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NPR News: 06-18-2026 1PM EDT

June 18, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The U.S. has signed a preliminary deal with Iran extending their ceasefire for 60 days, Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters that Iran "simply don't have the capacity" to build a nuclear weapon, and researchers at MIT say they have cracked how a top-secret Russian nuclear-powered missile actually flies. This episode of NPR News Now also covers the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, New York City's championship parade for the Knicks, and a deep investigation into the federal prison grievance system.

U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension

The United States has signed a preliminary deal with Iran that extends their existing ceasefire for sixty days. This comes after President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran during his first term. Questions persist about whether sixty days will be enough time to agree on the terms for ending their war. For Iran, that includes sanctions relief. For the U.S., the key demand is assurances that Iran abandons its nuclear weapons ambitions. Vice President J.D. Vance led the White House press briefing today, stating: "If the Iranians decided tomorrow to build a nuclear weapon, they simply don't have the capacity in order to do that."

How a Russian Nuclear-Powered Missile Works

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:04) **U.S. and Iran Sign Preliminary 60-Day Ceasefire Extension** - The U.S. has signed a preliminary deal with Iran extending their ceasefire for sixty days, with questions remaining over whether that is enough time to agree on terms for ending their war.
  • 2 (01:06) **MIT Researchers Claim to Uncover How Top Secret Russian Missile Flies** - NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports on analysis of a nuclear-powered missile Russia launched at Ukraine in October.
  • 3 (01:52) **Obama Presidential Center Opens on Chicago's South Side** - Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama open the Obama Center, which differs from a traditional presidential library.
  • 4 (03:01) **New York City Celebrates Knicks' NBA Championship with Parade** - Crowds turned out for a massive parade honoring the Knicks, who ended a 53-year championship drought by beating the Spurs in Game 5.
  • 5 (03:16) **Analysis Finds Federal Prisoner Grievance System Rarely Works in Prisoners' Favor** - NPR's Joseph Shapiro reports an analysis by the Marshall Project and NPR of nearly a million cases over 24 years.
  • 6 (04:29) **Qantas Plans to Use Airbus's Latest Long-Range Wide-Body Passenger Jet** - The Australian airline announces plans to use the new generation of aircraft.

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NPR News: 06-18-2026 1PM EDT

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