The Rest of the World Report | Thursday, June 18, 2026 — Evening Edition

The ink is dry on the Iran deal. Now comes the interpretation. Vance called Israel's reaction a "freakout." Iran called it a message from a powerful Iran. The MOU says nothing about missiles or proxies. Meanwhile: a secret network of surveillance billionaires, treasury secretaries, and NATO's top commander just got exposed — meeting off the record in Dublin to discuss cult-building and World War III.Peter Thiel's invitation-only society Dialog was exposed this week: 222 members including Treasury Secretary Bessent, Senator Ted Cruz, NATO Supreme Commander Grynkewich, and Palantir's Joe Lonsdale — who runs ICE's case management and Pentagon data fusion. They meet off the record to discuss surviving WWIII. France just dropped Palantir. Germany already did. The countries being asked to trust American data infrastructure are building their own because they no longer do. Vance told the New York Times Israel can't "kill its way out of every problem" and that Trump is its "only ally left in the world." Iran's president called the deal "a message from a powerful Iran." The MOU has no restrictions on Iranian missiles or proxy networks. Gaza has now crossed 1,000 killed since the October ceasefire. Trump's approval hit a record low today. Hegseth told NATO defense ministers in Brussels that some allies will "fail" a six-month US review and called their refusal to host Iran war strikes "shameful." NATO Secretary-General Rutte noted allies increased defense spending by $90 billion — 20% — last year. Hegseth called them free riders anyway. New York got its first Knicks championship parade in 53 years. Chicago opened the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side, a day before Juneteenth. Not one performer cancelled. For Obama, apparently, nobody has a scheduling conflict."Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government." — Thomas Jefferson, 1789 Get full access to The Rest of the World Report at www.restoftheworldreport.com/subscribe