War, latest news. US Senate passes resolution to block Trump’s military action in Iran

The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry accuses Israel of havingdeliberately targeted Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip. According to the investigators, this evidence would help to demonstrate a ‘genocidal intent’ on the part of the Israeli authorities and security forces. Tel Aviv has rejected the report’s conclusions, describing it as ‘defamatory’ and accusing the Commission of ignoring Hamas’s responsibilities.

The conclusions are set out in a new report published by the Commission established in 2021 by the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate violations of international law in the Palestinian Territories and in Israel. The investigators state that they have found evidence which, in their view, indicates that Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted and killed by Israeli security forces.

‘I believe our bilateral relations with the United States should return to normal; I said as much yesterday in the Council of Ministers. I think Tajani was right to cancel his trip to Miami, but there is no need to take it any further. The Government will be present at Villa Taverna. Because I haven’t changed my mind: Italian foreign policy will remain the same as it has been for the last 80 years.” In the words of Giorgia Meloni. Interviewed by Maurizio Belpietro at the conclusion of the ‘Day of Truth’ event, the Prime Minister first addressed questions about her relationship with the US President.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has landed in Abu Dhabi, the first stop on a tour of the Gulf States that have been severely affected by Iran’s retaliatory campaign, according to an AFP journalist. Rubio is due to meet with leaders of the United Arab Emirates tomorrow, before travelling to Kuwait and then to Bahrain for a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in an attempt to reassure US allies following the signing of a preliminary agreement between the United States and Iran last week.

An American fighter pilot, rescued by special forces after being shot down over Iran last April, said he had seen several Iranian drones moving in unison in a jellyfish-like formation. This was reported by sources familiar with the matter to CNN. If the F-15 pilot really did see what he described, it would represent an alarming advance in Tehran’s capabilities. “Several interconnected drones moving as a single entity, with smaller drones beneath the larger ones, like legs. They looked like aliens,” said one of the people present when the American pilot gave his testimony to a group of intelligence officials. Another source told CNN that the pilot described seeing a “minefield of drones”. Although the exact causes of the fighter jet’s downing are still under investigation, initial reports have suggested the possibility that it may have been a formation of Iranian drones.

The US Armed Forces’ Unified Central Command posted on X that “two US aircraft carriers are currently deployed in the Middle East, whilst US forces remain present and vigilant” in the region.

The United Nations International Maritime Organisation announced on Tuesday the start of evacuation operations for more than 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf due to the war in the Middle East. “This large-scale operation will be conducted in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal states in the region, the United States and the shipping industry,” said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in a statement. “We have obtained the necessary security assurances and thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation in support of these operations,” he added.

The 80 billion dollars that the conflict with Iran is said to have cost the United States is a modest sum compared to the result achieved: preventing Tehran from posing a nuclear threat. US President Donald Trump said this in an interview with PBS News. “It’s very little compared to what we’re doing. Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. Iran will never be able to use a nuclear weapon. And if you don’t do that, then they’ll have a nuclear weapon, and then you’ll see the real money,” said Trump, responding to a question about the sum the Pentagon had reportedly requested from Congress.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reported that the US Department of War had asked Congress to allocate a further $80 billion to cover expenses related to operations in Iran and other costs.

According to the newspaper, Pentagon officials have also warned that funding for operations could run out as early as this summer if Congress does not pass a new defence spending bill. The Pentagon’s budget for the 2026 financial year stands at around 1,000 billion dollars.

Il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump lascia la Casa Bianca a Washington, DC, USA, il 19 giugno 2026. Il presidente Trump dovrebbe recarsi, passando per la Joint Base Andrews, a Camp David, la residenza presidenziale di campagna nel Maryland. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL

Electronic banking services in Iran have been hit by serious disruptions following a new cyberattack on several state-owned banks. This was reported by Iranian media, according to the DPA news agency. The banks affected are Melli, Saderat and Tejarat, which have been forced to temporarily suspend paper-based services nationwide, rendering online payments unavailable. According to the IT department of the Banking Coordination Council, the measure was taken to prevent unauthorised access and protect customers’ funds, the Shargh website reported. The authorities explained that experts are working to restore services as soon as possible, without providing further technical details. Iranian private banks, according to the available information, were not affected.

The disruption follows a similar cyberattack in mid-June, which affected four major state-owned banks and caused online payment systems and cash machines in Tehran to crash. At the time, the Black Wolves hacker group claimed responsibility for the attack, writing on Telegram that “a silent war is underway and Iran is under cyberattack”. In the past, cyberattacks have also targeted other Iranian institutions, including the central bank in 2022 and the surveillance cameras at Evin Prison in Tehran, the breach of which subsequently led to the publication of images showing violence against political prisoners.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health has announced that the number of people killed during the months-long Israeli invasion has risen to 4,192. The death toll has risen after the ministry confirmed 17 new deaths in the last 24 hours. At least 12,171 Lebanese have also been injured since the war with Israel resumed on 2 March. At least two people were killed today after Israeli forces opened fire on what Hezbollah described as a team clearing rubble in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army, however, described the victims as “terrorists”.

Russia supports the peace process between the United States and Iran and is ready to facilitate it. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “The approach of returning to peace has prevailed, and we actively support it. We are ready to facilitate the negotiations between the United States and Iran in every possible way,” Lavrov said during the 12th round table of embassies at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The minister added that the United States had finally realised the need for a diplomatic solution with Iran, and that it had probably not been easy for Washington to reach this conclusion.

The Pentagon has informed the US Senate that it requires around 80 billion dollars, primarily to cover the costs of the US war against Iran. This sum would be in addition to the already substantial increase in military spending requested by President Donald Trump. The White House Office of Management and Budget has not yet submitted a formal request to Congress. However, a senior official in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defence briefed senators on the request for funding for the war against Iran last week, according to two people familiar with the matter. The news was reported by the Wall Street Journal.

- The credibility of the Italian armed forces as a party perceived as neutral by the conflicting sides is one of Italia’s key assets in crisis scenarios, from Lebanon to Gaza and even a potential mine-clearing mission in the Strait of Hormuz. This was stated by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in an interview today on the programme ‘Giorno della Verità’.

Speaking about the possibility of a mine-clearing mission in the Strait of Hormuz, Crosetto explained that Italia has recognised specialist capabilities and could put them “at the service of shipping”, but only within a clear framework: authorisation from Parliament, the absence of a war zone, and guarantees from all regional actors. “If I send my ships, which are there for peaceful purposes, to clear mines, nobody must attack me from any direction,” he observed.

“Yesterday, 19 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz – an all-time record. Oil prices are plummeting and the world is a much safer place.” This was announced by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in a post on Truth.

Oman and Iran will jointly plan the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz and the fees to be charged for the services provided. This is according to a joint statement issued by Tehran and Muscat, following a meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, chief negotiator Ghalibaf and the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq. In the document, the two countries emphasised “their sovereignty over their respective territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz”, agreeing “to maintain dialogue on the matter through a joint working group between the two foreign ministries, with a view to reaching an agreement on the future management of navigation in the Strait, the services to be provided and the associated costs, in accordance with international standards”.

“Despite their protests and false claims to the contrary, Iran has fully and completely agreed to nuclear inspections at the highest level for a very long time to come (indefinitely!!!). This will guarantee ‘nuclear honesty’.” US President Donald Trump wrote this in a post on Truth Social, reacting to the latest statements from Tehran regarding inspections of its nuclear sites. “If they hadn’t agreed to this, there would have been no further negotiations!”

‘I greatly appreciate the support we have received from our American friends, but we must free ourselves from dependence and build our own autonomous defence system. I want autonomy in defence. We are now facing Iran and its allies. We have struck them. It is not over yet, but it depends on our strength. Where we will be in 30 years’ time depends on our strength. That is why what we are doing now is building an even greater force.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made these remarks during a meeting last Thursday with a class of reserve officers at the Migdal Oz kibbutz in Gush Etzion.

The Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has left Tehran for Islamabad. Speaking to journalists at the airport, he said: “My visit aims to advance the process of fully implementing all the articles of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Iran and the United States, within the framework of international law and Iran’s rights.”

A young man was killed and two others were injured when enemy soldiers opened fire on them with machine guns whilst they were standing near a bulldozer that was clearing a road in the Deir neighbourhood of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, in southern Lebanon.

This is according to the Lebanese news agency NNA. The injured were taken to the Lebanese People’s Emergency Hospital in Nabatieh. The NNA also reports that the IDF allegedly opened fire on a number of residents on the outskirts of the town of Hadatha whilst they were on their way to attend a burial at the town’s cemetery, escorted by the Lebanese army. Three Merkava tanks and a bulldozer were also spotted near the cemetery in the town of Hadatha.

Denmark has reopened its embassy in Tehran after more than three months of closure due to the conflict in the Middle East, the Danish Foreign Ministry announced today.

“In light of the improved security situation in Iran, the embassy in Tehran is reopening,” the ministry said in a statement. “The Danish ambassador to Iran has been working at the embassy since 19 June,” it added.

Iran has no intention of allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect its sites bombed by Israel and the United States. This was stated by the Foreign Ministry. “We have not held any meeting with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and do not expect the agency to inspect Iranian nuclear facilities damaged by American and Zionist military aggression,” said Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, at a press conference.

“In Lebanon, Israel and Hezbollah are caught in a dangerous cycle of attacks, counter-attacks and fragile ceasefires.” This was stated on social media by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas. “I discussed the EU’s support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and the work towards establishing a new EU mission in the country with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi,” she added. Following her visit to Amman for talks with representatives of the Arab League, Kallas also reported that she had spoken with the Jordanian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, “about the peace talks between the United States and Iran and how the current truce could be transformed into a more lasting peace”. Jordan, he emphasised, “is a pillar of stability and one of the EU’s closest and most trusted partners in the Middle East”. On the issue of maritime security, Kallas noted that the European naval operation, Operation Aspides, “plays a vital role in protecting shipping in the region”. With Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Abdoulkader Houssain Omar, he discussed “maritime security” and “the importance of freedom of navigation”. With the Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, Kallas reported that they had “an exchange of views on regional security and the country’s path towards an inclusive political transition”. As for the Algerian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf, the High Representative stated that she had examined “the deepening of bilateral relations” and the “positive trajectory” of cooperation between the EU and Algeria.

In an interview with Military Radio, the far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that “Israel is not taking part in the negotiations with Iran by choice”. “We will not hold talks with the devil,” he declared. Smotrich then reiterated that Israel will not withdraw its military forces from southern Lebanon “as long as Hezbollah exists in Lebanon” and as long as this government remains in power. “It simply will not happen,” he said. “There will be no Israeli withdrawal from the security zone in Lebanon, including the Beaufort Ridge, as long as Hezbollah exists in Lebanon.” On the possibility of US pressure for a troop withdrawal in line with Iranian demands in the context of peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran, Smotrich reiterated: “We remain firm on this position. We have made this clear to the Americans.”

In the direct talks between the delegations from Beirut and Jerusalem due to take place today in Washington, Israel will propose a pilot scheme involving a partial withdrawal from a limited area of southern Lebanon, into which the Lebanese army will enter under US supervision. This has been revealed by Channel 12, to which an Israeli source stated: “We are bringing maps to decide on the area for the pilot project, which will take place south of the Litani River, that is, south of the Yellow Line”. The Israeli security establishment and government are seeking to promote measures to build mutual trust, with the aim of preventing an agreement from being imposed from outside, whether by the United States or by Iran. Under the plan, the Israeli army would withdraw from an area considered to have been relatively cleared of Hezbollah terrorists and weapons. The talks are expected to conclude on Thursday afternoon and will be conducted through two separate working groups: a political-diplomatic group, led by Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Yossi Draznin, a senior official at the National Security Council; a military group, led by the head of the strategy section, Michael Levin, together with the deputy military attaché, Erik Ben-Dov. Meanwhile, the IDF is working to destroy a Hezbollah underground complex in the Ali Taher mountain range.

Mahmoud Qamati, deputy head of Hezbollah’s political council, has once again warned that the Lebanese group will respond to any breach of the ceasefire by Israel. This is according to Al-Jazeera, citing the Iranian broadcaster Press TV. Qamati stated that Hezbollah’s retaliation would be “of the same nature”, adding that there would be no “return to the pre-war situation”, when Israeli forces launched almost daily attacks on Lebanon, whilst the group’s fighters refrained from firing. “Hezbollah remains on high alert, with its finger on the trigger, ready to confront any violation by the Israeli regime”, he said.

“We have agreed to establish a coordination mechanism, which includes a hotline and a contact centre to be contacted in the event of ambiguities or disputes” regarding maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. This was stated by Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, speaking about the talks with the US. “During this 30-day period, pursuant to Article 5,” he added, “the parties will be able to maintain close coordination to ensure that ships transiting the Strait can do so more safely and efficiently. With God’s help, this will help to improve traffic flows and the volume of ships passing through the Strait, boost the regional economy, support the global economy and enable us to look to the future.”

“We must all work to ensure that Lebanon is included in the peace process between Iran and the United States, and that Israel no longer has the right to bomb Lebanon and Palestine.” This was stated by President Masoud Pezeshkian during a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, yesterday evening. According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, Erdogan, for his part, praised Iran’s prudent approach to the Israeli attacks in Lebanon during the Iran-US talks and expressed the hope that Iran would continue along this path “against those who oppose the talks. ‘The inclusion of Lebanon in this agreement has had a very positive outcome,’ he added.

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has stated that an agreement has been reached with the United States to unfreeze $12 billion of Iranian funds. The news has been reported by Al-Jazeera and other media outlets in the region. The funds are reportedly to be divided into two instalments of 6 billion each.

Iran has announced the establishment of working groups on nuclear issues and sanctions as part of the negotiations with the United States. It has also announced the conclusion of the technical talks in Switzerland.

“Everyone must know that control of the Strait of Hormuz will never return to what it was before the war. Of course, international rules will be respected, but it will be Iran that manages the Strait of Hormuz.” This was stated – according to reports in the Iranian state media – by Tehran’s chief negotiator, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf.

Progress between Washington and Tehran following talks in Switzerland: working groups on nuclear issues and sanctions have been set up. US Vice-President J.D. Vance announces Iran’s approval for the return of IAEA inspectors: ‘A milestone towards reaching a nuclear deal’. The US is easing sanctions and authorising the sale of a portion of Iranian oil.