NPR News: 06-22-2026 2AM EDT

Dale Willman· Host0:01

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Vice President Vance held talks in Switzerland Sunday with Iran's parliamentary speaker. Those talks have now ended. They're trying to move forward the interim agreement to end the war. The US signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran last week, but Iran has said it will close the Strait of Hormuz because Israel has not stopped its fighting in southern Iran. Former Ambassador Ryan Crocker says both Lebanon and Israel need to do more.

Ryan Crocker· Soundbite0:28

Well, the MOU is reasonably clear on this. It calls in its first paragraph for an immediate and permanent termination of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and that, uh, is unconditional. It means that Hezbollah, uh, has to terminate hostilities, and it means Israel has to terminate hostilities. Uh, obviously, Iran has to deliver Hezbollah, and the US has to deliver Israel. This is where it could all fall apart.

Dale Willman· Host0:55

Lower-level talks are expected to continue on Monday. One of Lebanon's most well-known nature conservationists has died after the Israeli military struck her home in an airstrike. As NPR's Julia Simon reports, Mona Khalil protected sea turtles from fishing, pollution, and even war.

Julia Simon1:14

Mona Khalil's home that was hit in an Israeli airstrike was on the beach. It's on the beach where Khalil lived and worked for more than a quarter of a century, protecting Lebanon's endangered sea turtles. The beach house was called the Orange House. From there,