1.) At the Dispatch, John Aziz argues that The Iran Deal is a Countdown to Instability
The U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding—signed by President Donald Trump at the palace of Versailles—is supposed to stop hostilities between the two countries, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and result in Iran’s commitment to never develop nuclear weapons. It’s a bargain made on an old hope that has enamored American diplomats and presidents alike for decades: that the Islamic Republic of Iran—the theocratic state where the leadership ritualistically chants “death to America”—can be coaxed, pressured, flattered, bribed, or frightened into becoming a normal state, with good relations with its neighbors.
It may be possible to believe that from thousands of miles away. Meanwhile, Iran’s neighbors have lived with the Islamic Republic. They know its leaders, past and present, far more intimately than American policymakers do.
2.) At UN Watch, Disproving the Pillay Commission’s Charge That Israel Deliberately Targets Palestinian Children
On June 23, 2026, the Pillay Commission submitted to the UN Human Rights Council a 94-page conference room paper titled “The essence of childhood has been destroyed”: Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023. Pursuant to its founding resolution, A/HRC/RES/S-30/1, this Commission is mandated to produce two reports per year—one to the Human Rights Council and one to the General Assembly. Having already submitted its annual report to the Human Rights Council, the present report was not required under the Commission’s mandate. The Commission nevertheless chose to devote substantial additional resources to producing a report aimed at substantiating allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Israel for use in international legal and diplomatic proceedings.
INSS dives straight into the critical issues defining Israel’s national security. In this episode, INSS Researcher Ofir Dayan sits down with General (res.) Tamir Hayman, Head of the INSS and former IDF intelligence chief to address these key issues: * What is and is not included in the MoU? How does the MoU address the most pressing issues of Iranian regime change, nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and proxies? * What does the MoU mean for Israel’s ability to operate in Lebanon? * How would the American-Israeli relationship look like in the future? Join us every week for a deep dive into the events shaping Israel’s national security. Subscribe now and never miss an insight.
4.) the Alma Center for Research and Education analyses Hezbollah’s Ongoing Effort to Build Up Its Drone Force: Training Drone Operators and Establishing Logistical Infrastructure.
An analysis of Hezbollah’s operational patterns during the most recent campaign against Israel indicates the growing centrality of its drone force within the organization’s military activities.
Of the 1,163 attacks carried out by Hezbollah during the “ceasefire” period and until it ceased attacks against Israel (from April 17 to June 20, 2026), 637 attacks were conducted using drones and UAVs, accounting for 54.8% of all attacks. Most of these operations relied on FPV drones, which have become one of the organization’s most prominent combat tools.
