Friday, June 19, 2026
Back in March, during the early days of Operation Epic Fury, Trump publicly insisted that he would not cut a deal with Iran unless it agreed to an unconditional surrender.
“Well, but really it probably is unconditional surrender,” Trump told Axios reporter Mark Caputo, per a preview clip of their interview.
Typically, unconditional surrender has meant that the losing side agrees to all demands.
Under the MOU, Iran is getting oil sanctions temporarily waived, key assets unfrozen, a $300 billion reconstruction, an end to the naval blockade, and more. Vice President JD Vance has stressed that those perks are conditional on Iran holding up its end of the deal.
Critics have noted that while Iran agreed in principle that it won’t pursue a nuclear weapon and to engage in negotiations to address its stockpile of enriched uranium, it hasn’t actually relinquished the “nuclear dust” yet. Read more, see X and video here.
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced that it will hold interest rates steady due to concerns about elevated inflation amid the war in Iran, as Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's tenure leading the central bank begins in earnest.
Fed policymakers voted 12-0 to leave the benchmark federal funds rate unchanged at its current range of 3.5% to 3.75%. The move follows the central bank's decision to hold rates steady in January, March and April following three successive 25-basis-point rate cuts in September, October and December to close out last year.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the central bank's panel responsible for monetary policy moves, noted in its statement that inflation remains elevated above the central bank's 2% goal, which it said was "in part reflecting supply shocks that have driven price increases in certain sectors, including energy."
They also noted that job gains have kept pace with the workforce, while reiterating support for the dual mandate of price stability and maximum...Read more, and see video here.
The measure amends Finland's Nuclear Energy Act, removing a legal restriction that had been in place since 1980, according to Politico.
While the change permits nuclear weapons to be received, transported, and otherwise supported on Finnish territory, officials stressed it does not mean the country plans to permanently host nuclear arms.
Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen called the vote a historic step for both Finland and the alliance.
"The Parliament approved the amendment to the Nuclear Energy Act with a strong 2/3 majority," Häkkänen wrote on X. "This historic reform strengthens the security of Finland and of NATO as a whole."




