Tuesday morning news: June 24, 2025

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Trump: Iran, Israel agree to ceasefire » President Trump says Israel and Iran have agreed to what he calls “a complete and total ceasefire.”

The president made the announcement over social media Monday evening, claiming the ceasefire will bring an official end to the war between the two nations. The White House reposted Trump’s post a short time later.

Vice President J.D. Vance says this could mark the start of a new age for the Middle East, calling it:

VANCE: The end of the 12-day war, the end of the Iranian nuclear program, and I really do believe the beginning of something very big for peace in the Middle East.

Vance, talking to FOX News Monday evening.

The deal, according to Trump, phases in the ceasefire: Iran stopping all strikes against Israel at midnight Tuesday Eastern time, with Israel then stopping all strikes against Iran 12 hours later, at noon Eastern on Tuesday.

Iran fires at American air base / U.S. response » But will the ceasefire hold? That seems to be the question everyone is asking.

Trump’s announcement came just hours after Iran launched an attack on a U.S. air base in Qatar.

Iran took credit for the strike on the Al Udeid Air Base, which it said involved the same number of missiles the U.S. used in its attack on Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend.

No casualties were reported and there was no damage. Trump said Iran fired 14 missiles...and all but one was intercepted. He said the remaining missile was allowed to run its course because it was headed for a nonthreatening area.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are demanding more information. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:

SCHUMER: I ask the Trump administration to immediately provide a classified briefing laying out the full threat picture, the intelligence behind Iran's retaliation, and the details, scope and timeline of any U.S. response.

Several Democrats...as well as GOP congressman Thomas Massie are criticizing Trump's decision to authorize Saturday's strikes, saying he exceeded his authority.

Continued debate about strikes » That debate over whether the White House should’ve consulted Congress before striking Iran is reverberating throughout the halls of the Capitol.

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries:

JEFFRIES: The use of military force which is offensive in nature must be approved by the House and the Senate. That’s according to the Constitution. It’s not optional.

Jeffries says the Trump Administration’s action would’ve been permissible only if the U.S. was under imminent threat from Iran and he says there’s no evidence showing that was the case.

Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville disagrees, saying Iran’s nuclear program had to be stopped.

TUBERVILLE: Thank goodness for President Trump for doing that. I know he took a lot of flack for it. A lot of people are second guessing his actions. But at the end of the day, something like this had to be done.

Tuberville talking to Fox Business.

The White House says both Republican and Democratic congressional leaders were briefed on the strikes ahead of time. But the top Democrats on the Senate and House intelligence committees say they were not informed ahead of time.

U.S. cities security measures » With the elevated tension over Iran dominating the headlines the past few days, cities across the U.S. have been stepping up security.

In cities like Washington, LA, and New York, more uniformed officers are patrolling near buildings like synagogues, mosques, and embassies.

And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul assured the public:

HOCHUL:  We have robust safeguards in place to protect our public transit system. We've increased law enforcement presence at MTA commuter hubs in the New York City subway system and other sensitive locations.

She stressed there were no known credible threats but added New York City’s always a potential target.

And in South Florida, cities like Miami are ramping up uniformed patrols around Jewish schools and cultural sites.

Officials say that move is precautionary—meant to deter any possible retaliation or lone-wolf attacks tied to the tensions in the Middle East.

Homeland Security officials say they’re closely monitoring the situation and working with local agencies nationwide.

SCOTUS on deportations » The Supreme Court is allowing the Trump Administration to send certain unauthorized immigrants to South Sudan even though that’s not their home country.

The High Court announced the 6-to-3 decision Monday, with Justices Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Sonia Sotomayor dissenting.

Attorneys for immigrants from countries like Vietnam and Burma had challenged those deportations, saying it put the migrants at risk of torture or death and they deserved a chance to challenge the deportations.

The Trump Administration says the migrants in question are all accused of serious crimes and are unable to be returned quickly to their home countries.

Damascus church attack » More than 20 people are dead, and another 60-plus are wounded after a weekend attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, Syria.

Some witnesses say two men were involved, claiming the attackers opened fire first, then one left while the other detonated an explosive vest inside the church.

AL-BABA: (Speaking Arabic)

A spokesman for Syria’s Ministry of the Interior says this attack was probably the work of terrorists connected to ISIS, though no group has claimed responsibility.

The Syrian government is also calling it a "criminal bombing" that targeted all Syrians, not just Christians.

I'm Mark Mellinger.

Straight ahead: A Marine Corps colonel who knows the Middle East well on whether this moment might really hold the new possibility of peace. Plus, what a recent CCM scandal brings to light about the dangers of Christian celebrity culture.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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