Tuesday morning news: June 17, 2025

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Israel-Iran » Israeli airstrikes have continued in Iran including one blast that temporarily knocked Iranian state television off the air during a live broadcast Monday.

The news presenter could be seen rushing off-camera amid dust and debris.

Israel and Iran exchanged multiple attacks over the weekend, with some fearing the escalating strikes could trigger a wider regional war.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this is a pre-emptive operation. He told ABC News it’s designed to prevent something far worse in the future if Iran were allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

NETANYAHU: We're not just fighting our enemy. We're fighting your enemy. They chant, Death to Israel, death to America. We're simply on their way. And this could reach America soon.

Trump on Iran situation » And President Trump issued an ominous warning on social media last night, saying—quote— “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”

He emphasized again in all caps: “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.”

And he told reporters:

TRUMP: I want to see no nuclear weapon in Iran, and we’re well on our way to making sure that happens.

But Trump has also suggested that the door may still be open for Iran to sign an agreement to halt the fighting by giving up their nuclear ambitions.

The White House maintains that the U.S. military is not taking part in Israel’s current military operation.

G7 Summit » World leaders are discussing the Israel-Iran conflict, among other things, for a second day this morning on day-two of the G7 summit.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting the summit in Alberta.

CARNEY:  We will have open frank discussions. Uh, we might not agree on absolutely every issue, uh, but where we will cooperate, we will make an enormous difference for our citizens and for the world.

The so-called Group of Seven is aiming to find a way to contain the escalating fighting between Israel and Iran.

But German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants a joint statement from Europe that would stress Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons-capable material.

Also on Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside President Trump, touted a new trade agreement between the US and the UK.

STARMER: This now implements on car tariffs and aerospace, um, our really important agreement, and so this is a very good day for both of our country as a real sign of strength. So thank you again, Donald.

Trump and Stamer signed the deal on Monday, making it official.

Trump ICE expansion » Also on Monday, President Trump called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement to step up operations in cities that seek to shield those in the country illegally from deportation.

TRUMP: The cities are where you really have what’s called sanctuary cities, and that's where the people are. I look at Chicago… that city has been overrun by criminals.

Los Angeles has seen days of sometimes violent protests in response to ICE raids last week.

Days before his call for more raids Trump seemingly hinted at going easy on—quote “farmers and people in the hotel and leisure business” who were losing hard-to-replace employees due to the raids.

But Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLauglin said yesterday:

MCLAUGHLIN:  There's not been a change in posture. We consi continue to, uh, enforce the law. Our work site enforcement operations are really tip of the spear to getting, uh, these criminal legal aliens out of our country.

That followed a report by Reuters that immigration officials had been directed “to largely pause raids on farms, hotels, restaurants and meatpacking plants.”

Minnesota political shooter charges » A Minnesota man has been charged with murder after allegedly fatally shooting one state lawmaker and wounding another.

Police arrested Vance Boelter near his home after a two-day search.

Federal prosecutor Joseph Thompson:

THOMPSON:  It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares. Belter stalked his victims like prey.

Police captured Boelter after spotting an abandoned vehicle he had been using … And saw him running into a wooded area.

THOMPSON:  Look, I mean, this was a political assassination, which is not a word we use very often in the United States, let alone here in Minnesota.

Boelter is accused of posing as a police officer and fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband in their suburban Minneapolis home. Authorities say he also shot and wounded a state senator and his wife.

SCOTUS to hear pregnancy center case » The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear from a faith-based pregnancy center in New Jersey, which is fighting an investigation that it says is unjust and unconstitutional. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher reports.

BENJAMIN EICHER: The First Choice Women’s Resource Centers wants to block a subpoena from Democratic New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.

The state says it’s investigating whether the pregnancy center misled people into thinking its services included referrals for abortion.

But officials with the center say the probe is aimed at silencing the group’s pro‑life views and violates its First Amendment rights.

They challenged the subpoena in federal court, but a judge found the case wasn’t far enough along to weigh in. An appeals court agreed.

First Choice says it’s looking forward to presenting its case to the Supreme Court.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: escalating missile attacks in the middle east. Plus, offering help and hope to parents after losing a child.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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