NPR News: 06-23-2026 6PM EDT

Ryland Barton· Host0:00

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. The US and Iran are in dispute over whether Iran agreed to allow UN inspections of its nuclear sites. The disagreement comes as negotiators from the US and Iran continued talks in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Pakistan's prime minister says that Iran's ballistic missile program is not part of the deal that his country mediated between Iran and the US. NPR's Diaa Hadid reports.

Diaa Hadid0:25

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif spoke as he hosted the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian. Pakistan mediated a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran that's kicked off negotiations on the terms of a permanent peace deal. It's also triggered disquiet because the understanding appears to strengthen Iran by lifting sanctions and promising hundreds of billions in aid. And Sharif added it did not include Iran's ballistic missile program.

Shahbaz Sharif· Soundbite0:54

It was never on the table.

Diaa Hadid0:56

As Sharif spoke, Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in the Gulf for a two-day visit. He told media he expects to discuss Iran's missile program with regional leaders. Diaa Hadid, NPR News, Islamabad.

Ryland Barton· Host1:09

A record-breaking heat wave sweeping across Europe has turned deadly. Rebecca Rosman has more from France, where officials say 40 people have drowned in recent days as they sought relief from the extreme heat.

Rebecca Rosman1:19

Most of the victims were minors who were swimming unsupervised. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu released the sobering figures after a crisis meeting on the unprecedented heat