NPR News: 06-18-2026 12PM EDT

NPR's midday news update on June 18, 2026, led with the signing of a preliminary U.S.-Iran deal that came together earlier than expected, shifting focus to the complex negotiations ahead. The episode also covered a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll showing President Trump facing his worst approval gap yet, an FDA meeting on the first mRNA-based flu vaccine, New York's NBA championship parade, and a visa waiver for the mother of a World Cup star.

A 60-Day Ceasefire with Iran

The United States and Iran signed a preliminary agreement late Tuesday, initiating a 60-day ceasefire extension. Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed the timeline during a White House briefing, noting the deal "was signed late and it may have even been signed technically, you know, because of the time shift." The most immediate practical effect, according to NPR's Greg Myre, should be the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, where oil shipments have been largely blocked for over three months. The deal also addresses Iran's nuclear program, though the exact scope of that program must be negotiated in a final agreement within the 60-day window. Both sides now face a complicated process of sorting out the terms for ending their broader conflict.

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