June 22, 2026 - Vance and Iranian state media issue conflict over UN nuclear inspector access

Our live coverage has moved Get the latest on the war with Iran here. Read more All catch up 39 Posts Link Copied! Monday's key developments • Nuclear monitoring: US Vice President JD Vance said Tehran agreed to admit nuclear monitors into the country after negotiations in Switzerland. Iran denied making any new commitments. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon outweighs the potential economic consequences of prolonged military action. • Strait of Hormuz: Iran agreed to set up a telephone hotline to “prevent and resolve any misunderstandings” with the US or other countries as ships cross the waterway. Traffic through the strait is steadily increasing , with at least two dozen commercial ships having transited in the past 24 hours, according to MarineTraffic data. Before the war, about 110 vessels crossed the strait every day on average. • Israel-Lebanon talks: The US will mediate another round of talks beginning Tuesday to end clashes in southern Lebanon between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel, according to a US State Department official. Read more Link Copied! Israel-Lebanon talks will include military and political discussions, State Department official says By Jennifer Hansler The next round of US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon, which are expected to begin Tuesday, will include sessions on both the political and military tracks, as the US seeks to move forward on a “comprehensive peace and security agreement,” a State Department official said. The latest round of talks come amid a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, where continued violations by Hezbollah and Israel have threatened to derail the US-Iran negotiations. The talks will begin with a joint military and political session, then a military session, followed by a political closing round, the official said Monday. The US side is being led by State Department counselor Dan Holler and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Daniel Zimmerman, the official said. “Our shared goal is to end the cycle of violence for good,” the official said. “We are enabling Israel and Lebanon to negotiate as two sovereign states and to find a way to have peace and security.” “The talks will continue to advance a comprehensive peace and security agreement between the two countries,” the official said. Read more Link Copied! Strait of Hormuz shipping steadily increases By Avery Schmitz Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz over a 24-hour period, ending at 4:55pm on Monday. MarineTraffic At least two dozen commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, according to MarineTraffic data, as US-Iran negotiations continue. The ships included eight tankers and two cargo ships exiting the Persian Gulf and eight tankers and six cargo ships entering it. These figures mark a clear increase from depressed crossing rates seen during much of the Iran war since its start in late February. Before the war, about 110 vessels crossed the strait every day on average. In the months since, the strait has seen intense GPS spoofing — a form of navigation systems interference that causes vessels’ broadcast positions to appear in the wrong locations. Spoofing has subsided noticeably in recent days. Read more Link Copied! Iran to set up Strait of Hormuz "telephone hotline" direct with US By Yasha Saebi and Rupert Neate Iran has agreed to set up a Strait of Hormuz “telephone hotline” to “prevent and resolve any misunderstandings” with the US or other countries when ships are passing through the vital waterway. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Monday that Iran and the US had “reached an agreement to establish coordination mechanisms — a telephone hotline and a center so that if any ambiguity or issue arises, ships can contact that center.” In an interview with Iranian state media on the flight back from negotiations in Switzerland, Ghalibaf said that from now on, the strait will be “managed under Iranian arrangements” and “never return to what it was before the war.” He promised that Iran “will implement international laws precisely” and act quickly to resolve any problems or misunderstandings. “Naturally, just as problems may arise in Lebanon or elsewhere, problems can also arise in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “As you’ve seen, on some nights there have even been clashes.” Ghalibaf said the hotline would help to ensure “the highest level of safety and traffic flow.” When asked by a reporter about the purpose of the hotline, he said: “If Americans have any objection to anything, or if any vessels or ships need clarity on any route or anything … they [can] call.” Ghalibaf also claimed that Iran’s access to $12 billion of its frozen funds and details surrounding the lifting of oil sanctions were finalized during the negotiations in Switzerland. Read more Link Copied! Vance has left Switzerland after a day of high-level negotiations. Catch up here By Isaac Tellechea US Vice President JD Vance left Switzerland on Monday following a day of negotiations focused on finding a permanent end to the war with Iran. Vance departed after what he described as a “very, very good day” of negotiations between the US and Iran on Sunday. Earlier Monday, Vance said Tehran had agreed to admit nuclear monitors into the country, describing this as “the first step in permanently denuclearizing” Iran. For its part, Iran denied making any new commitments on monitoring, with the Islamic Republic News Agency reporting that Tehran did not negotiate the nuclear issue during 18 hours of discussions. Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department today issued a 60-day waiver on the sale of Iranian oil, following through on one of the key commitments. This comes after Vance outlined an initiative for unfreezing Iranian assets that would grant the US approval over what Tehran can purchase using the money. Here’s what else we’ve been covering: Temporary lifted sanctions: The US Treasury’s 60-day waiver allows Iran to sell and deliver oil sanction-free until 12:01 a.m. on August 21 to nearly every country around the world, including the US. Work to be done in Lebanon: Regarding the attacks between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon, Vance described the talks as a “work in progress.” An Israeli source said Israel is considering announcing “symbolic” withdrawals from minor areas in southern Lebanon. US monitoring Lebanon ceasefire: The United States has set up a “monitoring mechanism” via US Central Command for the tenuous ceasefire in Lebanon, as repeated violations by Israel and Hezbollah have threatened to derail US-Iran negotiations, a US official said Monday. Talks in the Middle East: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain from Tuesday through Thursday to “discuss a range of regional priorities including the memorandum of understanding with Iran.” According to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Iran is also set to hold talks with Persian Gulf states on regional security in the next stage of talks with the US. CNN’s Adam Cancryn, Alejandra Jaramillo, Donald Judd, Haley Britzky, Jennifer Hansler, Kevin Liptak, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Sarah Tamimi and Tal Shalev contributed to this report. Read more Link Copied! Trump says preventing Iran from having nuclear weapon "supersedes" risk of economic depression By Alejandra Jaramillo President Donald Trump delivers remarks before signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on June 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images President Donald Trump said Monday that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon outweighs concerns about the potential economic consequences of prolonged military action, including the risk of a global depression. Asked whether he’s willing to risk a worldwide depression by striking Iran if it fails to uphold its agreement, Trump told reporters: “Well, not the way I’m doing it. It’s not going to cause depression.” He went on to argue that the threat posed by a nuclear weapon is a greater concern. “If they don’t abide by — well, nuclear weapon supersedes depression.” “Depression is real bad,” he said, adding that a “nuclear weapon will cause depression much more quickly.” Trump reiterated that military action remains on the table if Iran does not comply with the agreement. “If Iran doesn’t live up to their agreement, or if they’re not behaving, I will do what I have to do,” he said. Watch the moment: Video Ad Feedback Trump: Preventing Iranian nuclear weapon 'supersedes' risk of depression President Donald Trump said Monday that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon outweighs concerns about the potential economic consequences of prolonged military action, including the risk of a global depression. 0:26 • Source: CNN Trump: Preventing Iranian nuclear weapon 'supersedes' risk of depression 0:26 Read more Link Copied! Senate GOP leader not yet sold on move to ease sanctions on Iran By Morgan Rimmer and Manu Raju Senate Majority Leader John Thune was not sold yet on the administration’s move to ease sanctions on Iran when he spoke with reporters on Monday afternoon. “I’d like to see lifting of sanctions connected to steps taken by the Iranians to shut down their nuclear program,” he told CNN. When pressed if he’s seen Iran take those steps, Thune said, “I haven’t, but, then again, they’re still negotiating over there.” Thune added, “I always want to tie lifting sanctions or financial incentives to conditions on our Iranian behavior, so right now part of it is getting the strait opened up, and I think that’s part of what this is, but in my view, at least the objective here has always got to be Iranian compliance with getting rid of their nuclear program in exchange for getting some of their financial incentives.” Asked when the Senate will be briefed on the preliminary agreement with Iran and the state of negotiations, Thune replied, “hopefully sometime this week.” Read more Link Copied! US has set up "monitoring mechanism" for Lebanon ceasefire, US official says By Jennifer Hansler A child stands next to the rubble of a building damaged in an Israeli strike in Qennarit, southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. Stringer/Reuters The United States has set up a “monitoring mechanism” for the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon as repeated violations by Israel and Hezbollah have threatened to derail US-Iran negotiations, a US official said Monday. The official said Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday “about solidifying ceasefire and future talks.” “As a result of those calls, the US started a monitoring mechanism via CENTCOM [US Central Command] so that our policymakers have real-time and accurate information about fighting in Lebanon,” the official said. US Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins told CNN that, “The US military is monitoring the situation closely to help ensure tactical deconfliction and verify compliance with the cessation of hostilities.” It is part of a “deconfliction mechanism” referenced by Vice President JD Vance earlier Monday, which Vance said was set up on Sunday afternoon Switzerland time. “We’ve been, I think, very good at setting up what we’re calling a deconfliction mechanism,” Vance said. “What it really is is to say that when things happen, the sides are actually talking to one another.” The US official said, “Israeli and Lebanese officials will be in DC for three days this week to continue the work.” US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to start Tuesday morning. CNN’s Haley Britzky contributed to this story. Read more Link Copied! Trump offering Iran economic incentives is what any negotiator would do, Biden envoy says By Maureen Chowdhury Becky Anderson speaks to former US special envoy Robert Malley 2:03 • Source: CNN Becky Anderson speaks to former US special envoy Robert Malley 2:03 President Donald Trump agreeing to offer Iran economic incentives is necessary and “what any negotiator would have to do,” Robert Malley, former US special envoy on Iran during the Biden administration, told CNN. Malley said the Trump administration’s willingness to embrace sanctions relief is an “indictment of the policy that President Trump himself led.” Remember: Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President