Good evening! Tonight’s roundup brings sharp tremors across the globe from Tehran’s bold defiance after striking a US base, to deepening rifts in powerful alliances, to a deadly ambush in West Africa. Russia inches closer to critical resources in Ukraine, Taiwan braces for war games under Beijing’s watchful eye, and humanitarian chaos continues to unfold in Gaza. As the US juggles diplomatic flare-ups and strategic summits, the stakes keep rising. Here’s what you need to know before night falls.
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Khamenei Warns US After Strike on Qatar Base, Downplays Nuclear Damage
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared Thursday that Iran “slapped America’s face” with its missile strike on a US air base in Qatar, warning of further retaliation if provoked.
In his first appearance since June 19, Khamenei used a prerecorded address to denounce the United States and Israel while downplaying the damage from recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Khamenei dismissed President Trump’s claim that the attacks “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, stating they “achieved nothing significant.” He did not address the condition of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi confirmed had suffered “very considerable” damage. Iran’s foreign ministry has acknowledged the damage.
The supreme leader, visibly tired and hoarse, said the strike on Qatar demonstrated Iran’s ability to hit key US assets and warned that such actions “can be repeated.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused President Donald Trump of exaggerating the impact of US strikes on his country’s nuclear facilities https://t.co/t8kh6UaynY
Good evening! Tonight’s roundup brings sharp tremors across the globe from Tehran’s bold defiance after striking a US base, to deepening rifts in powerful alliances, to a deadly ambush in West Africa. Russia inches closer to critical resources in Ukraine, Taiwan braces for war games under Beijing’s watchful eye, and humanitarian chaos continues to unfold in Gaza. As the US juggles diplomatic flare-ups and strategic summits, the stakes keep rising. Here’s what you need to know before night falls.
—
Khamenei Warns US After Strike on Qatar Base, Downplays Nuclear Damage
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared Thursday that Iran “slapped America’s face” with its missile strike on a US air base in Qatar, warning of further retaliation if provoked.
In his first appearance since June 19, Khamenei used a prerecorded address to denounce the United States and Israel while downplaying the damage from recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Khamenei dismissed President Trump’s claim that the attacks “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, stating they “achieved nothing significant.” He did not address the condition of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi confirmed had suffered “very considerable” damage. Iran’s foreign ministry has acknowledged the damage.
The supreme leader, visibly tired and hoarse, said the strike on Qatar demonstrated Iran’s ability to hit key US assets and warned that such actions “can be repeated.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused President Donald Trump of exaggerating the impact of US strikes on his country’s nuclear facilities https://t.co/t8kh6UaynY
(Translation via AP) pic.twitter.com/okOwmvO3Ek
— Bloomberg (@business) June 26, 2025
The White House dismissed the retaliatory attack as a “very weak response,” noting it caused no casualties.
The comments follow a US-negotiated ceasefire with Israel after 12 days of warfare that left over 1,000 dead in Iran and 28 in Israel, according to independent tallies. Iran launched more than 550 missiles at Israel, while Israeli forces claimed over 720 strikes on Iranian military targets, including eight nuclear-related sites.
As life gradually resumes in Iran, with airspace reopening and streets refilling, Tehran remains defiant. Its parliament voted to fast-track a bill halting cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Despite hints from Trump of upcoming talks, Iran has not confirmed any engagement.
Hegseth Denies Iran Moved Uranium Before US Strikes; Trump and Military Defend Operation’s Success
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday there is no intelligence indicating Iran moved highly enriched uranium ahead of last weekend’s US airstrikes on three nuclear facilities.
The US deployed more than a dozen 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs in the early Sunday operation targeting key Iranian nuclear infrastructure.
President Trump echoed Hegseth’s remarks, claiming on social media that nothing was removed and that workers seen at the sites were merely attempting to seal off entrances, not transport materials. However, satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed unusual vehicle activity at the Fordow site prior to the strikes, and a senior Iranian source said as reported by Reuters that most of the 60% enriched uranium had been relocated beforehand.
Despite leaked preliminary assessments suggesting the strikes may have only set Iran back by months, Hegseth insisted the mission was “historically successful” and cited Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe’s classified updates that claimed the Iranian program would take years to recover.
The Defense Intelligence Agency’s early analysis was dismissed by Hegseth as a “low confidence” assessment.
.@SecDef Hegseth rebukes media coverage of strike on Iran: “There are so many aspects of what our brave men & women did that because of the hatred of this press corps are undermined because you people are trying to leak and spin that it wasn’t successful. It’s irresponsible.” pic.twitter.com/yCNzYSiJoS
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 26, 2025
The comments came ahead of a classified Senate briefing involving Ratcliffe, Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine. A resolution requiring congressional approval for future strikes on Iran is pending but unlikely to pass.
Hegseth used the Pentagon press briefing to accuse the media of anti-Trump bias and undermining the military’s success, drawing praise from Trump. General Caine, maintaining a neutral stance, declined to assess the strike’s outcome and emphasized he had never been pressured to alter his military judgment.
Rubio to Host Quad Ministers July 1 Amid Indo-Pacific Tensions and Alliance Strains
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host foreign ministers from Australia, India, and Japan on July 1 in Washington to reinforce efforts toward a free and open Indo-Pacific, the State Department announced Thursday.
The summit marks the second ministerial meeting of the China-focused Quad under Rubio, following the group’s first gathering on January 21, just a day after President Trump began his second term.
State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the summit will advance regional security and prosperity, highlighting American leadership.
Watch the Department Press Briefing with @StateDeputySpox Tommy Pigott, from the Press Briefing Room of the State Department. https://t.co/kDJXUzz0iU
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 26, 2025
The Quad nations share deep concerns over China’s growing assertiveness, and January’s meeting reaffirmed plans for ongoing coordination, including a leaders’ summit in India later this year.
However, friction has grown among Quad members. Trump’s global tariff strategy has impacted all three partners, and escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have diverted US attention.
Japan and Australia skipped this week’s NATO summit, and Japan reportedly canceled a key bilateral defense meeting with the US over increased spending demands.
Tensions have also risen with Australia, following a Pentagon-led review of a major nuclear-powered submarine project. Despite these strains, the upcoming July 1 summit seeks to sustain the Quad’s strategic focus in the Indo-Pacific.
US Approves $30 Million for Gaza Aid Group Amid Controversy
The US State Department has approved $30 million in funding for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), marking the first known financial contribution by Washington to the group.
Deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the aid reflects President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s efforts to advance peace in the region.
GHF, which uses private US logistics and military contractors to deliver aid at “secure sites” in Gaza, has operated since May and claims to have delivered over 46 million meals. The group has faced scrutiny over its lack of transparency, inexperience, and use of for-profit firms.
The State Department reportedly waived standard audits normally required for first-time USAID recipients.
🚨State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirms the U.S. approved $30 million in funding to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. pic.twitter.com/4dL6DvagRn
— Off The Press (@OffThePress1) June 26, 2025
More than 400 Palestinians have died while seeking aid since Israel lifted its blockade on May 19, though GHF says no incidents have occurred at its own distribution points. The foundation temporarily paused aid deliveries earlier this month to demand greater civilian protection.
Despite internal opposition from US officials, sources say the State Department may authorize additional $30 million grants monthly. The move comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where most of the population has been displaced and essential supplies remain scarce.
Israel Halts Northern Gaza Aid Over Hamas Concerns, Clans Step In to Secure Deliveries
Israel has blocked humanitarian aid from entering northern Gaza, citing new intelligence suggesting Hamas is seizing supplies meant for civilians. Aid continues to enter from the south, according to Israeli officials.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to produce a plan within two days to prevent Hamas from gaining control of aid deliveries.
A video circulating Wednesday showed masked men escorting aid trucks, prompting speculation of Hamas involvement. Gaza’s Higher Commission for Tribal Affairs said the men were clan members securing the convoys independently of Hamas. The group emphasized that no Palestinian faction took part in the operation.
Hamas denied involvement, stating it had no role in the distribution. Clan leaders and civil society groups, including Hamas’ political rival Fatah, have increasingly provided security for aid convoys as lawlessness and desperation grip the region.
🇵🇸 Israel’s claims that humanitarian aid distribution in northern Gaza is controlled by Hamas have been refuted by footage from the ground
📦 Videos show dozens of UN World Food Programme (WFP) aid trucks entering northern Gaza, supervised by international organizations pic.twitter.com/DYWGRP4fPp
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) June 26, 2025
The US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it was the only group permitted to distribute food in Gaza on Thursday and was exempt from the two-day suspension of aid deliveries.
The humanitarian crisis remains dire after nearly two years of war. More than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, while widespread displacement and hunger plague the population. Aid convoys and warehouses have been repeatedly looted, and at least 118 more Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire since Wednesday, some near aid distribution points.
The war began after Hamas’ surprise October 7 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Twenty hostages remain in Gaza, while Hamas still holds the bodies of 30 others.
Internal political pressure continues to mount on Netanyahu, with rival Naftali Bennett and members of his coalition criticizing his handling of aid and ceasefire talks.
Switzerland, US Dispute Cost Over F-35 Jet Deal
Switzerland and the United States are at odds over the final cost of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets, with Washington seeking additional payments due to inflation and rising raw material costs.
Bern maintains that the price, set at just over six billion Swiss francs ($7.5 billion), is fixed and contractually binding.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) informed Switzerland in February that the fixed price was a “misunderstanding” but did not specify the added cost. Swiss officials estimate potential increases between $650 million and $1.3 billion, citing possible US tariffs, inflation, and global instability.
Switzerland signed the deal in September 2022 through the DSCA’s Foreign Military Sales program after selecting the F-35A over European and US competitors. The contract followed a narrow 2020 public referendum approval and has since faced parliamentary scrutiny over cost and reliability concerns.
The first jets are scheduled for delivery in 2027.
Bern warned that canceling the deal would jeopardize national air defense from 2032, as the current F/A-18 fleet nears retirement. Swiss authorities are now seeking a diplomatic resolution to the pricing dispute.
At Least 20 Nigerian Soldiers Killed in Coordinated Gang Attack on Military Base
Armed criminal gangs killed at least 20 Nigerian soldiers during a raid on a military base in Niger state earlier this week, according to security sources on Wednesday.
The Nigerian Army confirmed the attack but placed the death toll at 17. The assault targeted a forward operating base near Bangi in the Mariga district and involved a coordinated, three-pronged attack by heavily armed “bandits.”
The attackers overran the camp after a prolonged firefight, with some soldiers ambushed outside the base. Multiple sources, including an international aid group, reported up to 18 soldiers killed and several others wounded. Its Army stated that four injured troops are receiving treatment and confirmed that several attackers were killed during counterstrikes with air support.
Nigerian Army Mourning Period Declaration
It is with profound respect that the Nigerian Army declares a three-day mourning period, from June 25th to June 27th, 2025, to honor the bravery and sacrifice of 17 courageous soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty at Kwana…
— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) June 26, 2025
The region has long struggled with lawless armed gangs who loot villages, abduct civilians for ransom, and destroy property. Though traditionally motivated by profit, some of these groups have recently formed links with jihadist militants, raising alarms among security officials.
Local residents fled the area following the attack, fearing additional violence. The Nigerian military continues to conduct operations in the region, which includes forested zones spanning several states that serve as gang strongholds.
Russian Forces Seize Ukrainian Village Near Key Lithium Deposit
Russian troops have captured the village of Shevchenko in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, a location near a potentially significant lithium deposit, according to Russian-backed officials.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the takeover of Shevchenko and nearby Novoserhiivka on Thursday after heavy fighting.
Ukrainian sources have not officially commented, but the military mapping outlet Deep State indicated Shevchenko is now under Russian control.
Russian-appointed Donetsk official Igor Klimakovsky claimed Ukraine had concentrated large troop numbers in Shevchenko to protect the lithium site, which was identified by Soviet geologists in 1982 as commercially viable. The deposit spans nearly 40 hectares on the village’s eastern edge and is viewed as a valuable asset for future mining operations.
Lithium is in high demand globally due to its use in batteries for mobile devices, electric vehicles, and other advanced technologies. Ukraine is estimated to hold 500,000 tons of lithium reserves, with Russia possessing roughly double that amount.
The seizure marks another step in Moscow’s effort to solidify control over resource-rich areas in eastern Ukraine, territories it claims to have annexed despite international rejection of their legitimacy.
Kremlin Reports No Progress on New Ukraine Peace Talks
The Kremlin announced Thursday that no date has been set for a new round of peace talks with Ukraine, according to Interfax.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS that Russia supports continued US mediation efforts.
Russia and Ukraine resumed direct negotiations in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2 after a three-year hiatus. Those talks resulted in several prisoner exchanges and the return of soldiers’ remains but failed to produce any movement toward a ceasefire.
Ukraine, backed by Western allies, continues to push for a cessation of hostilities, but progress remains stalled.
Taiwan Prepares for War Games as China Ramps Up Threats
Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo affirmed the island’s commitment to self-defense ahead of next month’s Han Kuang military exercises, which will simulate repelling a Chinese assault.
The drills, designed to showcase Taiwan’s readiness, will include countering “high-intensity grey zone incursions” and a mock amphibious landing. For the first time, Taiwan will deploy US-made HIMARS rocket systems and domestically produced Sky Sword surface-to-air missiles during the exercises.
Koo emphasized the drills aim to demonstrate Taiwan’s resolve and military capabilities to both China and the international community. His comments came as China held another joint combat readiness patrol involving 21 military aircraft and warships near Taiwan, including Su-30 fighter jets.
🇹🇼 The annually largest military drill of “Han Kuang 41 Exercise” to be conducted from July 9-18. 👊💪 pic.twitter.com/QXDyLhx2eY
— Taiwan Military (@TaiwanMilitary) June 26, 2025
Tensions escalated further after President Lai Ching-te reiterated Taiwan’s sovereignty in two recent speeches, prompting fierce criticism from Beijing.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang accused Lai of promoting “separatist” policies and vowed the People’s Liberation Army would continue to strengthen combat readiness to defend China’s territorial claims.
Beijing, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province, has increased military pressure on the island, including multiple war games and daily incursions over the past five years. Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims, asserting that its future lies in the hands of its people. The escalating rhetoric and exercises on both sides raise fears of a potential regional conflict.
China Hosts Iran and Russia for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Defense Talks
China hosted top defense officials from Iran, Russia, and other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Qingdao on Thursday, positioning the meeting as a counterweight to Western-led alliances.
The gathering coincided with a NATO summit in The Hague, where members agreed to increase defense spending in line with US President Donald Trump’s demands.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun opened the meeting by criticizing rising unilateralism and what he called “hegemonic” behavior that undermines global stability. He called for stronger multilateral cooperation to preserve peace and development.
Russia’s Defense Minister Andrei Belousov praised China-Russia relations as reaching an “unprecedentedly high level,” while India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized collective responsibility to meet regional and global challenges.
China hosted defence ministers from Iran and Russia for a meeting in its eastern seaside city of Qingdao on Thursday against the backdrop of war in the Middle East and a summit of NATO countries in Europe that agreed to boost military spending. https://t.co/jcgJ9XAK2k pic.twitter.com/H88AfTsBcH
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 26, 2025
The Qingdao summit took place amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel after nearly two weeks of conflict, and underscored China’s effort to expand the SCO’s influence in global security and diplomacy.
The group includes China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asian nations.
India Rejects Qingdao Summit Joint Statement, Citing Pro-Pakistan Bias
India refused to sign a joint statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers’ meeting in Qingdao on Thursday, dealing a blow to China’s efforts to showcase regional unity.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh rejected the document, claiming it ignored the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 Indian Hindu tourists in Kashmir and instead echoed Pakistan’s narrative by referencing militant activity in Balochistan.
Singh argued the statement downplayed India’s core security concerns and failed to condemn cross-border terrorism. India blames Pakistan for orchestrating the April attack, a charge Islamabad denies. Singh called on SCO members to hold state sponsors of terrorism accountable, stating that peace and prosperity are incompatible with terrorism and the proliferation of weapon of mass destructions (WMDs) to non-state actors.
India has refused to sign a joint statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, citing concerns over its omission of an April 22 terror attack that killed 26 Indian tourists in Kashmir.
Indian officials said the statement… pic.twitter.com/xGIWGBwyhl
— DW Asia (@dw_hotspotasia) June 26, 2025
India’s foreign ministry confirmed that the statement was dropped due to the lack of consensus, with one unnamed country—implicitly Pakistan—blocking inclusion of language on the Kashmir attack.
The incident underscored growing rifts within the China-led SCO, which aims to counter Western influence in Asia.
China, now the bloc’s dominant force as Russia remains mired in the Ukraine war, has deepened ties with Pakistan and hosted defense chiefs from Iran, Russia, and others in Qingdao.
Singh’s refusal to endorse the statement highlighted India’s unease with Beijing’s leadership and its alignment with Pakistan.
Sources: News Agencies
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