Palestinians killed while seeking aid in June

Since Israeli and U.S.-run distribution operations in Gaza began one month ago, at least 549 Palestinians have been killed and another 4,066 injured while seeking humanitarian aid at the four sites run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to a statement from Gaza’s Government Media Office.

Calling the aid centers “death traps," the Gaza authority also said that 39 Palestinians who had set out in an attempt to pick up aid boxes are still reported missing, Middle East Eye reports.

Fifteen human rights groups have come out saying the "militarized aid distribution" method introduced by GHF must be suspended. The American Center for Constitutional Rights also sent GHF a cease and desist letter earlier this month, warning of its complicity in war crimes.

Read more here.  👈

IAEA and World Bank to cooperate on nuclear power development and safety

The World Bank and the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Thursday launched a new agreement to cooperate on the safe development and financing of nuclear power for developing countries, including extending the life of existing reactors.

World Bank President Ajay Banga and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi were due to sign the memorandum of understanding in Paris that is part of the bank's return to nuclear energy financing.

The IAEA and the World Bank said in a statement that they agreed to work together to build knowledge in the nuclear field, including expanding the World Bank Group's understanding of nuclear safety, security, energy planning, and waste management.

Read the full report here. 👈

Second Israeli drone strike kills another in south Lebanon

A second Israeli drone strike targeted a motorcycle at the western road leading into the village of Beit Lif, in southern Lebanon's Bint Jbeil district. The motorcyclist was killed. Already this morning, the Israeli army killed a man operating an excavator in the same district.

Witkoff hints at expanding Abraham Accords

More countries are expected to join the Abraham Accords, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff hinted at during an interview with CNBC yesterday.

"We think we have big announcements on countries coming into the Abraham Accords," Witkoff said somewhat cryptically, not specifying which nations might be involved.

Photos emerged on social media showing billboards in Tel Aviv that read, "The 'Abraham Alliance.' It's time for a new Middle East," with images of Arab leaders including Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Read the full report here.  👈

France intercepted Iranian missiles in defense of Israel

France's military took part in efforts to stop Iranian drones targeting Israel prior to this week's cease-fire, the country's defense minister Sebastien Lecornu said late yesterday, as reported by Reuters.

"I can confirm that the French army intercepted less than 10 drones in the last few days during the different military operations conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Israel, either by ground-to-air systems or via our Rafale fighter jets," Lecornu said during a parliamentary debate on the situation in the Middle East.

Lecornu said Iran had launched some 400 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones towards Israel during the 12-day conflict.

Read more here. 👈

Trump calls for Netanyahu's corruption trial to be dropped

Late yesterday, Trump called for Israel to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or cancel his corruption trial, saying the U.S. would save him like it did his country, Reuters reports.

Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in Israel on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust — all of which he denies. The trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases. He has pleaded not guilty.

"Bibi Netanyahu's trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State [of Israel]," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that he had learned that Netanyahu was due to appear in court on Monday. "It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu," he added.

Israeli media have reported that cross-examination of Netanyahu began on June 3 in a Tel Aviv court and was expected to take about a year to complete.

Read the full report here. 👈

US-Iran negotiations back in action

Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said yesterday that talks were already underway between the United States and Iran and that he found them "promising." According to Witkoff, the U.S. administration's chief negotiator, Washington is hopeful for a long-term peace deal.

"We are already talking to each other, not just directly but also through interlocutors. I think that the conversations are promising," Witkoff said in an interview on Fox News.

The envoy, who led negotiations with Iran on the Trump administration’s behalf before the Israeli attack on June 13 that brought talks to a screeching halt, said he’s “confident” about the prospects for a deal following the cease-fire. The deal he foresees would ensure “long-term prosperity” for Iran, he added.

However, Witkoff still appears to be holding down the current American red-line on the subject of Iran's nuclear program: insisting that Iran be prevented from enriching any uranium at all for a civilian nuclear power generator, regardless of oversight.

Read the full report here. 👈

One dead in Israeli drone strike in Shaqra, southern Lebanon

An Israeli drone targeted a Bobcat excavator in Shaqra, in the district of Bint Jbeil, this morning, killing one person, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon, Mountasser Abdallah.

Despite having agreed to a cease-fire with Hezbollah, via the Lebanese government, almost exactly seven months ago, Israel continues to attack southern Lebanon, killing multiple people a week and assaulting residents attempting to recover from the devastation wrought by Israeli strikes during the 13 months of war and by the Israeli troops' demolition campaigns that followed the truce.

Good morning and welcome to today's live coverage of events in the region, notably the ongoing Israeli onslaught against Palestinians in Gaza, where Netanyahu has ordered the entire north of the Strip to be cut off from supplies of any kind; as well as the tenuous — but so far holding — cease-fire between Israel and Iran, brokered by the U.S. and Qatar and vehemently defended by Trump.

You can catch up on yesterday's live coverage here.  👈