JUNE 22/GOLD CLOSED UP $36.55 TO $4147.26 WITH SILVER UP $1.11 TO $65.55//PLATINUM WAS UP $4.50 TO $1668.00 WHILE PALLADIUM WAS UP $10.00//GOLD COMMODITY TONIGHT COURTESY OF ALASDAIR MACLEOD/REPORTS TONIGHT FROM THE EU//UK: STARMER RESIGNS//ISRAEL/IRAN AND USA UPDATES/ISRAEL TBN//COVID VACCINE INJURY REPORT; MARK CRISPIN MILLER//OIL REPORTS//KEY REPORT FROM KING NEWS/GREG HUNTER WITH REV. PAWLOWSKI ON THE WHACKING OF CHRISTIANITY//
099 H DEUTSCHE BANK AG 14 152 C DORMAN TRADING, LLC 4 357 C WEDBUSH SECURITIES 1 435 H SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) 22 661 C JP MORGAN SECURITIES 595 77 732 C RBC CAP MARKETS 523 737 C ADVANTAGE FUTURES 7 905 C ADM 5 991 H CME 8
TOTAL: 628 628 MONTH TO DATE: 37,218
JPMORGAN STOPPED: 77/628
GOLD: NUMBER OF NOTICES FILED FOR JUNE/2026: 628 CONTRACTs NOTICES FOR 62,800 OZ or 1.9537 TONNES
total notices so far: 36,590 contracts FOR 3,659,000 OZ OR 115/7636 TONNES
JUNE 19
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SILVER NOTICES: 2 NOTICE(S) FILED FOR 10,000 OZ /
total number of notices filed so far this month : 2409 CONTRACTS (NOTICES) for 12.045 million oz
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GLD/WILL PROVIDE ON MONDAY
BOTH GLD AND SLV ARE FRAUDULENT VEHICLES//THEY ARE NOW RAIDING GLD AND SLV FOR PHYSICAL
THE CROOKS ARE STEALING GOLD AND SILVER FROM THE GLD/SLV AND REPLACING THE PHYSICAL WITH PAPER DOLLARS.
WITH GOLD UP $36.85 INVESTORS SWITCHING TO SPROTT PHYSICAL (PHYS) INSTEAD OF THE FRAUDULENT GLD/// HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF 7.421 TONNES INTO THE GLD
INVENTORY RESTS AT 1020.49 TONNES
SLV/
WITH NO SILVER AROUND AND SILVER UP $1.11 AT THE SLV: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: NO CHANGES IN SILV INVENTORY /// : INVENTORY RESTS AT THE SLV AT 480.302 MILLION OZ//
CLOSING INVENTORY RESTS AT:
CLOSING INVENTORY: 480.302 MILLION
NO FINAL NUMBERS TODAY/THE CROOKS CANNOT EVEN GET THAT STRAIGHT AFTER 4 DAYS
SILVER//OUTLINE
SILVER COMEX OI ROSE BY A HUGE SIZED 1,145 CONTRACTS TO AN OI OF 109,146 A LOT HIGHER FROM ITS NEW RECORD LOW OF 95,999 SET MAY 1/2026. THE RECORD HIGH OI FOR SILVER IS 244,710, SET FEB 25/2020, AND THIS HUGE GAIN IN COMEX OI WAS ACCOMPLISHED DESPITE OUR HUGE LOSS OF $4.80 IN SILVER PRICING AT THE COMEX WITH RESPECT TO THURSDAY’S TRADING. ON THE FIRST OF MAY, WE REACHED OUR RECORD LOW OI OF 95,999 SURPASSING EVERY DAY NEW OI LOWS SET DURING THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL 2026.
NOW ON A NET BASIS OUR SPECULATORS HAVE REVERTED BACK TO GOING SHORT. THE FRBNY ON A NET BASIS IS PROVIDING THE NECESSARY PAPER TO OUR LONG BANKERS AND THEN TENDER FOR PHYSICAL AT 4 PM EACH NIGHT. BECAUSE OF THE HUGE SHORTFALL IN PHYSICAL SILVER IN LONDON THERE IS A LOTTERY TO SEE WHO GETS ANY OF THE PHYSICAL SILVER AVAILABLE THAT WHICH THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO DELIVER. THEY WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THEIR PHYSICAL METAL AND IF NOBODY GETS ANY THEY THEN COME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND SO ON. THIS IS IN LONDON, THE HOME OF PHYSICAL SILVER!! THE FACT THAT WE ARE WITNESSING MANY EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL TRANSFERS TO LONDON HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT THAT THE COMEX IS OUT OF SILVER AS WELL.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO A MUCH LOWER BASE IN SILVER PRICING BREAKING MAJOR SUPPORT LEVEL OF $70.00. SHORTLY WE WILL REVERT BACK TO NUMBERS GREATER THAN 70 DOLLARS PER OZ.
WE HAVE A HUGE GAIN OF 1328 TOTAL CONTRACTS ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES AS THE CME NOTIFIED US OF A SMALL SIZED SIZED 183 CONTRACT EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE , WE HAD HUGE LIQUIDATION OF T.A.S. CONTRACTS IN COMEX TRADING WITH RESPECT TO THURSDAY TRADING// WE HAD A HUMONGOUS SIZED 1998 CONTRACT T.A.S. ISSUANCE!! / THEY DESPERATELY AGAIN TODAY TRYING TO CONTAIN SILVER’S PRICE RISE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS (WHERE RAIDS ARE CALLED UPON AGAIN AND AGAIN TRYING TO STOP THE RISE IN SILVER’S PRICE TO ABOVE $100.00 AND TO QUELL ADDITIONAL DERIVATIVE LOSSES TO OUR BANKERS’ MASSIVE TOTALS). THEY SUCCEEDED ON THURSDAY WITH SILVER’S FALL IN PRICE
THE PRICE STILL FINISHED BELOW THE MAGIC NUMBER OF $70.00 SILVER SPOT PRICE BUT STILL BELOW THE $100.00 MARK CLOSING AT $67.04 DOWN $4.80. WE ARE NOW WITNESSING HAVING MANY HUGE T.A.S ISSUANCES // TODAY’S WAS A HUMONGOUS SIZED 1998 T.A.S. CONTRACTS !!. THE CROOKS ARE BECOMING MORE DESPERATE TO STOP SILVER BREAKING ABOVE THE 100.00 DOLLAR MARK!! AND NOW THE HUGE SUPPORT LEVEL OF 70 DOLLARS HAS BEEN BROKEN// //.MAMMOTH SIZE T.A.S ISSUANCES ARE BECOMING THE NORM AT THE COMEX NOW!!
THERE IS NO NEXT LINE IN THE SAND ONCE THE 100.00 DOLLAR SILVER IS PIERCED AGAIN. WE HAD A SMALL SIZED 133 CONTRACT EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE ACCOMPANIED BY OUR HUMONGOUS SIZED 1998 CONTRACT T.A.S ISSUANCE WHICH WILL BE USED IN FUTURE TRADING//AS THEY PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART IN OUR COMEX TRADING TRYING TO CONTAIN ANY SILVER PRICE RISE.
IN ESSENCE WE HAD A MEGA HUGE SIZED GAIN OF 1328 CONTRACTS ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES WITH OUR LOSS IN PRICE OF $4.80. WE HAD HUGE GOVERNMENT (FRBY) COMEX CONTRACTS TRADING ALL WEEK AND A MAJOR PORTION WILL BE REMOVED BY DAYS END. (I RECORD THIS FOR YOU ON A DAILY BASIS). THE STICKY SPECULATOR LONGS STILL REMAIN STOIC
CRAIG HEMKE HAS POINTED OUT THAT THE CROOKS USE THE MID MONTH FOR MANIPULATION AS THEY SELL THEIR BUY SIDE OF THE CALENDAR SPREAD FIRST AND THEN KEEP THE SELL SIDE TO LIQUIDATE AT A LATER DATE.
THUS WE HAVE TWO VEHICLES THE CROOKS USE FOR MANIPULATION AND BOTH ARE SPREADERS: 1) AT MONTH’S END/SPREADERS COMEX AND 2/ TAS SPREADERS, THROUGHOUT MONTH. TOTAL TAS ISSUED ON THURSDAY NIGHT/FRIDAY MORNING: A HUMONGOUS SIZED 1998 CONTRACTS. DESPITE MANY COMPLAINTS THAT THESE CROOKS HAVE VIOLATED POSITION LIMITS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE TAS ISSUED HAVE A VALUE OF ZERO (AS TO POSITION LIMITS FOR OUR CROOKED FRBNY BANKERS).
THE PROBLEM OF COURSE IS THAT THE CROOKS DO NOT LIQUIDATE THE TAS AS ONE UNIT, BUT SELL THE SHORT SIDE FIRST AND THEN LIQUIDATE THE LONG SIDE TWO MONTHS HENCE. IT IS OBVIOUS MANIPULATION TO THE HIGHEST DEGREE BUT IT NATURALLY FELL ON DEAF EARS WITH OUR REGULATORS (OCC) WHEN THEY RECEIVED OUR COMPLAINTS. IT NOW SEEMS THAT THE OCC HAS NOW ORDERED THE BANKS TO REDUCE ITS NEW LEVEL OF 1.1 TRILLION DOLLARS IN GOLD/SILVER DERIVATIVES.
THUS:
INITIAL STANDING FOR JANUARY: 22.915 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 1.185 MILLION OZ QUEUE JUMP//NEW NORMAL STANDING ADVANCES TO 49.445 MILLION OZ// TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR .100 MILLION OZ//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 49.545 MILLION OZ!!
INTIAL STANDING FOR FEBRUARY/SILVER: 13.505 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S HUGE 0.005 MILLION OZ QUEUE JUMP / : NEW STANDING FOR SILVER AT THE COMEX ADVANCES TO 25.180 MILLION OZ. BUT WE MUST ADD OUR FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 25 CONTRACTS FOR .125 MILLION OZ AND THEN OUR SECOND EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF .0600 MILLION OZ TO OUR THIRD HUGE 2.825 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK!!
INITIAL STANDING FOR MARCH: A SURPRISINGLY LOW 31.076 MILLION OZ/ FOLLOWED BY A TINY QUEUE JUMP OF XX CONTRACTS OR XXX OZ/NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 46.060 MILLION OZ
INITIAL STANDING FOR APRIL: 7.120 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 1 CONTRACT QUEUE JUMP WHERE 5,000 OZ WILL TAKE DELIVERY OVER ON THIS SIDE OF THE POND. NEW STANDING FOR SILVER AT THE COMEX THUS ADVANCES SLIGHTLY TO 16.565 MILLION OZ PLUS WE MUST ADD OUR 4TH EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE OF 17 CONTRACTS OR 0.085 MILLION OZ. THESE WILL BE ADDED TO OUR OTHER 3 ISSUANCES //NEW TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK//1.165 MILLION OZ// NEW TOTAL SILVER STANDING 17.730 MILLION OZ//
INITIAL STANDING FOR MAY: 31.495 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER 3 CONTRACT EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL JUMP TO LONDON FOR 0.015 MILLION OZ// AND THEN TO BOOT WE HAD OUR FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE FOR 51 CONTRACTS OR 255,000 OZ MAY 21./STANDING BEFORE EXCHANGE FOR RISK: 32.070 MILLION OZ/NEW STANDING THUS REDUCES TO 32.325 MILLION OZ/.//(32.070 MILLION OZ NORMAL STANDING PLUS .255 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK = 32.325 MILLION OZ)
JUNE INITIAL STANDING FOR SILVER:10.935 MILLION OZ TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP OF 0 OZ//NEW STANDING REMAINS AT 12.065 MILLION OZ//
SUMMARY OF OUR JUNE 2026 COMEX CONTRACT MONTH:
WE HAD:
/ HUGE COMEX GAIN+// SMALL SIZED EFP ISSUANCE CONTRACTS AT 183 CONTRACTS (/ VI) A HUGE NUMBER OF T.A.S. CONTRACT ISSUANCE 1998 CONTRACTS
xx I AM NOW RECORDING THE DIFFERENTIAL IN OI FROM PRELIMINARY TO FINAL: ADDED XXXX SILVER CONTRACT//
HISTORICAL ACCUMULATION OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS JUNE.. ACCUMULATION
TOTAL CONTRACTS for 15 DAY(S), total 7863 contracts: OR 39.315 MILLION OZ (524 CONTRACTS PER DAY)
TOTAL EFP’S FOR THE MONTH SO FAR: 39.315 MILLION OZ
LAST 24 MONTHS TOTAL EFP CONTRACTS ISSUED IN MILLIONS OF OZ:
MAY 137.83 MILLION
JUNE 149.91 MILLION OZ
JULY 129.445 MILLION OZ
AUGUST: MILLION OZ 140.120
SEPT. 28.230 MILLION OZ//
OCT: 94.595 MILLION OZ
NOV: 131.925 MILLION OZ
DEC: 100.615 MILLION OZ
YEAR 2022:
JAN 2022-DEC 2022
JAN 2022// 90.460 MILLION OZ
FEB 2022: 72.39 MILLION OZ//
MARCH 2022: 207.140 MILLION OZ//A NEW RECORD FOR EFP ISSUANCE
APRIL: 114.52 MILLION OZ FINAL//LOW ISSUANCE
MAY: 105.635 MILLION OZ//
JUNE: 94.470 MILLION OZ
JULY : 87.110 MILLION OZ
AUGUST: 65.025 MILLION OZ
SEPT. 74.025 MILLION OZ///FINAL
OCT. 29.017 MILLION OZ FINAL
NOV: 134.290 MILLION OZ//FINAL
DEC, 61.395 MILLION OZ FINAL
TOTALS YR 2022: 1135.767 MILLION OZ (1.1356 BILLION OZ)
JAN 2023/// 53.070 MILLION OZ //FINAL
FEB: 2023: 100.105 MILLION OZ/FINAL//MUCH STRONGER ISSUANCE VS THE LATTER TWO MONTHS.
MARCH 2023: 112.58 MILLION OZ//FINAL//STRONG ISSUANCE
APRIL 111.035 MILLION OZ(SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THAN LAST MONTH)
MAY 66.120 MILLION OZ/INITIAL (MUCH SMALLER THIS MONTH)
JUNE: 110.395 MILLION OZ//MUCH LARGER THAN LAST MONTH
JULY 85.745 MILLION OZ (SMALLER THAN LAST MONTH)
AUGUST: 171.43 MILLION OZ (THIS MONTH IS GOING TO BE HUGE //2ND HIGHEST ON RECORD
SEPT: 72.705 MILLION OZ (SMALLER THIS MONTH)
OCT: 97.455 MILLION OZ
NOV. 50.050 MILLION OZ
DEC. 66.140 MILLION OZ//
TOTAL 2023: 1,104.10 MILLION OZ/
JAN ’24 : 78.655 MILLION OZ//
FEB /2024 : 66.135 MILLION OZ./FINAL
MARCH: 143.750 MILLION OZ// 4TH HIGHEST ON RECORD.
APRIL: 161.770 MILLION OZ (THIS MONTH WILL BE A WHOPPER OF ISSUANCE OF EFPS//3RD HIGHEST EVER RECORDED FOR A MONTH)
MAY: 135.995 MILLION OZ //WILL BE A STRONG MONTH FOR EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE
JUNE 110.575 MILLION OZ ( WILL BE ANOTHER STRONG MONTH ISSUANCE)
JULY: 108.870 MILLION OZ (WILL BE A STRONG ISSUANCE MONTH/ A TOUCH OVER 100 MILLION OZ/)
AUGUST; 99.740 MILLION OZ//THIS MONTH WILL BE STRONG FOR ISSUANCE BUT LESS THAN JULY.
SEPT: 112.415 MILLION OZ//WILL BE A HUGE MONTH FOR EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE
OCT; 97.485 MILLION OZ (WILL BE SMALLER ISSUANCE THIS MONTH )
NOV. 115.970 MILLION OZ ( HUGE THIS MONTH)
DEC: 132.54 MILLION OZ (THIS MONTH WILL BE A HUMDINGER FOR ISSUANCE BUT ISSUANCE SLOWED DRAMATICALLY THESE PAST FIVE DAYS/// WILL NOT EXCEED MARCH 2022 RECORD OF 209 MILLION OZ
YEAR 2024 TOTAL: 1363.84 MILLION OR 1.363 BILLION OZ
JANUARY 2025: 67.230 MILLION OZ///(THIS MONTH’S ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL WILL BE SMALL)
FEB. 58.260 MILLION OZ//EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE/FINAL
MARCH: 67.020 MILLION OZ///QUITE SMALL AND BECOMING SMALLER EACH AND EVERY MONTH.
APRIL: 100.895 MILLION OZ///AVERAGE SIZE ISSUANCE
MAY: 28.975 MILLION OZ (ISSUANCE WILL BE QUITE SMALL THIS MONTH)
JUNE: 81.065 MILLION OZ
JULY: 50.925 MILLION OZ (QUITE SMALL)
AUGUST: 59.455 MILLION OZ (QUITE SMALL)
SEPT. 50.510 MILLION OZ.(QUITE SMALL)
OCT; 82.020 MILLION OZ (WILL BE STRONG THIS MONTH)/ OCC WANTS TO REIN IN THESE ISSUANCES!
NOVEMBER: 36.425 MILLION OZ
DEC: 45.765 MILLION OZ
JANUARY 2026: 134.270 MILLION OZ (WILL BE A VERY STRONG MONTH FOR EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL!)
FEB : 82.130 MILLION OZ
MARCH: 56.075 MILLION OZ
APRIL; 44.44 MILLION OZ//FINAL.. SMALL THIS MONTH.
MAY 59.79 MILLION OZ
JUNE. 39.315 MILION OZ
RESULT: WE HAD A HUGE INCREASE IN COMEX OI SILVER COMEX CONTRACTS OF 1145 CONTRACTS DESPITE OUR LOSS IN PRICE OF $4.80 IN SILVER PRICING AT THE COMEX// THURSDAY,. THE CME NOTIFIED US THAT WE HAD A SMALL SIZED CONTRACT EFP ISSUANCE OF 183 CONTRACTS ISSUED FOR JULY, AND 0 CONTRACTS ISSUED FOR ALL OTHER MONTHS).
INITIAL STANDING: 10.935 MILLION OZ PLUS 0 OZ QUEUE JUMP//NEW STANDING REMAINS AT 12.065 MILLION OZ
LAST 14 MONTHS OF SILVER DELIVERIES
WE FINISHED APRIL WITH A STRONG SILVER OZ STANDING OF 16.050 MILLION OZ NORMAL DELIVERY , PLUS OUR 4.00 MILLION EX FOR RISK
FINAL STANDING APRIL: 19.965 MILLION OZ
AND MAY:
NEW STANDING FOR MAY FINISHES AT: 75.615 MILLION OZ. (INCLUDES 5,000 OZ EFP TRANSFER TO LONDON + 12.93 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE/PRIOR.//NEW TOTAL STANDING 88.540 MILLION OZ
AND JUNE: FINAL 16.995 MILLION OZ
AND JULY: 46.720 MILLION OZ//
AUGUST: 4.70 MILLION OZ INITIAL STANDING PLUS TODAY;S 5,000 OZ QUEUE JUMP //NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 10.960 MILLION OZ
SEPTEMBER: 68.040 MILLION OZ NORMAL DELIVERY(INCLUDES ALL QUEUE JUMPING AND EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL TRANSFERS) PLUS 3.0 MILLION OZ EX FOR RISK = 71.040 MILLION OZ. (THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR SILVER SINCE MAY.)
OCTOBER: 39.565 MILLION OZ OF NORMAL DELIVERY INCLUDES ALL QUEUE JUMPING
PLUS
2.110 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK//TOTAL OZ STANDING IN OCT ADVAN
NOVEMBER: INITIAL STANDING AT 11.575 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 195,000 OZ QUEUE JUMP WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF 9.155 MILLION OZ//STANDING ADVANCES TO 19.670 MILLION OZ/
DECEMBER: INITIAL AMOUNT STANDING FOR DELIVERY: 49.33 MILLION OZ// FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER STRONG 835,000OZ QUEUE JUMP+ DEC. FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK 0F .850 MILLION OZ + LAST WEEK.S 495,000 OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK AND THEN A 3RD ISSUANCE IF 1.00MILLION OZ THEN FINALLY DEC 249ISSUANCE OF 1.35 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK//NEW TOTAL EX FOR RIS IS 3.685 MILLION OZ // STANDING ADVANCES TO 68.415 MILLION OZ//
JANUARY: INITIAL STANDING 22.915 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 1.185 MILLION OZ QUEUE JUMP//NORMAL STANDING ADVANCES TO 49.445 MILLION OZ// TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 0.100 MILLLION OZ//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 49.545 MILLION OZ
FEB: 13.399 MILLION OZ IS OUR INITIAL STANDING FOR SILVER! TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP FOR 5,000 OZ AND THEN ADD OUR 3 EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR 3.010 MILLION OZ STANDING ADVANCES TO 28.190 MILLION OZ!!
MARCH: INITIAL AMOUNT OF SILVER STANDING IS 31.076 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY A FINAL 0.210 MILLION OZ QUEUE JUMP //NEW TOTAL STANDING ADVANCES TO 46.060 MILLION OZ
APRIL 2026: INITITAL AMOUNT OF SILVER STANDING 7.120 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 5,000 OZ QUUE JUMP //NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 16.565MILLION OZ PLUS 1.165 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK.NEW TOTALS 17.730 MILLION OZ
MAY: INITIAL AMOUNT OF SILVER WILLING TO STAND; 31.495 MILLION OZ/ TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL JUMP OF 15,000 OZ//NEW STANDING REDUCES TO 32.070 MILLION OZ//(FOLLOWING MANY EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL TRANSFERS TO LONDON DURING THIS MAY DELIVERY MONTH). THERE SEEMS TO BE A SCARCITY OF SILVER OVER AT THE COMEX). THEN WE ADD OUR FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 51 CONTRACTS FOR 255,000 OZ//STANDING ADVANCES TO 32.325 MILLION OZ//
JUNE: INITIAL AMOUNT OF SILVER WILLING TO STAND: 10.935 MILLION OZ PLUS OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP OF 0 OZ//NEW STANDING REMAINS AT 12.065 MILLION OZ
THE NEW TAS ISSUANCE FOR TODAY (1998) WILL BE PUT INTO “THE BANK” TO BE COLLUSIVELY USED NO DOUBT WITH FUTURE TRADING LIKE EARLY THIS MORNING.
WE HAD 2 NOTICE(S) FILED TODAY FOR 10,000 OZ
THE SILVER COMEX IS NOW BEING ATTACKED FOR METAL BY BANKERS
GOLD//OUTLINE
IN GOLD, THE COMEX OPEN INTEREST ROSE BY A STRONG SIZED 7187 OI CONTRACTS UP TO 345,132 OI AND THIS OI STILL SURPASSES BY A CONSIDERABLE MARGIN THE ALL TIME LOW AT 326,052 SET JUNE3/2026 AND THIS OI IS MUCH FURTHER FROM THE RECORD HIGH (SET JAN 24/2020) AT 799,105 AND PREVIOUS TO THAT: (SET JAN 6/2020) AT 797,110. WE HAVE NOW ADVANCED PAST THE PREVIOUS ALL TIME LOWS OF 357,136 SET APRIL 2/.2026AND 354,581 SET AT THE END OF APRIL 2026. WE ARE STILL QUITE A WAY FROM OUR TWO DECADES OLD: 390,000 CONTRACTS LOW SET IN THE YEAR OF 2001 WITH TRADING FOR GOLD AT $260.00. THUS DURING EARLY APRIL WE HAD AN ALL TIME LOW OI IN COMEX (354,531) BUT WITH AN EXTREMELY HIGH PRICE OF GOLD. IN MAY: RECORD LOW OI OF 326,052 WITH A GOLD PRICE OF $4,460 THE SHORT RATS ARE ABANDONING THE COMEX SHIP, NOBODY WANT TO PLAY IN THIS CROOKED CASINO!! (AND THIS CORRELATES WITH SILVER’S LOW OI OF 109,146 CONTRACTS WITH A MUCH HIGHER SILVER PRICE BASE//$65.00)
THE DIFFERENTIAL FROM PRELIMINARY OI TO FINAL OI IN GOLD TODAY: REMOVED XXXX CONTRACTS //.
WE HAD A STRONG GAIN IN COMEX OI (7,187 CONTRACTS) . THIS GAIN IN OI OCCURRED DESPITE OUR LOSS IN PRICE OF $135.40 //,THURSDAY///.
LAST 13 MONTHS OF GOLD DELIVERIES: (MAY 2025 THROUGH TO /MAY 2026)
1.MAY SUMMARY FOR MAY TONNES WHICH STOOD FOR DELIVERY:
FINAL STANDING FOR MAY: 70.174 TONNES OF GOLD TO WHICH WE ADD 1. MONDAY’S (MAY 19) 6.221 TONNES EXCHANGE FOR RISK , 2. THEN WE ADD: 1.35 TONNES TO LAST WEEK”S. THEN WE ADD 3. 1.55 TONNES TO EQUAL 9.591 TONNES// NEW EXCHANGE FOR RISK = 9.591 TONNES WHICH MUST BE ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELIVERY SCHEDULE OF 80.644 TONNES. THUS STANDING FOR MAY INCREASES TO 90.235 TONNES OF GOLD
2 JUNE CONTRACT MONTH: 93.085 TONNES OF GOLD (WHICH INCLUDES ALL QUEUE JUMPING AND 0 EX FOR RISK)
3.JULY INITIIAL STANDING FIRST DAY NOTICE: 17.847 TONNES. PLUS TODAY’S 0 TONNES QUEUE JUMP + 1.555 TONNES EX FOR RISK + 2.195 TONNES EX FOR RISK TODAY = 41.106 TONNES STANDING
4. AUGUST: 60.547 TONNES OF INITIAL GOLD FIRST DAY NOTICE FOLLOWED BY THE NET MONTH’S QUEUE JUMP OF 47.2312 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD THE FOLLOWING EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE RECEIVED FOR THE MONTH: 5.4432 TONNES EX FOR RISK/AUG 7 , AUG 11: 2.413 TONNES EX FOR RISK AND AUG. 12 OF 2.
5.SEPT: INITIAL 8.093 TONNES OF GOLD PLUS TODAY’S QUEUE JUMP OF 0.4883 TONNES PLUS 2.2827 TONNES OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK TODAY//NEW TOTAL EX. FOR RISK/MONTH = 22.923//NEW TOTAL STANDING FOR GOLD SEPT ADVANCES TO = 48.801 TONNES!!
6.OCTOBER: 90.012 TONNES OF INITIAL GOLD STANDING WITH TODAY’S TINY 0.00311 TONNES QUEUE JUMP WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS DURING OCT OF 76.1656 TONNES
THEN WE MUST ADD OUR 14.553 TONNES OF OUR ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK/6 OCCASIONS//NEW TOTAL OF GOLD STANDING ADVANCES TO 197.5141 TONNES OF GOLD.
7.NOVEMBER BEGINS WITH 15.651 TONNES INITIALLY STANDING FOR DELIVERY FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S QUEUE JUMP OF 2.323 TONNES FOLLOWED BY ALL PREVIOUS QUEUE JUMPS IN OF OF 21.3775 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR TWO EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE OF 4.5596 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 43.9716 TONNES OF GOLD.
8. DECEMBER BEGINS WITH INITIAL STANDING OF 83.813 TONNES OF GOLD FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 0.0TONNE QUEUE JUMP WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF: 37.163 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 115.390 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR 4 EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR DECEMBER OF 6.587 TONNES/NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 121.977 TONNES
9. JANUARY: INITITAL STANDING: 13.785 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FIRST EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL TRANSFER OF 0.08709 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF 30.7117TONNES //NEW TOTAL QUEUE JUMPS 30.7117//NORMAL DELIVERY OF GOLD ADVANCES TO 36.8958 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR SIX EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 22.315 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 59.2108 TONNES.
FEB; INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY: 93.567 TONNES OF GOLD TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT 0.0248 TONNES 0.1555 TONNES QUEUE JUMP TO 41.2082 TONNES/ NEW NET QUEUE JUMP INCREASES TO 41.233 TONNES// AND THEN WE ADD OUR SIX EXCHANGE FOR RISK: 10,080 CONTRACTS OR 31.251 TONNES//NEW STANDING REDUCES TO 157.878 TONNES
MARCH:: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY: 8.099 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD TODAY’S FAIR 4600 OZ QUEUE JUMP (0.2320 TONNES) AND THEN WE ADD OUR THREE EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 22.3818 TONNES //NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 67.6648 TONNES/
APRIL: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY: 52.600 TONNES FOLLOWED BY OUR 345 CONTRACT QUEUE JUMP FOR 34,500 OZ/ (1.073 TONNES)/NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 70.286 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR 2ND EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 1498 CONTRACTS FOR 149800 OZ OR 4.659 TONNES. THE NEW TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL IS 2239 CONTRACTS OR 223900 OZ OR 6.964 TONNES AND THIS WILL BE ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELIVERY TOTALS (70.762 TONNES) TO GIVE US WHAT WILL STAND IN APRIL (77.726 TONNES)
MAY: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD WILLING TO STAND: 12.24 TONNES OF GOLD TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP OF 345 CONTRACTS OR 34500 OZ (1.073 TONNES) TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FIVE EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCES FOR 24.635 TONNES/STANDING NOW ADVANCES TO 51.554 TONNES OF GOLD.
JUNE; INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD WILLING TO STAND; 64.496 TONNES.(CME CORRECTED) TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT 1.925 TONNES OF A QUEUE JUMP/NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 115.844 TONNES
E.F.P. ISSUANCE/FOR OPENING JUNE. GOLD CONTRACT
THE CME RELEASED THE DATA FOR EFP ISSUANCE AND IT TOTALED A STRONG SIZED 3025 CONTRACTS:
The NEW COMEX OI FOR THE GOLD COMPLEX RESTS AT 345,132 SURPASSING THE PREVIOUS ALL TIME LOW OF 326,052 SET JUNE 3 AND RISING FROM OUR PREVIOUS RECORD LOW//MAY 28.2026 WE HAVE THUS RECORD LOW COMEX OI WITH A HIGH PRICE OF GOLD
SILVER ALSO HAS AN ULTRA SMALL SIZED AND EXTREMELY LOW COMEX OI OF 109,146 CONTRACTS// RISING FROM PREVIOUS ALL TIME LOWS SET DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL AND MAY FIRST.
IN ESSENCE WE HAVE A STRONG GAIN IN TOTAL CONTRACTS IN COMEX GOLD ON THE TWO EXCHANGES OF 8447 CONTRACTS WITH 7187 CONTRACTS INCREASED AT THE COMEX// AND A FAIR SIZED 1260 EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL OI CONTRACT ISSUANCE WHICH NAVIGATED OVER TO LONDON.
THUS TOTAL OI GAIN ON THE TWO EXCHANGES OF 8447 CONTRACTS.. WE HAD THE FOLLOWING TAS CONTRACTS INITIATED (ISSUED): A STRONGER SIZED AND CRIMINAL 1895 CONTRACTS AND THESE ISSUANCES ARE GENERALLY USED TO INITIATE A RAID WHEN CALLED UPON LIKE EARLIER IN THE COMEX TRADING SESSION (THURSDAY NIGHT EARLY FRIDAY MORNING)
GOLD PRICE ON THURSDAY FELL BY $135.40
CALCULATIONS ON GAIN/LOSS ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES
WE HAD A FAIR SIZED ISSUANCE IN EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS CONTRACT (1260 ) ACCOMPANYING THE STRONG GAIN IN COMEX OI OF 7187 CONTRACTS/TOTAL GAIN FOR OUR THE TWO EXCHANGES 8447 CONTRACTS!! DESPITE THE LOSS IN PRICE.
WE HAVE 1) NOW REVERTED TO OUR FORMAT OF BANKER (FRBNY) GOING ON THE LONG SIDE AND HUGE NUMBERS OF NEWBIE SPECULATORS GOING TO THE SHORT SIDE LED BY THE NOSE BY OUR HIGH FREQUENCY TRADERS.. IT WAS OUR SHORT SPECULATORS THAT WILL BE BRUTALIZED WHEN OUR CENTRAL BANKS TENDER FOR PHYSICAL GOLD WITH THEIR NEWLY BOUGHT GOLD FROM THE SPECS. THE SPECS WILL BE SCRAMBLING LOOKING FOR PHYSICAL GOLD TO DELIVER TO OUR LONG CENTRAL BANKS.
STANDING FOR THE LAST 5 MONTHS JANUARY TO MAY:
FINAL STANDING FOR GOLD, JANUARY CONTRACT AT 59.2108 TONNES OF GOLD
FEBRUARY: INITIAL STANDING FOR GOLD: 157.878 TONNES!! WHICH INCLUDES ALL QUEUE JUMPING, THREE EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL TRANSFERS TO LONDON AND OUR SIX ISSUANCES EXCHANGE FOR RISK!!
MARCH: INITIAL STANDING AT 8.099 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FINAL DAY: 0.2320 TONNES QUEUE JUMP AND THEN ADD +22.3818 TONNES EXCHANGE FOR RISK//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 67.6648 TONNES
APRIL: INITIAL STANDING 52.600 TONNES PLUS 27,800 OZ QUEUE JUMP (0.8648TONNES): NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 70.286 TONNES PLUS OUR TWO EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR 223,900 OZ OR 6.964 TONNES/NEW STANDING: 77.726 TONNES
MAY: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD WILLING TO STAND; 12.24 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP FOR 345 CONTRACTS/34,500 OZ// 1.073 TONNES/ THEN WE MUST ADD OUR EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE: TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK MAY// 5 OCCASIONS: 24.635 TONNES///NEW STANDING NOW ADVANCES TO 51.554 TONNES
JUNE: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD WILLING TO STAND: 64.496 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP OF 1.925TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 115.844 TONNES
3) LITTLE IF ANY T.A.S. LIQUIDATION IN THE COMEX SESSION AND SOME GOVT LIQUIDATION // WITH A STRONG LOSS OF EQUITY SHARES/JUNE18 HAVING 1)A $135.80 COMEX PRICE LOSS AND WE HAD 2) SPEC PILING HUGELY ON THE SHORT SIDE// +3. EASTERN CENTRAL BANKERS ALSO PILING INTO THE LONG SIDE. WE HAD A STRONG GAIN OF 8447 CONTRACTS ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES AND AS WELL A STRONG AMOUNT OF GOLD WILL STAND FOR DELIVERY IN JUNE. (115.844 TONNES). THE SHORT SPECS BAILED ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY//, CENTRAL BANKERS TENDERED FOR PHYSICAL WITH THEIR PURCHASES OF CONTRACTS../ ALSO, 3)STICKY GOLD’S LONGS WERE REWARDED THURSDAY EVENING AS THEY EXERCISED EFP’S FROM LONDON TO TAKE DELIVERY OF BADLY NEEDED PHYSICAL
4)A STRONG SIZED COMEX OI GAIN 5) V) FAIR SIZED ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL GOLD(1260) AND 6. A STRONG T.A.S. ISSUANCE (1895) FOR RAID PURPOSES.!!!
ACCUMULATION OF EFP’S GOLD AT J.P. MORGAN’S HOUSE OF BRIBES: (EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL) FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL :
TOTAL EFP CONTRACTS ISSUED: 30,892 CONTRACTS OR 3,08,922 OZ OR 96.087 TONNES IN 15 TRADING DAY(S) AND THUS AVERAGING: 2059 EFP CONTRACTS PER TRADING DAY
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA AS TO THE SIZE OF THESE EFP TRANSFERS : THIS MONTH IN15 TRADING DAY(S) IN TONNES: 96.087 TONNES
TOTAL ANNUAL GOLD PRODUCTION, 2025, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD EX CHINA EX RUSSIA: 3555 TONNES
THUS EFP TRANSFERS REPRESENTS 96.087 TONNES DIVIDED BY 3550 x 100% TONNES = 2.70% OF GLOBAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION
SEPT 142.12 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE ( LOW ISSUANCE)_
OCT: 141.13 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE (LOW ISSUANCE)
NOV: 312.46 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE//NEW RECORD!! (INCREASING DRAMATICALLY)//SIGN OF REAL STRESS//SURPASSING THE MARCH 2021 RECORD OF 276.50 TONNES OF EFP
DEC. 175.62 TONNES//FINAL ISSUANCE//
TOTALS: 2,578.08 TONNES/2021
JAN:2023 247.25 TONNES //FINAL
FEB: 196.04 TONNES//FINAL
MARCH/2022: 409.30 TONNES //FINAL( THIS IS NOW A RECORD EFP ISSUANCE FOR MARCH AND FOR ANY MONTH.
APRIL: 169.55 TONNES (FINAL VERY LOW ISSUANCE MONTH)
MAY: 247.44 TONNES FINAL//
JUNE: 238.13 TONNES FINAL
JULY: 378.43 TONNES FINAL/SECOND HIGHEST ON RECORD
AUGUST: 180.81 TONNES FINAL
SEPT. 193.16 TONNES FINAL
OCT: 177.57 TONNES FINAL ( MUCH SMALLER THAN LAST MONTH)
NOV. 223.98 TONNES//FINAL ( MUCH LARGER THAN PREVIOUS MONTHS//comex running out of physical)
DEC: 185.59 tonnes // FINAL
TOTAL: 2,847,25 TONNES/2022
JAN 2024: 228.49 TONNES FINAL//HUGE AMOUNT OF EFP’S ISSUED THIS MONTH!!
FEB: 151.61 TONNES/FINAL
MARCH: 280.09 TONNES/INITIAL (ANOTHER STRONG MONTH FOR EFP ISSUANCE)
APRIL: 197.42 TONNES
MAY: 236.67 TONNES (A VERY STRONG ISSUANCE FOR THIS MONTH)
JUNE: 172.667 TONNES (WEAKER ISSUANCE THIS MONTH)
JULY: 151.69 TONNES (WEAKER THAN LAST MONTH)
AUGUST: 195.28 TONNES (A STRONGER MONTH)//FINAL
SEPT: 254.709 TONNES (WILL BE LARGER THAN LAST MONTH AND A STRONG MONTH)
OCT. 248.09 TONNES. LIKE SILVER, THIS MONTH IS GOING TO BE A STRONG E.F.P. ISSUANCE.
NOV. 239.16 TONNES//WILL BE STRONG THIS MONTH,
DEC. 213.704 TONNES. A STRONG MONTH//
TOTAL FOR YEAR 2023: 2,569.57 TONNES
2025: AND NOW 2026
JAN. 2025: 257.919 TONNES (ISSUANCE WILL BE PRETTY GOOD THIS MONTH BUT MUCH LOWER THAN LAST MONTH)
FEB: 207.21 TONNES//EX FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE (WILL BE A FAIR SIZED ISSUANCE THIS MONTH)
MARCH 130.84 TONNES//QUITE SMALL THIS MONTH.
APRIL; 208.57 TONNES. STRONG THIS MONTH
MAY: 113.499 TONNES OF GOLD EFP ISSUANCE//QUITE SMALL THIS MONTH
JUNE: 97.79 TONNES OF GOLD EFP ISSUANCE/EXTREMELY SMALL
JULY : 150.877 TONNES// QUITE SMALL
AUGUST: 175.86 TONNES A LOT LARGER THIS MONTH.
SEPT. 116.13 TONNES VERY SMALL
OCT. 252.72 TONNES//CERTAINLY MUCH LARGER THIS MONTH/VERY STRONG
NOV: 124.74 TONNES
DEC: 190.04 TONNES//GOOD SIZED THIS MONTH FINAL.
TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUED FOR YEAR 2025: 2,026.20 TONNES (LOWER THAN LAST YR 2,569.00 TONNES
JANUARY: 209.08 TONNES ( (WILL BE A STRONG MONTH FOR EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL)
FEB. 176.35 TONNES (WHICH IS A FAIR ISSUANCE)
MARCH: 214.67 TONNES//WILL BE STRONG ISSUANCE THIS MONTH
APRIL; 88.00 TONNES// WILL BE VERY SMALL THIS MONTH
MAY 118.430 TONNES
JUNE: 96.087 TONNES
SPREADERS:
HERE IS A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF HOW THE CROOKS FLEECE UNSUSPECTING LONGS
YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE THAT THE COMEX OPEN INTEREST STARTS TO RISE BUT SO IS THE OPEN INTEREST OF SPREADERS. THE OPEN INTEREST IN WILL CONTINUE TO RISE UNTIL ONE WEEK BEFORE FIRST DAY NOTICE OF AN UPCOMING ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH (OCT), AND THAT IS WHEN THE CROOKS SELL THEIR SPREAD POSITIONS BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME OF THE DAY. THEY WILL USE THE SELL SIDE OF THE EQUATION TO CREATE THE CASCADE (ALONG WITH THEIR COLLUSIVE FRIENDS) AND THEN COVER ON THE BUY SIDE OF THE SPREAD SITUATION AT THE END OF THE DAY. THEY DO THIS TO AVOID POSIT
WHAT IS ALARMING TO ME, ACCORDING TO OUR LONDON EXPERT ANDREW MAGUIRE IS THAT THESE EFP’S ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO WHAT ARE CALLED SERIAL FORWARD CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS AND THESE CONTRACTS ARE LESS THAN 14 DAYS. ANYTHING GREATER THAN 14 DAYS, THESE MUST BE RECORDED AND SENT TO THE COMPTROLLER, GREAT BRITAIN TO MONITOR RISK TO THE BANKING SYSTEM. IF THIS IS INDEED TRUE, THEN THIS IS A MASSIVE CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD AS WE NOW WITNESS A MONSTROUS TOTAL EFP’S ISSUANCE AS IT HEADS INTO THE STRATOSPHERE.
The crooks also use the spread in the TAS account (trade at settlement). They buy the spot TAS (e.g. June) and sell the future TAS two months out (e.g. August). Then they unload the front month (i.e. unload the buy side first so the price of gold/silver falls. This occurs in the middle of the front delivery month cycle. They unload the sell side of the equation, two months down the road. The crooks violate position limits as the OCC refuse to hear our complaints.
First, here is an outline of what will be discussed tonight:
SILVER:
1.TODAY WE HAD THE OPEN INTEREST AT THE COMEX IN SILVER ROSE BY A HUGE 1145 CONTRACTS TO AN OI OF 109,146.
EFP ISSUANCE 183 CONTRACTS
OUR CUSTOMARY MIGRATION OF COMEX LONGS CONTINUE TO MORPH INTO LONDON FORWARDS AS OUR BANKERS USED THEIR EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO ISSUE:
JULY 183 CONTRACTS and 0 ALL OTHER MONTHS: ZERO. TOTAL EFP ISSUANCE: 0 CONTRACTS. EFP’S GIVE OUR COMEX LONGS A FIAT BONUS PLUS A DELIVERABLE PRODUCT OVER IN LONDON. IF WE TAKE THE COMEX OI GAIN OF 1145 CONTRACTS AND ADD TO THE 183 E.FP. ISSUED
WE OBTAIN A HUGE GAIN OF1328 OI OPEN INTEREST CONTRACTS FROM OUR TWO EXCHANGES DESPITE OUR LOSS OF $4.80
THUS IN OUNCES, THE GAIN ON THE TWO EXCHANGES TOTALS 6.640 MILLION PAPER OZ
OCCURRED DESPITE OUR LOSS IN PRICE.OF $4.80
2.ASIAN AFFAIRS JUNE 22 /2025
SHANGHAI CLOSED UP 72.62 PTS OR 1.78%
HANG SENG CLOSED DOWN 156.29 PTS OR 0.65%
Nikkei CLOSED UP 1321.94 PTS OR 1.86%
//Australia’s all ordinaries CLOSED UP 0.02%
//Chinese yuan (ONSHORE) CLOSED UPP 6.7754
/ OFFSHORE CLOSED UP AT 6.7768 Oil UP TO 77.00 dollars per barrel for WTI and BRENT UP TO 79.10 Stocks in Europe OPENED ALL MOSTLY RED
ONSHORE USA/ YUAN// WITH YUAN TRADING UP (6/7754) OFFSHORE YUAN TRADING UP TO 6.7768 ONSHORE YUAN TRADING ABOVE LEVEL OF OFF SHORE AND UP ON THE DOLLAR// / AND THUS STRONGER/OFF SHORE YUAN TRADING UP AGAINST US DOLLAR/ AND THUS STRONGER
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1. COMEX DATA//AMOUNTS STANDING//VOLUME OF TRADING/INVENTORY MOVEMENTS
GOLD
LET US BEGIN:
THE TOTAL COMEX GOLD OPEN INTEREST ROSE BY A STRONG 7183 CONTRACTS TO 345,132 WELL ABOVE ITS NEW LOW OF 326,052 OI SET JUNE 3, SURPASSING THE PREVIOUS ALL TIME LOW OF 345,705 SET (MAY 28) AND SURPASSING THE PREVIOUS ALL TIME LOW IN OI OF 353,490 SET MAY 27.. PREVIOUS TO THAT THE ALL TIME LOW IN OI WAS 390,000 SET IN THE YEAR 2001 WHEN GOLD WAS TRADING $260.00. THE CME SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEMSELVES AS MANY HAVE ABANDONED THIS CROOKED ARENA!!THUS OUR NEW ALL TIME LOW OF COMEX OI HAS NOW BEEN SET AT 326,052 //JUNE 3 2026 WITH GOLD AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH $4,450.00 WHICH MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE!!!
WE HAD NO T.A.S. LIQUIDATION DURING WEDNESDAY’S COMEX TRADING JUNE 17!!. IT SEEMS THAT MANY OF THE SPECULATORS HAVE NOW CONTINUED AGAIN TO GO MASSIVELY ON THE LONG SIDE BUT WITH THE BANKERS NOW PROVIDING THE PAPER,AND CENTRAL BANKS DOING THEIR QUEUE JUMPING IN AN INCREASING MANNER
CENTRAL BANKS TENDERED THEIR NEW LONG CONTRACTS AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR PHYSICAL GOLD. YOU CAN VISUALIZE THIS WITH THE STRONG AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING AT THE COMEX FOR THIS JUNE CONTRACT MONTH!!
THE STRONG SIZED GAIN ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES (8447 CONTRACTS) OCCURRED DESPITE OUR LOSS IN PRICE IN GOLD (DOWN $135.40)
WE THUS HAD A STRONG SIZED GAIN IN OI ON BOTH OF OUR EXCHANGES, THE COMEX AND LONDON’S EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL EQUATING TO 8447 CONTRACTS (OR 26.27 TONNES) DESPITE OUR LOSS IN PRICE, AS WE WERE INFORMED OF A FAIR CONTRACT EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE, EQUATING TO 1260 CONTRACTS.
THEN WE WERE NOTIFIED TODAY OF A 0 CONTRACT FOR RISK ISSUANCE IN GOLD CONTRACTS FOR 0 OZ OR 0 TONNES OF GOLD. ON FRIDAY, BY FAR WE HAD THE HIGHEST EVER EXCHANGE FOR RISK EVER ISSUED AT ONE TIME BEATING THE PREVIOUS SINGLE HIGHEST ISSUE BY ONE TONNE. THUS MAY 22 RECORDS THE HIGHEST EVER EXCHANGE FOR RISK AT 12.4416 TONNES. WE HAD OUR FIRST ISSUANCE FOR EXCHANGE FOR RISK IN THE MONTH OF MAY ON MAY 7, THEN OUR 2ND ISSUANCE FOR OUR MAY GOLD MONTH ON MAY 12. THE THIRD ON MAY 18 , THEN MAY 21 OUR 4TH ISSUANCE AND THEN FINALLY FRIDAY, OUR 5TH ISSUANCE. THIS GOLD WILL BE ADDED TO OUR NORMAL MAY DELIVERIES TO GIVE US OUR FINAL AMOUNT OF GOLD WILLING TO STAND AT THE COMEX..
HISTORY OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE THIS YEAR: FEBRUARY THROUGH JUNE
FEBRUARY:
DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE FEBRUARY CONTRACT MONTH, WE HAD TWO IDENTICAL MONSTER 3,000 CONTRACT ISSUED FOR THE SAME 9.33 TONNES OF GOLD, AND THESE WERE THE HIGHEST EVER IN TONNAGE EVER ISSUED BY THE COMEX. ALTOGETHER THE TOTAL ISSUANCE FOR FEB TOTALLED SIX.(31.251 TONNES).
MARCH:
THURSDAY MARCH 17 WE RECEIVED ITS INITIAL 2000 CONTRACT EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE FOR 6.22 TONNES. LAST FRIDAY: 0 ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK. BUT ON MONDAY MARCH 23 WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF OUR SECOND EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE FOR 2,200 CONTRACTS (220,000 OZ OR 6.843 TONNES) AND NOW FRIDAY WITH A MONSTER 2996 CONTRACTS FOR 9.3138 TONNES. THESE THREE ISSUANCES WILL NOW BE ADDED TO THE REGULAR AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING, I.E. 22.3818 TONNES TO OUR NORMAL GOLD STANDING TO GIVE US WHAT WILL STAND FOR PHYSICAL GOLD FOR MARCH!
APRIL;: 2 EXCHANGE FOR RISK SO FAR, I.E. 2239 CONTRACTS FOR 223,900 OZ OR 6.964 TONNES AND THIS TOTAL TONNES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELIVERY TO GIVE US WHAT WILL STAND IN APRIL
MAY: FIVE ISSUANCES SO FAR FOR 7920 CONTRACTS OR 792,000 OZ OR 24.635 TONNES.
JUNE: 0 SO FAR!!
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A LITTLE HISTORY OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK DECEMBER THROUGH TO JUNE:
IN DECEMBER WE HAVE RECORDED 5 ISSUANCES OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK/4 FOR DEC AND THE LAST ONE ON DEC 31 FOR JANUARY. WE NOW HAVE 3 CHOICES FOR THE RECIPIENT OF THIS ISSUANCE AND IT MUST BE A CENTRAL BANK. YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE BUYER ASSUMES THE RISK OF THAT DELIVERY. (THUS TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER IS 6.56 TONNES/4 OCCASIONS.
MONTH OF JANUARY/EXCHANGE FOR RISK
IN JANUARY THEY HAVE 6 TOTAL ISSUANCE : 3.446 TONNES EARLY, THEN JAN 9 ISSUANCE OF 9,331 TONNES AND THEN JAN 16: 0.1996 TONNES JAN 26: 1.499 TONNES, JAN 27: 3.160 AND FINALLY JAN 29: 4.659 TONNES TONNES//TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK JANUARY 22.315 TONNES WHICH WAS ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELVERIES.
AND FEBRUARY:
FEB EXCHANGE FOR RISK: NOW 6 ISSUANCES: 10,080 CONTRACTS FOR 1,008,000 OZ OR 31.251 TONNES!
HERE ARE THE CHOICES FOR THE RECIPIENT OF THOSE ISSUANCES:
1 THE CENTRAL BANK OF ENGLAND. BUT THEY RECEIVED CLEARANCE THAT THEIR GOLD IS BACK SO IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THEIR RESERVES.
2. THE CENTRAL BANK OF THE USA: THE FED. LOGICAL CHOICE AS THEY CLAMOUR TRYING TO REDUCE THEIR 146+ TONNES OF SHORTAGE. HOWEVER THEY SEEM NOT TO BE IN A HURRY TO COVER THEIR HUGE SHORTFALL
3. THE CENTRAL BANK OF CHINA AS THEY BATTLE WITS WITH THE USA.
TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR DECEMBER IS 6.56 TONNES AND THIS WAS ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELIVERY TOTALS..
THE JANUARY ISSUANCE OF 17.656 TONNES WAS ADDED TO OUR DAILY DELIVERY TOTALS!!
FEBRUARY ISSUANCES 6 FOR; 31.251 TONNES !! AND THIS WAS ADDED TO OUR DELIVERY TOTALS FOR THIS MONTH.
MARCH: CME ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR 2000 CONTRACTS FOR 200,000 OZ OR 6.22 TONNES OF GOLD DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, AND THEN MONDAY, MARCH 22, WE RECEIVED ITS SECOND NOTICE ISSUANCE OF 2200 CONTRACTS OR 220000 OZ (6.843 TONNES). THEN FINALLY WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF OUR THIRD EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 2996 CONTRACTS OR 9.3188 TONNES. TOGETHER ALL 3 ISSUANCES TOTAL 22.3818 TONNES WHICH WILL BE ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELIVERY SCHEDULE.
APRIL: 2 EXCHANGE FOR RISK SO FAR FOR 223,900 OZ OR 6.964 TONNES. AND THIS TOTAL WILL BE ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELIVERY TO GIVE US WHAT WILL STAND FOR APRIL!!
MAY: FIVE ISSUANCES SO FAR FOR 7920 CONTRACTS, 792,000 OZ OR 24.635 TONNES OF GOLD. THIS TOTAL WILL BE ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELIVERIES IN MAY TO GIVE US WHAT WILL STAND IN MAY.
JUNE: ZERO SO FAR
DETAILS ON OUR NEW JUNE COMEX CONTRACT MONTH//
IN TOTAL WE HAD A STRONG GAIN ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES OF 8,447 CONTRACTS DESPITE OUR LOSS IN PRICE($135.40). HOWEVER, OUR FRIENDLY PHYSICAL LONDON BOYS HAD ANOTHER FIELD DAY AGAIN THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK AS THEY WERE READY FOR THE FRBNY.S CONTINUED ORCHESTRATED ATTACKS VERY EARLY IN THE COMEX SESSIONS AS THEY TRIED TO ABSORB EVERYTHING IN SIGHT FROM THEIR DAILY ATTACKS. LONDONERS EXERCISED THEIR BOUGHT CONTRACTS FOR PHYSICAL GOLD VIA THE EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ROUTE AND THANKED THE FRBNY AND OUR SHORT SPECULATORS FOR THEIR THOUGHTFULNESS.
LONDON ANNOUNCED EARLY IN THE YEAR (AND SCARCITY CONTINUES TO THIS DAY) THAT THEY WERE OUT OF GOLD. WRONGLY IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR SHIPPING PHYSICAL GOLD TO COMEX FOR STORAGE DUE TO TRUMP’S INITIATION OF TARIFFS. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT THIS GOLD LEFT LONDON TO OTHER CENTRAL BANKS, AND COMEX BANKS HAVE BEEN PAPERING THEIR LOSSES (DERIVATIVE) WITH KILOBAR ENTRIES. BOTH COMEX AND LBMA ARE WITNESSING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF GOLD LEAVING THEIR VAULTS.
THE LIQUIDATION OF T.A.S. CONTRACTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS OF JUNE/ CONTINUES TO DISTORT OPEN INTEREST NUMBERS GREATLY ALTHOUGH THE T.A.S. ISSUANCES IN GOLD HAVE GENERALLY BEEN ON THE LOW SIDE COMPARED TO SILVER WHICH HAVE BEEN HUGE. TODAY’S NUMBER HOWEVER IS A STRONG SIZED T.A.S ISSUANCE CONTRACTS .THE CME NOTIFIES US THAT THEY HAVE ISSUED1895 T.A.S CONTRACTS. THESE ARE GENERALLY USED FOR RAID PURPOSES TO STOP GOLD’S RISE AND TO TEMPER HUGE LOSSES IN OTC DERIVATIVE BETS
IT SURE LOOKS LIKE THE BIS HAS SOMEHOW LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WITH ITS GOLD SWAPS WITH THE FRBNY AS THIS ENTITY FOR THE FED REFUSES THE BIS MARCHING ORDERS TO COVER AND THAT MAY EXPLAIN THE STRONG NUMBER OF T.A.S. ISSUANCES IN DECEMBER , JANUARY AND THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY TO GO ALONG WITH OUR HUGE NUMBER OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUED DURING THESE MONTHS INCLUDING FEBRUARY’S 6 EXCHANGE FOR RISK WHICH ALSO INCLUDED TWO MONSTER 9.3312 TONNE ISSUANCE (FEB 10 AND FEB 12). TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK/FEB EQUALS 31.251 TONNES!! AND MARCH’S THREE ISSUANCES FOR 22.3818 TONNES! OTHER CENTRAL BANKS ARE PAYING ATTENTION AS THEY TAKE DELIVERY OF HUGE AMOUNTS OF PHYSICAL GOLD. APRIL HAD 2 EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCES FOR 6.694 TONNES. AND NOW MAY WITH ITS 5TH ISSUANCE FOR 12.4436 TONNES///TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR MAY: 24.635 TONNES ISSUED MAY 6 ,MAY 12, MAY 18 MAY 21 AND NOW MAY 22..
JUNE: ZERO SO FAR.
WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER THAT THE FRBNY IS SHORT 146+ TONNES OF GOLD, THIS COMMENCED ON JAN 2 2023 AS THEY REFUSE TO COVER DESPITE THE BIS’S PLEA TO DO SO. WE WILL KNOW IN JUNE WHETHER THEY COVERED ANY OF THEIR SHORTFALL.
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY ON OUR LAST 12 MONTHS:
1.APRIL AT 209 TONNES
2. AND THIS CONTINUED INTO MAY WITH FINAL STANDING AT 90.23 TONNES.
3. JUNE WHICH IS A HUGE DELIVERY MONTH , FINAL STANDING WAS RECORDED AT A STRONG 93.085 TONNES. //(TOTAL NET QUEUE JUMPING FOR THE JUNE MONTH: 31.027 TONNES.)
4. IN JULY WE HAD HUGE DELIVERY NOTICES ESPECIALLY FOR A NON ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH WITH INITIAL STANDING AT 17.947 TONNES PLUS MANY QUEUE JUMPS + 3.75 TONNES EX FOR RISK = 41.106 TONNES OF GOLD // FINAL TOTAL TONNES STANDING JULY: 41.106 TONNES
5. FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST:
INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR AUGUST: 60.547 TONNES PLUS THE MONTHS HUGE QUEUE JUMPS OF 47.2312 TONNES +44.696 TONNES EX FOR RISK (7 ISSUANCES) //NEW STANDING 152.208 TONNES WHICH IS MONSTROUS!!!
6. FINAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR SEPT; INITIAL STANDING; 2,602 CONTRACTS OR 260,200 OZ FOR 8.093 TONNES OF GOLD FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 0.4883 TONNES QUEUE JUMP TO GO ALONG WITH TODAY’S 1.244 TONNES OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE TODAY AND // TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE SEPT: 22.923 TONNES//NEW TOTALS STANDING ADVANCES TO 48.801 TONNES OF GOLD!!!
7. OCTOBER:
OCTOBER: INITIAL STANDING FOR GOLD: 90.164 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR LATEST OCT 30 QUEUE JUMP OF 0.00311 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS OCT 29 QUEUE JUMP OF .4096 WHICH FOLLOWS; OCT 28 QUEUE JUMP OF .5069 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS OCT 27 OF 0.3048 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS: OCT 24 OF 0.8615 TONNES, FOLLOWING OCT 23 QUEUE JUMP OF 1.695 TONNES OCT 22 JUMP OF 8.622 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS OCT 21: 3.8600 TONNES TO OCT 20 QUEUE JUMP OF 7.695 TONNE
SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER STANDING:
NOVEMBER WHERE INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING IS REGISTERED AT 15.651 TONNES OF GOLD FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S QUEUE JUMP OF 2 TONNES AND FOLLOWED BY ALL OTHER NOV QUEUE JUMPS OF 21.3775 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR TWO EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE FOR 4.5596 TONNES.
/STANDING ADVANCES TO 43.9716 TONNES OF GOLD.
DECEMBER: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY IN THIS ACTIVE MONTH IS 83.813 TONNES FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 0.05 TONNES QUEUE JUMP. THIS FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPING: 37.163 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 115.390 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FOUR EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE OF 6.559 TONNES//NEW STANDING THUS INCREASES TO 121.977 TONNES
JANUARY: INITITAL STANDING: 13.785 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR QUEUE JUMP OF 0.000 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF 30.7117TONNES //NEW TOTAL QUEUE JUMPS 30.7117//NORMAL DELIVERY OF GOLD ADVANCES TO 36.8958 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR SIX EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 22.315 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 59.2108 TONNES.
FEBRUARY: . FEBRUARY: INITIAL STANDING: 93.566 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP OF 0.0248 TONNES WHICH MUST BE ADDED ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF 41.2087 TONNES QUEUE JUMP//TOTAL QUEUE JUMP FOR FEB::ADVANCES TO 41.233 TONNES///STANDING ADVANCES TO 126.628 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR SIX EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 31.251 TONNES/NEW STANDING RISES TO 157.879 TONNES
MARCH: INITIAL STANDING FOR GOLD: 8.099 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP OF 0.2320 TONNES AND THEN WE ADD OUR THREE EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 22.3818 TONNES////NEW STANDING FOR GOLD ADVANCES TO: 67.6648TONNES WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY HUGE FOR A NON ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH!!
APRIL 2026: INITIAL STANDING FOR GOLD: 52.20 TONNES FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S SMALL 500 OZ QUEUE JUMP/ TO WHICH WE ADD OUR TWO EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCES TOTALLING 223,900 OZ OR 6.964 TONNES//STANDING ADVANCES TO 77.726 TONNES WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY HUGE
MAY: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD WILLING TO STAND: 12.24 TONNES OF GOLD TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT HUGE QUEUE JUMP OF 34,500 OZ (1.073 TONNES) TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FIVE EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE FOR 792,000 OZ OR 24.635 TONNES////NEW TOTALS STANDING FOR GOLD ADVANCES TO 51.554 TONNESS
JUNE: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD WILLING TO STAND: 64.496 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP OF 1.928 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 115.844 TONNES// TOTAL QUEUE JUMPING FOR THE MONTH; 51.216 TONNES OR AVERAGING 3.414 TONNES PER DAY IN JUNE.
HERE ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT STOOD FOR DELIVERY IN THE PRECEDING 48 MONTHS 2021-2024
DEC 2021: 112.217 TONNES
NOV. 8.074 TONNES
OCT. 57.707 TONNES
SEPT: 11.9160 TONNES
AUGUST: 80.489 TONNES
JULY 7.2814 TONNES
JUNE: 72.289 TONNES
MAY 5.77 TONNES
APRIL 95.331 TONNES
MARCH 30.205 TONNES
FEB ’21. 113.424 TONNES
JAN ’21: 6.500 TONNES.
TOTAL YEAR 2021 (JAN- DEC): 601.213 TONNES
YEAR 2022: STANDING FOR GOLD/COMEX
JANUARY 2022 17.79 TONNES
FEB 2022: 59.023 TONNES
MARCH: 36.678 TONNES
APRIL: 85.340 TONNES FINAL.
MAY: 20.11 TONNES FINAL
JUNE: 74.933 TONNES FINAL
JULY 29.987 TONNES FINAL
AUGUST:104.979 TONNES//FINAL
SEPT. 38.1158 TONNES
OCT: 77.390 TONNES/ FINAL
NOV 27.110 TONNES/FINAL
Dec. 64.000 tonnes
(TOTAL YEAR 656.076 TONNES)
2023:STANDING FOR GOLD/COMEX
JAN/2023: 20.559 tonnes
FEB 2023: 47.744 tonnes
MAR: 19.0637 TONNES
APRIL: 75.676 tonnes
MAY: 19.094 TONNES + 1.244 tonnes of exchange for risk = 20.338
JUNE: 64.354 TONNES
JULY: 10.2861 TONNES
AUGUST: 38.855 TONNES(INCLUDING .6842 EXCHANGE FOR RISK)
SEPT: 15.281 TONNES FINAL
OCT. 35.869 TONNES + 1.665 EXCHANGE FOR RISK =37.0355 tonnes
DEC. 47.073 + 4.634 TONNES OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK = 51.707 TONNES
TOTAL 2023 YEAR : 436.546 TONNES
2024/STANDING FOR GOLD/COMEX
JAN ’24. 22.706 TONNES
FEB. ’24: 66.276TONNES (INCLUDES 1.723 TONNES EX. FOR RISK)
MARCH: 18.8398 TONNES + 1.1695 EX FOR RISK = 20.093 TONNES
APRIL: 2024: 53.673TONNES FINAL
MAY/ 2024 8.5536 TONNES + 3.3716 TONNES EX FOR RISK/= 11.9325
JUNE; 95.578 TONNES. + 1.045 TONNES EXCHANGE FOR RISK =96.623 THIS IS THE HIGHEST RECORDED GOLD STANDING SINCE AUGUST 2022
JULY: 11.692 TONNES
AUGUST 69.602 TONNES//FINAL STANDING
SEPT. 13.164 TONNES.
OCT 39.474 TONNES + + 20.917 TONNES EXCHANGE FOR RISK =60.391 TONNES
NOV . 11.265 TONNES +4.665 TONNES EXCHANGE FOR RISK/TUESDAY + 3.11 TONNES OF EX. FOR RISK/PRIOR = 19.0425 TONNES
DEC: 80.4230 TONNES PLUS DEC MONTH EXCHANGE FOR RISK TOTAL 14.6836 TONNES EQUALS 95.1066 TONNES
total year 2024: 540.30 tonnes
COMEX GOLD TRADING BEGINNING JUNE,. CONTRACT;
THE SPECS/HFT WERE SUCCESSFUL IN LOWERING GOLD’S PRICE( IT FELL BY $135.40)
WE HAD HUGE T.A.S. SPREADER LIQUIDATION THURSDAY // COMEX SESSION// WITH OUR LOSS IN PRICE , OUR SPECULATORS WENT TO THE SHORT SIDE LED BY THE NOSE BY OUR HIGH FREQUENCY MOMENTUM PLAYERS WITH CENTRAL BANKERS TAKING THE LONG SIDE. THE SPECS WILL BE ANNIHILATED.
OTHER EASTERN CENTRAL BANKS TENDERED FOR PHYSICAL EVERY NIGHT WHICH ALSO EXPLAINS THE HUGE NUMBER OF TONNES OF GOLD THAT STOOD FOR GOLD DURING THESE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS
THURSDAY NIGHT//FRIDAY MORNING
THE CROOKS COULD NOT STOP OTHER CENTRAL BANK LONGS, SEIZING THE MOMENT, THEY EXERCISED AGAIN FOR PHYSICAL IN A BIG WAY TENDERING FOR PHYSICAL THURSDAY EVENING //FRIDAY MORNING AND THUS OUR HUGE NUMBER OF GOLD CONTRACTS STANDING FOR DELIVERY AT THE COMEX. CENTRAL BANKERS WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE GOLD
ALL OF THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH OUR LOSS IN PRICE TO THE TUNE OF $135.40
WE HAD XXX CONTRACTS REMOVED FROM THE COMEX TRADES TO OPEN INTEREST (CROOKS)//PRELIMINARY TO FINAL.
NET GAIN ON THE TWO EXCHANGES: 8447 CONTRACTS OR 844,700 OZ (26.27 TONNES)
Total monthly oz gold served (contracts) so far this month
37,218 notices 3,721,800 oz 115.7636 TONNES
Total accumulative withdrawals of gold from the Dealers inventory this month
NIL oz
Total accumulative withdrawal of gold from the Customer inventory this month
dealer deposits: 0
0 ENTRY
DEPOSITS/CUSTOMER
ENTRIES: 0
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
comex withdrawal
1 ENTRIES
i) Loomis: 10,449.075 oz (225 kilobars)
total withdrawal 10,449.075 oz
adjustments: 1// dealer to customer
a) JPMORGAN: 96,942.359 oz
total dealer to customer 96.942.359 oz
COMEX IS DRAINING GOLD
chaos inside the comex
THE FRONT MONTH OF JUNE OI STANDS AT 654 CONTRACTS HAVING A LOSS OF 514 CONTRACTS.
WE HAD 1134 CONTRACTS SERVED ON THURSDAY, SO WE GAINED 620 CONTRACTS OR 62,000 OZ. (1.928 TONNES) EXERCISED A QUEUE JUMP WHERE THEY WILL TAKE PHYSICAL GOLD ON THIS SIDE OF THE POND. THIS IS NO DOUBT CENTRAL BANKS STANDING FOR PHYSICAL GOLD.
JULY GAINED 638 CONTRACTS UP TO 5950 CONTRACTS.
AUGUST GAINED 5578 CONTRACTS TO AN OI OF 265,518
.
We had 628 contracts filed for today representing 62,800oz
Today, 0 notice(s) were issued from J.P.Morgan dealer and 595 notices issued from their client or customer account. The total of all issuance by all participants equate to 628 contract(s) of which 0 notices were stopped (received) by j.P. Morgan dealer and 77 notice(s) was (were) stopped (received) by J.P.Morgan//customer account
To calculate the INITIAL total number of gold ounces standing for JUNE. /2026. contract month, we take the total number of notices filed so far for the month (37,218) to which we add the difference between the open interest for the front month of JUNE(654 CONTRACTS) minus the number of notices served upon today 628 x 100 oz per contract) equals 3,724,400 OZ OR (115.844 Tonnes of gold)
THUS: INITIAL total number of gold ounces standing for JUNE. /2026. contract month, we take the total number of notices filed so far for the month (37,218) to which we add the difference between the open interest for the front month of JUNE( 654 CONTRACTS) minus the number of notices served upon today 628 x 100 oz per contract) equals 3,724,400 OZ OR (115.844Tonnes of gold)
new total of gold standing in JUNE becomes 115.844 TONNES//
TOTAL COMEX GOLD STANDING FOR JUNE 115.844 TONNES TONNES WHICH IS NOW REALLY HUGE FOR THIS ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH OF JUNE.
confirmed volume THURSDAY confirmed 156.619// poor// many have left the arena
COMEX GOLD INVENTORIES/CLASSIFICATION
NEW PLEDGED GOLD:
241,794.285 oz NOW PLEDGED /HSBC 5.94 TONNES
204,937.290 OZ PLEDGED MANFRA 3.08 TONNES
83,657.582 PLEDGED JPMorgan no 1 1.690 tonnes
265,999.054, oz JPM No 2
1,152,376.639 oz pledged Brinks/
Manfra: 33,758.550 oz
Delaware: 193.721 oz
International Delaware:: 11,188.542 oz
total pledged gold: 1,693,905.420 oz 52.687 tonnes pledged gold lowers
total inventories in gold declining rapidly
total pledged gold: 1,693.905.420 tonnes oz 52.687 tonnes
TOTAL OF ALL GOLD ELIGIBLE AND REGISTERED GOLD 27,998,314.759oz
TOTAL REGISTERED GOLD 14,984167.318 tonnes (466.070 tonnes)
TOTAL OF ALL ELIGIBLE GOLD 13,004,142.441 oz//eligible gold leaving hand over fist
REGISTERED GOLD THAT CAN BE SERVED UPON 13,290,262oz ((REG GOLD- PLEDGED GOLD)=
413.382 Tonnes //
total inventories in gold declining rapidly
SILVER COMEX
JUNE DELIVERY MONTH
JUNE 19
Silver
Ounces
Withdrawals from Dealers Inventory
NIL oz
Withdrawals from Customer Inventory
0 entries
Deposits to the Dealer Inventory
0 entries
Deposits to the Customer Inventory
DEPOSIT ENTRIES/CUSTOMER ACCOUNT
ONE ENTRY
ONE ENTRY
i)Into Asahi: 602,315,390 oz total deposit: 602,315.330 oz
No of oz served today (contracts)
12 CONTRACT(S) (60,000 OZ)
No of oz to be served (notices)
4 Contract (20,000 oz)
Total monthly oz silver served (contracts)
2407 contracts 12.035 MILLION oz
Total accumulative withdrawal of silver from the Dealers inventory this month
NIL oz
Total accumulative withdrawal of silver from the Customer inventory this month
DEPOSITS INTO DEALER ACCOUNTS
0 ENTRIES
DEPOSIT ENTRIES/CUSTOMER ACCOUNT
ENTRY:1
ONE ENTRY
i)Into Asahi: 602,315,390 oz total deposit: 602,315.330 o
total deposit 605,069.076 oz
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
withdrawals: customer side/eligible
0 entries
adjustments 1
dealer to customer:
Brinks 33.157.800 oz
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
TOTAL REGISTERED SILVER: 86.213 MILLION OZ//.TOTAL REG + ELIGIBLE. 321.925 Million oz
registered silver dropping in numbers
CALCULATIONS FOR THE NEW STANDING FOR SILVER FOR JUNE
silver open interest data:
FRONT MONTH OF JUNE /2026 OI: 6 OPEN INTEREST CONTRACTS FOR A LOSS OF 12 CONTRACTS.
WE HAD 12 NOTICES SERVED ON THURSDAY SO WE NEITHER GAINED NOR LOST ANY CONTRACTS OR AN ADDITIONAL 0 OZ WILL STAND AS A QUEUE JUMP AT THE SILVER COMEX.
JULY SAW A LOSS OF 1245 CONTRACTS DOWN TO 39,356 CONTRACTS.
AUGUST SAW A GAIN 0F 18 CONTRACTS UP TO 987…
TOTAL NUMBER OF NOTICES FILED FOR TODAY: 2 or 10,000 OZ oz
CONFIRMED volume THURSDAY; 64,376// fair
XXX
AND NOW JUNE. DELIVERIES:
To calculate the number of silver ounces that will stand for delivery in JUNE. we take the total number of notices filed for the month so far at 2409 X5,000 oz = 12.045 MILLION oz
to which we add the difference between the open interest for the front month of JUNE(6) AND the number of notices served upon today (2 )x (5000 oz)
Thus the standings for silver for the JUNE 2026 contract month: (2409 )Notices served so far) x 5000 oz + OI for the front month of JUNE ( 6) minus number of notices served upon today (2)x 5000 oz equals silver standing for the JUNE..contract month equating to 12.065 MILLION OZ.+
We must also keep in mind that there is considerable silver standing in London coming from our longs
There are ONLY 86.213 million oz of registered silver
JPMorgan as a percentage of total silver: 138.479/321.925 million: 43.02%
The record level of silver open interest is 234,787 contracts set on April 21./2017 with the price on that day at $18.42.
The previous record was 224,540 contracts with the price at that time of $20.44.
BOTH GLD AND SLV ARE MASSIVE FRAUD
JUNE 19 /2026/WITH GOLD UP $36.85 /HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF 7.421 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD/./ //// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1020.49 TONNES
JUNE 18 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $135.20 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF 0.856 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD/./ //// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1013.069 TONNES
JUNE 17 /2026/WITH GOLD UP $20.80 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.427 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD/./ //// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1012.213 TONNES
JUNE 16 /2026/WITH GOLD UP $4.45 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: //// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1013.640 TONNES
JUNE 15 /2026/WITH GOLD UP $111.10 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: //// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1013.640 TONNES
JUNE 12 /2026/WITH GOLD UP $123.30 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: //// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1013.640 TONNES
JUNE 11 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $15.15 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.855 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD//// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1013.640 TONNES
JUNE 10 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $153.05 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.426 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD//// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1016.495 TONNES
JUNE 9 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $75.60 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1019.921 TONNES
JUNE 8 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $3.05 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A MASSIVE WITHDRAWAL OF 6.936 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1019.921 TONNES
JUNE 5 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $134;85 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1026.857 TONNES
JUNE 4 /2026/WITH GOLD UP $39.25 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.143 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1026.857 TONNES
JUNE 3 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $51.80 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.856 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1028.000 TONNES
JUNE 2 /2026/WITH GOLD UP $7.45 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.712 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD// ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1028.856 TONNES
JUNE 1 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $79.30 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1032.568 TONNES
MAY 29 /2026/WITH GOLD UP $59.20 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.285 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1032.568 TONNES
MAY 28 /2026/WITH GOLD UP $52.00 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1034.853 TONNES
MAY 27 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $51.00 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1034.853 TONNES
MAY 26 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $25.45 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.9988 TONNES OUT OF THE GLD ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1034.853 TONNES
MAY 22 /2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $13.45 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1036.851 TONNES
MAY 21 /2026/WITH GOLD UP $7.60 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD: ./ //:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1036.851 TONNES
GLD INVENTORY: 1020.49 TONNES, TONIGHTS TOTAL GOLD INVENTORY
SILVER
JUNE 19 WITH SILVER UP $1.11: : NO CHANGES IN INVENTORY AT THJE SLV/./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 480.302 MILLION OZ
JUNE 18 WITH SILVER DOWN $4.80: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: HUGE CHANGES IN INVENTORY A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.086 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV././ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 480.302 MILLION OZ
JUNE 17 WITH SILVER UP $0.79: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: NO CHANGE IN INVENTORY AT THE SLV /./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 481.388 MILLION OZ
JUNE 16 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.13: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A DEPOSIT OF 0.362 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV /./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 481.388 MILLION OZ
JUNE 15 WITH SILVER UP $3.25: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.357 MILLION OZ OUT THE SLV /./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 481.026 MILLION OZ
JUNE 12 WITH SILVER UP $3.34: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.769 MILLION OZ OUT THE SLV /./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 482.383 MILLION OZ
JUNE 11 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.12: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.226 MILLION OZ OUT THE SLV /./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 483.152 MILLION OZ
JUNE 10 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.50: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.909 MILLION OZ OUT THE SLV /./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 483.378 MILLION OZ
JUNE 9 WITH SILVER DOWN $3.35: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A DEPOSIT OF 1.407 MILLION OZ INTO INTO THE SLV /./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 484.287 MILLION OZ
JUNE 8 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.52: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 543,000 OZ FROM THE SLV /./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 482.880 MILLION OZ
JUNE 5 WITH SILVER DOWN $4.86: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV /./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 483.423 MILLION OZ
JUNE 4 WITH SILVER UP $0.52: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV >> A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.432 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV/./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 483.423 MILLION OZ
JUNE 3 WITH SILVER DOWN $2.55: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV >> /./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 483.423 MILLION OZ
JUNE 2 WITH SILVER UP $0.25: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV >> A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.2222 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV/./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 484.855 MILLION OZ
JUNE 1 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.52: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLVA WITHDRAWAL OF 1.9 MILLION OZ FORM THE SLV/./ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 486.077 MILLION OZ
MAY 29 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.03: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV/ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 487.977 MILLION OZ
MAY 28 WITH SILVER UP $1.02: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV/ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 487.977 MILLION OZ
MAY 27 WITH SILVER DOWN $1.61: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.176 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV/ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 487.977 MILLION OZ
MAY 26 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.14: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A DEPOSIT OF 1.131 OF 0.315 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV/ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 489.153 MILLION OZ
MAY 22 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.26: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.315 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV/ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 488.022 MILLION OZ
MAY 21 WITH SILVER UP $0.64: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:/ // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 488.338 MILLION OZ
Already in global supply deficit for seven years, China is ranking silver as a strategic mineral and the US labels it as critical. The global supply/demand imbalance is rapidly deteriorating.
Markets seem blind to a supply crisis being engineered by China. Let’s walk through the table below to illustrate the point:
Between 2021-25 China consistently exported all of her production and then some. In previous years, she had accumulated significant stocks, which kept a lid on global prices during the deficit years of excess demand identified in the Silver Institute’s annual surveys.
That policy ended in September-October last year. We are aware of China’s policy on licencing rare earths announced on 9th October, but silver export licencing restricted to a state-trading whitelist was to apply from 1st January. But the spike in London lease rates for silver coincided with the rare earth announcement, which suggests that insiders knew what was coming for silver. Export quotas were probably being restricted at that time ahead of the new licencing system, bearing in mind that they had to be approved by government.
The pace of silver exports had already been hotting up, because the 4,600-tonne figure for 2025 would have effectively been for the first three quarters, indicating that global demand was already accelerating and that China’s policy of capping silver prices was coming under additional strain. Whether it was this or a reluctance to supply silver that would end up in a US strategic stockpile, there were two very good reasons for a change in China’s silver export policy.
We see this in the import numbers for the current year to April, which at 1,626 tonnes shows imports soaring nearly 20 times last year’s on an annualised basis. There are no publicly available figures for exports as yet, but we can be certain that they will have declined significantly, possibly to a trickle. But the explosion in the silver price commenced on 9th October, rising from $49 to a record $54 in a matter of days, and after a brief correction powered on to $121 on 29th January. This timing coincided with the change in rare earth export policies.
The chances that China will return to silver price suppression appear slim. It would only be part of a general appeasement with the US on rare earth and other export policies. China’s wisdom of holding onto strategic stocks was later confirmed when Trump attacked Iran and the subsequent disruption of energy and other vital industrial supplies occurred, particularly in this context for sulphur.
About half the world’s seaborne supply of elemental sulphur comes from the Persian Gulf, from which shipments have almost completely stopped. As a substantial sulphur importer for both fertilisers and sulphuric acid production, China has ceased sulphuric acid exports entirely. This has a major impact on refining non-ferrous ores, particularly copper, lead, and zinc, from which 72% of mined silver is extracted. Since Hormuz was closed in March their prices have soared as the charts below illustrate, while silver’s has not.
China’s withdrawal from sulphuric acid exports removes the largest global supplier for industrial commodity markets. In 2024 she exported $349 million’s worth, while Chile and Peru ,the two largest exporters of refined copper, imported $487 million’s worth of the acid.
The price of sulphur has nearly tripled so far this year from CNY3,500 to CNY9,000 currently, having peaked at CNY11,000 last Monday, ahead of the signing of the US-Iran MoU. But with Hormuz closed again due to Israel’s continuing attacks and occupation of southern Lebanon, sulphur prices are likely to rise again.
For major importers such as Chile and Peru, sulphur and sulphuric acid supplies will have to be rationed and prioritised between fertilisers and copper refining. The risk that refining facilities will simply shut down due to lack of the necessary chemicals at any price is increasing.
Given these disruptions facing the major sources of mined silver, it is hardly surprising that their prices have risen significantly since the closure of Hormuz, but a clear anomaly that silver’s has not. It appears to be part of a disconnection between capital markets and their theoretical pricing, and what’s happening in the industrial world. That being the case, even without considering investment demand, silver appears to be substantially undervalued in capital markets, and physical bullion should be bought.
Agri Markets Hit By “Aggressive Positioning Washout” But Supply Risks Linger
Saturday, Jun 20, 2026 – 03:45 PM
The Bloomberg Agriculture Spot Index has nearly reversed its US-Iran war gains in recent weeks, as sliding fertilizer and energy prices, along with an interim peace deal between Washington and Tehran, have reopened the Strait of Hormuz and initiated the normalization process.
Daryna Kovalska, a commodity strategist at BofA Global Research, told clients that, with agricultural markets having undergone an aggressive positioning washout, there is reason to believe the selloff in the corn market is overdone.
Kovalska pointed out that while improved US rains, easing geopolitical risks, and lower urea prices have stripped weather and war premiums from the market, her team believes risks have been deferred rather than eliminated. She remains constructive on corn, while trimming its 2026 upside target to $5.50 per bushel from $6.00.
More color here from her note titled “Corn market cools, but risks simmer beneath“:
Ag markets hit by sharp spec long liquidation…
Agricultural markets have undergone an aggressive positioning washout, with net spec longs down 88% in three weeks. Corn hasn’t been spared: managed money flipped from decade-high longs to a net short by June 9, sending Dec 26 prices to a low of $4.4/bu.
…but we believe the corn selloff is overdone
Corn sentiment has softened, as geopolitical and weather risks have eased. But risks have not disappeared; rather, they look deferred and could still trigger a supply shock. We remain constructive, though, trimming our 2026 upside to $5.5/bu from $6.0/bu, supported by three key arguments.
1: Weather risk premium has been stripped out too early…
Improved US rains have eased weather risks in the corn market, but threats persist in certain states. Nebraska (12% of US production) remains in severe drought, with crop conditions 20% below average, while South Dakota and Kansas ratings (another 12% of output) are at risk of deteriorating without sustained rainfall.
…especially with an unprecedented El Nino unfolding
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology continues to warn of an historic El Niño event. Brazil’s corn output could be hit hard, declining 10% yoy in 2026/27E. Iowa state also shows a pattern of sharply depleted soil moisture during analogues.
2: Brazil fertilizer supply remains a concern
Urea prices have eased, but despite a potential US-Iran deal to be signed on June 19, the Strait of Hormuz still needs to be de-mined and resume operations, with timing critical as Brazil’s peak dispatch window approaches. Substitution efforts remain insufficient, with nitrogen imports still down 15% yoy, putting first crop corn yields at risk of a 10% decline if Gulf urea shipments do not restart before the end of July. Phosphate constraints are compounding risks to the new crop, which could fall 10 mn t yoy.
3: US-China $17bn deal could upend the market
The White House expects China to buy at least $17bn of US ags annually in 2026 (pro- rated) and 2027-28. Mirroring Phase One, we think US corn exports to China could surge from zero in 2025 to 5.5 mn t in 2026 and 16 mn t thereafter. While purchases have yet to begin, implementation would materially tighten the US corn market.
Kovalska provides her team’s view from macro to crude to softs:
Here’s her price forecasts across softs:
With the war-risk premium evaporating from agricultural markets, Kovalska believes that lingering risks around weather, fertilizer flows, El Niño, and Chinese demand could still combine to tighten global supply and push prices higher again.
END
YOUR EARLY CURRENCY VALUES/GOLD AND SILVER PRICING/ASIAN AND EUROPEAN BOURSE MOVEMENTS/AND INTEREST RATE SETTINGS MONDAY MORNING.7:30 AM
SHANGHAI CLOSED UP 72.62 PTS OR 1.78%
HANG SENG CLOSED DOWN 156.29 PTS OR 0.65%
Nikkei CLOSED UP 1321.94 PTS OR 1.86%
//Australia’s all ordinaries CLOSED UP 0.02%
//Chinese yuan (ONSHORE) CLOSED UPP 6.7754
/ OFFSHORE CLOSED UP AT 6.7768 Oil UP TO 77.00 dollars per barrel for WTI and BRENT UP TO 79.10 Stocks in Europe OPENED ALL MOSTLY RED
ONSHORE USA/ YUAN// WITH YUAN TRADING UP (6/7754) OFFSHORE YUAN TRADING UP TO 6.7768 ONSHORE YUAN TRADING ABOVE LEVEL OF OFF SHORE AND UP ON THE DOLLAR// / AND THUS STRONGER/OFF SHORE YUAN TRADING UP AGAINST US DOLLAR/ AND THUS STRONGER
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
YOUR EARLY CURRENCY VALUES/GOLD AND SILVER PRICING/ASIAN AND EUROPEAN BOURSE MOVEMENTS/AND INTEREST RATE SETTINGS MONDAY MORNING.7:30 AM
ONSHORE YUAN: CLOSED UP AT 6.7754
OFFSHORE YUAN: UP TO 6.7768
1.HANG SANG CLOSED DOWN 156.29 PTS OR 0.65%
2. Nikkei closed UP 1321.94 PTS OR 1.86%
WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE OIL UP TO 77.00
BRENT; 79.10
3. Europe stocks SO FAR: ALL MOSTLY RED
USA dollar INDEX UP TO 100.71/// EURO FALLS TO 1.1449 DOWN 9 BASIS PTS
3b Japan 10 YR bond yield:RISES TO. +2.683 UP 4 FULL BASIS PTS/ VERY TROUBLESOME//Japan buying 100% of bond issuance)/Japanese YEN vs USA CROSS NOW AT 161.728… JAPANESE YEN NOW FALLING AS WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE ENDING OF THE YEN CARRY TRADE AGAIN AND THE REPATRIATION OF YEN DENOMINATED BONDS TRADING IN THE USA/EUROPE. JAPAN 30 YR BOND YIELD: 3.862 UP 2 FULL BASIS PTS
3c Nikkei now ABOVE 17,000
3d USA/Yen rate now well ABOVE the important 120 barrier this morning
3e Gold DOWN /JAPANESE Yen DOWN CHINESE ONSHORE YUAN: XXX( XXX) AND OFFSHORE: DOWN AT 6.7893
3f Japan is to buy INFINITE TRILLION YEN worth of BONDS. Japan’s GDP equals 5 trillion USA
Japan to buy 100% of all new Japanese debt and NOW they will have OVER 50% of all Japanese debt.
3g Oil UP for WTI and BRENT UP this morning
3h European bond buying continues to push yields HIGHER on all fronts in the EMU. German 10yr bund YIELD UP TO +2.9700// Italian 10 Yr bond yield UP to 3.688// SPAIN 10 YR BOND YIELD UP TO 3.439%
3i Greek 10 year bond yield UP TO 3.636%
3j Gold at $4205.80 //Silver at: 66.31 1 am est) SILVER NEXT RESISTANCE LEVEL AT $100.00
3k USA vs Russian rouble;// Russian rouble DOWN 1 AND 21/ 100 roubles/74.21
3m oil (WTI) into the 77 dollar handle for WTI and 80 handle for Brent/
3n Higher foreign deposits moving out of China// huge risk of outflows and a currency depreciation. This can spell financial disaster for the rest of the world/
JAPAN ON JAN 29.2016 CONTINUES NIRP. THIS MORNING RAISES AMOUNT OF BONDS THAT THEY WILL PURCHASE UP TO .5% ON THE 10 YR BOND///YEN TRADES TO 161.728 // 10 YEAR YIELD AFTER FIRST BREAKING .54% LAST YEAR NOW EXCEEDS THAT LEVEL TO 2.680% UP 3 BASIS PTS STILL ON CENTRAL BANK (JAPAN) INTERVENTION//YEN CARRY TRADE NOW UNWINDING//YEN BOND TRADING OVERSEAS REPATRIATED.//JAPAN 30 YR: 3.862 UP 2 PTS..: USA/SF this 0.8081 as the Swiss Franc . Euro vs SF: 0.9252
USA 10 YR BOND YIELD: 4.504 UP 4 BASIS PTS…
USA 30 YR BOND YIELD: 4.926 UP 3 BASIS PTS/
USA 2 YR BOND YIELD: 4.224 UP 5 BASIS PTS
USA DOLLAR VS TURKISH LIRA: 46.46 UP 1 BASIS PTS/LIRA GETTING KILLED//IDIOTS FOR SELLING GOLD AND USA DOLLAR RESERVES.
10 YR UK BOND YIELD: 4.8498 UP 1 PTS
30 YR UK BOND YIELD: 5.549 UP 1 BASIS PTS
10 YR CANADA BOND YIELD: 3.397 UP 2 BASIS PTS
5 YR CANADA BOND YIELD: 3.046 UP 1 BASIS PTS.
1a New York Opening report
1b) European opening report
US indices quiet as energy trickles lower; GBP unreactive as UK PM steps down – Newsquawk US Market Open
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 – 05:53 AM
Over the weekend, Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz amidst continued Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon. This led to Brent Aug’26 to gap higher by c. USD 2/bbl.
Thereafter, attention turned to negotiations, which yielded progress and improved the geopolitical mood. Brent Aug’26 then moved into the red, currently -1.8%.
China added 10 US firms to its export control list, including USA Rare Earths, while the Finance Ministry announced it would take relevant measures against 46 US companies in government procurement activities.
European bourses trade tentatively alongside similar action across US equity futures.
DXY is a touch firmer this morning; USD/JPY continues to rise, and eyes 162.00 to the upside.
Global fixed benchmarks are mixed; Gilts digest UK PM Starmer’s decision to resign.
Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian Inflation (May), EU Consumer Confidence Flash (Jun), CNB Minutes (Jun), and speakers including Fed’s Waller & ECB’s Lagarde.
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EUROPEAN TRADE
IRAN CONFLICT
WEEKEND UPDATES:
US and Iran talks opened in Switzerland on Sunday after US VP Vance arrived in Switzerland and the Iranian delegation led by chief negotiator Ghalibaf, which included Foreign Minister Araghchi, arrived on Saturday, while Pakistan’s Premier Sharif and military chief Munir travelled to Switzerland to join the US-Iran talks.
Iran’s delegation reportedly left the negotiation site in protest against statements by US President Trump, while Fars also reported that Iran halted talks with the US after Trump threatened strikes over Hezbollah’s actions in Lebanon. Iran said Trump’s threat is a blatant violation of the MoU and halted talks in Switzerland, while it is reviewing a response to Trump’s threats. However, sources cited by Al Hadath later stated that the Iranian delegation had not left the negotiation headquarters at the Burgenstock resort and the Iranian delegation head discussed a joint statement draft with mediators.
US President Trump threatened to resume bombing and take over the Strait of Hormuz if a deal is not reached, while Trump said the US may take tolls if it has to and that he has a 60-day option, in which he can do whatever after it. Trump stated he spoke with Iranian officials and used expletive language in the call with Iranian officials on Hormuz, as well as threatened that they won’t have a country if Hormuz is closed, according to Fox.
US President Trump posted that Iran must immediately stop their proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble, or else the US would hit Iran very hard again, “just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump separately commented that there will be no tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, unless they are imposed by the US.
UKMTO reported an incident in which a cargo vessel was approached by a craft with six armed persons onboard 92 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s Mukalla in the Gulf of Aden.
Israeli army chief said the Lebanon ceasefire is fragile and forces remain ready for combat.
Israeli military convoy reportedly entered southern Syria’s Quneitra region, near the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
MONDAY UPDATES:
Negotiation Process:
Qatar and Pakistan issue joint statement on conclusion of US-Iran talks in Switzerland, while Qatar said first session of the US-Iran high level talks has concluded and that talks were conducted in a positive, constructive atmosphere. said:. Technical talks are to continue for remainder of the week. US and Iran agreed to de-confliction cell over Lebanon. Encouraging progress has been made, including creation of a mechanism for further technical talks. Parties agree to establish high-level committee to provide political oversight on mediation. High-level committee agrees on roadmap to reach final deal within 60 days.
“The negotiations of the main Iranian delegation in Switzerland have ended, however, experts are still in Switzerland and are following up on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding”, Tasnim reported citing sources.
Iranian negotiating team member said executive procedures about the release of Iranian frozen funds have taken place with the Qatari delegation and that a draft has been finalised regarding waivers of Iranian oil sanctions, which will be issued soon, although negotiations about other subjects will not take place if the war does not end in Lebanon.
“No negotiations have taken place on the nuclear file so far”, Tasnim reported citing a source.
US diplomat said talks included robust discussions on a nuclear deal and enforcing the ceasefire in southern Lebanon, while talks also involved clarifying the messaging on the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, a US official involved in the negotiations told Al Jazeera that they held in-depth discussions on all elements of the nuclear agreement, and that mechanisms have been worked on to prevent escalation and ensure the strait remains fully open.
Pakistani Army Chief said negotiating parties reached success stage, according to Al Arabiya.
US official involved in the negotiations told Al Jazeera that they held in-depth discussions on all elements of the nuclear agreement, adds mechanisms have been worked on to prevent escalation and ensure the strait remains fully open.
Sources cited by Al Arabiya said an anticipated statement will be issued by the Iranian and American negotiators and the mediators.
Sources cited by Al Hadath stated that the Iranian delegation has not left the negotiation headquarters at the Bürgenstock resort and Iranian delegation head discusses joint statement draft with mediators. Tasnim reported Iranian delegation refused to return to negotiations but message exchanges continue through intermediaries.
Iranian Commentary:
Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi posted Pakistani and Qatari mediation delivered major progress to end Lebanon War, oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the technical team is to continue work, but negotiation delegation work has concluded, adds significant progress achieved in quadrilateral talks in Switzerland. Spokesman said groundwork for starting negotiations for the final agreement was discussed.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Baghaei said Iran is working on safe passage mechanism for Hormuz and that Iran reported progress on oil sales and asset unfreezing, adds the war in all fronts, including Lebanon, must end.
Iranian Supreme Leader adviser Rezaei said the US is responsible for Israel’s actions in Lebanon and Iran will hold the US accountable in the event of a threat against Iran.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi to lead the technical team in Switzerland, Sky News Arabia reported.
Iran resumed oil loading from Kharg Island after about a six-week halt, following the lifting of the US blockade of its ports.
Lebanon/Israel:
Al Jadeed News cites Haaretz source stating the Israeli army will be forced to partially withdraw from the Blue Line in Lebanon.
Israeli army will be forced to partially withdraw from the yellow line (buffer zone), Al Jazeera reported, citing Israel’s Haaretz sources.
Israeli Foreign Minister Saar told his New Zealand counterpart, “Israel will respect the ceasefire in Lebanon as long as it won’t be breached by Hezbollah.”.
Israeli political and security cabinet will convene on Thursday amid US-Iran talks, N12 reported.
Israeli officials are dismissing reported of an agreement to withdraw from certain points in southern Lebanon, amid a lack of US pressure to do, Maariv’s Barsky reported. Officials add, “because in Washington they understand the Israeli position: no partial withdrawal, no point-specific withdrawal, and no diplomatic ‘gesture’.”. And, “as long as the Hezbollah threat persists, there is no change in the deployment of forces and no intention to relinquish the security positions in southern Lebanon.”.
Lebanese presidency discussed the issue of consolidating the ceasefire in Lebanon, in a call with Qatari PM and US’s Vance.
Other:
Two South Korean vessels were said to have passed through the Strait of Hormuz after US and Iran signed a ceasefire MoU.
Three India-linked supertankers re-emerged in the Gulf of Oman, which suggests an increase in traffic through the waterway.
EQUITIES
European bourses (STOXX 600 -0.2%) began the session on a muted footing, as markets digest the volatile geopolitical situation (see above).
European sectors began the session mixed. Tech tops the pile with ASML +1.5% after it denied shipping EUV lithography machines, or any related component, to China, following US Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s accusations. Citi this morning wrote “we find it very hard to believe that they would jeopardise their position in the industry”. The sectoral laggard is Construction, one of its largest constituents Holcim -1.0% (9% weighting), after RBC downgraded Holcim’s PT, citing the completion of the acquisition of Xella and an update to Q2 results model.
US equity futures are trading tentatively on either side of the unchanged mark, following similar action seen in Europe.
DXY is firmer against all peers as it stabilises towards recent highs above 100. JPY is the underperformer after unsuccessful jawboning attempts, NOK holds on to gains after crude gapped higher at the re-open.
USD-specific drivers are light, focus overnight was on geopolitics with US-Iran talks over the weekend whipsawing crude benchmarks. The main data point this week is PCE on Thursday, the session today sees remarks from Fed’s Waller, aside from this, the session is likely to be quiet and driven by geopolitical moves in oil/yields. DXY gapped higher at the APAC re-open and rose throughout the European morning to a peak of 101.01. Since this peak, the index has slipped and now more towards the unchanged mark.
UK PM Starmer announces he will step down, remaining as a caretaker until a new leader is elected (Nominations begin on 9th July). Burnham is overwhelmingly considered as the front-runner, with GBP and Gilts seeing underperformance in recent weeks. There was no reaction to the announcement from Starmer himself, as it had been widely touted in recent days/weeks, especially following Burnham’s convincing victory in the Makerfield by-election. Given Burnham is nearly certain to become the next PM, focus is on his cabinet appointments, specifically his Chancellor pick. Over the weekend, the FT and Times made it clear that Miliband would be the least market friendly, citing comments from FTSE 100 executives; retaining Reeves would be the most market-friendly option, though the same outlets noted Burnham would likely want to remove the current Chancellor in a shift away from the last administration. GBP/USD -0.1% and tracking the stronger Buck. EUR/GBP +0.1%, gapped higher at the APAC re-open, but reversed most gains.
JPY continues to underperform and moves further into intervention territory as USD/JPY looks towards 161.81 highs made last week. Japanese Finance Minister Katayama was on the wires overnight, said they were “ready to act suitably on currency fluctuations whenever necessary”; not sparking a move in the Yen. USD/JPY marked a session high of 161.78, looking to the aforementioned levels to the upside; awaiting further comments from Japanese officials.
South African Parliamentary Speaker Didiza plans to support President Ramaphosa’s bid to halt his impeachment proceedings.
FIXED INCOME
Fixed benchmarks are mixed. USTs in the red by around 10 ticks, but off a 109-07 trough by another five.
USTs lower as a function of catch-up from the holiday session on Friday, and as the complex acknowledged the gap higher in energy at the resumption of trade after Iran seemingly shut Hormuz transit amid ongoing conflict in Lebanon. However, the updates from negotiators thereafter and as technical talks take place this week in Switzerland, points that allowed energy to retreat and gave relief to EGBs. USTs look ahead to remarks from Fed’s Waller.
Bunds, as above, benefited from the energy retreat in the second half of the APAC session and are firmer by around 10 ticks, but a similar amount shy of the 126.34 high. Specifics light for the complex, no move to ECB commentary thus far, and we now await text from Lagarde at the ECON hearing.
Additionally, Germany digests reports into another meeting of the pensions committee today. The main point from it being that the retirement age will increase, though not at the pace some have been seeking. More broadly, Politico reports budget progress, however, tax reform remains the major outstanding point.
Last but not least Gilts, lower by 10 ticks and a similar amount of the low in 88.30-72 confines after gapping higher by 24 ticks, seemingly taking relief from numerous reports that the team around Burnham no longer saw Miliband as the favourite for Chancellor.
Since, PM Starmer has resigned. He will serve as caretaker during the process which begins in three weeks and will last for no more than one week, 9th-16th July. Burnham is the clear favourite. However, the three weeks between now and the start of that process could potentially see the odds around Burnham and theoretical rivals, i.e. Streeting, change notably.
COMMODITIES
A very busy geopolitical weekend, which initially saw the Iranians shut the Strait of Hormuz, and it suggested that the US and Israel broke the interim ceasefire agreement amid the continued military strikes on southern Lebanon. This led Brent Aug’26 to gap higher by c. USD 2/bbl, to a session peak of USD 82.30/bbl. Attention then turned to US-Iran talks in Switzerland.
The outcome of the initial talks were positive. A Qatari and Pakistani joint statement stated that US and Iran agreed to set up a de-confliction cell over Lebanon and agreed to establish a high-level committee to provide political oversight on mediation. The high-level committee also agreed to a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days.
Following the positive mood music from the talks, Brent Aug’26 gradually moved off best levels and turned negative; currently lower by c. 1.1%, and at the bottom end of a USD 78.58-82.30/bbl range. Attention remains on further developments on the negotiation process, which is expected to continue throughout the week. For now, the heads of the delegation team have headed back to Iran, while technical teams will remain in Switzerland to follow up the implementation of the MoU.
Spot gold (+0.8%) is in the green, benefiting from the disinflationary implications of the positive geopolitical mood music. XAU/USD is currently holding within a USD 4136-4221/oz range. On analyst commentary: Goldman Sachs expects central bank Gold buying to slow slightly but remain a structural floor for prices. GS forecasts central bank buying at roughly 50T a month in 2026, then slowing to around 40T a month in 2027.
Base metals are broadly firmer this morning vs a mostly negative APAC session. Focus overnight remained on China adding US firms to its export control list and decided to take relevant measures against 46 US companies in government procurement activities. 3M LME Copper currently resides within a USD 13,598.28-13,736.93/t range.
“Confirmed crossings through the monitored Strait of Hormuz zone rose sharply over 19–21 June, with 71 total transits recorded”, Kpler’s Bakr reported.
Goldman Sachs expects central bank Gold buying to slow slightly but remain a structural floor for prices. GS forecasts central bank buying at roughly 50 T a month in 2026, then slowing to around 40 T a month in 2027.
US Department of Agriculture announces three new cases of screwworm to take total number of domestic detections to 15 cases.
Iraq asked operators of five major oil fields to boost output to pre-war levels, targeting output of more than 3mln bpd, while it was separately reported that Iraq intends to gradually increase oil production to between 4.2mln-4.3mln bpd, according to the deputy oil minister for upstream affairs.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry reported an internal explosion at a factory in the Ras Laffan Industrial Area, although no injuries or leaks were reported.
A fire occurred in Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery (631k bpd) but was extinguished.
Guinea’s President Doumbouya announced a ban on raw gold exports, in an effort to boost local processing of the metal and help the domestic economy.
TRADE/TARIFFS
Iranian delegation is set to travel to Tehran after talks in Switzerland.
India’s Trade Minister said they intend to secure preferential market access via a trade agreement with the US. Signing of a US-India trade agreement will take longer than expected, because the US initially imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods.
China’s MOFCOM issues action plan on strengthening foreign Investment; to support qualified key foreign firms listing on domestic exchanges.
China added 10 US firms to its export control list including USA Rare Earths, while the Finance Ministry announcing to take relevant measures against 46 US companies in government procurement activities.
USTR Greer is to travel to India and Uzbekistan, while he will discuss the US-India joint statement as part of bilateral trade agreement talks.
NOTABLE EUROPEAN HEADLINES
UK PM Starmer announces he will step down; nominations for Labour leader will open on 9th July, conclude by end-summer; will act as caretaker until new leader elected. Will fully support whoever takes over.
UK PM’s Chief of Staff resigns, New Statesman reported.
UK Minister Smith said “I would have been very happy for him to continue”, in reference to PM Starmer.
UK Foreign Minister Cooper urges UK PM Starmer to resign, according to Sky News.
Ireland said EU capital markets deal is possible by year end, according to FT.
Italian PM Meloni called out US President Trump for “senseless”, “constant, unprovoked attacks”, while she said that Trump’s statements are completely made up and she doesn’t know why he behaves like this towards allies, after Trump told an Italian TV channel that Meloni begged him to take a picture with her and that he wouldn’t have taken it, but he felt sorry for her. Furthermore, Trump criticised Italy and its PM for not becoming involved with Iran and its nuclear threat.
CENTRAL BANKS
Japan’s PM Takaichi said expect BoJ to closely coordinate with the government and conduct a monetary policy appropriately to achieve the 2% price goal.
BoJ Deputy Governor Himino said takes some time for policy to have an impact on the economy. said:. Pass-through from oil prices to downstream goods has progressed somewhat rapidly. Recent easing of Middle East tensions doesn’t deviate much from their April outlook. Accommodative conditions are expected to continue. Risks of price overshoot could materialise if there is a delay in the necessary adjustment in the degree of monetary easing. Will closely monitor impacts that raising policy interest rates may have on businesses and households.
ECB’s Escriva warns that rising oil and commodity prices linked to the Middle East conflict are feeding into consumer prices and could cause wage spillovers. said energy cost increases are already transmitting through areas such as transport services. ECB must monitor possible second-round wage effects depending on inflation persistence.
Chinese Loan Prime Rate 1Y (Jun) 3.0% vs. Exp. 3.0% (Prev. 3.0%).
Chinese Loan Prime Rate 5Y (Jun) 3.5% vs. Exp. 3.5% (Prev. 3.5%).
SNB adjusts remuneration of sight deposits; lowering threshold factor from 15 to 13.5; effective August 1st 2026.
NOTABLE US HEADLINES
US Southern Command announces that Task Force Southern Spear has conducted a strike on a vessel operated by designated terrorist organisations in the Caribbean.
US Secretary of State Rubio congratulates Colombia’s presidential candidate De la Espriella who leads against leftist rival Cepeda following the Colombian election.
US Secretary of State Rubio plans trip to the Middle East next week: Kuwait, UAE and Bahrain at the moment, according to Axios, citing two sources.
US President Trump told Axios that he doesn’t see Anthropic PBC as a national security threat, despite his administration recently taking steps to cut off foreign access to the tech company’s most advanced AI models. Furthermore, Trump said that it was seen as a threat last week, but relations have improved since with the AI giant.
Major investors warned that Fed Chair Warsh’s push to axe the Fed’s guidance on the direction of monetary policy could increase volatility in the Treasury market and drive borrowing costs higher, according to FT.
US Department of Agriculture announced three new cases of screwworm to take the total number of domestic detections to 15 cases.
CRYPTO
Bitcoin is on a firmer footing this morning and trades just above the USD 64k mark.
BoE settles on 30% central bank deposit stablecoin requirement.
APAC TRADE
APAC stocks traded mixed with price action choppy following the recent conflicting headlines concerning US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland, as the Iranian delegation was said to have walked out of talks following Trump’s renewed threats to resume bombing them if a deal is not reached and if they don’t stop their proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble. However, the reports that gradually followed were more encouraging as mediators stated that talks were conducted in a positive, constructive atmosphere and technical talks are to continue for the remainder of the week, with the US and Iran agreeing to a de-confliction cell over Lebanon. Furthermore, the parties agreed to establish high-level committee to provide political oversight on mediation and on a roadmap to reach final deal within 60 days, while Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi confirmed that mediation delivered major progress to end the Lebanon war, as well as stated that oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade is lifted, frozen assets released, and that a major reconstruction and development plan was launched for Iran. ASX 200 struggled for direction as strength in gold miners and financials was offset by weakness in tech, energy and defensives. Nikkei 225 extended on record highs and rallied firmly above the 72,000 level as exporters benefited from a weaker currency and a pullback in oil, although the index has pared some of the gains, but comfortably remained the outperformer. KOSPI swung between gains and losses amid a divergence between Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, in which the latter took over the throne as South Korea’s largest Co. by market cap. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp were mixed with sentiment not helped by trade frictions after China added 10 US firms to its export control list and announced to take relevant measures against 46 US companies in government procurement activities, while there was a lack of surprises from the announcement that the benchmark Loan Prime Rates were maintained for a 13th consecutive month.
NOTABLE ASIA-PAC HEADLINES
The Japanese Government is reportedly planning to deploy JPY 68tln in public and private funding for the semiconductor sector by FY 2040, TV Asahi reported citing sources.
Australia’s Agricultural Minister said testing has confirmed H5 bird flu detected in a second bird found in Western Australia.
China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said risk of fragmented supply chains is growing and that some countries abuse use of export controls, adds China is anchor of stability and propeller of the global economy. said: Can work with all sides to build inclusive supply chains.
Japanese Finance Minister Katayama ready to act suitably on currency fluctuations whenever necessary, but declines to comment on particular forex rates.
1c) Asian opening report
Crude reverses opening bid on US-Iran comments; USD firms, GBP eyes potential PM resignation – Newsquawk EU Market Open
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 – 01:29 AM
Crude opened firmer after reports suggested Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz. However, this then reversed on a joint mediator statement, Brent currently in the red.
Thereafter, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi flagged major progress, mediators say technical talks will continue this week.
APAC stocks were mixed give the above. European futures point to a softer open, Euro Stoxx 50 -0.4%.
USD choppy but marginally firmer vs major peers. USTs and Bunds in the green but relatively contained.
Mixed reporting on what UK PM Starmer will do in the next few days. Elsewhere, Burnham’s team are said to be divided over who to appoint as Chancellor.
Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian Inflation (May), EU Consumer Confidence Flash (Jun), CNB Minutes (Jun) Speakers including Fed’s Waller & ECB’s Lagarde.
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IRAN CONFLICT
US and Iran talks opened in Switzerland on Sunday after US VP Vance arrived in Switzerland and the Iranian delegation led by chief negotiator Ghalibaf, which included Foreign Minister Araghchi, arrived on Saturday, while Pakistan’s Premier Sharif and military chief Munir travelled to Switzerland to join the US-Iran talks.
Iran’s delegation reportedly left the negotiation site in protest against statements by US President Trump, while Fars also reported that Iran halted talks with the US after Trump threatened strikes over Hezbollah’s actions in Lebanon. Iran said Trump’s threat is a blatant violation of the MoU and halted talks in Switzerland, while it is reviewing a response to Trump’s threats.However, sources cited by Al Hadath later stated that the Iranian delegation had not left the negotiation headquarters at the Burgenstock resort and the Iranian delegation head discussed a joint statement draft with mediators.
US President Trump threatened to resume bombing and take over the Strait of Hormuz if a deal is not reached, while Trump said the US may take tolls if it has to and that he has a 60-day option, in which he can do whatever after it. Trump stated he spoke with Iranian officials and used expletive language in the call with Iranian officials on Hormuz, as well as threatened that they won’t have a country if Hormuz is closed, according to Fox.
US President Trump posted that Iran must immediately stop their proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble, or else the US would hit Iran very hard again, “just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump separately commented that there will be no tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, unless they are imposed by the US.
US diplomat said talks included robust discussions on a nuclear deal and enforcing the ceasefire in southern Lebanon, while talks also involved clarifying the messaging on the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, a US official involved in the negotiations told Al Jazeera that they held in-depth discussions on all elements of the nuclear agreement, and that mechanisms have been worked on to prevent escalation and ensure the strait remains fully open.
Qatar and Pakistan issued a joint statement on the conclusion of US-Iran talks in Switzerland, and Qatar said the first session of the US-Iran high-level talks had concluded and that talks were conducted in a positive, constructive atmosphere, while technical talks are to continue for the remainder of the week, with encouraging progress made, including the creation of a mechanism for further technical talks. Furthermore, it stated that US and Iran agreed to set up a de-confliction cell over Lebanon and agreed to establish a high-level committee to provide political oversight on mediation, while the high-level committee agrees on a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi posted “Tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War. Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Baghaei said Iran is working on a safe passage mechanism for Hormuz and that Iran reports progress on oil sales and asset unfreezing, while he added that the war in all fronts, including Lebanon, must end.Iran’s Foreign Ministry also said the technical team is to continue work, but negotiation delegation work has concluded, while it stated that significant progress was achieved in quadrilateral talks in Switzerland and groundwork for starting negotiations for the final agreement was discussed.
Iranian negotiating team member said executive procedures about the release of Iranian frozen funds have taken place with the Qatari delegation and that a draft has been finalised regarding waivers of Iranian oil sanctions, which will be issued soon, although negotiations about other subjects will not take place if the war does not end in Lebanon.
Iranian Supreme Leader adviser Rezaei said the US is responsible for Israel’s actions in Lebanon and Iran will hold the US accountable in the event of a threat against Iran.
Iran’s top negotiator Ghalibaf said that they don’t take the threats seriously at all and warned that Iran’s armed forces are ready to respond in a different way.
Iran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz for shipping transit again on Saturday due to Israel’s violation of a ceasefire, while Iranian press cited sources stating that the Iranian negotiating team was said to reiterate that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen as long as the ceasefire in Lebanon is not respected and waivers for the sale of Iranian oil are not issued.
Iran resumed oil loading from Kharg Island after about a six-week halt, following the lifting of the US blockade of its ports.
Three India-linked supertankers re-emerged in the Gulf of Oman, which suggests an increase in traffic through the waterway.
UKMTO reported an incident in which a cargo vessel was approached by a craft with six armed persons onboard 92 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s Mukalla in the Gulf of Aden.
Israeli army chief said the Lebanon ceasefire is fragile and forces remain ready for combat.
Israeli military convoy reportedly entered southern Syria’s Quneitra region, near the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
US TRADE
EQUITIES
US markets were closed on Friday for Juneteenth.
TARIFFS/TRADE
China added 10 US firms to its export control list, including USA Rare Earths, while the Finance Ministry announced it would take relevant measures against 46 US companies in government procurement activities.
China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said the risk of fragmented supply chains is growing and that some countries abuse the use of export controls. Ding stated that China is an anchor of stability and a propeller of the global economy, while he added that they work with all sides to build inclusive supply chains.
USTR Greer is to travel to India and Uzbekistan, while he will discuss the US-India joint statement as part of bilateral trade agreement talks. It was separately reported that India is seeking a competitive edge against rival countries regarding tariffs before enacting the much-delayed trade pact with the US.
NOTABLE HEADLINES
US President Trump told Axios that he doesn’t see Anthropic PBC as a national security threat, despite his administration recently taking steps to cut off foreign access to the tech company’s most advanced AI models. Furthermore, Trump said that it was seen as a threat last week, but relations have improved since with the AI giant.
Major investors warned that Fed Chair Warsh’s push to axe the Fed’s guidance on the direction of monetary policy could increase volatility in the Treasury market and drive borrowing costs higher, according to FT.
US Department of Agriculture announced three new cases of screwworm to take the total number of domestic detections to 15 cases.
APAC TRADE
EQUITIES
APAC stocks traded mixed with price action choppy following the recent conflicting headlines concerning US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland, as the Iranian delegation was said to have walked out of talks following Trump’s renewed threats to resume bombing them if a deal is not reached and if they don’t stop their proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble. However, the reports that gradually followed were more encouraging as mediators stated that talks were conducted in a positive, constructive atmosphere and technical talks are to continue for the remainder of the week, with the US and Iran agreeing to a de-confliction cell over Lebanon. Furthermore, the parties agreed to establish high-level committee to provide political oversight on mediation and on a roadmap to reach final deal within 60 days, while Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi confirmed that mediation delivered major progress to end the Lebanon war, as well as stated that oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade is lifted, frozen assets released, and that a major reconstruction and development plan was launched for Iran.
ASX 200 struggled for direction as strength in gold miners and financials was offset by weakness in tech, energy and defensives.
Nikkei 225 extended on record highs and rallied firmly above the 72,000 level as exporters benefited from a weaker currency and a pullback in oil, although the index has pared some of the gains, but comfortably remained the outperformer.
KOSPI swung between gains and losses amid a divergence between Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, in which the latter took over the throne as South Korea’s largest Co. by market cap.
Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp were mixed with sentiment not helped by trade frictions after China added 10 US firms to its export control list and announced to take relevant measures against 46 US companies in government procurement activities, while there was a lack of surprises from the announcement that the benchmark Loan Prime Rates were maintained for a 13th consecutive month.
US equity futures retreated at the reopen following the long weekend and US-Iran tensions, but then nursed some losses as the geopolitical updates provided some encouragement.
European equity futures indicate a contained cash market open, though the Euro Stoxx 50 future was down around 0.4% before picking up, after the cash market finished with losses of 0.5% on Friday.
FX
DXY eked slight gains in choppy trade following the conflicting geopolitical headlines, as there were initial reports that the Iranian delegation halted talks in Switzerland in protest of Trump’s renewed threats to resume bombing on Iran, although reports later noted that progress was made in talks and that technical discussions will continue for the rest of the week. Elsewhere, there was very little relevant news for the US outside of geopolitics, although WSJ reported that major investors warned Fed Chair Warsh’s push to axe the Fed’s guidance on the direction of monetary policy could increase volatility in the Treasury market and drive borrowing costs higher.
EUR/USD traded sideways beneath the 1.1500 handle with little fresh drivers for the bloc, while the single currency was also not helped by the escalating spat between US President Trump and Italian PM Meloni.
GBP/USD briefly dipped below the 1.3200 level amid political uncertainty regarding UK PM Starmer’s future, with some reports noting that he could resign as early as Monday, while a government source stated the PM remained focused on getting on with the job.
USD/JPY resumed its upward momentum with a firmer footing at the 161.00 territory, while Japanese Finance Minister Katayama said they are ready to act suitably on currency fluctuations whenever necessary, but declined to comment on particular forex rates.
Antipodeans were contained amid the mixed risk appetite and a quiet calendar to start the week.
PBoC set USD/CNY mid-point at 6.8150 vs exp. 6.7733 (prev. 6.8130).
South African Parliamentary Speaker Didiza plans to support President Ramaphosa’s bid to halt his impeachment proceedings.
FIXED INCOME
10yr UST futures attempted a rebound from last week’s trough after trickling lower on Friday in thinned conditions amid the Juneteenth holiday, while the mild recovery was facilitated by a pullback in oil prices as geopolitical headlines gradually turned positive.
Bund futures bounced off support around the 126.00 level, but with price action contained in the absence of pertinent catalysts.
10yr JGB futures demand was subdued amid a lack of data, and with comments from BoJ Deputy Governor Himino providing very little incrementally in which he noted that takes some time for policy to have an impact on the economy and that accommodative conditions are expected to continue, while he added that risks of a price overshoot could materialise if there is a delay in the necessary adjustment in the degree of monetary easing.
COMMODITIES
Crude futures saw two-way price action with initial upside at the open following reports over the weekend that Iran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic again, while Iran was also said to have halted talks with the US in Switzerland in protest of US President Trump’s threats to resume bombing on Iran. Nonetheless, the moves were then reversed, and oil prices slipped into negative territory after the latest reports provided some optimism with Qatari and Pakistani mediators issuing a joint statement that noted talks were conducted in a positive, constructive atmosphere and that technical talks are to continue for the remainder of the week, while Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi also flagged major progress.
Iraq asked operators of five major oil fields to boost output to pre-war levels, targeting output of more than 3mln bpd, while it was separately reported that Iraq intends to gradually increase oil production to between 4.2mln-4.3mln bpd, according to the deputy oil minister for upstream affairs.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry reported an internal explosion at a factory in the Ras Laffan Industrial Area, although no injuries or leaks were reported.
A fire occurred in Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery (631k bpd) but was extinguished.
Spot gold rebounded from last week’s trough and briefly reclaimed the USD 4,200/oz level as oil prices pulled back alongside the more encouraging geopolitical updates.
Guinea’s President Doumbouya announced a ban on raw gold exports, in an effort to boost local processing of the metal and help the domestic economy.
Copper futures were choppy and ultimately declined amid the mixed risk appetite, while China added US firms to its export control list and decided to take relevant measures against 46 US companies in government procurement activities.
CRYPTO
Bitcoin climbed higher overnight and briefly reclaimed the USD 64,000 status, before paring some of the gains.
NOTABLE ASIA-PAC HEADLINES
Chinese Loan Prime Rate 1Y (Jun) 3.0% vs. Exp. 3.0% (Prev. 3.0%)
Chinese Loan Prime Rate 5Y (Jun) 3.5% vs. Exp. 3.5% (Prev. 3.5%)
BoJ Deputy Governor Himino said it takes some time for policy to have an impact on the economy and that the pass-through from oil prices to downstream goods has progressed somewhat rapidly, while he added the recent easing of Middle East tensions doesn’t deviate much from the April outlook. Himino also stated that accommodative conditions are expected to continue, and warned that risks of a price overshoot could materialise if there is a delay in the necessary adjustment in the degree of monetary easing.
GEOPOLITICS
RUSSIA-UKRAINE
Ukraine targeted the Tyumen oil refinery in Russia’s Ural region about 2,000 kilometres inside of Russia.
Ukrainian drone attack killed four people and injured 28 in Russian-controlled Crimea, while a drone attack killed one person on a passenger ferry and caused a fire at an oil terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
Crimea halted public fuel sales to individuals and businesses from Sunday morning, while fuel would only be supplied to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the peninsula, according to the Russian-installed governor.
IAEA said Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost off-site power for the 20th time during the conflict with Russia, due to an issue with the site’s internal power lines.
Moscow airports resumed operations after a temporary closure, and Moscow was said to have shot down nearly 60 drones.
OTHER
Taiwan announced a five-day combat readiness drill, according to Semafor.
EU/UK
NOTABLE HEADLINES
US President Trump posted that UK PM Starmer will resign and that he failed on two very important subjects, which were immigration and energy, while Trump called for the opening of North Sea oil.
UK Business Minister Kyle said he has no reason to believe PM Starmer will resign on Monday amid reports in UK press that Starmer was expected to resign on Monday and set out a timetable for his departure, while a government source stated the PM remained focused on getting on with the job. However, it was separately reported that Business Secretary Kyle said the PM is reflecting on political realities, while Starmer’s allies expect him to set out a timetable for his departure in the coming day.
UK Chancellor Reeves would be fired if Andy Burnham ousts PM Starmer, according to The Times. It was separately reported that Burnham’s camp is divided over the chancellor pick, with Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper believed to be contenders as bond markets seek reassurance, according to FT.
UK Office for National Statistics admitted to an error that will impact the quality of jobs data in the coming months, after it accidentally allocated interviewers to the wrong survey and failed to spot the mistake for several weeks, resulting in it failing to conduct roughly 1,200 telephone interviews that would have otherwise contributed to the July labour market report, according to FT.
Italian PM Meloni called out US President Trump for “senseless”, “constant, unprovoked attacks”, while she said that Trump’s statements are completely made up and she doesn’t know why he behaves like this towards allies, after Trump told an Italian TV channel that Meloni begged him to take a picture with her and that he wouldn’t have taken it, but he felt sorry for her. Furthermore, Trump criticised Italy and its PM for not becoming involved with Iran and its nuclear threat.
2.NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN
SOUTH KOREA
JAPAN
3 CHINA
CHINA/USA
.4. EUROPEAN AND SCANDINAVIAN COMMENTARIES PLUS NATO
UK
GOOD RIDDANCE!!
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Resigns As UK Faces 7th Leader In A Decade
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 – 05:03 AM
The Keir Starmer experiment is officially over, as was growing increasingly clear over the weekend, especially with an interestingly-timed Trump Truth Social statement. Just under two years after capturing the keys to Number 10, the British Prime Minister has thrown in the towel after succumbing to an internal party mutiny following days of intense, closed-door speculation regarding his political survival.
Stepping up to the lectern outside Downing Street on Monday morning, a visibly defeated Starmer delivered the inevitable verdict to the press. “I will resign as leader of the Labour Party,” Starmer announced.
The Prime Minister confirmed he has instructed Labour’s National Executive Committee to draw up a swift succession timetable. Leadership nominations will officially open on July 9, with the entire process scheduled to wrap up before the summer recess.
British mediai says that the aggressive timeline ensures a new Prime Minister will be installed well before Parliament reconvenes in September.
Starmer’s abrupt (but not entirely ‘a surprise) exit comes after his center-left Labour Party made it clear they no longer believed he could deliver a future electoral victory. He practically admitted as much on the steps of Number 10.
“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” Starmer confessed. “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.”
Defending his short and tumultuous tenure, Starmer attempted to frame his departure as an act of ultimate patriotism rather than a capitulation to party infighting.
“Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour party,” he said, adding: “I have spoken to his majesty the king this morning to inform him of my decision.”
The Prime Minister’s resignation was directly catalyzed by last week’s by-election victory of Andy Burnham in Makerfield. Burnham, the fiercely popular former Greater Manchester Mayor, has long loomed as the “King in the North” and the ultimate threat to Starmer’s sterile brand – according to many – of leadership. By securing a seat in the House of Commons, Burnham effectively checked Starmer into a corner.
With Burnham holding immense sway among rank-and-file MPs, the writing was on the wall. He now enters the upcoming leadership contest as the overwhelming frontrunner to be Britain’s next Prime Minister.
UK
Outrage As Suspect In UK Toddler Crocodile Attack Released On Bail; Identity Still Hidden
The insane attack at a family-run zoo in Cambridgeshire, UK has now produced a fresh outrage.
A three-year-old boy from the area remains in critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke’s Hospital after being thrown into a crocodile enclosure.
Yet, the 30-year-old man from Norfolk arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has already been released on bail until 18 September. Police assessed him as “unfit for interview” and continue to withhold his identity from the public.
This follows the initial reporting of the incident at Johnson’s of Old Hurst zoo near Huntingdon. As covered in our earlier piece on the initial incident and rampant online speculation about the identity of the man who was arrested.
The boy and the suspect were not known to each other, and detectives from the Major Crime Unit treated the case as a serious criminal investigation from the outset.
Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the release after the assessment. Detective Inspector Verity McCann stated: “Our enquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident. Our thoughts remain with the boy and his family, and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.”
Witnesses described a heroic intervention that prevented an even worse outcome. The zoo owner’s wife reportedly jumped 15 feet into the crocodile enclosure to pull the injured toddler to safety.
Staff administered immediate medical treatment at the scene before emergency services arrived. The boy suffered serious wounds from at least one crocodile attack inside the enclosure.
Reports indicate he suffered a broken arm, a broken pelvis, likely stemming from the impact after being thrown, as well as multiple crocodile bites during the incident on Thursday afternoon.
Public anger has erupted over the decision to release the suspect.
Many see the move as further evidence of a justice system that fails to prioritise the protection of children and the public when confronted with extreme violence.
The pattern of releasing individuals deemed too unwell for interview while leaving the public uninformed about their identity has fuelled widespread demands for transparency and stronger safeguards.
Critics argue that mental health assessments should not automatically translate into freedom to roam when the alleged act demonstrates clear and present danger to others.
Meanwhile, Sky News headlines have drawn sharp criticism for their choice of language. The outlet repeatedly described the boy as having “ended up in crocodile enclosure” rather than stating he was thrown there.
One report opened with: “A three-year-old boy who was seriously injured after ending up in the crocodile enclosure at a Cambridgeshire zoo was attacked by at least one of the reptiles, Sky News understands.”
An earlier Sky News post had used similar passive phrasing: “a boy has been taken to hospital with serious injuries and a man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a toddler ended up in a crocodile enclosure in Huntingdonshire.”
This wording stands in contrast to more direct reporting elsewhere that used “thrown into” in the headline. Passive constructions like “ended up” minimise the deliberate nature of the assault and shift focus away from the perpetrator’s actions toward vague circumstance.
In high-profile cases involving violence against children, precise language matters. Euphemisms erode public trust and fuel the very speculation authorities claim to want to avoid.
The decision to withhold the suspect’s identity while confirming his release on bail until mid-September compounds the problem. A man arrested for allegedly hurling a defenceless three-year-old into a pit of crocodiles is back in the community.
Britain’s justice system increasingly appears calibrated to protect processes and sensitivities over basic public safety. When posting opinions online can trigger swift arrest and denial of bail, yet an alleged attempt to feed a toddler to crocodiles results in prompt release, the imbalance is impossible to ignore.
The heroic actions of zoo staff saved a life that day. The authorities’ response since has done little to reassure anyone that similar threats will be met with the seriousness they demand.
Leftists in the EU who spent years blocking real border enforcement are now whining about a victory party after conservatives pushed through a motion to create powerful tools to remove illegal migrants.
The chamber could not stop laughing. A ‘Renew Europe’ MEP aligned with French President Emmanuel Macron stood up and demanded punishment for conservative MEPs who gathered on the European Parliament roof, drank heavily, and celebrated the passage of the bloc’s toughest-ever deportation reforms.
The presiding officer brushed it off and The room roared with amusement.
This outburst came days after the European Parliament voted 418 to 218, with 30 abstentions, to approve the new Return Regulation.
Conservative and sovereignist MEPs from the EPP, ECR, Patriots for Europe, and Europe of Sovereign Nations groups supplied the decisive majority.
The measure updates the hopelessly outdated 2008 rules and gives member states real power to enforce removals.
In our earlier video we highlighted the immediate leftist reaction inside the chamber: chants of ‘Shame on you’ from leftists with chants of ‘Send them back’ in response from conservatives.
Now they are complaining about a rooftop toast. The contrast could not be clearer. One side delivers results for citizens who have endured years of unchecked arrivals, crime, and welfare strain. The other side throws procedural tantrums and pretends a private celebration violates parliamentary decorum.
The regulation makes deportation orders issued in one member state valid across the entire EU.
It extends maximum detention periods for those who refuse to leave, removes automatic suspensive effect on appeals in many cases, doubles entry bans to ten years (lifetime for security threats), and allows member states to conclude agreements with third countries for ‘return hubs’ where rejected migrants can be processed and removed without remaining inside EU territory.
Non-cooperating origin countries face visa restrictions, aid cuts, and trade measures – the same leverage the Trump administration successfully deployed.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the outcome as validation of the model she pioneered with Albania.
‘We promised Italians we would change Europe, and we did it, with courage, patience, and determination,’ she said.
Meloni added, ‘This innovative solution has been resisted at every turn by the Italian and European left, but thanks to this government, it has now become a tool available to the whole of Europe.’
MEP Marieke Ehlers of the Patriots for Europe group stated ‘This regulation puts the obligation exactly where it belongs: on the illegal migrant… The days of pampering are over. You have no right to stay, which means you have one simple obligation: pack your bags and leave our territory.’
She added that the text hands real power back to national capitals: ‘We are taking back control… Almost all provisions give Member States the freedom to go further.’
French EPP negotiator François-Xavier Bellamy called it the end of decades of failure. ‘After decades of failure and years of deadlock, Europe is ending its powerlessness in the face of illegal immigration. No one can claim any longer that Europe has no tools to act. The rules are now in place. The responsibility lies with governments to use them.’
French President Emmanuel Macron quickly distanced himself at the EU summit in Brussels. He declared that France would neither participate in nor fund third-country return hubs, calling the approach ineffective and contrary to French principles.
The same Macron who lectures others on European values now refuses to use the very instruments his own parliament helped create. The gap between rhetoric and reality on migration has never been wider.
Globalist pushback has already been initiated as the United Nations voiced concerns that the new return hubs could violate human rights standards.
Critics on the left and in international organisations frame any effective removal policy as inherently cruel, even as European cities continue to absorb the costs of failed integration and repeated criminal acts by rejected or illegal migrants.
For years globalist voices insisted that mass low-skilled migration was inevitable, economically necessary, and morally superior.
They dismantled internal borders, expanded asylum loopholes, and attacked any leader who tried to enforce existing law. Return rates stayed dismal. Criminal networks thrived. Public trust collapsed.
Conservative MEPs simply used their growing numbers to force an update that reflects what citizens have demanded for a decade.
The left’s response – procedural complaints, accusations of misconduct over a private celebration, and renewed warnings from the UN – reveals the same refusal to accept democratic outcomes that has defined the migration debate from the start.
The laughter in the chamber was not just amusement at a thin-skinned complaint. It was recognition that the excuses have run out.
Europe now possesses the legal tools to remove those with no right to remain. Whether national governments use them remains to be seen, but the parliamentary majority has shifted decisively toward enforcement.
The same forces that once sneered at ‘Send them back’ as fringe bigotry are watching their own colleagues chant it on the floor. The Overton window did not shift incidentally. It moved because voters across the continent grew tired of policies that prioritised arrivals over safety and sovereignty.
Europe’s conservative MEPs just proved that when they coordinate, they can deliver. The left can keep filing ethics complaints about rooftop drinks. The rest of the continent is focused on results.
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5. RUSSIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS//
ISRAEL/USA VS IRAN//SATURDAY MORNING
Iran Says Hormuz ‘Closed’ Again, Citing Lebanon Violations, As Vance Expected In Switzerland For Talks
Saturday, Jun 20, 2026 – 10:00 AM
Update(10:00ET): As has become the ‘norm’ after well over 100 days of war – which some pundits have been calling the “third Gulf war” – there are deeply conflicting headlines emerging Saturday. On the one hand, diplomacy based in Switzerland is said to be in motion, with a potential top level Trump delegation (led by Witkoff and to be joined later by Kushner reportedly/allegedly) – but fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in south Lebanon still rages, with the death toll climbing, and also with Hezbollah rockets still landing against IDF positions as well as in northern Israel.
Will the US and Iranian sides actually meet in Europe for the ‘technical’ side of further talks toward final peace? Saturday has seen reports of Iran having again ‘closed’ the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israeli aggression in Lebanon, after Tehran has insisted that the tenuous freshly signed MoU included a Lebanon ceasefire and peace. The latest newswires out of Iranian state media:
IRAN SAYS HORMUZ TO CLOSE, CITING CEASEFIRE VIOLATION: TASNIM
IRAN SAYS STRAIT OF HORMUZ HAS BEEN CLOSED: TASNIM
IRAN’S IRGC NAVY SAYS HORMUZ STRAIT CLOSED TO ALL VESSELS: FARS
*VESSELS WARNED TO AVOID STRAIT OF HORMUZ OVER SECURITY: FARS
Vance expected in Switzerland, reports Axios on Saturday:
And yet, some of the same state sources have been saying that an Iranian delegation will travel to Switzerland where it will seek to hold Washington to its commitments.
“In Switzerland, we intend to press for the fulfilment of the other side’s commitments and clarify how they plan to act on their obligations,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, according to Fars, also as cited in Al Jazeera.
Per the same report Saturday mid-morning (US time): “The delegation will leave for Switzerland in a few minutes, Mehr news agency also reported. The spokesperson also said that if the US refuses to implement its commitments, Iran will respond with necessary measures.” So things remain very fluid, and could implode at any moment.
* * *
Since the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding was signed days ago it’s increasingly obvious there’s been a widening split between Washington and it’s closest Middle East ally Israel over the terms of the deal. The political interests between the Trump administration and Israel, which have been typically lock-step, have increasingly diverged on the question of the Iran peace and terms of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Ground zero for this divergence has remained south Lebanon, where the overnight the death toll from fighting – and especially from Israeli air raids – have risen.
Lebanon’s civil defense agency has announced that Israeli attacks on the southern Nabatieh district have killed 16 people and wounded 12 others. The significant death toll comes a mere day after the latest Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire was announced.
Still, Al Jazeera is on Saturday confirming that “the wheels of diplomacy” appear to be “back in motion” after the delay to the technical talks from Friday. “Pakistan and Qatar – mediators – are holding a series of meetings in Switzerland, Iran and Egypt and according to Al Jazeera’s team on the ground,” the publication writes. Top American negotiators are reportedly on the way to Europe.
Iran too is optimistic, while calling out certain Israeli hardliner politicians for seeking to sabotage peace. State media is hitting this theme hard, and naturally Tehran is going to seek to drive a deep and permanent wedge between the Trump and Netanyahu administrations.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister has said the Islamic Republic is “ready to move forward” on diplomacy with Washington, and the big elephant in the room is that “the United States must ensure Israel abides by the terms of the deal to end the war” – according to Al Jazeera.
As a reminder, President Trump appears in the mood to play nice with Iran while bringing the (very rare) pressure on Netanyahu. However, Trump himself is facing immense rising pressure from outraged pro-US hawks at home:
Donald Trump told NBC News in a phone interview that he spoke with Israel on Friday and asked them to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah.
“‘You just gotta calm down sometimes and use your head,’” Trump was quoted as telling Israel.
Trump declined to specify whether he spoke with Benjamin Netanyahu directly. A senior US official earlier confirmed the ceasefire to Reuters, though Israeli attacks continue across Lebanon.
One of the key elements of the MoU the hawks vehemently object to is the creation of a $300 billion reconstruction plan for Iran. But in terms of the main aspect which could derail ongoing negotiations altogether is that the US committed that it and its allies (read: Israel and the Lebanese government) will initiate the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” This is a major concession by the US to the Iranian side.
But Israel has much more than these things to complain about, as it continues to lose troops in recent Hezbollah attacks:
Israel immediately responded to that agreement by pounding Lebanon, killing at least 47 people on Friday, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. Four Israeli soldiers were also killed overnight [Friday] by the armed Lebanese group, Hezbollah, prompting Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to say that “all of Lebanon must burn”.
Vice President JD Vance’s own recent remarks putting these Israeli officials in their place has been unprecedented spectacle to behold. The “special relationship” remains tenuous, at least in terms of weighing the current heated rhetoric and atmosphere.
But again, Israel can point to Hezbollah aggression, with Times of Israel (TOI) reporting the latest figures as follows:
The Israeli military says it is striking Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in response to overnight projectile launches at troops in south Lebanon by the Iran-backed terror group, despite a ceasefire announced a day earlier.
“Overnight, the Hezbollah terrorist organization launched more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Following the attacks, the IDF has been striking Hezbollah terrorist targets in southern Lebanon,” an Israeli military official said was cited in TOI as saying.
Meanwhile, CNN also confirms that diplomacy is in “motion”, writing: “US envoy Steve Witkoff istraveling to Switzerland for technical talks with Iran, a US official said, with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also expected to join. Meanwhile, mediator Pakistan’s interior minister has arrived in Iran for talks with senior Iranian officials as part of efforts to encourage them to Switzerland.”
END
ISRAEL/USA VS IRAN//SATURDAY
Ceasefire talks paused after Iran shutters strait, Vance delays trip to Switzerland – report
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry announced that the talks will begin on Sunday and will be attended by delegations from the US and Iran, as well as mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.
US Vice President JD Vance attends a press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, US, May 19, 2026.(photo credit: KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS)ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFJUNE 20, 2026 16:26Updated: JUNE 20, 2026 17:38
US Vice President JD Vance told Fox News on Saturday that he expects to reschedule his trip to Switzerland for US-Iran technical negotiations within the next few days.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on X/Twitter that the talks will begin on Sunday and will be attended by delegations from the US and Iran, as well as mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.
“I expect that I will leave sometime in the next couple of days, but you know it’s always a delicate coordination dance and the diplomatic protocols,” Vance told Fox, adding that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are already in Switzerland.
Vance also told Fox that there is no evidence that Iran is closing the Strait of Hormuz, despite Iranian state media reports that Iran’s top joint military command ordered the Strait to be closed due to Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The comment was made after Iran’s top joint military command had announced Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is “closed to vessel traffic,” Iranian semi-official state media MEHR reported.
Iranian officials said that they made the decision to shut the strait as a result of the ceasefire infringements in Lebanon.
US-Iran talks set to be delayed
In his comments to Fox, Vance claimed that talks with Iran are going well and added that he is committed to giving the negotiations a chance.
This comes after US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff reportedly landed in Switzerland to begin meetings with the Iranian delegation for the 60 days of talks outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani arrived in Switzerland on Friday and is set to mediate the US-Iran talks, Axios reported
Israel-Lebanon talks to resume
Talks between Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to continue June 23-25 in Washington, according to a Friday US State Department announcement.
Also on Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio “reiterated the need to disarm” Hezbollah during a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Rubio also reaffirmed US “support for the Government of Lebanon’s efforts to create a fully sovereign Lebanese state that is at peace with all its neighbors,” according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Secretary of State Rubio is planning a trip to the Middle East next week, Axios reported on Friday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The secretary of state will reportedly visit Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.
Ravid further reported that Rubio will hold a summit with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministers in Bahrain.
Iran Closes Strait Again? Vance & CENTCOM Address the Claims
Vice President JD Vance has newly told Fox News that he’s ‘skeptical’ of the morning reports and claims that the Iranians once again ‘closed’ the Strait of Hormuz. Watch:
US Central Command is also trying to portray that all is well. It issued this statement after the Iranians announced it closed the vital oil transit waterway:
Commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz increased June 20 as U.S. forces continued operating in the general area to support freedom of navigation. Safe passage through the international waterway remained intact today as 55 merchant ships transited, moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.
The Joint Maritime Information Center issued an advisory this week affirming safe passage for all vessels along a designated route that is free of arbitrary requirement claims or impediments.
The Pentagon says it is remaining vigilant with regional forces on high alert. Overall, it seems the White House is keep to at least see its delegation get in the same room with the Iranians in Switzerland. This will certainly be a real start in terms of face-to-face engagement, after the MoU was remotely signed by each side.
Iran says Hormuz Strait Closed Again
As has become the ‘norm’ after well over 100 days of war – which some pundits have been calling the “third Gulf war” – there are deeply conflicting headlines emerging Saturday. On the one hand, diplomacy based in Switzerland is said to be in motion, with a potential top level Trump delegation (led by Witkoff and to be joined later by Kushner reportedly/allegedly) – but fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in south Lebanon still rages, with the death toll climbing, and also with Hezbollah rockets still landing against IDF positions as well as in northern Israel.
Will the US and Iranian sides actually meet in Europe for the ‘technical’ side of further talks toward final peace? Saturday has seen reports of Iran having again ‘closed’ the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israeli aggression in Lebanon, after Tehran has insisted that the tenuous freshly signed MoU included a Lebanon ceasefire and peace. The latest newswires out of Iranian state media:
IRAN SAYS HORMUZ TO CLOSE, CITING CEASEFIRE VIOLATION: TASNIM
IRAN SAYS STRAIT OF HORMUZ HAS BEEN CLOSED: TASNIM
IRAN’S IRGC NAVY SAYS HORMUZ STRAIT CLOSED TO ALL VESSELS: FARS
*VESSELS WARNED TO AVOID STRAIT OF HORMUZ OVER SECURITY: FARS
VP Vance Expected in Switzerland, But He’s Ambiguous in FOX Appearance
Vance expected in Switzerland, reports Axios on Saturday
SUNDAY
END
ISRAEL/IRAN/USA MONDAY
Iran’s Araghchi Says Talks Delivered “Major Progress” To End Lebanon War, Will Continue For Rest Of Week
Sunday, Jun 21, 2026 – 01:00 PM
Summary
Round 1 ends: The US and Iran made “encouraging progress” in talks on a peace deal and will continue technical-level discussions this week, mediators
Iran defiant, sees itself in strong position: Ghalibaf rejects US threats and links talks to a Lebanon ceasefire.
Trump raises stakes via some typical Truth Social lashing out: Warns on Hormuz, Lebanon, and keeps military options on the table.
Nuclear progress?: Some reports say not addressed, others suggest framework already being worked on.
US and Iran Make “Encouraging Progress” In Talks On Peace Deal, Will Continue Technical-Level Discussions This Week
Contrary to earlier reports from Iran media that US and Iran talks had concluded hours earlier, Bloomberg reported that the US and Iran made “encouraging progress” in talks on a peace deal and will continue technical-level discussions this week, mediators said, even as President Donald Trump again threatened strikes if Hezbollah keeps attacking Israel.
“Encouraging progress has been made including the creation of a mechanism for further technical talks,” mediators Qatar and Pakistan said in a joint statement. The parties agreed on a roadmap toward reaching a final deal within 60 days.
The sides also established a communication line to avoid incidents and miscalculation, with the aim of ensuring safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the mediators said. They also agreed to create a “de-confliction cell” involving the parties and Lebanon to help ensure adherence to the cessation of military operations there.
After rising in early trading following reports that Iran (almost but not really) had walked out on talks, crude oil turned lower and US stock-index futures pared losses after the statement.
Pakistani and Qatari mediation delivered major progress to end the Lebanon war, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X: “Tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War. Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran. 1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell” the post said.
Things got off to a confusing start Sunday when Iranian media reported that Iran halted talks over Trump’s latest threat. As the meetings got underway, Trump said in a social media post that he would strike Iran again if it doesn’t “immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble.”
He also warned Iran that the US might start collecting tolls if there’s no deal. Speaking Sunday to Fox News, Trump said he told Iranian leaders directly that if they close Hormuz, “You won’t even make it back” to Iran, using an expletive.
Some Fireworks
Al Jazeera is reporting that talks have ‘concluded’ – but is this in actuality a premature conclusion given all the tension and heated issues of disagreement which came to the forefront?
GHALIBAF: THEY’D BE BETTER OFF BEING CAREFUL W/ THEIR REMARKS
IRAN’S GHALIBAF: WE DON’T ATTACH ANY SIGNIFICANCE TO US THREATS
IRAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER GHALIBAF COMMENTS ON X
IRAN WILL END TALKS W/ US IF ISRAEL WON’T LEAVE LEBANON: TASNIM
IRAN SAYS TRUMP’S THREAT IS A ‘BLATANT VIOLATION’ OF MOU
Below is a machine translation of what Iran’s lead negotiator just issued on X as the day in Switzerland came to an end (also, another translation)…
“Do they not realize that if their threats actually worked, they wouldn’t find themselves in today’s position of desperation? We don’t take American threats seriously.
They should be careful about what they say. Our armed forces stand ready to answer them in other ways. They can keep talking—it’s we who take action.”
This is immediately on the heels of Trump playing ‘bad cop’ to Vance’s good cop, who has expressed some cautious optimism on Sunday from Switzerland. Bloomberg is reporting that the nuclear file was not dealt with in today’s engagement.
The fact that the Swiss event happened at all can be called advancement on some level at least…
Trump Reminds Iran Of ‘Harder’ Military Options On Table
With Vance and Witkoff in Switzerland, President Trump is still issuing some US redlines via Truth Social, and via apparent ‘official leaks’ – and quite quickly – through the press.
Trump is warning the Iranians on the sticking points of Hormuz closure and the Lebanon crisis. He has newly threatened on Sunday to hit Iran again if it can’t constrain its proxies, namely Hezbollah, in Lebanon. In parallel, Tehran is demanding that Washington reign in Israel. A fresh Sunday Truth Social… brief but firm:
And more on some fresh reported warnings and pressure coming from Trump:
As the American delegation continues the high-stakes negotiations in Switzerland aimed at de-escalating, the White House is projecting cautious optimism while simultaneously reminding Tehran that military options remain firmly on the table.
Speaking as talks entered a critical phase, Vice President JD Vance said Sunday from Switzerland Washington has “made great progress over the last few hours” and expects “additional progress in the coming hours,” describing the negotiations as an opportunity to “turn over a new leaf” in US-Iran relations. Vance emphasized that the administration’s preference is not to return to the cycle of confrontation, adding that the US is willing to fundamentally transform ties with Iran if Tehran permanently abandons its nuclear ambitions.
“The question is how much more we can achieve in the Middle East,” Vance said, while expressing confidence regarding the Lebanon front and signaling satisfaction with ongoing efforts to contain broader regional escalation.
“Better Watch His Mouth”: Trump to Iran President via Media
Yet Trump has just delivered a stark reminder of the consequences should negotiations fail. According to Fox News, Trump warned Iranian officials that closing the Strait of Hormuz would be an existential mistake, reportedly telling Tehran that it “won’t have a country” if it attempts to choke off global energy flows, in the segment above. Trump also issued a personal warning to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, saying he “better watch his mouth,” while reports indicated the president used unusually blunt language during discussions with Iranian intermediaries over the strategic waterway.
Perhaps most notably, Trump reiterated that he retains a “60-day option” and can “do whatever” he deems necessary after that period expires, a statement widely interpreted as preserving the possibility of renewed military action. The president also reportedly threatened additional strikes against Iran should Tehran’s regional proxies in Lebanon resume attacks or undermine the emerging diplomatic framework.
The result is a familiar carrot-and-stick approach as talks are unfolding under the shadow of explicit US military threats and a rapidly approaching deadline that could determine whether the region moves toward détente or another round of escalation. But Iran has also made known that it is ready of a long war, but will Trump be willing to risk enduring the political and economic fallout?
Qatari, Pakistani Top Leaders Present, Optimistic Initial Statements
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has formally confirmed the launch of the talks between the United States and Iran with the mediation of Qatar and Pakistan in Switzerland, with the Iranian delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
US Vice President JD Vance is leading the American side along with envoy Steve Witkoff. Also gathered at the Buergenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, near Stansstad, are Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Qatar has expressed “its aspiration that these meetings will lead to the conclusion of a comprehensive and permanent agreement addressing all aspects covered in the Memorandum of Understanding.” Iran has reiterated it wants a comprehensive settlement and final end to the war. But it also demands a final Lebanon-Israel peace settlement be linked in. Already there could be an inkling of progress on the nuclear front:
PAKISTAN:US, IRAN AGREED ON REDUCTION OF ENRICHED URANIUM LEVEL
PAKISTAN:IRAN’S ENRICHED URANIUM TO BE REDUCED FROM 60% TO 0.7%
IRAN PRESIDENT SAYS QATAR TO RELEASE $6B AS TALKS START: IRNA
The last time Vance sat physically across from Iran’s lead negotiator Ghalibaf was a full ten weeks ago, in mid-April. Interactions appear to initially be only through intermediaries, which will build up to face-to-face meetings, as happened in prior failed rounds.
END
MONDAY AFTERNOON:
Tehran Disputes Vance Claims On Nuclear Inspections & Assets For Agriculture Funding Amid Oil License Deal
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 – 12:55 PM
Summary
Unfreezing Assets divergence in official rhetoric: “It is not true that Iran’s blocked funds will be used to buy grain, and it is not mentioned in any understanding,”
Nuclear Inspector divergence: Vance said Iran agreed to admit nuclear inspectors, but Iranian state media denied any such agreement was reached.
Oil Relief: The U.S. issued a 60-day license allowing Iranian oil production and sales as part of the emerging negotiation framework.
Talks Continue after top negotiators depart Switzerland: Both sides described the Switzerland talks as constructive, with technical negotiations set to continue over the next 60 days.
Hormuz Commitment: The U.S. says Iran agreed to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, easing market concerns, though major issues remain unresolved.
“There will be no Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon except through negotiations in Washington, given that the mechanisms for implementing the ceasefire agreement will only be discussed in Washington,” (Military Sources via AI Jadeed). It must be remembered that the Lebanese government and national army have no real military power to bring Iran-backed Hezbollah to heel. And the White House is also struggling to reign in its number one regional ally Israel.
Iran has on numerous occasions threatened to blow up the peace deal with the US if the Lebanon crisis is not solves. Some of the latest as relayed by Bloomberg:
Israel refuses to hand over the Majdalzoun facility to the Lebanese army and insists on detonating it, amid reports that residents have been warned of the force and magnitude of the explosion, equivalent to a three-magnitude earthquake.
Israel will not agree to withdraw’ from certain strategic points, therefore the situation on the ground remains complex and the picture unclear.
More Divergence in Official Rhetoric from Switzerland
Vice President JD Vance earlier outlined a proposal under which any future release of frozen Iranian assets would remain subject to US oversight, allowing Washington to influence how the funds are spent. According to Vance, the concept was developed by Jared Kushner and would direct the money toward purchases of American agricultural goods.
The big assertion: “We wanted to make sure that we set up a process where if we ever unfreeze Iranian assets, we can ensure that money, that Iranian money, goes to help the people of Iran and not to fund terrorism,” Vance said.
After first denying Vance’s claims on nuclear inspectors being ‘agreed’ by Tehran to reenter the country–
now this…
“It is not true that Iran’s blocked funds will be used to buy grain, and it is not mentioned in any understanding,” Iran’s Tasnim reports. This 60-day period is likely to be filled with more constant claims and counterclaims regarding what’s been agreed to or not, and the crisis remains highly fluid and the ‘brink of war’ return is ever present, also given the sensitive Lebanon situation.
US Vice President JD Vance has suggested that any future release of frozen Iranian assets could be structured to ensure the funds are used for civilian purposes, including the purchase of American agricultural goods “for the benefit of the Iranian people”.
State Media Says Vance Claim on Nuclear Inspectors ‘False’
Iranian state Fars is reporting that US Vice President Vance’s earlier in the day announcement that Tehran agreed to the return of IAEA inspectors to the country is “false”, citing a government source.
“There was no talk of the presence of inspectors in the country in the Swiss negotiations,” Fars says. And so the divergent rhetoric continues to be a serious issue, even as this is only the very beginning of an expected long-haul 60-day nuclear negotiation process.
Each side has been accusing the other of jumping the gun on premature statements and official leaks to the press. Also it could be that the return of inspectors is part of the framework for the future, but that Vance perhaps stated it as accomplished fact – and apparently Tehran doesn’t yet see it that way. Al Jazeera reports on Iran’s current official stance:
Iran will continue its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in line with existing procedures, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told IRNA.
The interactions with the IAEA will take place in “accordance with the approvals of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the decisions of the Supreme National Security Council”, IRNA quoted Baghaei as saying.
US Issues 60-Day License For Iranian Oil Sales As Tehran Agrees To Hormuz Access, Nuclear Inspections
As part of the MoU framework, and ongoing technical peace discussions in Switzerland (with US and Iranian teams still though – though Vance and Ghalibaf have at this point departed after their 18-hour first round achievement – Treasury has issued a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian oil – it stated in a huge forward-momentum development. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on X:
Under President Trump and Vice President Vance, we continue to make the world safer and more prosperous. In line with the ongoing productive talks in Switzerland, Iran has committed to free and open transit in the Strait of Hormuz and to permit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors into their country. As part of the framework, Treasury has issued a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian oil.
Oil dropped to low of day on the significant latest development:
Some further details:
US AUTHORIZES SOME SALES OF CRUDE OIL OF IRANIAN ORIGIN
US LICENSE AUTHORIZES SALES THROUGH TO AUGUST 21, 2026
US LICENSE AUTHORIZES IMPORTATION OF CRUDE OIL OF IRANIAN OIL
However, Vance has also sought to inject some caution on some of the premature reporting regarding releasing frozen Iranian funds, amid complaints from US and Israeli hawks at home:
Huge Claim & Breaking Through: Vance Says Iran Agreed to Let Inspectors Back In
Axios is reporting Monday morning Iran hasagreed to invite IAEA inspectors back to the country, according to fresh words of Vice President J.D. Vance, who focused all day prior and much into the overnight on forging a path forward toward permanent peace. The two sides are seeking to hammer out a long-term nuclear agreement, now amid the technical talks process, as delegation heads depart Switzerland – leaving diplomatic teams behind. The 60-day roadmap begins.
If indeed the UN nuclear inspectors are eventually let back into Iran, this would be a hugely significant step. This would be to verify compliance to the preliminary agreement, Vance further hails:
“Our hope is that we get to the final deal and a permanent settlement. But right now, I think we’ve made great progress and we should all celebrate that in terms of when the nuclear inspectors are going to start,” the American Vice President told reporters.
He described that he phoned UN nuclear inspectors at 2am last night to update them on the developments, however, he said that no one picked up the call.
“As you can expect, not many people are answering their phone at two in the morning,” said Vance. “I expect that will happen at the minimum this week, but we think even some of those conversations with the inspectors and with the IAEA could happen as soon as today.”
Both warring sides appear to finally be in the same page in terms of issuing ‘positive’ and ‘encouraging’ assessments earlier. There were reports of last-minute disagreements, threats, and warnings that the process could collapse near the conclusion of yesterday’s formal round one of talks.
“So they didn’t walk out, and their technical team is still here in Burgenstock working with our technical team,” Vance explained.
“What we told the Iranians yesterday is, ‘When you guys exchange in what us millennials might call trash talk, you can’t expect the president of the United States not to respond and not to correct the record’.”
Vance conceded that in the end there was a “a little bit of threatening” and “whining but at the end of the day, the talks continued and we made great progress.”
He further described that a mechanism had been established to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, while noting that significant work remained and that technical negotiations would continue. Also, importantly he said that a “very good foundation” was laid for a successful final agreement with Iran.
ISRAEL TBN
HEZBOLLAH//FRIDAY NIGHT
Despite truce, IDF hits Lebanon after repeated Hezbollah attacks; at least 27 said killed
Military says it remains committed to day-old ceasefire, does not comment on Iran-backed terror group’s claim it that it attacked Israeli troops advancing in south Lebanon
Smoke rises from the site of Israeli airstrikes that targeted the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on June 20, 2026. (Abbas FAKIH / AFP) /
Israel carried out a wave of strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon overnight and into Saturday morning, saying that the Israel Defense Forces was targeting Hezbollah after the Iran-backed terror group attacked troops in violation of a day-old ceasefire. Lebanese media and first responders reported at least 27 people killed and 26 wounded in the strikes.
The IDF said it was “committed to the ceasefire agreement in accordance with the directives of the political echelon,” but struck Hezbollah in south Lebanon after the terror group fired “some 50 projectiles at Israeli troops” in separate overnight incidents in the area.
The military did not provide information on casualties from Hezbollah’s attacks, which the IDF said “constitute repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement.”
“The IDF will not accept harm to Israeli civilians and its forces, and will respond forcefully to any use of force against them,” the military said, adding that the Hezbollah targets struck Saturday included rocket launchers, weapon depots and command centers.
Hezbollah also claimed it had “adhered to the ceasefire” since Friday afternoon, but attacked Israeli forces attempting to advance in south Lebanon overnight.
“Hezbollah broke the ceasefire, not Israel,” Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter wrote Saturday on X. “Terrorists lie. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. Hezbollah lies.”
He also said that “Iran is using its proxy to extract concessions” and that “Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.”
“Israel is honoring the ceasefire while defending itself against terrorist attacks, as any self-respecting country would,” added Leiter, who said there would be “more details to come.”
Israel’s continued strikes in Lebanon have confounded US-Iran peace efforts and elicited unprecedented criticism from the White House.
A rescue worker searches for victims under the rubble of a destroyed building that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Qannarit village, southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
On Saturday, Lebanese state media said Israeli planes and drones struck across the Nabatieh region overnight and into the morning, destroying residential buildings and houses, while Israeli artillery shelled the city and its outskirts before dawn.
The Lebanese army said one of its soldiers was killed in an Israeli strike on the Kfarrumman-Nabatieh road.
“The continuation of brutal Israeli attacks aims to obstruct any solution that would allow for restoring stability in Lebanon,” the Lebanese army said.
IDF strikes were also reported in Hezbollah’s eastern Beqaa Valley heartland, where Lebanon’s National News Agency said a strike hit a home in the town of Sohmor, killing four people and wounding one.
“A child is still under the rubble and rescue teams are working to extract him,” NNA reported.
An earlier strike in the southern town of Barsh, in the Tyre district, hit a three-story residential building, killing a father, mother and their two children, a local official told Reuters.
A separate mid-day strike in the town of Qennarit, near Sidon, killed seven people and wounded 13, according to local media.
In a statement, Hezbollah said it had attacked Israeli troops who tried to capture the Nabatieh-area Ali Taher ridge overnight. The military, which assesses Hezbollah has a major tunnel system built under the hill, did not comment on the claim.
According to Hezbollah, its fighters ambushed advancing Israeli troops. The terror group said that “alongside its commitment to the ceasefire, it will not tolerate any attempt by the enemy to seize land and expand its occupation.”
Displaced people fleeing Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, sit in traffic on a highway leading to Beirut, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah also said in a statement that the terror group has the right to respond to Israeli attacks.
“There is talk of a ceasefire. For us, what concerns us is that the enemy fully and comprehensively respects the ceasefire, and doesn’t attempt to attack our country and villages or seek to occupy any new position,” Fadlallah said in a statement. “The resistance has the full right to confront this enemy when it attacks us, as it is the aggressor and the occupier.”
Israeli strikes in south Lebanon and the Beqaa on Friday had killed over 40 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The strikes came after Hezbollah killed four Israeli soldiers and wounded others in separate incidents in south Lebanon.
Following Friday’s flare-up, a US official announced a truce that began at 4 p.m. local time. Israeli and Hezbollah sources confirmed the agreement to Reuters.
Previous ceasefires reached in US-brokered Israeli-Lebanese talks have failed to stick, with Hezbollah rejecting the talks out of hand and slamming the Lebanese government for negotiating directly with Israel.
From left, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, listen to President Donald Trump speak in the Oval Office at the White House, April 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)
The latest truce appeared as fragile as ever, because it keeps Israeli forces in the large buffer zone the IDF established in south Lebanon. Hezbollah has used the buffer zone as a pretext to keep up attacks on Israeli troops and border communities.
Iran also demands a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, and the memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran this week calls for an end to all regional hostilities, including Lebanon. Israel is not a party to the agreement and has vowed to stay put in Lebanon.
Hezbollah renewed its attacks on Israel in March in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei at the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran on February 28.
Hezbollah at the time also cited Israel’s continued presence and attacks in Lebanon since the November 2024 Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement, which had ended over a year of hostilities initiated by the terror group.
Israel has said its continued operations in Lebanon since the 2024 agreement were required because the Lebanese government had failed its requirement under the deal to disarm Hezbollah.
IDF troops operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo published on June 1, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)
Hezbollah’s renewed attacks on Israel in March triggered massive Israeli airstrikes and a full-scale invasion of Lebanon, where authorities say close to 4,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
The IDF says it has since early March killed over 2,500 Hezbollah operatives, including hundreds of members of the terror group’s elite Radwan Force.
Israeli forces have lost 35 IDF soldiers and a Defense Ministry civilian contractor since March 2. Two civilians were also killed by Hezbollah rockets, and an Israeli civilian was mistakenly killed in the north by Israeli artillery shelling.
END
HEZBOLLAH/SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Five soldiers killed, 13 injured within two days, hours of Lebanon ceasefire announcement
Four soldiers, including Klein and Ben-Shimon, were killed after an object struck their tank. Sgt. First Class Nir Ben-Ari is believed to be the only soldier killed in Hezbollah’s overnight attacks.
Staff sgt. Yoav Klein, 21 and Sgt. first class Nir Ben Ari, 21(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)ByCORINNE BAUMJUNE 20, 2026 21:20Updated: JUNE 20, 2026 22:37
Five IDF soldiers died, and 13 were injured in separate instances in southern Lebanon within a two days of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire being announced, the IDF announced over the weekend.
Two soldiers were killed in separate instances in southern Lebanon, the military announced on Saturday.
St.- Sgt. Yoav Klein, 21, 52nd Battalion, 401st Brigade, and Sgt. First Class Nir Ben-Ari, 21, from the Maglan Unit, Commando Brigade, were killed separately in combat in southern Lebanon during Hezbollah’s overnight attacks on IDF positions in the buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
On Friday, a suspicious object struck a tank belonging to Battalion 52 forces under the Givati Brigade who were operating in the area of the village of Tebnit.
St.-Sgt. Klein and Lt.-Col. Dor Gedalia Ben-Simhon died in the incident, along with two other soldiers, though their names have not yet been cleared for publication. Ben-Simhon’s death was announced Friday.
IDF troops operating in the Wadi Saluki area of southern Lebanon. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
Hezbollah attacks on southern Israel kill one, injures 13
Later, Hezbollah attacked IDF positions in the Lebanon buffer zone overnight. Sgt. First Class Ben-Ari is believed to be the only soldier killed in the attacks, though 13 other soldiers were wounded.
In the overnight attacks, Hezbollah launched over 50 projectiles at soldiers in a “blatant ceasefire violation,” the IDF said.
The military responded to the attacks with strikes on several Hezbollah terrorists and terror infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon, the military added, including rocket launch positions, weapons storage facilities, and command centers. Later on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz told the IDF to hold fire until further notice.
The military noted that it remains committed to the ceasefire, emphasizing that it will act to “remove any threat posed to the State of Israel and IDF soldiers.”
In the strikes on Lebanon, at least 20 people were reportedly killed, according to Lebanese authorities.
end
late Saturday
Hezbollah breaks ceasefire, launches 50 rockets at IDF soldiers in Lebanon, Israel retaliates
Earlier on Saturday, Hezbollah stated that it had targeted IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon, saying that it would “not hesitate to confront any attempt by Israel to seize land in Lebanon.”
Lebanese Army forces deploy in the village of Bir al-Salasel in southern Lebanon on June 15, 2026.(photo credit: Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP via Getty Images)ByAARON GLICK, REUTERSJUNE 20, 2026 11:35Updated: JUNE 20, 2026 22:34
Hezbollah launched over 50 projectiles at IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon overnight between Friday and Saturday in a “blatant ceasefire violation,” the IDF said.
One soldier was killed in the attacks, and at least 13 were injured only hours after the ceasefire went into effect on Friday.
The military responded to the attacks with strikes on several Hezbollah terrorists and terror infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon, the military added, including rocket launch positions, weapons storage facilities, and command centers.
The military noted that it remains committed to the ceasefire, emphasizing that it will act to “remove any threat posed to the State of Israel and IDF soldiers.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz later ordered the IDF to hold its fire on Saturday, shortly after Iranian officials closed the Strait of Hormuz, which regime-aligned media said was due to the strikes.
Also on Saturday, US Vice President JD Vance delayed his travels to Switzerland for US-Iran talks.
An Israeli Army airstrike is seen on June 19, 2026 in Nabatieh, Lebanon; Illustrative. (credit: Adri Salido/Getty Images)
Earlier on Saturday, Hezbollah stated that it had targeted IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon, saying that it would “not hesitate to confront any attempt by Israel to seize land in Lebanon” despite its “commitment to the ceasefire,” according to Reuters.
A senior Hezbollah official told Reuters that the terrorist organization will not allow Israel “freedom of movement” in what it described as “occupied Lebanese territory.”
“In light of the claims and lies that the Israeli enemy continues to promote regarding alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hezbollah… Hezbollah affirms that these claims are completely baseless,” a statement attributed to Hezbollah reads.
“They fall within the framework of the enemy’s persistent attempts to mislead public opinion and are part of its clear and blatant effort to sabotage the agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America.”
Lebanon accuses Israel of ‘brutal attacks’
The Lebanese Army said on Saturday that Israel’s “brutal attacks” in Lebanon are aimed at preventing the return of stability to the region.
“It has become clear that the continuation of these Israeli brutal attacks aims to obstruct any solution that would allow the restoration of stability in Lebanon,” the Lebanese Army said on X/Twitter.
The post further accused the IDF of carrying out attacks across Lebanon earlier on Saturday, causing casualties and extensive property damage, as well as the death of a Lebanese soldier.
Lebanese media reported that at least 20 people were killed after Israeli warplanes and drones hit multiple locations in southern Lebanon, according to Reuters.
The Lebanese Health Ministry announced on Saturday that 83 people died in Friday’s strikes. Later, Al Jazeera quoted Lebanese authorities as saying that over 4,000 people have died in Israeli attacks since March.
Iran’s General Staff threatened to fire missiles at Israel if its “aggression against Lebanon continues,” Iranian officials told Lebanese outlet U News.
Source to ‘Post’: Ceasefire reached with Hezbollah
An Israeli source confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Friday that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire, with a senior United States official telling Reuters that the agreement would begin at 4 p.m. the same day.
The official added that American and Qatari negotiators achieved the deal with help from Iran.
An IDF spokesperson said at a press conference on Friday afternoon that the military will continue operating in Lebanon unless it receives different directives.
“Recent events have made one thing clear: IDF soldiers must stand between Hezbollah and Israeli civilians,” said the spokesperson.
Maariv and Tobias Holcman contributed to this report.
IDF soldiers conducting counterterrorism operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, published May 24, 2026.(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)ByTZVI JASPERJUNE 21, 2026 00:55
The IDF cornered dozens of Hezbollah terrorists in a huge underground base in the village of Tebnit, Israeli media reported on Saturday.
According to N12, the network of tunnels is over a kilometer in total length, and IDF forces have engaged in combat both above and below ground.
Maariv reported that 30 Hezbollah terrorists were trapped inside, fighting back against the IDF using mortars and drones.
The IDF stated that the base was one of the most important Hezbollah headquarters in southern Lebanon, and that the operation in the area was intended to remove a long-term threat to northern Israeli communities.
IDF operatives in Lebanon, February 3, 2025. (credit: IDF)
US intelligence warns IDF operations threaten Iran MoU
US intelligence agencies have warned the White House that continued Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon may undermine the Trump administration’s recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, according to a report in The WashingtonPost on Friday.
The report was published shortly after it was announced that Israel and the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah had reached a ceasefire agreement.
IDF spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin clarified on Friday afternoon that the military will continue to remove immediate threats to Israel’s national security and respond to any Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire.
Goldie Katz contributed to this report.
END
sunday
Vance In Switzerland Projects Cautious Optimism While Trump Reminds Iran Of ‘Harder’ Military Options On Table
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Sunday, Jun 21, 2026 – 10:00 AM
Update(10:00ET): With Vance and Witkoff in Switzerland, President Trump is still issuing some US redlines via Truth Social, and via apparent ‘official leaks’ – and quite quickly – through the press.
Trump is warning the Iranians on the sticking points of Hormuz closure and the Lebanon crisis. He has newly threatened on Sunday to hit Iran again if it can’t constrain its proxies, namely Hezbollah, in Lebanon. In parallel, Tehran is demanding that Washington reign in Israel. A fresh Sunday Truth Social… brief but firm:
And more on some fresh reported warnings and pressure coming from Trump:
As the American delegation continues the high-stakes negotiations in Switzerland aimed at de-escalating, the White House is projecting cautious optimism while simultaneously reminding Tehran that military options remain firmly on the table.
Speaking as talks entered a critical phase, Vice President JD Vance said Sunday from Switzerland Washington has “made great progress over the last few hours” and expects “additional progress in the coming hours,” describing the negotiations as an opportunity to “turn over a new leaf” in US-Iran relations. Vance emphasized that the administration’s preference is not to return to the cycle of confrontation, adding that the US is willing to fundamentally transform ties with Iran if Tehran permanently abandons its nuclear ambitions.
“The question is how much more we can achieve in the Middle East,” Vance said, while expressing confidence regarding the Lebanon front and signaling satisfaction with ongoing efforts to contain broader regional escalation.
Yet Trump has just delivered a stark reminder of the consequences should negotiations fail. According to Fox News, Trump warned Iranian officials that closing the Strait of Hormuz would be an existential mistake, reportedly telling Tehran that it “won’t have a country” if it attempts to choke off global energy flows, in the segment above. Trump also issued a personal warning to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, saying he “better watch his mouth,” while reports indicated the president used unusually blunt language during discussions with Iranian intermediaries over the strategic waterway.
Perhaps most notably, Trump reiterated that he retains a “60-day option” and can “do whatever” he deems necessary after that period expires, a statement widely interpreted as preserving the possibility of renewed military action. The president also reportedly threatened additional strikes against Iran should Tehran’s regional proxies in Lebanon resume attacks or undermine the emerging diplomatic framework.
The result is a familiar carrot-and-stick approach as talks are unfolding under the shadow of explicit US military threats and a rapidly approaching deadline that could determine whether the region moves toward détente or another round of escalation. But Iran has also made known that it is ready of a long war, but will Trump be willing to risk enduring the political and economic fallout?
* * *
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has formally confirmed the launch of the talks between the United States and Iran with the mediation of Qatar and Pakistan in Switzerland, with the Iranian delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
US Vice President JD Vance is leading the American side along with envoy Steve Witkoff. Also gathered at the Buergenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, near Stansstad, are Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Qatar has expressed “its aspiration that these meetings will lead to the conclusion of a comprehensive and permanent agreement addressing all aspects covered in the Memorandum of Understanding.” Iran has reiterated it wants a comprehensive settlement and final end to the war. But it also demands a final Lebanon-Israel peace settlement be linked in. Already there could be an inkling of progress on the nuclear front:
PAKISTAN:US, IRAN AGREED ON REDUCTION OF ENRICHED URANIUM LEVEL
PAKISTAN:IRAN’S ENRICHED URANIUM TO BE REDUCED FROM 60% TO 0.7%
IRAN PRESIDENT SAYS QATAR TO RELEASE $6B AS TALKS START: IRNA
The last time Vance sat physically across from Iran’s lead negotiator Ghalibaf was a full ten weeks ago, in mid-April. Interactions appear to initially be only through intermediaries, which will build up to face-to-face meetings, as happened in prior failed rounds.
Qatar’s foreign ministry has previewed the following planned format to the opening of the talks as follows:
The ministry statement says “specialized technical and expert groups have been formed to negotiate the terms of the final agreement, which will cover all aspects of the Memorandum of Understanding” between the US and Iran.
“Additionally, follow-up groups have been established to oversee the implementation of the Memorandum, monitor progress achieved, and work toward the conclusion of the final agreement,” it added.
“This reflects the commitment of all parties to moving forward in the negotiation process in good faith, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable agreement.”
Of course, in terms of “implementation” of just the MoU itself, things are not quite there yet, as sporadic fighting and Israeli aerial attacks continue in Lebanon, which could serve to derail the Switzerland process at any moment.
Additionally, Iran has declared it has ‘closed’ the Strait of Hormuz just this weekend, but which the US military has been denying is a reality. VP Vance in media appearances has also been downplaying it.
The Lebanon situation seems the bigger, more pressing threat to the peace process – at least from Tehran’s point of view. Dozens of people in Lebanon have been killed while at least six Israeli soldiers have been slain, with 20 wounded over past days of Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks.
As a reminder, President Trump doesn’t want to oversee an economic catastrophe driven by a worldwide energy crisis. It seems he’s ready to anything to not let it happen under his watch:
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he was motivated to finalize the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran to prevent “economic catastrophe” if the war was not resolved soon.
“So rather than possibly going into a depression, rather than having your favorite president be Herbert Hoover, he was always the one I didn’t want to be,” Trump said of the 31st president whose policies are often blamed for starting the Great Depression.
“I didn’t want to see economic catastrophe. If you kept this going, that could have happened. But all I know is, every time we talked about the possibility of peace, the stock market shot up like a rocket ship,” Trump said during a press conference Wednesday on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Évian, France.
And so judging by this and other of recent Trump admissions, Iran clearly enters Switzerland in very strong negotiation position. Its current rhetoric regarding the Strait of Hormuz also reveals this.
Tehran has accused the US of a “clear breach of its commitments” and announced Saturday that “the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to the passage of vessels,” according to state broadcaster IRIB.
For more on the details of the format, CNN has reported some further information in the following:
When and where do the talks start? US and Iranian negotiators will begin their meeting at around 1 p.m local time (7 a.m. ET) at the Swiss mountain resort of Bürgenstock, an Iranian source told CNN.
Who will be there? Both the United States and Iran have sent high-level officials to Switzerland. Vice President JD Vance is heading up the US side, while Iran’s lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will lead Tehran’s delegation, Iranian media outlet Saberin News reported Saturday.
What format will they take? Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, who is part of the Iranian team, earlier told state media “the Iran-US talks will be held in a quadrilateral format, with the presence of Pakistani and Qatari delegations.”
What will be discussed? Lebanon is likely set to top the agenda after clashes between Israel and Hezbollah threatened the nascent agreement between the US and Iran. Vance says he hoped he would make advancements on negotiations surrounding the handling of Iran’s nuclear materials.
To put things in perspective about the long road ahead, analyst and reporter James Bayes – who is on the ground for the talks in Switzerland, has offered the following: “This is a very different deal from the Iran nuclear deal that was done by [former US] President Barack Obama … things have changed completely. But I think it’s worth looking at that deal for one reason, which is the timeline – how long these things take.”
“Because when they did an interim deal then, in November 2013 until the final deal in 2015, it took 597 days,” the correspondent added. “So, even though the circumstances have changed – it’s a very different deal and they’ve got the knowledge of that deal as well which is helpful – it’s a lot to do in just 60 days.”
end
SUNDAY NIGHT
Iranian officials halt talks in Switzerland in protest of Trump’s latest threats to resume bombing Iran – Newsquawk Daily Asia-Pac Market Open
Sunday, Jun 21, 2026 – 06:26 PM
US and Iran talks opened in Switzerland on Sunday after US VP Vance arrived in Switzerland and the Iranian delegation led by chief negotiator Ghalibaf, which included Foreign Minister Araghchi, arrived on Saturday, while Pakistan’s Premier Sharif and military chief Munir travelled to Switzerland to join the US-Iran talks.
Iranian delegation left the negotiation site in protest against statements by US President Trump, while Fars also reported that Iran reportedly halted talks with the US after Trump threatened strikes over Hezbollah’s actions in Lebanon. Iran said Trump’s threat is a blatant violation of the MoU and halted talks in Switzerland, while it is reviewing a response to Trump’s threats.
US President Trump posted that UK PM Starmer will resign and that he failed on two very important subjects, which were immigration and energy, while Trump called for the opening of North Sea oil.
Looking ahead, highlights include New Zealand Credit Card Spending, PBoC Loan Prime Rates.
US and Iran talks opened in Switzerland on Sunday after US VP Vance arrived in Switzerland and the Iranian delegation led by chief negotiator Ghalibaf, which included Foreign Minister Araghchi, arrived on Saturday, while Pakistan’s Premier Sharif and military chief Munir travelled to Switzerland to join the US-Iran talks.
Iranian delegation left the negotiation site in protest against statements by US President Trump, while Fars also reported that Iran reportedly halted talks with the US after Trump threatened strikes over Hezbollah’s actions in Lebanon. Iran said Trump’s threat is a blatant violation of the MoU and halted talks in Switzerland, while it is reviewing a response to Trump’s threats.
US President Trump threatened to resume bombing and take over the Strait of Hormuz if a deal is not reached, while Trump said the US may take tolls if it has to and that he has a 60-day option, in which he can do whatever after it. Trump stated he spoke with Iranian officials and used expletive language in the call with Iranian officials on Hormuz, as well as threatened that they won’t have a country if Hormuz is closed, according to Fox.
US President Trump posted that Iran must immediately stop their proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble, or else the US would hit Iran very hard again, “just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump separately commented that there will be no tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, unless they are imposed by the US.
Iran’s top negotiator Ghalibaf said that they don’t take the threats seriously at all and warned that Iran’s armed forces are ready to respond in a different way.
Iranian negotiating team member said executive procedures about the release of Iranian frozen funds have taken place with the Qatari delegation and that a draft has been finalised regarding waivers of Iranian oil sanctions, which will be issued soon, although negotiations about other subjects will not take place if the war does not end in Lebanon.
Iran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz for shipping transit again on Saturday due to Israel’s violation of a ceasefire, while Iranian press cited sources stating that the Iranian negotiating team was said to reiterate that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen as long as the ceasefire in Lebanon is not respected and waivers for the sale of Iranian oil are not issued.
Iran resumed oil loading from Kharg Island after about a six-week halt, following the lifting of the US blockade of its ports.
Three India-linked supertankers re-emerged in the Gulf of Oman, which suggests an increase in traffic through the waterway.
UKMTO reported an incident in which a cargo vessel was approached by a craft with six armed persons onboard 92 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s Mukalla in the Gulf of Aden.
Israeli army chief said the Lebanon ceasefire is fragile and forces remain ready for combat.
Israeli military convoy reportedly entered southern Syria’s Quneitra region, near the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
US TRADE
US markets were closed on Friday for Juneteenth.
TARIFFS/TRADE
India is reportedly seeking a competitive edge against rival countries regarding tariffs before enacting the much-delayed trade pact with the US.
NOTABLE HEADLINES
US President Trump told Axios that he doesn’t see Anthropic PBC as a national security threat, despite his administration recently taking steps to cut off foreign access to the tech company’s most advanced AI models. Furthermore, Trump said that it was seen as a threat last week, but relations have improved since with the AI giant.
Major investors warned that Fed Chair Warsh’s push to axe the Fed’s guidance on the direction of monetary policy could increase volatility in the Treasury market and drive borrowing costs higher, according to FT.
FX/GLOBAL
South African Parliamentary Speaker Didiza plans to support President Ramaphosa’s bid to halt his impeachment proceedings.
COMMODITIES
Iraq asked operators of five major oil fields to boost output to pre-war levels, targeting output of more than 3mln bpd, while it was separately reported that Iraq intends to gradually increase oil production to between 4.2mln-4.3mln bpd, according to the deputy oil minister for upstream affairs.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry reported an internal explosion at a factory in the Ras Laffan Industrial Area, although no injuries or leaks were reported.
A fire occurred in Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery (631k bpd) but was extinguished.
Guinea’s President Doumbouya announced a ban on raw gold exports, in an effort to boost local processing of the metal and help the domestic economy.
GEOPOLITICAL
RUSSIA-UKRAINE
Ukraine targeted the Tyumen oil refinery in Russia’s Ural region about 2,000 kilometres inside of Russia.
Ukrainian drone attack killed four people and injured 28 in Russian-controlled Crimea, while a drone attack killed one person on a passenger ferry and caused a fire at an oil terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
Crimea halted public fuel sales to individuals and businesses from Sunday morning, while fuel would only be supplied to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the peninsula, according to the Russian-installed governor.
IAEA said Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost off-site power for the 20th time during the conflict with Russia, due to an issue with the site’s internal power lines.
EU/UK
NOTABLE HEADLINES
UK Business Minister Kyle said he has no reason to believe PM Starmer will resign on Monday amid reports in UK press that Starmer was expected to resign on Monday and set out a timetable for his departure, while a government source stated the PM remained focused on getting on with the job. However, it was separately reported that Business Secretary Kyle said the PM is reflecting on political realities, while Starmer’s allies expect him to set out a timetable for his departure in the coming day.
UK Chancellor Reeves would be fired if Andy Burnham ousts PM Starmer, according to The Times. It was separately reported that Burnham’s camp is divided over the chancellor pick, with Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper believed to be contenders as bond markets seek reassurance, according to FT.
US President Trump posted that UK PM Starmer will resign and that he failed on two very important subjects, which were immigration and energy, while Trump called for the opening of North Sea oil.
UK Office for National Statistics admitted to an error that will impact the quality of jobs data in the coming months, after it accidentally allocated interviewers to the wrong survey and failed to spot the mistake for several weeks, resulting in it failing to conduct roughly 1,200 telephone interviews that would have otherwise contributed to the July labour market report, according to FT.
Italian PM Meloni called out US President Trump for “senseless”, “constant, unprovoked attacks”, while she said that Trump’s statements are completely made up and she doesn’t know why he behaves like this towards allies, after Trump told an Italian TV channel that Meloni begged him to take a picture with her and that he wouldn’t have taken it, but he felt sorry for her. Furthermore, Trump criticised Italy and its PM for not becoming involved with Iran and its nuclear threat.
END
MONDAY
ISRAEL
Israelis Are Livid Over Trump Ending War, Overwhelmingly Believe Iran Won: Poll
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 – 04:15 AM
After roping President Trump into breaking a core campaign promise, watching the United States expend resources and risk American lives to attack Iran, and then watching Trump take steps to end the war via MOU – Israelis are livid because the US didn’t commit to full-on decimation to celebrate America’s 250th, and say Iran came out ahead.
According to a survey conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in partnership with the Agam Institute, 92.1% of Israelis believe Iran came out ahead in the conflict and the US-brokered deal that followed.
Even among voters loyal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative bloc, 93.1% said Iran won. 82.9% of respondents said the six-week military campaign against Iran left Israel’s long-term security weaker, not stronger. Another 86% hold a negative view of both the way the fighting ended and the way Washington negotiated the subsequent deal without meaningful Israeli input. Nearly 88% of Israelis believe their country either fell short of its war aims entirely or achieved only partial success, despite the stated objectives being nothing less than dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, neutering its missile arsenal, and toppling the regime in Tehran. Those were the goals. None of them, by the public’s own assessment, were fully met.
Netanyahu has tried to project confidence in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding anyway. At a press conference Monday, he insisted Iran will never possess nuclear weapons “as long as I am prime minister of Israel.” As we noted on Tuesday, hardline Israeli politicians are livid over the Iran deal, and want Netanyahu out so they can do ‘real regime change.’
“With an agreement or without an agreement, Iran will not have nuclear weapons – not today and not tomorrow,” he said, calling the mission his “life’s mission.” He has also maintained that the nuclear threat from Iran was an “immediate danger” that Israel removed “together with our American friends.”
Either way, Israelis aren’t buying it. 72.5% of respondents reject Netanyahu’s claim that Israel secured major gains and eliminated an existential threat. Only 26.5% rate his handling of the war as “good” or “excellent,” while 56.4% call it “failed” or “poor.” His personal approval as prime minister has collapsed from 40.5% in early March to 29.4% in June, a fifteen-point swing in roughly three months.
And of course, there’s Trump… with 69.1% of respondents rated his handling of the war and the resulting deal as “failed” or “poor,” against just 10.8% who called it “good” or “excellent.” Quite the change in sentiment from his 2024 election win…
Despite the widespread belief that the Iran campaign backfired, 48.2% of Israelis say their country should renew major military action against Hezbollah, including strikes in Beirut, even if that means clashing with Trump, who has made clear he wants the fighting in Lebanon to stop. Only 20.9% oppose that course, with the remaining 30.9% undecided. Israelis appear simultaneously convinced the last war was mishandled and eager for the next one.
Just 12.2% of respondents believe Israel achieved most of the stated goals against Hamas and Hezbollah following the October 7, 2023 attacks while 61.3% say Israel achieved none of them, and 26.5% say only some were met.
Across the Atlantic, the reception looks entirely different. A Quantus national poll of 1,000 likely US voters found 43% strongly approve and another 13% somewhat approve of the preliminary US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding. Combined disapproval sits at just 13%.
The Trump administration has been trying to respond to criticism of the deal, while Israeli cabinet members are talking mad shit about Trump – to the point where VP JD Vance came very close to asking if they’ve even said ‘pwease’ or ‘thank you.’
Vance defended the MOU during Thursday’s White House briefing, pushing back on what he said was misleading media coverage. “The simple fact is that the only way the Iranians get any of those resources – not a single penny, by the way, from the United States of America under any circumstances – but the only way that they would ever get any benefit of the bargain is if they comply fully, and change their behavior,” Vance said of Iran, adding that Tehran’s military and nuclear program “is still destroyed” if Iran refuses to change course. He also said that compliance would bring “a transformative relationship with the Middle East.”
The Hebrew University-Agam Institute survey was conducted June 17–20, using a weighted sample of 3,644 Israelis aged 17 and over, designed to reflect the broader population, and has a maximum sampling error of just 2.2% at a 99% confidence level.
Maybe they’ll just keep attacking Lebanon to scuttle the peace deal?
Iran Agrees To Invite Nuclear Inspectors Back As Vance Hails ‘Great Progress’ After A Little ‘Threatening & Whining’
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 – 08:00 AM
Axios is reporting Monday morning Iran hasagreed to invite IAEA inspectors back to the country, according to fresh words of Vice President J.D. Vance, who focused all day prior and much into the overnight on forging a path forward toward permanent peace.
The two sides are seeking to hammer out a long-term nuclear agreement, now amid the technical talks process, as delegation heads depart Switzerland – leaving diplomatic teams behind. The 60-day roadmap begins.
If indeed the UN nuclear inspectors are eventually let back into Iran, this would be a hugely significant step. This would be to verify compliance to the preliminary agreement, Vance further hails:
“Our hope is that we get to the final deal and a permanent settlement. But right now, I think we’ve made great progress and we should all celebrate that in terms of when the nuclear inspectors are going to start,” the American Vice President told reporters.
He described that he phoned UN nuclear inspectors at 2am last night to update them on the developments, however, he said that no one picked up the call.
“As you can expect, not many people are answering their phone at two in the morning,” said Vance. “I expect that will happen at the minimum this week, but we think even some of those conversations with the inspectors and with the IAEA could happen as soon as today.”
Both warring sides appear to finally be in the same page in terms of issuing ‘positive’ and ‘encouraging’ assessments earlier. There were reports of last-minute disagreements, threats, and warnings that the process could collapse near the conclusion of yesterday’s formal round one of talks.
“So they didn’t walk out, and their technical team is still here in Burgenstock working with our technical team,” Vance explained.
“What we told the Iranians yesterday is, ‘When you guys exchange in what us millennials might call trash talk, you can’t expect the president of the United States not to respond and not to correct the record’.”
Vance conceded that in the end there was a “a little bit of threatening” and “whining but at the end of the day, the talks continued and we made great progress.”
He further described that a mechanism had been established to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, while noting that significant work remained and that technical negotiations would continue. Also, importantly he said that a “very good foundation” was laid for a successful final agreement with Iran.
The Iranian delegation, led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, also left the venue in Switzerland today – after approximately 18 hours of talks and consultations.
Meanwhile a fresh note from Goldman Sachs comments:
The Pakistan-Qatar communiqué, alongside comments from the Iranian Foreign Minister highlighting progress in negotiations, suggests we are heading into a prolonged period of talks rather than a near-term resolution. My base case remains that Iran will continue to use the threat of disruption around Hormuz as negotiating leverage rather than pursuing a definitive resolution. The most striking feature of the oil market today is the sheer size of speculative short positioning. There is a substantial amount of capital betting on lower prices, which locally makes further downside more challenging. That is before considering the more fundamental point that it is not obviously in Iran’s interest to allow oil prices to fall too far while negotiations remain ongoing.
China too has expressed hope Iran and the US will maintain the momentum and ultimately work towards positive progress, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Monday from Beijing. He praised the mediation efforts by Pakistan, Qatar and other parties when asked about the Iran-US talks in Switzerland, the Xinhua news agency reported. “China supports Pakistan and Qatar and all relevant parties in their mediation efforts,” Guo said.
New Iran MFA statement:
However, while an uneasy calm has taken over Lebanon, with analyst Mohanad Hage Ali of the Malcolm H Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut stressing: “The conflict now in Lebanon is waiting for another spark,” said Mohanad Hage Ali from the Malcolm H Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut.”
“It just became a buffer zone, a kind of a punching bag in which anyone who wants to score can use it, whether to get at the US-Iran negotiations – which Israel specifically is not very happy about – or from the Iranian side, where a faction unhappy with how negotiations are going can sabotage them through the Lebanon front,” he explained.
SYRIA/TURKEY/LEBANON/IRAN
‘Syria & Turkey Represent Bigger Threat To Israel Than Iran’: Israeli Minister
Late this week Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli declared in an interview with Israeli Army Radio that Tel Aviv “will be at war with Syria sooner or later,” highlighting that the alliance between Damascus and Turkey poses a “strategic challenge” to his country.
The Likud official said, “There is no way that a jihadist regime rooted in ISIS and Al-Qaeda, whose aspiration is the unification of Jerusalem, can live in peace alongside the State of Israel.”
In a separate interview with Kol Barama, a prominent Israeli ultra-Orthodox radio station, Chikli identified Syria as part of a “radical Sunni axis of evil” involving Qatar, Turkiye, and Pakistan, labeling it “far more troubling” than Iran, and claimed that these nations shaped a recent US–Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) intended to end regional hostilities.
While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the memorandum as an “important development,” Chikli joined other Likud lawmakers in branding Turkiye an “enemy state.”
He claimed that Turkiye holds “very clear ambitions” compromising Israeli interests, saying that Ankara and Damascus are “ten thousand times more concerning than Iran.”
Following the ousting of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the Israeli military continues to occupy Syrian land and destroy military equipment, using the new government as a pretext for escalation and territorial expansion.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now demands total demilitarization from south Damascus to the 1973 demarcation line. Since December 2024, Israeli military violations in southern Syria have escalated beyond periodic airstrikes to a sustained campaign involving ground incursions, raids, and the establishment of checkpoints.
According to a daily tracker launched by Levant24, Israeli forces have carried out approximately 1,128 ground incursions and 1,055 airstrikes, advancing more than 20 kilometers beyond the occupied Golan Heights. These actions have resulted in over 197 detentions and at least 36 fatalities.
This expansion also includes property destruction and the systematic mapping of military positions, reflecting a broader pattern of activity that extends deep into Syrian territory.
Self-appointed Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is reportedly resisting intense pressure from the US to launch a military incursion into Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.
Despite a framework proposed by US President Donald Trump for the Syrian military to lead this offensive, Sharaa remained “unprepared and unwilling,” according to Israel’s Broadcasting Corporation (KAN). He cited concerns that such an attack would damage his regional legitimacy by appearing to serve Israeli interests, especially while Israel continues to occupy Syrian territory.
Although US envoy Tom Barrack has threatened Lebanon with a Syrian assault to dismantle Hezbollah, Sharaa has dismissed the reports as “rumors,” asserting his goal is to end the war rather than expand it.
Israeli War Minister Israel Katz told Channel 14 that “We do not need Julani. Julani, the terrorist in a suit, does not need to come and help us. We know Syria well. He is not going to help us in Lebanon.” He added that Sharaa “should stay in Syria, not interfere with us, and not make us interfere with him.”
“Do you know what really hurts the jihadists?” Katz said, going on to assert that killing them would not hurt them as much as “when you take territory from them and destroy their homes – and that’s what we did.”
end
SYRIA/HEZBOLLAH/USA
Syria ‘Unwilling, Unprepared’ To Attack Lebanon & Deal With Hezbollah Despite US Pressure
Syrian President and former Al-Qaeda chief Ahmad al-Sharaa is “unprepared and unwilling” to launch a military offensive against Lebanon despite growing US pressure, Israel’s Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) reported days ago.
KAN cited an informed Syrian source who said that Sharaa is “concerned” that an attack by Damascus against Hezbollah will be seen across the region as “serving” Israel’s interests.
This could negatively impact Damascus’s “legitimacy.” For now, the self-appointed Syrian president is ruling out an attack against Lebanon and its resistance forces unless Israel decides to pull its forces out of Syria, the report states.
Israel has rejected withdrawal from both Syria and Lebanon. KAN also said that Turkey – a longtime backer of Sharaa since his days as Abu Muhammad al-Julani, founder and leader of Al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front – has urged Damascus against such an incursion.
Ankara is reportedly concerned that a Syrian assault on Lebanon would “embolden” Tel Aviv and “strengthen” its position.
“Trump proposed a framework in which the Syrian military would play a central role in a future effort to disarm Hezbollah,” i24 reported on Wednesday.
Lebanese authorities reportedly felt uneasy about the idea during recent US-backed direct talks with Israeli officials, which have taken place despite Lebanon’s legal restrictions.
Additionally, Israeli authorities are reportedly concerned about the effectiveness of a Syrian attack on Hezbollah.
“Some of the arrangements currently under discussion could ultimately strengthen Hezbollah politically and militarily rather than diminish its influence,” i24 reported.
Sharaa said earlier this week that talk of a Syrian incursion into Lebanon was a “rumor.” “Syria’s approach aims to end the war in Lebanon, not to expand it or get involved,” he stressed.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on Syria to attack Hezbollah.
Iraqi resistance groups allied with Hezbollah have cautioned the Syrian government and its forces that they will act if Damascus initiates an attack on Lebanon.
Syria experienced a significant geopolitical change following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, as Sharaa’s government aligned with Washington and engaged in discussions with Israel.
The US has largely lifted sanctions on Syria and called Damascus a “partner” in the global fight against ISIS — overlooking Sharaa’s past as an Al-Qaeda leader and earlier as deputy to ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Hezbollah fought in Syria for years with the former government, helping recapture areas from extremist groups like Al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front, Ahrar al-Sham, and others considered by the west as the “Syrian opposition.”
The Nusra Front, led by Sharaa, was rebranded into Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and ended up toppling Assad’s government in 2024. HTS and other extremist factions with links to ISIS currently dominate what has become the new Syrian Defense Ministry and military.
Tom Barrack, US special envoy to Syria and Iraq, threatened Lebanon last year with a Syrian incursion, and said Damascus would “actively assist us in confronting and dismantling … Hezbollah.”
He also said Syria viewed Lebanon as its “beach resort” and would carry out an assault against the country unless Hezbollah is disarmed.
HEZBOLLAH/ISRAEL
WATCH: IDF takes over massive Hezbollah tunnel full of rocket firing shafts in southern Lebanon
Meanwhile, IDF chief Zamir visited soldiers in southern Lebanon, saying that the ceasefire is shaky, and the military must be ready to fight at any moment.
The IDF on Sunday announced that soldiers from the 91st Division’s 551st Brigade had taken over a massive Hezbollah tunnel in Majdal Zoun, approximately 10km. into southern Lebanon.
These shafts were difficult or impossible to destroy in airstrikes, but can now be neutralized from up close.
The tunnel was 200 meters long and 25 meters deep, the IDF noted.
The IDF killed 20 Hezbollah terrorists, including 10 members of the group’s Radwan Forces, as the military took control of the tunnel.https://player.jpost.com/public/player.html?player=jpost&media=4067127&url=www.jpost.comIDF footage showing Hezbollah terror weapons stored in tunnels near Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon, published June 21, 2026 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT).
Additionally, approximately 50 items of terror infrastructure and munitions, including drones, anti-tank missiles, lookout positions, and others, were seized or destroyed by the IDF.
The IDF published a video displaying some of the items seized, which include very large and powerful rockets.
Another video taken by Yahalom Combat Engineers shows 12 separate rooms and sections to the tunnel for a diverse spectrum of terror operations.https://player.jpost.com/public/player.html?player=jpost&media=4067133&url=www.jpost.comIDF footage showing a Hezbollah terror tunnel near Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon, published June 21, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
‘Ceasefire is shaky, IDF needs to be prepared,’ Zamir tells soldiers in Lebanon
Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Sunday that “the ceasefire which was announced is shaky and we need to be ready with the highest preparedness to renew our military actions, and to thwart the threats, including quickly transitioning to go on the attack if required.”
“All of the IDF’s resources are dedicated to this,” Zamir added.
One of the lessons of the October 7, 2023, massacre was that Israel would never again allow its enemies to build up their forces right on its border for an attack on the Jewish state, Zamir continued.
Zamir also stated that the IDF had Hezbollah on the defensive by taking over not only the area around Majdal Zoun, including terror tunnels, but also the area and terror tunnels around Ali Taher Ridge and Beaufort Castle.
He also expressed appreciation to the 401st Armored Brigade, which has recently lost many top commanders, for its constant readiness to deploy to the front lines of battle from Gaza to Lebanon.
END
RUSSIA VS UKRAINE
Trump Reiterates Ukraine War Would Never Have Started If Russia Remained In G8, Blasts Obama
Saturday, Jun 20, 2026 – 09:35 PM
This isn’t the first time that President Trump has said something like this, but he’s newly explained in a wide-ranging fresh interview with Axios published Friday his view that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine likely would likely have been averted if Russia had remained a member of the then-Group of Eight (G8).
“You probably wouldn’t have the war with Russia and Ukraine if they did,” Trump told the publication, referring to the decision to expel Moscow, making the group the G7.
The forum “would have been much better” had it maintained its original structure, with Russia included. He laid ultimate blame in the fresh remarks on former President Barack Obama.
It was during the Obama administration, in 2014, that Washington pushed allies to expel Russia from the group of leading economies over its takeover of Crimea through a ‘popular referendum’.
Trump this week attended G7 Summit held in Evian-les-Bains, France. “They should have kept the G8. You probably wouldn’t have the war with Russia and Ukraine if they did, but Obama didn’t want Putin there,” Trump said.
“It used to be the G8. (It) would have been much better if they kept that that way,” he added. Again, this is not the first time he’s articulated this view:
Trump has expressed this position before — in June 2025, he made a similar statement, blaming Obama and former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau for Russia’s exclusion from the G8.
He’s long attacked Biden and the Democrats for setting the conditions for the war to start. But beginning a year ago he also started basically blaming everyone – from Zelensky to Putin to Biden.
“That’s a war that should have never been allowed to start and Biden could have stopped it and Zelensky could have stopped it and Putin should have never started it,” Trump said last year. “Everybody is to blame.”
Trump added at the time: “If Biden were competent and if Zelensky were competent, and I don’t know that he is, we had a rough session with this guy — he just kept asking for more and more.”
As for Putin, he has seemed to welcome this repeat rhetoric from Trump stating that Russia should belong to the G7/G8. Without doubt, Moscow would welcome an invitation back in.
Among Russia’s conditions for final peace settlement in Ukraine, a prospect which still seems a long way off, would be the lifting of US and EU sanctions, and readmittance to the global economy.
War and the ugliness of deceit
The 1st thing in war to disappear is truth. The 2nd thing to appear in war is deceit. And the 3rd thing is human suffering of civilians. One has NO idea of what war is unless you have gone through yourself or had loved ones who told stories of the horrors they suffered or witnessed. And yes there still are some journalists with the courage and ability to tell the truth. As for mass media it is waste of time.
In the past, I have written that this idiot conflict in Ukraine will not stop nor be contained easily. Zelensky is a greedy puppet of a European Neocon quest to conquer Russia. Ukraine will not stop until the roots of the Nazi culture that has lived there is wiped out. Anyone who doubts this should read the Nuremberg records from World War II of what the Ukrainians did under the leadership of Bandera. Or simply ask someone whose family experienced first hand the reality. So pay attention when I tell you that this conflict in Ukraine will expand soon. Within 2 weeks expect to hear that Ukraine will start to attack Belarus. They will attack transmission Repeaters used by Russian drones for guidance and Belarusian refineries which rely on Russia oil to operate. This will expand the war. Belarus will be forced to defend itself. Do Remember that Belarus has Oreshnik missiles on its’ soil and no doubt the cover of Russian Air Force. As this happens what will Poland do?
Once this happens, things will go awry in ways war always does when the first shots are fired. And do understand that this was done will be done with the European backers. Zelensky would never do this on his own. Even with the recent attack celebrated on Moscow this past week and the refinery there being hit with abundant media exposure. Here is what was not said. Yes for 2 days the Ukrainians tested the ability of defense and then launched 200 drones in the 1st wave. Of those 194 were shot down and 6 got through doing damage. And yes, great footage of drones falling spilling fuel created more black smoke when they fell. And the 2nd and third waves which collectively was 300 drones were all shot down. This is what real war looks like. The black rain in Moscow from the smoke made clear to residents this is not a distant fight but one that all can see.
The attack was a media victory that brought more commitment for cash and arms for Ukraine. Yes more people will die. And in the end Ukraine will lose. But that does not matter. What you are not being told is that Russia understands it is in an undeclared war with NATO. Many countries even those far away like Canada and Australia are making drones and more for this fight. Meanwhile, Russia is not sleeping nor stumbling around drunk as some media writings report. Russia has turned its entire economy onto a war footing. The original army, which was somewhere around 700,000 men is now close to to 1.7 million and by the end of this year will be 2.3 million people in uniform deployed and trained, experienced in modern warfare and supplied. It’s one thing to talk about supplying weapons to a fight. It’s another thing to supply the manpower fully equipped to end the fight. On the Finnish border with Russia there is now an army group of 70,000 battle harden troops in Ukraine fully equipped to defend the border. Several years ago, this did not exist. This is how silent moves are made that often determine the extent of the battlefield in the pattern that war takes. China has already come out quite openly and declared it has Russia’s back. North Korea also has embraced the defense of Russia, both in the supply of arms and troops. The North Korean troops that did fight on Russian soil to gain experience are actively training North Korean troops in modern warfare. This should be alarming for no other reason than a North Korean army is having its’ combat readiness and ability heightened much higher than it was before means they will be ready to fight as directed.
Whatever comes know that we are moving into an uncontrolled war cycle in Europe that will run its course over the next several years. It is most unlikely that this conflict will be over anytime soon. And in its course, it will consume scarce resources in Europe and elsewhere that could have been used to create economic activity that would benefit the countries that participate to hollow out their internal ability to benefit citizens. War never builds, but always destroys and is always paid for with debt.
Perhaps one day in the future, we will come to learn that the devastation of events yet to come causes a great new rebuilding of economies with newly created debt benefiting those who provide it. Meanwhile, do you expect people to quietly suffer what war brings? Only time will tell.
END
RUSSIA/UKRAINE
Fuel Sales Abruptly Halted For Crimean Population As Ukrainian Drones Wreak Havoc
by Tyler Durden
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 – 02:45 AM
A wave of relentless Sunday drone attacks out of Ukraine on Crimea has resulted in a regional cut off to civilian access to fuel, in another sign that UAV attacks on Russian territory are having serious effect.
Four people were killed in the series of drone strikes on energy and transport infrastructure in the Russian-controlled peninsula, including attacks near Kerch, a key eastern Crimean port city which is a major energy logistics hub.
“As a result of the enemy’s drone attack on the Kerch Peninsula, unfortunately, there are casualties among the civilian population,” Crimean Governor Sergey Aksyonov announced.
“According to the latest information, four people were killed, 28 were wounded,” he added.
And he also confirmed the fuel crisis for the whole region, saying, “Today, June 21, starting from 09:00 am, fuel sales at Crimean petrol stations have been suspended” – though he added that fuel would only be sold to state enterprises.
He made clear in a Telegram post that starting Sunday morning local time gas stations across the peninsula would stop selling fuel to individuals and businesses. All cash, card and fuel coupons were immediately halted.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky boasted of the attacks, stating on social media that “Facilities on both sides of the Crimean Bridge were hit: maritime logistics used to transport oil in the Krasnodar region and an oil depot in temporarily occupied Kerch.”
“In addition, military logistics facilities were successfully struck, along with four radar stations belonging to S-400 systems and two Pantsir systems,” he wrote.
Crimean governor Aksyonov had also announced that “Further decisions regarding the current situation in the republic’s fuel market will be announced at a later date.”
BBC has separately reported that Kiev “hit a logistics facility for oil transportation in Russia’s Krasnodar region, which lies adjacent to Crimea across the Kerch Strait. Local authorities said one person had been killed on a passenger ferry.”
Saturday saw a long-range Ukrainian drone attack on an oil refinery in Russia’s Tyumen region, which lies over 1,200 miles from the front lines of fighting – a significant reach and first of the war. It demonstrates that Russian anti-air defenses have struggled to intercept small, low-flying UAVs. Hundreds were sent against Crimea on Sunday.
CIA Official Confirms Agency Flip-Flopped Over COVID-19 Origins Over Five-Day Period
Saturday, Jun 20, 2026 – 02:35 PM
Over the span of five days in 2021, the CIA abruptly changed its opinion on the origins of COVID-19 from a laboratory to neutral, a newly released document confirms.
Originally, CIA analysts concluded that COVID-19 likely came from a high-level laboratory in Wuhan, China located near where the first cases were detected in late 2019, senior CIA officer James Erdman III told lawmakers in May. Over the span of five days in 2021, however, Edman says the agency changed its stance to ‘neutral.’
Then in September of 2024 during a private briefing between intelligence officials and members of Congress, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) inquired as to how the agency came to the conclusion that lab-origin vs. natural origin were about equal, according to yesterday’s document release by outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
In response, an unnamed CIA employee told Wenstrup that “he made the call to stop the shift to lab because [redacted] had come in the day before they were ready to publish which made them back off the call,” according to a summary of the briefing compiled by an intelligence official.
As the Epoch Times notes further, officials said in a declassified assessment based on information through August 2021 that only one agency – which was not the CIA, based on details since made public – favored a lab origin for COVID-19.
An updated assessment released in mid-2023 states that the CIA was unable to determine the origin of COVID-19 because both the lab and natural origin theories “rely on significant assumptions or face challenges with conflicting reporting.”
The CIA said in 2025 that a lab origin for COVID-19 was “more likely.” The Trump administration maintains that COVID-19 came from the lab in China.
More on Changes
A whistleblower in 2023 told members of Congress that the CIA team tasked with analyzing the origins of COVID-19 favored a lab origin, but that after the team was paid, it changed its position.
The CIA at the time denied paying analysts to reach specific conclusions.
Erdman, the senior CIA official, told a Senate panel in May that he was on a team investigating how intelligence agencies handled the COVID-19 pandemic and that the CIA declined to provide documents the team had requested that may have shed light on the change.
Erdman said that the team found the shift happened after Dr. Anthony Fauci, at the time the head of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases – which provided funding for the lab in Wuhan – briefed intelligence officials and suggested to officials that they talk to specific scientists, including researchers who wrote a paper with which Fauci and the institute’s head secretly assisted.
The paper, called “Proximal Origin,” purported to rule out a laboratory origin.
Wenstrup also asked intelligence officials in the 2024 briefing about a white paper that National Center for Medical Intelligence analysts compiled as a rebuttal to the “Proximal Origin.” The authors of the white paper felt their conclusions were ignored by intelligence officials, they informed Wenstrup.
A representative for the center was not prepared for the questioning, “which annoyed Wenstrup,” according to the briefing summary.
Fauci Briefed Intelligence Officials
Fauci briefed intelligence officials on June 4, 2021, and promoted the idea that COVID-19 had a natural origin, according to another briefing summary released by Gabbard.
Fauci “recommended that [intelligence officials] take a look at Tulane’s paper on two lineages from two separate markets,” the summary states. “To Dr. Fauci, this paper’s findings were a clear indication of natural origins of COVID-19.”
Fauci also “reminded the group that even for SARS, it took 12 years to make the link to a bat even though it only took 4 months to identify the natural reservoir” and that “we still haven’t identified source/origin of Ebola,” which is believed to have a natural origin, according to the summary.
Fauci, who has not responded to requests for comment, told lawmakers during a hearing in 2024 that he did not talk about viral research related to COVID-19 with intelligence officials.
“After the investigations began about COVID, I was briefed by intelligence agencies about possibilities of there being activities going on in different laboratories,” he said.
In another readout of the 2021 briefing, Fauci was said to have suggested intelligence officials connect with three scientists whose names were redacted.
“All three … have advocated for features of the virus that they judge to be consistent with a natural origin,” the readout states.
An email disclosed that one of the scientists was Kristian Andersen, a Scripps Research researcher who coauthored the “Proximal Origin.”
Andersen said in private messages with coauthors that COVID-19 may have been engineered before the paper was published. He has said that further analysis of the virus altered his and others’ views.
“Dr. Fauci was the behind-the-scenes adviser who, alongside his hand-picked so-called experts, pushed the intelligence community to endorse a natural animal origin to hide his dangerous gain-of-function research that he funded using taxpayer dollars,” Gabbard said in a video statement posted to X on June 18.
“All of this in a deliberate attempt to cover up the truth and shift the blame and attention away from Fauci’s own actions.”
La. bluesman Kenny Neal in ICU after heart attack; “Influencer Mikayla Nogueira rushed to hospital after passing out while filming TikTok video”; Texas pol Benjamin Flores has leukemia; more
Cheri Oteri [63] has recently undergone successful surgery for breast cancer, with a supportive group of friends that includes First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. The Saturday Night Live alum revealed she was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) but feels “great” after having her second lumpectomy in recent weeks, noting “everything looks normal and fine” after the operation. DCIS is described as an early form of breast cancer in which cancer cells are stuck in the milk duct, but have not spread to the breast tissue, according to the Mayo Clinic. The Scary Movie 6 actress also told listeners to “get a second opinion” after her first doctor “suggested something way more aggressive” than was necessary.
News from Underground by Mark Crispin Miller is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Atlanta, Georgia – X-Men star and former WCW wrestler Tyler Mane [59] has announced that he’s been diagnosed with breast cancer. Tyler Mane is known for playing Sabretooth in the first X-Men film in 2000 and for reprising his role for a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024. He is a retired professional wrestler, having competed for WCW as Big Sky in the early ’90s. He has also worked for CMLL, UWF, AJPW, and NJPW. Mane recently took to Facebook to reveal that he has been diagnosed with breast cancer and that he’s starting chemotherapy. He noted that one in 750 men will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. The former WCW star wants to document his journey and create awareness to help other men who might be unaware of the symptoms.
David Harbour has said the public fallout after ex-wife Lily Allen released her album West End Girl triggered a “frightening mental health emergency”, as he returns to the spotlight with HBO’s DTF St. Louis. The 51-year-old spoke in a new Variety interview, published on 10 June. Harbour has long been open about his struggles with bipolar disorder. In October 2025, a month before Stranger Things started airing its final season, Allen released West End Girl, and Harbour said the moment coincided with a “frightening mental health emergency”.
Billy Ray Cyrus is opening up for the first time about his recent health scares. In this week’s PEOPLE cover story, the country veteran, 64, says he was diagnosed with vocal paralysis in 2024–following what he describes as a serious and near-fatal bout of sepsis that left him hospitalized. “I don’t know exactly how it evolved. It was my worst nightmare.” In dealing with what he describes as sepsis, Cyrus says his entire body was “swollen” and he was even told by his medical team to get his “affairs in order.” However, says Cyrus, he made a full recovery that ultimately perplexed even his doctors. “I had a prayer answered,” he says, thanking God. “That’s a miracle.” Cyrus also dealt with subsequent voice issues from his vocalparalysisdiagnosisin 2024. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to sing again, but armed with lyrics about resilience from daughter Noah, he was determined to rehab his voice. Now in a happy, year-long relationship with actress Elizabeth Hurley, Cyrus says she never let him quit when he was struggling with his voice.
Researcher’s note – Billy Ray Cyrus is vaccinated [sic]. The country music star publicly received his COVID-19 booster [sic] dose at a clinic, sharing an Instagram post that featured him wearing a shirt that said “Jesus is my booster”.https://nz.news.yahoo.com/jesus-booster-billy-ray-cyrus-102714699.html
COUNTRY star Jillian Cardarelli has revealed her scary healthdiagnosis and what the next steps are in her treatment. In the midst of working on new music and shooting the second season of the Great American Family Series, Crossroad Springs, Jillian’s world was upended after a recent visit to her doctor. During an interview with People published on Wednesday, the actress opened up about the May 21 appointment and receiving the shattering news that she had breast cancer. “I don’t even know what day it is anymore,” the 33-year-old told the outlet. “I think it’s only been two or three weeks since the diagnosis.” Jillian shared that she’d been diagnosed with stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma and is still coming to terms with the discovery. “One minute you’re focused on filming schedules, scripts, music, and everything,” the TV star said. “And the next thing is doctors, scans, pathology reports, and words I’d never even … I feel like I’m learning a new language. It’s going to be a journey. We’re pretty sure surgery is first, and then we have to decide a treatment plan after that,” she added.
BATON ROUGE, LA – Grammy-nominated Louisiana blues musician Kenny Neal [68] is recovering in a hospital after a heart attack on Saturday, his family shared on Facebook. Neal’s family said he is stable and recovering in the intensive care unit after an “intense effort to save his life.” “Our family is requesting privacy at this time, as he is not yet out of the woods. Please keep Kenny in your thoughts and prayers, and we will provide an update in due time,” his family said. Neal also performed at a Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration at Gus Young Park on Saturday.
Researcher’s note – Grammy-nominated American bluesman Kenny Neal was vaccinated [sic] early in the rollout, famously performing as the headlining musical guest at a CareSouth Louisiana COVID-19 vaccine [sic] promotion and Juneteenth celebration event in June 2021.
Beauty influencer Mikayla Nogueira revealed that she passed out while filming a TikTok video and was rushed to the hospital. In a clip she shared on TikTok on Friday, June 12, Nogueira, 28, wears a hospital gown and flats as she walks through the hospital with an IV. Following concern from her followers, the influencer shared a follow-up video after being discharged from the hospital. In that video, she is seen resting in a bed with her hair in a towel. She recalls experiencing “discomfort and pain” while flying home to Massachusetts from Los Angeles. When she made it home, she attempted to “sleep it off,” before waking up to even “worse” pain in the morning, she says. “And I tried to push through, figured it was just a stomachache, pain, I don’t know, so I decided to film,” the influencer continues. “I was doing a makeup video, and while I was filming the room began to spin and I couldn’t breathe and I fell on the floor and I just passed out.” When she woke up, she promptly called 911 and was brought to the hospital in an ambulance. When doctors conducted a CT scan, they found that her appendix was “going to rupture.” “So they put me into immediate emergency surgery and I no longer have an appendix,” Nogueira says with a laugh.
Researcher’s note – Beauty influencer Mikayla Nogueira has publicly discussed receiving the COVID-19 vaccine [sic]:
Appendicitis has been suggested as an adverse event of special interest post-vaccination [sic] against COVID-19 after a numerical increase in the vaccine [sic] arm of a clinical trial: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8565092/
Sydney Towle shared an update on her cancer’s progression after a day of tests and scans. On Monday, June 8, the content creator posted two TikToks from her visit to the hospital, where she was accompaniedby her mom. One of her posts was a vlog documenting the whole day, which Towle, 26, said started at 6 a.m. She showed herself before and after getting an MRI on her brain, getting a CT scan and meeting with her team. In both videos and in a post on her Instagram Stories, Towle revealed that her doctors found that she now has lungtumors as well. “It’s gunna be totally fine,” she wrote over a selfie shared on her Stories, adding, “I’m serious I know it’ll be ok.” In the other TikTok shared after her day of examinations, the content creator – who was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct cancer, at age 23 – elaborated on the news she received. “You know that song that’s like, ‘Uber Everywhere?’ That’s me, but it’s ‘tumorseverywhere,’” she quipped in the video. Towle is currently between stages of a clinical trial involving tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. She previously shared an overview of the trial, which she began after undergoing abdominal surgery in April. During the operation, doctors harvested part of one of her tumors to take it to a lab, where they have isolated immune cells to “grow them out” over the course of about two months, as Towle said in a TikTok posted before the procedure. In her recent posts on Monday, Towle explained that her doctors observed that her liver tumors “have grown a lot, but they said we’re still proceeding.” On May 28, Towle was in Florida for Miami Swim Week, where she modeled beachwear designed for post-cancer bodies in The Chemo Club x Post Swim show. Her runway appearance came just over a week after Towle was confronted with a harrowing update from her oncologist, who said he was no longer willing to treat hercancer. As she explained in TikToks posted after the unsettling exchange with her former doctor, Towle refused his suggestion that she transition to end-of-life care. She has since switched to seeing a new specialist, who cleared her to travel to Miami for Swim Week.
Jefferson Parish Council Member Deano Bonano had just arrived home from the Irish-Italian Parade in Metairie in March when he crumpled to the floor. A jolt of back pain – the worst he’d ever experienced in his life – hit him suddenly, prompting his wife to call an ambulance. Bonano had no idea what caused it. He had gotten a knee replacement surgery nine days earlier, his sixth one, but the surgery went fine and he was starting to recover. The ambulance took him to Ochsner Medical Center, where his last memory from that day was an emergency room surgeon telling him that something had “gone wrong” in his abdomen. “You’ve got to go to surgery right now,” Bonano said he was told. After three days in a medical coma, Bonano awoke to learn that his colon had ruptured, releasing toxins that had spread throughout his body and led to sepsis, which was nearly fatal. “I went from being a 61-year-old man that’s stronger than most 20-year-olds to not being able to lift a glass of water,” Bonano said in an interview last Friday to discuss the ordeal, which took him away from his duties for about four weeks earlier this year. A Republican from Metairie [LA] who represents District 2, Bonano said he had been strongly considering a run for an at-large seat, as he’s barred from running for his current position again due to term limits. Now, he said he’s wrestling whether to follow through on that plan or retire to focus on his family.
Former Vicksburg [Miss.] Mayor George Flaggs Jr. was rushed to the hospital on Saturday, June 6, following a medical emergency. Due to the nature of his condition, he was subsequently transferred to a Jackson hospital for specialized neurological care. Flaggs, 73, remains in good spirits and is appreciative of the concern and support that has been shown by the community. He served as Mayor of Vicksburg, Mississippi, from 2013 to 2025.
The Democratic nominee for Texas land commissioner, Benjamin Flores, announced on Friday that he has been diagnosed with leukemia but will continue campaigning while receiving treatment in Houston. “My mother taught me to never bow down. I did not bow down to challenges of winning my March primary, and I will not bow down toleukemia,” Flores said in a statement to the Texas Tribune. “I will win back my health as well as my election to Land Commissioner in November.”
No age reported.
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7. OIL AND NATURAL GAS//ENERGY COMMENTARIES
Explosion At Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial Area Due To “Technical Incident”
Sunday, Jun 21, 2026 – 05:30 PM
A massive explosion rocked Qatar’s giant Ras Laffan energy complex.
According to Qatar’s interior ministry, an explosion resulting from a “technical accident” occurred on Sunday at a factory in Ras Laffan, an industrial city north of the capital Doha and site of the country’s core LNG processing operations. It said several injuries were reported but no leak that “threatens safety”.
The ministry did not give the exact location of the explosion, but a source with knowledge of the matter said it occurred at the Barzan gas plant in Ras Laffan and was due to an “operational error”.
In a post on X, Qatar Energy confirmed that in the evening hours of Sunday 21 June 2026, there was an operational incident during the start-up of operations at Ras Laffan Industrial City which resulted in an explosion and fire at Barzan local gas supply facility. It added that emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the fire, which is now under control.
Shortly after the start of the war, Iranian attacks on the Ras Laffan complex crippled some of the most important LNG facilities prompting Qatar to predict that it would take as much as 5 years for the country’s LNG production to come back fully online.
END
Russian Drone Strike Sets Turkish Cargo Ship Ablaze In Black Sea, Killing One
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 – 06:55 AM
An international cargo vessel traversing the Black Sea erupted in flames when it was struck by a Russian drone attack early Monday morning, killing one crew member.
The Turkish-owned bulk carrier VICTRESS, which sails under a Panamanian flag, suffered severe damage, the Ukrainian Navy and the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) confirmed in the aftermath.
A maritime rescue operation ensued fairly quickly, with most of the crew evacuated safely to a life raft; however, a 58-year old crew member perished.
“Sadly, a member of the crew died. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. The remaining eight sailors were evacuated on a life raft,” the USPA said.
Such Black Sea deadly drone incidents against foreign vessels off Ukraine are on the uptick. For example just a couple days ago regional sources reported:
Ukrainian officials reported that Russian drones targeted two civilian merchant vessels in the Black Sea, one flying Panama’s flag and the other St. Kitts and Nevis’. A sailor aboard the Panama-flagged ship was killed, two were injured—one critically—while three crew on the St. Kitts and Nevis vessel sustained minor injuries. Both ships resumed their voyages after receiving assistance, but the incident underscores the vulnerability of civilian shipping in contested waters.
Black Sea transit continues to be a dangerous prospect, also with naval mines long being a feature of the 4+ year long war.
Because of this, international reports have frequently noted at various moments of the last couple years, “War insurance costs for ships sailing to the Black Sea have spiked again, with insurers reviewing policies daily as the conflict in Ukraine spills into sea lanes.”
But the attacks have gone the other way too, with Ukraine’s Navy at various times having intercepted or attacked vessels deemed part of Russia’s sanctions-evading ‘dark fleet’.
After some of these recent attacks on Russia-importing or exporting vessels, President Putin vowed to step up punishing aerial attacks on Ukraine. The two sides are still locked in a devastating tit-for-tat aerial war.
END
ROBERT H…
Strategic Oil Reserve Nears Collapse… US Must Choose: Guns or Butter
Inbox
When the lights go out will when diesel runs low in America. The chain reaction of events will cause huge consumer inflation
U.S./GOLD AND SILVER PRICING/ASIAN CLOSING MARKETS AND EUROPEAN BOURSE OPENING AND CLOSING/ INTEREST RATE SETTINGS MONDAY MORNING 6;30AM//OPENING AND CLOSING
OPENING LEVELS OF CURRENCIES// AND CLOSING ASIAN STOCK MARKET AND OPENING EUROPEAN STOCKS:6 AM EST
EURO VS USA DOLLAR: 1.1449 DOWN 0.0009
USA/ YEN 161.728 UP 0.528 NOW TARGETS INTEREST RATE AT 1.75% AS IT WILL BUY UNLIMITED BONDS TO GETS TO THAT LEVEL…//YEN STILL FALLS//END OF YEN CARRY TRADE BEGINS AGAIN DEC 2024/Bank of Japan raises rates by .25% TO 1.75 ..TAKAICHI NEW PM AS YIELDS RISE//JAPAN DEEPLY IN TROUBLE WITH RISING RATES AND A FALLING YEN!!
GBP/USA 1.3206 DOWN 0.0005 OR 05 BASIS PTS
USA/CAN DOLLAR: 1.4179 UP 0.0032 //CDN DOLLAR DOWN 32 BASIS PTS//
Last night Shanghai COMPOSITE CLOSED UP 72.62 PTS OR 1.78%
Hang Seng CLOSED DOWN 156.39 PTS OR 0.65%
AUSTRALIA CLOSED UP 0.02%
// EUROPEAN BOURSE: ALL MOSTLY RED
Trading from Europe and ASIA
I) EUROPEAN BOURSES: ALL MOSTLY RED
2/ CHINESE BOURSES / :Hang SENG CLOSED DOWN 156.29 PTS OR 0.65%
/SHANGHAI CLOSED UP 72.62 PTS OR 1.78%
AUSTRALIA BOURSE CLOSED UP 0.02%
(Nikkei (Japan) CLOSED UP 1321.94 PTS OR 1.86%
INDIA’S SENSEX IN THE GREEN
Gold very early morning trading: $4197.20
silver:$66.67
USA DOLLAR VS TRY (TURKISH LIRA): 46.46 PLUS 1 BASIS PTS AND NOW WE SEE THEIR STUPIDITY OF SELLING SOME OF THEIR GOLD AND ALL OF THEIR USA DOLLAR RESERVES. THE COUNTRY IS IN BIG FINANCIAL TROUBLE
USA DOLLAR VS RUSSIAN ROUBLE: 74/21 ROUBLE// DOWN 1 ROUBLE AND 21 BASIS PTS. WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT THE RUSSIAN ROUBLE AND THE ISRAEL SHEKEL ARE THE STRONGEST CURRENCIES BESIDES THE DOLLAR .
UK 10 YR BOND YIELD: 4.8494 UP 1 BASIS PTS
UK 30 YR BOND YIELD: 5.5498 UP 1 BASIS PTS
CDN 10 YR BOND YIELD: 3.397 UP 2 BASIS PTS
CDN 5 YR BOND YIELD; 3.046 UP 1 BASIS PTS
USA dollar index early MONDAY MORNING: 100.71 UP 9 BASIS POINTS FROM THURSDAY’s CLOSE
MONDAY MORNING NUMBERS ENDS
And now your closing MONDAY NUMBERS 10.00 AM
Portuguese 10 year bond yield: 3.334% UP 1 in basis point(s) yield
JAPANESE BOND 10 yr YIELD: +2.681% UP 3 FULL POINTS BASIS POINTS /JAPAN losing control of its yield curve/
JAPAN 30 YR: 3.856 UP 2 BASIS PTS//
SPANISH 10 YR BOND YIELD: 3.421 DOWN 1 in basis points yield
ITALY 10 YR BOND: 3.679 DOWN 4 points in basis points yield ./ THE ECB IS QE’ ING ITALIAN BONDS (
GERMAN 10 YR BOND YIELD: 2.9561 DOWN 1 BASIS PTS
IMPORTANT CURRENCY CLOSES : MID DAY MONDAY
Closing currency crosses for day /USA DOLLAR INDEX/USA 10 YR BOND YIELD/10:00 AM
Euro/USA 1.1426 DOWN 0.0033 OR 33 basis points
USA/Japan: 161.48 UP 0.269 OR YEN IS DOWN 27 BASIS PTS// HIGHLY INFLATIONARY TO JAPAN
Great Britain 10 YR RATE 4.8129 UP 4 BASIS POINTS //
GREAT BRITAIN 30 YR BOND; 5.514 DOWN 1 BASIS POINTS.
REAR VIEW: Qatar, Iran, Pakistan, & US speak of good progress in talks in Switzerland despite weekend tensions; US Treasury issues Iran general license to sell oil; Iranian reports reject Vance claim that Iran will allow return of IAEA inspectors to Iran; Iraq asked operators of five major oil fields to boost output to pre-war levels; Qatar said Ras Laffan incident hasn’t impacted exports; UK PM Starmer resigns; ECB’s Lagarde more dovish than usual.
2. Trial Newsquawk’s premium real-time audio news squawk box for 7 days
MARKET WRAP
Stocks were mixed on Monday, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 closing lower while the Russell 2000 rallied and the Dow finished with slight gains. Sector performance was similarly mixed, with Real Estate, Energy and Health Care outperforming, while Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary were the clear laggards. A key driver of the weakness in the Nasdaq and S&P 500 was pressure in Alphabet (GOOGL), after DeepMind Vice President John Jumper departed the company to join Anthropic.
Energy prices ultimately settled lower after initially gapping higher at the reopen. Iran announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz following alleged ceasefire violations, but the move quickly reversed as signs of progress in negotiations emerged. Iranian officials later said significant progress had been made in talks in Switzerland, while Qatar and Pakistan both praised the constructive atmosphere surrounding discussions between the US and Iran. Additional downside pressure came after US VP Vance stated that the Strait remained open and said Iran had agreed to allow IAEA inspectors back into the country, although Iranian media disputed those claims about the inspectors. Crude prices also came under pressure after the US suspended sanctions on Iranian energy production, delivery and sales for 60 days, helping benchmarks fall to session lows before some profit-taking emerged into the settlement.
Treasuries weakened across the curve despite the decline in oil prices, with markets increasingly focused on the implications of last week’s hawkish FOMC decision and Chair Warsh’s emphasis on returning inflation to target. The move suggests bond investors are beginning to shift their focus from geopolitical developments and are instead adjusting to a more hawkish Federal Reserve, while the BofA MOVE index has now returned to pre-conflict levels.
In FX, the Dollar strengthened against most G10 peers alongside higher Treasury yields. Sterling was the standout performer after UK’s Streeting backed Burnham to succeed Starmer following the PM’s resignation announcement, reducing the likelihood of a contested succession process. Elsewhere, USD/JPY reversed sharply lower after reaching 161.93, prompting renewed intervention speculation. Nikkei however attributed the moves to media reports that Finance Minister Katayama and US Treasury Secretary Bessent had discussed developments in the FX market. Into cash close, the moves once again pared.
Precious metals were firmer, with both gold and silver rising despite the stronger Dollar and higher Treasury yields. Bitcoin also posted modest gains. Elsewhere, SpaceX (SPCX) gave back a significant portion of its recent rally, falling more than 15% on the session.
FIXED INCOME
T-NOTE FUTURES (U6) SETTLED 12+ TICKS LOWER AT 109-07+
T-notes sold across the curve despite soft energy prices as focus remains on hawkish Fed shift. At settlement, 2-year +5.7bps at 4.236%, 3-year +6.1bps at 4.253%, 5-year +5.7bps at 4.289%, 7-year +5.3bps at 4.391%, 10-year +5.4bps at 4.509%, 20-year +5.2bps at 4.965%, 30-year +4.5bps at 4.945%.
THE DAY: Treasury yields rose across the curve on Monday despite lower oil prices and an absence of major US economic data, with markets continuing to digest last week’s hawkish FOMC decision and Chair Warsh’s first press conference. The move suggests participants are increasingly shifting their focus away from geopolitical developments and towards the implications of a more hawkish Federal Reserve.
There was no major US data to digest on Monday, while Fed Governor Waller delivered opening remarks at an event but did not comment on monetary policy or the economic outlook. Attention remained on geopolitics. Over the weekend, Iran announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz following alleged ceasefire violations, sending oil prices higher at the reopening. However, those gains quickly reversed as reports pointed to continued progress in negotiations. Iranian officials later said significant progress had been made in talks in Switzerland, while Qatar and Pakistan both praised the constructive atmosphere surrounding discussions between the US and Iran.
Additional downside pressure in crude emerged after Vice President Vance stated that the Strait of Hormuz remained open and noted that Iran had agreed to allow IAEA inspectors back into the country. Oil prices were also weighed on after the US officially suspended sanctions on Iranian energy production, delivery and sales for 60 days. Despite the continued decline in crude prices, Treasury yields remained higher throughout the session, suggesting the market is increasingly focused on the Fed’s hawkish shift rather than geopolitical developments.
Attention now turns to this week’s Treasury supply, including 2-, 5- and 7-year note auctions. The backdrop appears relatively supportive, with higher outright yields, reduced geopolitical uncertainty, lower bond market volatility, and a more hawkish Federal Reserve potentially helping underpin demand.
SUPPLY
Notes
US to sell USD 69bln of 2-year notes on June 23rd, USD 70bln of 5-year notes on June 24th and USD 44bln of 7-year notes on June 25th; all to settle June 30th (as expected)
US to sell USD 28bln 2year FRN on June 24th; to settle June 26th
Bills
US Treasury sells 6-month bills at high rate 3.840%, B/C 2.51x; sells 3-month bills at high-rate 3.695%, B/C 2.68x
STIRS/OPERATIONS
Fed Pricing: 41bps (prev. Dec 39bps)
EFFR at 3.63% (prev. 3.63%), volumes at USD 115bln (prev. USD 107bln) on June 18th
SOFR at 3.62% (prev. 3.63%), volumes at USD 3.148tln (prev. USD 3.114tln) on June 18th
NY Fed RRP op demand at 3.92bln (prev. 0.25bln) across 4 counterparties (prev. 4) on June 22nd
CRUDE
WTI (Q6) SETTLED USD 1.99 LOWER AT 73.86/BBL; BRENT (Q6) SETTLED USD 2.67 LOWER AT 77.90/BBL
The crude complex was eventually lower in a choppy day of trade to start the week. Initially, WTI and Brent gapped higher at the open to hit peaks of USD 78.14/bbl and 82.30/bbl, respectively, as Iran announced it shut the Strait of Hormuz due to continued Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon. However, since the open the rhetoric and readouts became more positive and as such saw the energy space reverse, to settle with losses and just off troughs. Overnight, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan all announced positive updates regarding talks with the US, while VP Vance later affirmed that a lot of progress was made and that the Strait is open. Meanwhile, the US Treasury’s OFAC authorised the production, delivery and sale of crude oil, petrochemical products, and petroleum products of Iranian origin, showing the US following through with the signed MoU. VP Vance also stated that Iran had agreed to invite the IAEA inspectors back, although Iranian media denied this. Away from the aforementioned topics, newsflow was light on Monday with no tier 1 data or Fed speak, as participants await key risk events later in the week, such as S&P Global Flash PMIs (Tues), GDP, PCE, Fed’s Williams (Thurs), and as always any further geopolitical chatter.
EQUITIES
CLOSES: SPX -0.34% at 7,475, NDX -0.19% at 30,347, DJI +0.29% at 51,713, RUT +0.78% AT 3,003.
SECTORS: Communication Services -3.83%, Consumer Discretionary -2.33%, Consumer Staples -0.68%, Technology -0.04%, Materials +0.06%, Utilities +0.50%, Financials +0.56%, Industrials +0.76%, Health +0.90%, Energy +1.23%, Real Estate +1.38%.
EUROPEAN CLOSES: Euro Stoxx 50 +0.35% at 6,315, Dax 40 +0.66% at 25,151, FTSE 100 +0.72% at 10,438, CAC 40 -0.25% at 8,400, FTSE MIB -0.10% at 52,797, IBEX 35 +1.18% at 19,575, PSI +0.72% at 9,168, SMI +0.52% at 13,845, AEX +0.44% at 1,083
STOCK SPECIFICS:
Getty Images (GETY) announced a display agreement w/ OpenAI
Apple (AAPL) faces unavoidable device price increases as AI hyperscalers & NVDA absorb DRAM & NAND supply
ASML (ASML) denies claim of EUV shipments to China.
CRH (CRH) confirmed it is to acquire Arcosa (ACA).
China has added MP Materials (MP) and USA Rare Earth (USAR) to its export control list, citing national security.
US FDA agreed to reverse the rejection of Regenxbio’s (RGNX) experimental gene therapy Navsunl.
AbbVie (ABBV) confirmed it is to acquire Apogee Therapeutics (APGE).
Alphabet (GOOGL) researcher left Google’s AI laboratory for Anthropic
Micron (MU) and Anthropic announce strategic agreement to scale next-generation AI infrastructure
FX
The Dollar was broadly firmer against G10 FX peers, although the Pound was the clear gainer, in what was pretty light newsflow stateside to start the week. On that, there was no US data or Fed speak, ahead of PCE later in the week. Recapping, over the weekend, Iran announced it shut the Strait of Hormuz due to continued Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon. However, the rhetoric and readouts became more positive overnight as Iran, Qatar and Pakistan all announced positive updates regarding talks with the US, while VP Vance later affirmed that a lot of progress was made and that the Strait is open.
GBP was the sole G10 currency in the green against the Greenback, and saw little move after PM Starmer resigned, leading the way for Burnham to lead his PM campaign. However, UK assets were bid after Streeting released a statement endorsing Burnham, significantly reducing the odds of a leadership contest and also potentially setting Streeting up to be Chancellor, an outcome which would be much more welcome than other options, such as Miliband.
Attention was on the Yen, whereby USD/JPY hit a peak of 161.93, and saw a couple of sharp moves lower through the US session, with reports in Nikkei attributing the moves to media reports that the Japanese Finance Minister Katayama and US Treasury Secretary Bessent held talks online, where they likely discussed the foreign exchange market. Meanwhile, overnight, Finance Minister Katayama said they are ready to act suitably on currency fluctuations whenever necessary, but declined to comment on particular FX rates. Meanwhile, BoJ Deputy Governor Himino remarked that it takes some time for policy to have an impact on the economy and that accommodative conditions are expected to continue. Himino added that risks of price overshoots could materialise if there is a delay in the necessary adjustment in the degree of monetary easing.
Elsewhere, Canadian inflation metrics were hotter than expected, while ECB President Lagarde appeared somewhat dovish; she noted that there is no evidence yet of de-anchoring of inflation expectations or second-round effects that would warrant a more forceful policy response at this stage.
USA DATA RELEASES
USA ECONOMIC REPORTS
US Private Credit Default Rate Remains At Record High: Fitch
Private credit woes this year have taken a backseat to various headwinds and tailwinds, whether the war in Iran or SpaceX’s blockbuster debut on Wall Street.
But data suggest that pressures are still mounting for the industry.
Fitch Ratings said its Private Credit Default Rate remained at a record 6 percent in May, unchanged from the previous month.
Monitoring approximately 1,500 private credit issuers, Fitch logged 14 default events last month. Healthcare providers, business services, and industrial manufacturing each registered three events.
Six serial defaulters—issuers that have defaulted multiple times—were discovered by Fitch. Additionally, half of the default events consisted of maturity extensions under stress.
“This continued the prior month trend of maturity extensions under stress outpacing all other default scenarios,” Fitch reported.
“Five of the seven maturity extensions pushed loan maturities out by one to two years from their original maturity dates, while one extended the maturity by seven months and another extended it by one month.”
It is unclear whether the worst is over for the $2 trillion private credit sector, as more investment firms continue to see client exodus or impose capital redemption limits.
Turmoil Persists
In a recent letter to shareholders, BlackRock Private Credit Fund stated that shareholder repurchase requests reached more than 13 percent of outstanding shares in the second quarter, pushing past the investment vehicle’s 5 percent quarterly limit for the first time since it launched in June 2022.
Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, said earlier this month that it is capping withdrawals at its flagship private credit fund as redemption requests surged in the April–June period. It reassured investors that limiting drawdowns would boost long-term gains.
Partners Group, the Swiss-listed fund manager, halted redemptions from its Global Value SICAV fund at 5 percent after withdrawal requests reached almost 10 percent.
David Layton, CEO of Partners Group, said the majority of withdrawals are coming from the retail side, which accounts for about 20 percent of overall investments.
“What you’re doing is you’re balancing the needs of certain investors—a small percentage of the fund that would like to get liquid—with the needs of the remaining segment of the investor population that would like to see that fund continue to invest and continue to compound,” Layton said in a June 3 interview with Bloomberg TV.
The Swiss private markets juggernaut later shot down reports that it would cap more fund withdrawals following a spike in drawdown requests.
“Partners Group has no intention of altering any documented liquidity mechanisms and has no plans to freeze any of its evergreen vehicles, given their portfolios are healthy and they have sufficient liquidity in line with the target allocations,” it said in a June 12 statement.
Systemic Risk ‘Less Pronounced’
Concerns that private credit could be the next subprime meltdown after 2008 and 2009 have been widespread, fueled by growing retail participation and the “SaaSpocalypse.”
Private credit is widely exposed to the software sector, accounting for up to 20 percent of its loans. When software stocks were hammered earlier in the year due to worries that artificial intelligence would upend business models, the private credit industry also took a beating.
But a chorus of market watchers argues that systemic risks are minuscule.
“Systemic risk appears far less pronounced than between sub-prime and the financial system in 2008,” LSEG analysts said in a June 15 analysis.
“We note that [private credit] largely withstood the Covid and Ukraine shocks in 2020-22 and that both lenders and borrowers are well aware of the risks involved in these loans, whence the covenant-protection is generally greater.”
Investors seem to agree, as private credit stocks joined the broader market rally over the last few days.
Still the bounce remains modest amid YTD declines…
VICTOR DAVIS HANSON
KING NEWS
The King Report June 22, 2026 Issue 7767
Independent View of the News
Vance arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for talks with Iran negotiators; it went poorly.
@AmichaiStein1: Iran: We refused the photo-op and handshake between the American senior officials and the Iranian senior officials. Parliament Chairman Qalibaf didn’t even enter the room at all as long as the press conference was taking place.
UAE’s @amjadt25:This was humiliation. No one in modern history has made America wait and beg for negotiations. This was the moment JD Vance should have returned to Washington. The Islamic regime did this on purpose. Trump, if you don’t understand politics, you should at least understand protocol. The visuals from Switzerland: • The U.S. delegation entered well before the Iranians. In diplomacy, the side with leverage doesn’t wait in the room. You claim to be leading and winning, yet you arrived first. First mistake. • Ghalibaf did not enter while the press was inside. JD Vance did. Another mistake. It looked as though you didn’t just abandon allies, including Israel, you also diminished America’s image by ignoring basic diplomatic protocol. • The Iranian foreign minister entered last and refused to shake hands. We didn’t need photographs to tell us who looked confident and who looked desperate, but these images made it easy for the world to draw its own conclusions. (Video at link) https://x.com/amjadt25/status/2068709261358534705
Trump on Sunday morning: Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!! (If Trump keeps his word about Hezbollah attacks, this is a game changer!) June 21, 2026, 8:30 AM
Trump to Fox News, Sunday: The U.S. may take over the Strait of Hormuz, collect tolls, and take 20% of the oil passing through. Called the U.S. the “guardian angel” of the strait and the wider Middle East. “President Trump tells Fox News he spoke with Iranian officials overnight and said, ‘You close the strait and you won’t have a country.’ He went on to tell these officials, ‘You won’t even make it back to your f**king country … we’ll take over the rest of the country.‘” https://x.com/Osint613/status/2068690748548010457
Trump threatened Iran on Sunday because Hezbollah attacked Israel on Friday, Israel retaliated; Iran refused to appear for talks with Team Vance in Switzerland. ~10 IDF soldiers were killed on Friday and Saturday; and critics highlighted the MOU sells out Israel over Hezbollah. Iran talked tough, claimed it closed the Strait of Hormuz over Israel, and mocked Trump. Vance bashed Israel but curtsied to Iran. Qatar and Pakistan are the ring masters. Details below.
The U.S.-Iran-Pakistan-Qatar meeting was halted for consultations after 80 minutes.: N12 News Isr.
UAE’s @amjadt25: During the first 80 minutes of negotiations… Vance did not raise the Islamic regime in Iran’s nuclear program even once. Zero mention of the nuclear issue. Instead, Iran demanded that the United States stop Israel from responding to Hezbollah terrorists, support statehood for the Yemen-based terrorists, and accept Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, which it is already attempting to assert… It is one of the most shameful and disastrous negotiations imaginable.
@ariel_oseran: U.S. and Iranian negotiators held a trilateral meeting with Qatari mediators as part of talks in Switzerland, Reuters reports. JD Vance: “Qatar’s role was crucial in reaching this moment.”
Pakistan said an agreement on Iran uranium enrichment appeared. Iran said there was NO discussion about nuclear issues; the main issue was Israel and Lebanon. Iran protested DJT’s threats.
@Osint613 on Sunday midday: IRGC-affiliated Tasnim says Iran will halt all negotiations with the U.S. unless Israel ends operations in Lebanon, per the Islamabad Agreement. Tehran accuses Washington of stalling talks to shield Israel from Iranian retaliation.
i24’s @AmichaiStein1: Iran’s Ghalibaf on Trump tweets: They would be wise to be careful with their statements. Our armed forces are prepared to respond in a different manner if necessary. They may continue talking as much as they like, but we are the ones who act.
Reports on Sunday afternoon claimed the Qataris and Pakistanis urged the American negotiating team to ask Trump to publish a calming message and lower tensions. Why should DJT kiss Iranian a$$e$?
Contrary to IRGC media claiming that Iran refused to negotiate with the US until Trump apologizes and Israel withdraws from Lebanon, Fox News and Axios report US-Iran talks are in progress.
On Saturday, Trump said he wanted Syria to handle Hezbollah instead of Israel. On Sunday, the Syrian President responded: “You will NOT see Syria fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
Vance says US willing to ‘fundamentally transform’ Iran relationship ahead of peace deal negotiations in Switzerlandhttps://trib.al/VPSe3hn
@LucasFoxNews on Saturday: VP JD Vance tells @foxandfriends Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have been on the ground in Switzerland “for a few hours” negotiating with an Iranian delegation.
@EFischberger: Vance on Fox & Friends, Saturday: “The Qataris and the Pakistanis want to make sure that we do this in the right way.” This is the second time in 3 days the U.S. has talked up Qatar and Pakistan like they’re running the show. https://x.com/EFischberger/status/2068361737728827667
@hahussain: Islamic Iran’s demand to tie Israel’s withdrawal in south Lebanon to the MoU has evolved as Tehran watches Washington’s appeasement stretch further and further. On the first day of the MoU, Iran’s Ghalibaf told Lebanon’s Berri that Israel’s withdrawal was not part of MoU but would be discussed in the final deal. Since then, Iran has changed its position, aware of its unlimited power of extortion through its control of Hormuz..
Fox’s @WillRicci: The MOU’s overlooked vulnerability is now totally visible: by tying the nuclear talks to “all fronts,” it gave Iran a Hezbollah veto. Every flare up in Lebanon lets Iran suspend negotiations and make Trump pressure Israel to save a deal Vance has made his own. Iran doesn’t have to defeat Israel, it only has to make Israel the obstacle to Trump’s peace deal. The next 60-days are gonna be wild. Vance has tied his political future to making this deal hold, while Trump has signaled little appetite to resume the war. Tehran now knows every proxy flare-up creates pressure in Washington, not Tehran. The more invested the administration becomes in preserving the MOU, the more leverage Iran gains by threatening to collapse it.
Point of order: Israel was NOT part of the negotiate for the MOU and did NOT sign the MOU.
Trump on Saturday: … Radical Left fools and Dumocrats realize how well we have done in our War against Iran, with their Country being completely defeated militarily. Obuma just kept giving them $Billions in cash… They had ZERO respect for him… Iran got away with”murder” for 47 years, until I came along. Then it all changed…. The War has diminished Iran! It doesn’t, any longer, have an Air Force, a Navy, Antiaircraft Equipment, Radar, or practically anything else, and yet the Dumocrats say that Iran is better off now than it was four months ago… How stupid can some people be???
@c14english on Saturday night: Israeli forces have seized a strategic, Iranian-built Hezbollah underground command center on the Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon. Hundreds of terrorists are believed to be trapped inside as the IDF dismantles the infrastructure. https://x.com/c14english/status/2068448612351131758
@i24NEWS_EN: IDF uncovers major Hezbollah underground route in Majdal Zoun, more than 6 miles into Lebanon – Troops located a 200m-long tunnel with four launch shafts, 12 rooms stocked with missiles and drones; over 20 terrorists neutralized, including 10+ Radwan Force fighters https://x.com/i24NEWS_EN/status/2068727282613588074
Vance’s trip cancellation on Thursday followed reports that the Iranian delegation would not appear for negotiations after Israel did not withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon.
@BarakRavid on Friday: A senior U.S. official tells me: Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a renewed ceasefire in Lebanon starting at 4pm Iocal time. The new agreement was brokered by the U.S. and Qatar after talks with Israel and Iran
@no_itsmyturn: Israel Hayom: Iran is behind the overnight Hezbollah attack on IDF troops in Lebanon; the goal is to provoke Israel into striking Dahieh to sabotage the deal with the US
@Nadav_Eyal: The repeated Hezbollah attacks against the IDF, including the strike last night that left a dozen wounded and killed four Israeli soldiers and officers, are not skirmishes. They are part of a deliberate strategy by the Islamic Republic of Iran to use its proxy, Hezbollah, to attack Israel while testing the limits of the agreement it signed with the United States… Tehran wants to humiliate the United States and make sure it can revive its proxy network… The West does not fully understand that this is the real test; or worse- it does, and does not care. Tehran is trying to determine whether it can enjoy the benefits of normalization while continuing its campaign of terror.
Axios Show: “Are you going to be able to control Israel from attacking Lebanon?” Trump: “Yeah. They have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say.” https://x.com/Osint613/status/2067926375130861865 “What did you learn about the limits on your power as a result of the Iran conflict?” Trump: “There are no limits! None. I haven’t learned that lesson yet. I know there are, but, there are no limits!” https://x.com/joeroganhq/status/2067997080883454136
@Acyn: Caputo: You had talked about you only wanted unconditional surrender. The MOU doesn’t look like unconditional surrender. Trump: Well, it really probably is unconditional surrender. Caputo: It is? Trump: I think so. https://x.com/Acyn/status/2067807963176427605
@EYakoby on Friday: Q: “How do you feel about the Iranian Foreign Minister accusing the US and Israel of genocide?” Secretary Rubio: “The Iranian? He’s an expert in genocide. They’ve killed thousands. Every problem in the Middle East is Iran.”https://x.com/EYakoby/status/2068031462851383643
(On Friday) Intel shares soar after Trump says it struck Apple chip deal – BBG “Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and build its chips in America.”
Intel soared as much as 11.9% (9:40 ET) on the presidential tout.
The usual suspects frantically bought AI related bubble stocks and Fangs on Thursday abetted by Trump’s shilling for Intel and the June expiration squeeze. Precious metals got crushed as the dollar soared on the perception that Warsh will not tolerate inflation at current levels. Gasoline rallied sharply; oil fell 0.20.
The Nas 100 opened sharply higher on Thursday and kept moving higher until it hit the daily high of 6083.03 (+2.67%) at 15:47 ET. The SOX Index hit a peak of +7.31% at 15:46 ET. The NY Fang+ Index hit a peak of 3.26% at 15:55 ET.
ESMs opened sharply high on Wednesday night but hit their momentum high at 20:14 ET. ESMs then traded sideways until they spiked higher for the NYSE opening. After hitting 7581.50 at 9:27 ET, ESMs sank to 7535.50 at 9:46 ET. ESMs then did a rather flat 5-wave rally, with large down legs. The 5th wave was the illegal manipulation to game the June expiration. ESMs hit the daily high of 7583.00 (+90.25) 17 minutes after the 16:00 ET NYSE close.
DOJ probes JPMorgan, Citigroup over Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei’s money flows: report Officials have launched a probe into how Khamenei has managed to build up a massive investment portfolio with exposure to Wall Street banks… https://trib.al/GkWLyF2
Trump on Thursday: OIL IS FLOWING, IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON (THE WORLD WILL BE SAFE!), THE STOCK MARKETS ARE ROARING, JOBS ARE AT RECORDS, AND PRICES ARE DROPPING (AFFORDABILITY!). OUR COUNTRY IS STRONG, SAFE, AND RESPECTED LIKE NEVER BEFORE. “YOU’RE WELCOME!”… “There is no 300 Billion Dollar payment to Iran by the U.S. That’s Fake News! All there is for the U.S. is Success, Lower Oil Prices, and Victory. Check out the Stock Market… @NiohBerg: He’s not getting it. The issue isn’t who this money comes from. The issue is why on Earth should the IRGC receive $300 billion in the first place?
@AndrewDesiderio: Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) takes a major whack at Trump’s Iran MOU – Wicker says the $300B fund “would make Iran’s payoff under President Obama’s 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison.” https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/2067638253079961998/photo/1
@chalavyishmael: Vance on October 7th: “Money is fungible, and many of the dollars we sent to Iran are being used to now kill innocent people.” Can you explain why this is different @JDVance?
Inquiring minds want to know: Why does Iran get to dictate the conditions in Lebanon?
VP Vance ran to the media on Thursday to sell his Iran deal and mitigate the outrage over it. But even worse, he vehemently chastised Israel and its leaders with demeaning vitriol and mendacity.
Vance on Thursday: “You’ve seen people within Bibi’s cabinet who have come out and attacked the deal, and in some ways very personally attacked the President of the United States, and I guess my message to them would be twofold. Number one, Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time, and he happens to be the head of state of the world superpower. If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world. And the second message I would give to some of those cabinet members — Bibi, to his credit, has not gone down this path — but to some of these cabinet members in Israel who are attacking states. The other thing that I would say is that over the last three months, two thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars. The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the President of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in.”
Staunch Trump confidant @LauraLoomer: For the record, it is a blatant lie to say Israeli cabinet members attacked President Trump. Israeli officials expressed bewilderment and alarm over the MOU, but they never attacked Donald Trump. Now that lie has been spread like wildfire.
Vance alleges that Israel killed innocent people in Beirut: “We seem to be right on the cusp of a major breakthrough in the agreement and then all of a sudden there’s a major explosion that goes off in a civilian population area in Beirut, and a lot of people who have nothing to do with Hezbollah lose their lives. That’s not acceptable…” https://x.com/TheChiefNerd/status/2067659246418735404
@Mylovanov Vance: “Do I trust Israel? I don’t really trust anybody when it comes to international affairs and diplomacy (Except for the Iran regime to honor agreements?)…” https://x.com/Mylovanov/status/2067561545433760128
@thehoffather: JD Vance on Israel opposing the MOU: “What is your exact proposal? You’re a country of 9 million people. You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have.“…
CNN’s @alaynatreene: Vance just now to reporters: “Words don’t matter, ladies and gentlemen, we’re about verification” — reflecting what US officials have told me about this deal. VP argues that some of the “gentleman’s agreements” struck with Iran, but not stated explicitly in the MOU, “are written down.” “We’ll reward conduct and not reward any words whether written on a sheet of paper or not,” Vance also confirms this part of our reporting. He says Iran has “promised that they would allow inspectors in to destroy the highly enriched stockpile and then of course it’s not usable anymore, you take it somewhere else. They promised a number of things, and that’s why the deal contemplates benefits if they do those things.” Vice President Vance tells me that some of the “gentleman’s agreements” described by US officials “are written down” but not in the official MOU— indicating there are side deals between the US and Iran that haven’t been made public.
WSJ’s @ElliotKaufman6: Vance now says that waiving oil sanctions on Iran will allow us to learn more about regime’s activities and is thus a benefit to the US. It’s not even a concession at all! “We didn’t see that as a major concession to the Iranians,” and neither did they. “By lifting the sanctions, we’re going be able to see where their financial system sends money and receives money. That’s a real benefit to the American people.” Is anyone buying that?
Iran promises to help Hezbollah once assets are unfrozen, sanctions are lifted Tehran reportedly promised the inflow of cash to Hezbollah as soon as possible, paving the way for the group to rebuild its military wing and political arm in war-torn Lebanon, two regional diplomats and two senior Lebanese sources said… The US has maintained that Iran cannot use its unfrozen funds to finance “any terror organization,” warning that the money will be locked out if the agreement is broken… https://trib.al/Kq7x8GV
Netanyahu has informed Trump that Israel rejects the provision in the deal requiring an immediate and permanent end to the war in Lebanon… Israel does not consider itself bound by it. – CNN.
@GuyAz: Netanyahu sends a message to Tehran: “Security and prosperity will return to Israel’s northern communities. That requires maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon. We will not leave as long as Israel’s security needs require it.” “The struggle is not over, and additional challenges still lie ahead. They require calm judgment, a firm defense of Israel’s security interests, and at the same time preserving the vital relationship with our American friends, who fought alongside us shoulder to shoulder. We deeply appreciate that.” “We will continue to navigate wisely and responsibly, preserve the achievements of this government and the achievements of the war — achievements that belong to the entire people of Israel.” “Just as we restored security and prosperity to the Gaza border communities, so too will we restore security and prosperity to the north. That requires maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon and remaining there as long as Israel’s security needs demand it. That zone separates Hezbollah terrorists from our citizens and communities.” “And in the broader strategic picture, we will continue to adhere to the guiding objective that has led us for most of my adult life: Iran will not have nuclear weapons.”
@Osint613: Vice president Vance in a message to Israeli cabinet members: “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have left. 2/3 of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars. The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump, and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the President of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in.” https://x.com/Osint613/status/2067644025226535034
@AmitSegal: U.S. Vice President Vance: My message to the people in Bibi’s government who are attacking Trump – don’t attack the only leader in the world who supports you…
@Osint613 Israeli Minister Miki Zohar responding to Vice President Vance: “The intelligence we provide to the United States has saved countless American lives. Technologies developed in Israel are used by the U.S. military before anyone else.”
@DBrodyReports: EXCLUSIVE: Vice President JD Vance on why the U.S. didn’t finish the job when they had Iran on the ropes: “I understand that argument and what I would say is what is additional military action, which is always on the table. We can always do that.What does the additional military action accomplish for us right now? We could kill more of their leadership, but you’re going to have additional leadership below that….fundamentally, unless the people who run the country change their behavior over the long term, you’re always going to have this problem…and so what we’re seeing is we’re going to pause here…They say that they want to do things differently. Let’s give them that opportunity. If they do, great. And if they don’t, we can always go back to the other options.” https://x.com/DBrodyReports/status/2067456490055610650
@JewishWarrior13: Q: What is preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons later on: Vance: “For that, they will need a lot of money… like billions of dollars…” Stunning!!! (The Vance/Trump deal will bring ~ $500B to Iran!) https://x.com/JewishWarrior13/status/2067640159886033350
We understand waiting to see what occurs in coming weeks and months before hailing or condemning Trump for his/Vance’s Iran deal. However, we cannot understand why Trump and Vance find it necessary to bash Bibi and Israel while they hail and honor the Iran Regime, China, Russia, Qatar, Pakistan, Xi, Putin, etc. at the same time!
@EYakoby: IRGC Commander Esmail Qaani threatens America. “Americans should know their place and avoid confronting the Muslims. Trump is trembling. The U.S. should fear not only Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, but many other locations as well.”https://x.com/EYakoby/status/2067620442005791131
@RZimmt: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s message regarding the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States: “In the process of reaching this stage, the responsible officials made considerable efforts in good faith and out of concern for the nation’s interests. It was, however, the President of the United States who, out of desperation, employed various forms of leverage to bring about this outcome… Chairman of the Supreme National Security Council… has also made clear that if the American side seeks excessive concessions, they will not submit to such demands… https://x.com/RZimmt/status/2067663409890386323
Khamenei’s mocking of DJT riled the POTUS. Trump on Friday: “We didn’t meet out of desperation, Iran did. They are FINISHED!We’ll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not ten cents!
Channel 14’s @libby_alon: I asked President Trump whether the United States would defend and assist Israel if it decides to carry out its own strike against Iran. “If it was provoked, absolutely”.
UAE’s @amjadt25: To Trump: In the Middle East, loyalty is currency. If you abandon your closest friend halfway through a fight and cut deals behind their back while leaving them exposed, don’t expect anyone to trust your guarantees again. You told the world, “The U.S. and Israel carried out an operation against Iran,” then walked away and left your ally standing alone… And please stop selling Iran’s economic misery as a newly created success story. Iran’s economy has been a wreck for decades, and ordinary Iranians have suffered for 47 years. You didn’t create that reality you just tried to package it as an achievement… Trump and JD Vance’s foreign policy: lose Italy and Israel but keep Iran. Tough on allies, soft on the Islamic regime in Iran. They scold Israel, fight with NATO, mock Europe, and lecture Ukraine, then sit down with the mullahs and ask how many more billions of dollars from American taxpayers they would like… they genuinely think the regime will change if they keep being nice to it—which is even worse than magic. For 47 years, the world and the Iranian people tried being nice to the regime and got Hezbollah, Hamas, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and terrorism in the West.
WSJ: U.S., Qatar Work to Give Iran Access to Billions of Dollars in Frozen Cash Plan would allow access to frozen funds for humanitarian goods… A U.S. official said this week the funds will flow as long as Iran is engaging productively in talks. The arrangement with Qatar would be in addition to the billions of dollars Iran is expected to earn from oil sales… https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-frozen-funds-qatar-effed975
Positive aspects of previous session Warsh was very impressive, uncommonly rational, and commanding in his 1st press conference Precious metals sank on the FOMC Communique and Warsh The SOX Index gained 182.849 on expiry related buying and ingrained bubble psychology.
Negative aspects of previous session The S&P 500 Index had a higher high on Wednesday. The DJIA rallied only 72.15 and the DJTA 103.36 despite the manic buying and June expiry.
Ambiguous aspects of previous session How long can stocks ignore a hawkish Fed?
First Hour/Last Hour NYSE Action [S&P 500 Index]: 1st Hour:Down; Last Hour: Up
Pivot Point for S&P 500 Index [above/below indicates daily trend to day traders]: 7493.32 Previous session (S&P 500 Index) High/Low: 7511.07 (13:17 ET); 7468.32 (9:47 ET)
@SGhasseminejad: President Trump just admitted that even two more years of war would not allow the U.S. military to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. That is a damning confession from the commander in chief and a stunning indictment of how far America’s military deterrence has eroded and the world is watching closely. US is spending massive amount of money on defense but cannot beat a third rate military that has no air force and navy? (Trillions on defense over the past decades, for what? The Skim?)
@FoxNews: “The stock market just hit a new all-time high… 401(k)s just hit a new all-time high and oil is dropping like a rock.” President Trump highlighted some economic winsduring a White House Medal of Honor ceremony, where he is honoring three distinguished combat veterans for their service and sacrifice. “Other than that, it’s another day in paradise,” Trump added. https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2067715843710980136
Fed Balance Sheet: +$11.027B on +$6.638B of T-Bills; Reserves -$ 47.279B
Today – Most people realize that AI-related stocks are in a bubble. This is forcing other stocks higher. It now appears that the Fed and its new chair are hawks on inflation. This creates a very dangerous situation. But wait! There’s more! Stocks are bubbling on record speculation (both breadth and depth) during the summer! History shows that when stocks bubble in summer, autumn bring big-time trouble. Plus, the POTUS is shilling for the stock market and bubble stocks! This is unprecedented!
ESMs are -55.75; NQMs are -259.50; WTI is +$1.88; gasoline is +4.24¢; USMs are -23/32 at 20:00 ET
Stocks should start lower on Monday due to conflicting reports: Hormuz is open or closed; the MOU talks are dead or on life support. Nevertheless, the usual suspects will buy dips and play for the Monday Rally – unless organic sellers thwart rallies. If stocks sink, the usual suspeccts will expect a TACO Tuesday.
S&P Index 50-day MA: 7316; 100-day MA: 7042; 150-day MA: 6975; 200-day MA: 6903 DJIA 50-day MA: 49,934;100-day MA: 48,988; 150-day MA: 48,711; 200-day MA: 48,153 (Green is positive slope; Red is negative slope)
S&P 500 Index (7500.58 close) – BBG trading model Trender and MACD for key time frames Monthly: Trender and MACD are positive – a close below 6078.33 triggers a sell signal Weekly: Trender and MACD are positive – a close below 6861.16 triggers a sell signal Daily: Trender is positive; MACD is negative – a close below 7307.66 triggers a sell signal Hourly: Trender is positive; MACD is negative – a close below 7454.82 triggers a sell signal
@realDonaldTrump: The way the Corrupt and Failing New York Times is covering stories on a very battered and beat up Iran, through FAKE & MADE UP “FACTS” is, in my opinion, “TREASONOUS.” I will be adding all of their false and ridiculous reporting to my multi Billion Dollar lawsuit against them. They are Criminals! President DJT Jun 21, 2026, 5:28 PM
Trump on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: “She begged me to take a picture with her! She wanted a photo with me so badly. I didn’t have to do it at all, but I took pity on her! She was probably thrilled that I even spoke to her!”
@Osint613: Italian PM Meloni to Trump: So, certain things deserve an immediate response. Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly appalled. I don’t know why the President of the United States behaves this way towards his allies; after all, it’s not the first time it’s happened.I can only say it’s a pity that he doesn’t show the same determination with the enemies of the West (Mocks DJT for appeasing Iran), with the enemies of the United States, with leaders towards whom he instead proves to be much more accommodating. But he must remember one thing: Italy and I never beg. https://x.com/Osint613/status/2067934087268934137
Italian FM Cancels US Visit Over Reported Trump Comments Meloni said she was “stunned” by Trump’s comments to Italian channel La7 in which, according to a transcript provided by the network, he said Meloni “wanted a picture with me so badly” at the G7 summit and he agreed only because he “felt sorry for her”. He also suggested that Meloni might be “happy that I talked to her, I didn’t have to talk to her”… Trump turned on Meloni in April after she defended Pope Leo XIV from the US president’s harsh criticism of the pontiff’s anti-war views… https://www.barrons.com/news/italian-fm-cancels-us-visit-over-reported-trump-comments-eb264848
The probable reason for Trump disparaging Meloni via Yahoo: In a video shared widely on social media, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appears to be gesturing animatedly while speaking to Trump. The clip shows Meloni pointing at Trump, who stands silent next to her, apparently waiting for her to finish talking, before she turns her back on the president… https://ca.news.yahoo.com/im-boss-melonis-serious-talk-150538459.html
@Mylovanov: Macron: Trump arrived thinking Ukraine would lose and wanted a quick deal. At the Anchorage summit, he nearly handed over territory Ukraine still controls on the ground. Then three things fundamentally changed his calculus and the shift has been decisive for the war…Third and this was the turning point — Russia never kept a single commitment… https://x.com/Mylovanov/status/2067865647049044427
Dazed Biden gets left behind at Obama Center opening: ‘Where’s my granddaughter’https://trib.al/2xgFxom
Joe Biden mumbles to himself and requires stage direction as he aimlessly wanders off at Obama’s library debut – Daily Mail
@paulsperry_: Just heard something extraordinary from a former White House official who worked with former National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster in Trump45’s NSC: “McMaster had weekly phone calls with George Soros. We have no idea why.” Neither could be reached for comment.
@FoxNews: “The founders fell terribly short of the Declaration’s promise.” Former President Barack Obama took aim at America’s founders during the opening of his presidential center, arguing they left slavery intact and limited political rights despite laying the groundwork for the nation. The remarks come just days before the United States marks its 250th anniversary, as Obama urged Americans to continue the work of building a “more perfect” union.
@VDHanson: As a general rule, anytime Barack Obama lectures the country or its people on their purported sins—with Khalil Gibran pop platitudes—he is seeking absolution for his own obsessions by projecting his own guilty desires onto others. The latest? At the dedication of his narcissistic Obama Presidential Center in Chicago—a $850 million flak-tower, monolithic boondoggle mired in debt—Obama lectured us on the need to resist the allure off “money, attention, [and] fame.” Thus spoke the owner of four homes, three of them multimillion-dollar mansions, whose last inert year in office was spent closing book and Netflix deals that ensured he would become a multimillionaire the moment he left office, and on spec, jets private to sermonize to various audiences–often at $400,000 a shot—on their own false-consciousness shortcomings.
“Envy was once considered to be one of the seven deadly sins before it became one of the most admired virtues under its new name, social justice.” – Thomas Sowell
Babylon Bee: Iran Wins $300 Billion Cash Prize for Placing Second in War
Babylon Bee: Victory! Trump Secures Opening of Strait that Was Open Before War
Babylon Bee: World Leaders Line Up to Ask Trump to Bomb Their Countries for a While and Then Give Them a Few Hundred Billion
Babylon Bee: Learning from Trump, Man Successfully Negotiates Wife Down to Absolutely Everything She Wants
Twice as many MAGA Republicans favor regime change in Iran than those who want a negotiated settlement: poll https://trib.al/g4961rr (When you lose the Babylon Bee and MAGA, you’re in dooodoo)
“You chose dishonour, and you shall have war.” – Churchill at the House of Commons on October 5, 1938, during debate over Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s Munich Agreement (September 1938), which allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer set to resign after Labour party turns on himhttps://trib.al/l01RB9j
“I will be adding all of their false and ridiculous reporting to my multi Billion Dollar lawsuit against them. They are Criminals,” Trump wrote in a June 21 post on Truth Social.
“The headline in the Corrupt and Failing New York Times: ‘What Changed After Almost 4 Months of War? Analysts Say Not Much.’ REALLY?” Trump wrote in a separate post.
“Their Military is DONE, their Navy is GONE, their Air Force is GONE, their Launching Pads, Missiles, Drones and Manufacturing of same, is almost GONE, their top two sets of Leaders are GONE, their Inflation is at 250%, their Economy is BROKEN, their Soldiers aren’t being paid, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN, THE OIL IS GUSHING, and the U.S. Stock Market and Jobs are at record HIGHS,” he added.
The Epoch Times contacted the NY Times for comment but did not hear back by publication time.
In another post, Trump included a screenshot of an X post from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who also criticized the NY Times.
“To say nothing has changed after Operations Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury is an insult to our men and women in uniform.” Graham wrote in the post.
“To say nothing has changed denies the devastation to the Iranian economy created by the blockade and other economic pressures applied by President Trump.
“This analysis by the New York Times says more about their bias against President Trump than it does the undeniable facts about the state of play in Iran.”
The NY Times piece published on June 21 said that “roughly 100 days later, as the United States and Iran have reached a somewhat vague memorandum of understanding to end the war, skeptics are expressing bafflement over what exactly has transformed.”
“Neither the war nor the agreement ended what U.S. and Israeli officials regard as the main threats emanating from Iran. The country’s nuclear program, while heavily damaged, was not eliminated – its fate punted to future negotiation,” it added.
Prior Lawsuit
In September 2025, Trump filed the $15 billion lawsuit against the NY Times and its reporters, accusing the newspaper of defamation.
Trump filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Florida over articles and a book written by two NY Times reporters and published during the height of the 2024 election, alleging that they were crafted with “actual malice, calculated to inflict maximum damage” on him.
“Defendants maliciously published the book and the articles knowing that these publications were filled with repugnant distortions and fabrications about President Trump,” the lawsuit reads.
A spokesperson for the NY Times at the time said the lawsuit “has no merit,” calling it an attempt by the president to “stifle and discourage independent reporting.”
“The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics. We will continue to pursue the facts without fear or favor and stand up for journalists’ First Amendment right to ask questions on behalf of the American people,” the spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email at the time.
Trump announced the lawsuit in a Truth Social post, saying that the NY Times had become “a virtual mouthpiece for the radical left Democrat Party” and cited its endorsement of then-Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Their Endorsement of Kamala Harris was actually put dead center on the front page of The New York Times, something heretofore UNHEARD OF,” he said.
Canada’s legislative body has just passed the so-called “Bible Ban” (Bill C–9) “including an amendment that removes a longstanding religious‑exemption in hate‑speech law.” It basically makes things said in the Bible hate crimes that carry criminal penalties. LifesiteNews.com reports, “One Conservative MP, Brad Redekopp, called the official passage of Bill C-9 a “dark day” for Canada and religious freedom and an “assault” on faith.” Pastor Artur Pawlowski is no stranger to religious oppression in Canada. He went viral during Covid lockdowns when he called Canadian police Nazis, kicking them out of his church at an Easter service. It got millions of views, but YouTube took it down. Please tell me this “Bible Ban” law in Canada is not happening. Pastor Pawlowski says, “Yes, it is absolutely happening. It’s happening in front of our very eyes, but it did not start a few months ago. They have been trying to pass laws like this for decades. . .. I was arrested for reading the Bible in a public park. I had several charges and faced a year in prison for the crime of reading the Bible, and that was 2006. . .. I have become the most persecuted and prosecuted Canadian in the history of this country. I have more than 360 citations, more than 120 court cases and many, many arrests before Covid, during Covid and after Covid.”
Pastor Pawlowski has a special warning for America and says, “They have been working on this for a very long time. I want Americans to know that they just don’t show up one day and say, hey, I’m Aldolf Hitler. I’m Joseph Stalin. . .. They are working their plans. They are very patient and implementing little laws . . . it’s death by 1,000 bylaws. They are bringing these laws here. . .. If you say homosexuality is an abomination (as in the Bible), this can be deemed as hate, and you could spend 10 years in prison. . .. It’s not just aimed at homosexuality. . .. If you say prostitution is wrong, stealing is wrong or lying is wrong and you are targeting a group of people and they can say their feelings are hurt and they think you are ‘hating’ them for being thieves or gangsters or rapists or pedophiles. . .. The government can now come and arrest you if you publicly go against pedophilia. . .. You calling them pedophiles and wicked and evil is hurting them because it is hate. You can be arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned.”
This new “Bible Ban” law is a direct attack on Jesus. The Bible, in the Old Testament and New Testament, is mostly about Jesus. The Bible says in Saint John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God” (KJV). The Book of Revelation, at the end of the Bible, is all about the Second Coming of Christ Jesus. Banning the Bible is a war on Jesus. There is no other way to define it.
In closing, Pastor Pawlowski says Canada has gone rogue. . .. Canada has fallen. I am telling you they are not stopping. In the UK, tens of thousands of people are already in prison for Tweets and Facebook posts. . .. I grew up behind the Iron Curtain (in Poland), and if you have never faced tyranny like immigrants like me, you have no idea what we are talking about. You have never faced the horror, fear and terror of a totalitarian regime, but that is exactly what we are seeing. . .. Look what happened in Australia and New Zealand. They willingly gave up their guns and, boom–their freedoms are gone.”
Join Greg Hunter of USAWatchdog as he goes One-on-One with Pastor Artur Pawlowski, the most persecuted preacher in Canada, to talk about the War on Jesus and the new “Bible Ban” law in Canada for 6/20/26.
CareSouth Medical and Dental@caresouthlaJUNETEENTH CELEBRATION/COVID VACCINES – The event will go on as planned tomorrow, June 19. Free crawfish, live music by Kenny Neal and COVID-19 vaccines administered by CareSouth. NOON TO 4 P.M. at Gus Young Park. #JuneTeenth2021 #FreedomDay
3:00 PM · Jun 18, 2021
The New York Times Building in New York City on Feb. 5, 2024.Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
harveyorganblog.com 
