June 19, 2026

Good morning! Today is Friday, June 19th 2026, and this is The American Conservative's Morning Brief. President Trump signed a framework peace deal with Iran at Versailles this week, ending the war on all fronts and committing both sides to a final agreement within sixty days, though critics in his own party have called the terms too generous. Harrison Berger argues that Israel's continued occupation and bombing of Lebanon is now the central obstacle to a lasting peace, with Israeli ministers openly vowing to defy the deal's terms and remain in southern Lebanon indefinitely. Berger contends that securing the agreement will require Trump to do what he has long avoided—directly confront Netanyahu and the Israel lobby, potentially by cutting off military and intelligence assistance. and now for the details. We begin at the Palace of Versailles, where President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a framework peace deal to end the Iran War and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian later signed a copy of the agreement. The memorandum of understanding formally ends the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, where Israel has waged a military campaign against Hezbollah. It also commits Washington and Tehran to reach a final deal within sixty days. Trump had earlier delivered notable remarks at the G7 summit, suggesting Iran shouldn't be forced to give up its civilian nuclear energy program or its ballistic missiles. The agreement paves the way to sanctions relief and a reconstruction fund, though it remains unclear how much control Iran will retain over the Hormuz strait after the negotiating period ends. As Andrew Day reports, some Republicans in Congress and the media have condemned the deal as too favorable to the Islamic Republic. Trump responded on Truth Social, calling such critics "fools," pointing to a record-high stock market and tumbling oil prices. Turning to the substance of that agreement. As Harrison Berger reports, the fourteen-point framework includes the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, the removal of the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a mutually agreed reconstruction and economic development plan of at least three hundred billion dollars organized by the U.S. and regional partners, and a commitment from Iran not to procure or develop nuclear weapons. According to a source who spoke with Reuters, that three hundred billion dollar fund will be a private investment vehicle and will not include U.S. government money or grants. The deal also provides for sixty days of toll-free transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Berger notes that Trump appears to have abandoned several red lines previously pushed by Israel and its lobby, including demands that Iran surrender all ballistic missiles and abandon all nuclear enrichment. On the bombing of Lebanon, Trump told reporters, "You have people living there, buildings are being dropped on top of them." At least three people were killed Thursday by Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon. Oil prices fell below eighty dollars a barrel on news of the signing, and AAA reported the national average price of regular gas at three dollars and ninety-nine cents. In a companion analysis, Harrison Berger argues that Israel's occupation and bombing of Lebanon is now the central obstacle to a final peace agreement. Iran has insisted the deal cover the entire regional war, with Tehran's Supreme National Security Council declaring that war and military operations on all fronts, including the Lebanon front, must end permanently. Berger reports that Israeli leaders are openly defying that condition. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the occupation of southern Lebanon would continue indefinitely. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared there will be no withdrawal from Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Israel is not bound by any agreement. Berger cites Israel Hayom reporting that the United States and Israel have in fact been fully coordinated on strikes in Beirut, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio playing a significant role. He also points to twenty members of the Knesset who wrote to the cabinet in April urging occupation and full control of southern Lebanon, alongside the complete displacement of its population. Berger concludes that cutting off military and intelligence assistance to Israel may now be the minimum price of the complete exit from the conflict that Trump says he wants. Those are today's highlights. For the full stories and more, visit theamericanconservative.com. Thank you for starting your morning with us.