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U.S. and Iran Agree to End Hostilities, Reopen Strait of Hormuz; Source Says, Netanyahu Seeks Urgent Meeting With Trump After G7; Today, NTSB on Scene of Deadly Skydiving Plane Crash. Aired 10- 10:30a ET

Aired June 15, 2026 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news. Any minute now, President Trump will touch down in Switzerland before heading to the G7 Summit. This comes after reaching an agreement that could end the war with Iran. How will U.S. allies react to the news?

Plus, blurred reflections, why the president's latest Washington project has some people seeing green.

And it's game time, Spain prepares for a world-class opener in Atlanta. How far will they go?

Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Pamela Brown is off today. You're in The Situation Room.

Breaking news, we are learning more details right now about the agreement to end the war with Iran. It would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, but there are still plenty of questions. We're learning the agreement was signed digitally yesterday. A formal signing ceremony is now scheduled Friday in Geneva, Switzerland, not far from the G7 Summit. It gets underway today, and President Trump is due to arrive at any moment now. We'll have live coverage.

Meanwhile, Israel, the U.S. ally in the war, could threaten the ceasefire. Israeli forces struck Hezbollah targets in Beirut before the agreement was announced, and says it will not withdraw its forces from Southern Lebanon. Iran has insisted that the agreement ends fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon.

We're covering all the angles. Alayna Treene is in Geneva, Jeremy Diamond is in Tel Aviv, and Melissa Bell is on the site for us at the G7 Summit in France. Let's begin in Geneva with Alayna Treene.

Alayna, the president just posted that ships are starting to move out of the Strait of Hormuz. Update our viewers.

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. Look, we're hearing a number of different things now from top Trump administration officials. You just got that post, as you mentioned, Wolf, from the president saying that vessels are beginning to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

But there's a lot of questions about what exactly is happening regarding this memorandum of understanding. One, I would note what we heard from the vice president, J.D. Vance, this morning. He said essentially that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened upon its signing. I think there's a question now about -- you know, he said it was signed digitally yesterday. You heard the president say yesterday that the strait would not be reopened until the signing ceremony here in Geneva on Friday. But the president's starting to say that vessels are transiting.

And then you heard Vance argue that with the Strait of Hormuz reopening, that perhaps the discussion over whether or not it will be toll-free is going to be something that is discussed in the 60-day, highly technical talks that are supposed to be triggered by this memorandum of understanding's signing.

And so questions, you know, that's far less what you heard from the vice president, far less forthright than what we actually heard from President Trump promising that this would be toll-free, Vance saying this is something that still needs to be worked out in the discussions to come.

But I do think what's also notable is what you heard Vance say about this being signed digitally yesterday. That's new from what we've been hearing from officials. I want you to listen to what he told Good Morning America.

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J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: Well, we already signed the deal digitally yesterday, and there's been no money released, and that won't change, George. Again, this is a performance-based thing. If we see the Iranians making, for example, taking action to eliminate their stockpile of enriched material, then, yes, sanctions relief will follow.

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TREENE: So, Wolf, what you heard him say there is, one, again, that it was signed digitally yesterday. The questions I have is whether or not the reopening of the strait, the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, and the 60-day period were triggered by that electronic, that digital signing of this agreement, or if it's all waiting until Friday.

But then a bigger question of what he hit on was about these unfrozen funds. We know monetary compensation for Iran, Wolf, is one of the key things that has really become a sticking point in these talks. The Iranians arguing that they need to see some of these funds unfrozen in order to really begin those highly technical talks triggered by the signing of the memorandum of understanding.

[10:05:06] Vance arguing this is a performance-based deal, and they will not get any sort of money, any sort of unfrozen funds, any sort of sanctions relief until they begin complying what is actually in this agreement.

I'd remind you, from what we've heard from Trump administration officials, is that the agreement would, one, dismantle Iran's nuclear program. That includes having the U.S. be able to go in and destroy the highly enriched uranium that they have in their possession on site. Again, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the blockade as well, with more nuclear talks down the line.

One other thing I just want to mention since I am here in Geneva and we're waiting to see the president land any moment now, is I talked with a lot of White House officials yesterday about this. They are very happy, Wolf, to have a deal in hand, an agreement in hand, I should say, as they head into the G7 Summit over the next three days. The president really wanted to tout a strong victory on Iran before walking in face-to-face with some of these European leaders that he had lashed out very publicly with over what he argued was their failure to intervene when it comes to the strait.

So, that's something they're hoping to tout. But, again, a lot of questions still. We haven't yet seen the texts. We have heard from the vice president this morning, they're hoping to release the texts at some point this week. But I think a lot of people who are here on the ground, including many of the leaders here on the ground, are eager to see what exactly that language says and the specifics laid out in this agreement. Wolf?

BLITZER: Alayna Treene in Geneva for us, we'll stay in very close touch with you, and the president's plane has now landed in Geneva. We'll see if the president stops and speaks to reporters after he goes down those stairs. We'll have live coverage if he does.

The U.S. agreement with Iran is the latest test in the strained relationship between President Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In fact, an Israeli source telling CNN that the prime minister is seeking an urgent meeting with the president once he returns to the White House.

Let's go to CNN's Jeremy Diamond, who's in Tel Aviv for us. Jeremy, what can you tell us about this proposed meeting?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Wolf. The Israeli prime minister urgently seeking a meeting with the U.S. president to convey Israel's positions, perhaps even its very clear objections to this tentative agreement between the United States and Iran.

It does appear as if it will be too little too late, though, at least for this initial agreement between the U.S. and Iran before the technical discussions happen over Iran's nuclear program, because the soonest Netanyahu would likely be able to see the president would be as early as this weekend or the following week.

And it is coming as he is getting panned across the Israeli political spectrum for completely losing any measure of influence over President Trump and over this emerging U.S.-Iran deal. The Israeli prime minister is getting criticized from his right by the likes of the far right minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who says that Israel is not subordinate to the United States and must not settle for anything less than the dismantling of Hezbollah, as well as from the left, from politicians like Yair Golan, the leader of Israel's Democrats Party who said that this deal was made over Israel's head, and saying that it, quote, throws a lifeline to the murderous regime in Iran.

Now, as for the Israeli prime minister and his current government, they're vowing that Israeli forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon. Keep in mind Israeli troops, thousands of them, are still as deep as 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory, and the Israeli defense minister says that Israel will not withdraw those forces from Lebanon regardless of the pressure that Israel comes under.

And so this raises a major question, is the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon necessary for the U.S. and Israel to abide by the terms of this ceasefire, which do cover Lebanon, or will it suffice for Israel to cease strikes in Lebanon, which is also a major question mark. We haven't yet seen any Israeli strikes today in Southern Lebanon, but that doesn't mean that they won't come, particularly should Hezbollah fire rockets.

And on that point, Hezbollah is saying that it will not accept any aggression that violates Lebanon's national sovereignty, vowing that the resistance will continue until the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right. Jeremy Diamond in Tel Aviv for us, Jeremy, we'll stay in close touch with you as well.

I want to go live right now to CNN Senior International Correspondent Melissa Bell at the site of the G7 Summit. Melissa, how are leaders there responding to this announcement of this so-called agreement?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'd say cautious optimism, Wolf. We know that the Europeans and the G7 leaders that President Trump is preparing to meet, there have been all of these tensions heightened really by the war with Iran and their refusal to get involved in forcing the straightening of the Strait of Hormuz. That's been at the heart of the American president's ire. A lot has been done to try and manage this summit over the next few days to ensure, first of all, that he stays and that he engages in a way that is productive.

Now, given the events over the weekend, as we are prepared to see the American president land, Iran was going to be at the heart of these talks.

[10:10:05]

In fact, we've got some other regional leaders expected here tomorrow, Wolf. That's clearly now going to dominate. What we're hearing from the Europeans is a great sense that they want to get involved now in these critical negotiations at this particular juncture where peace or talks of peace or hints of some kind of discussion over a potential agreement might be beginning, European leaders, G7 leaders, all very keen to get much more closely involved in that. And that, of course, Wolf, will involve getting eyes on that text that we've been talking about and looking very closely to see that nothing allows this process to be derailed.

So, I think, in some ways, what's happened slightly thaws the atmosphere between them and it gives the leaders here an opportunity to reengage with President Trump on the side of trying to work for peace, despite all those tensions we've seen these last few weeks. We've been hearing from the French president, for instance, this morning about that Franco-British naval operation that aims to keep navigation open in the Strait of Hormuz, and President Macron saying all of the military assets are now in place let us get going if we can get some kind of hint of peace. Wolf?

BLITZER: Yes, the president getting ready to walk down those stairs of Air Force One, which has just arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, for this summit meeting. We're going to have live coverage, see if the president says anything.

Melissa Bell, thank you very, very much.

And as I said, we'll continue to monitor all of these latest developments, see if the president speaks, answers reporters' questions. If he does, we'll have live coverage of that.

And still ahead, other stories we're following, federal investigators are headed to Missouri right now after one of the deadliest skydiving plane crashes in decades.

And later, Fox makes a massive move in the streaming industry. We'll update you on that.

You're in The Situation Room.

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[10:15:00]

BLITZER: All right, we're following the breaking news. You see the president, he's now descended Air Force One. He's on the ground in Geneva, Switzerland, being received by officials there. He'll be heading over to the G7 Summit. From Geneva, he'll be going to Evian- les-Bains in France for that summit meeting with all the top European leaders.

We're waiting to see if he walks over before he gets into the limousine and speaks to reporters, answers reporters' questions. If he does, we'll have live coverage of that. So, let's see what happens as he continues to be received by the leadership there in Geneva, Switzerland.

This is obviously an important day. It's going to be an important few days to determine if this war with Iran will actually end, or if this is all just a false alarm. We'll see what happens in the coming days. He's walking over right now. Let's see if he stops and answers reporters' questions. It's unclear if he will.

He's still talking to the receiving group over there. It looks like he's going over towards the limousine, and he'll answer reporters' questions, I'm sure, later in the day, but he's not going to do that right now.

And he's going to be heading over to start talks with the European leaders, and all the major European leaders will be there at this summit, including the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, the British prime minister, Keir Starmer. They're all going to be meeting with the president of the United States.

And there'll be other world leaders there as well, including from Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya, South Korea, Qatar, Syria, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates. So, we're watching all of this unfold.

Alayna Treene is on the scene for us. Alayna set the scene for us a little bit more, if you will. Were you surprised he decided not to walk over to the press pool and answer some questions?

TREENE: No, has not. And, look, I can give you a list. We got a list from the White House about who has been traveling with him. I think notable given, of course, so much of what is going to dominate the discussions here of the next three days, Wolf, is that signing between the United States and Iran on this memorandum of understanding.

We're told that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, you've seen some of them, of course, deplaning with the president, but Marco Rubio, the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the U.S. trade representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, also with him. And then, of course, we're seeing people like Susie Wiles, the chief of staff, Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff, many others on this list who have been making this trip with the president.

We are also told from the White House that he is being greeted, President Donald Trump, upon landing with the president of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, as well as the ambassador -- the U.S. ambassador to Switzerland, Calista Gingrich, her husband, the former speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, and the ambassador, Terence Billiter. So, seeing a bit of a, you know, ceremonial landing here, greeting with these different leaders before he heads over to where the actual summit is taking place in Evian-les-Bains, France.

Look, I do think, you know, it'll be interesting to see when we first hear from President Donald Trump because there are so many questions, I think, including for many of the people who will be meeting with him, European leaders who will be meeting with him on the ground for this summit, about what is exactly in this memorandum of understanding, when the strait is going to be reopened.

You heard the president argue this morning. You're starting to see some vessels travel through there. But we know there's a lot of questions about what is exactly in this text. So, I think a lot of people eager to hear from President Donald Trump directly, Wolf, as he sets off for France very shortly.

BLITZER: All right. Alayna Treene in Geneva for us, we'll stay in very close touch with you as well.

And we'll take a quick break, resume our special coverage right here in The Situation Room.

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BLITZER: President Trump is aboard Marine One. There you see pictures of Marine One right there in Geneva, Switzerland. He's going to be heading over to the G7 Summit not too far away in Evian-les-Bains, in France, meeting with top European leaders. He'll be going over there to discuss this tentative agreement between the U.S. and Iran ending the hostilities, if you will. Let's hope that happens, but we shall see soon enough.

We're going to have a live coverage of all of these dramatic developments. The president did not stop and talk to reporters when he landed in Geneva, Switzerland, just a few moments ago when he deplaned from Air Force One, but now he's on the helicopter Marine One, heading over to the G7 Summit in nearby France.

And we'll have live coverage of all these dramatic and very important developments throughout the day today.

But there's other important news we're following here in The Situation Room as well. Happening now, federal investigators are on their way to the scene of one of the deadliest skydiving incidents in decades, and it happened in Western Missouri.

Authorities say everyone on board, the pilot and 11 skydivers, sadly, were killed. The plane went down just moments after takeoff, roughly 300 yards from the runway. Officials say some family members watched in horror as the tragedy unfolded.

CNN Law Enforcement Correspondent Whitney Wild is joining us right now. You're monitoring this very sad development, Whitney.

[10:25:00]

What more can you tell us?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it had to have been absolutely shocking, absolutely tragic the moment it happened, because the day had been so picture perfect before that. This plane had already made two short flights. It was 11:30 in the morning. The sky was clear. The weather was fine, and then suddenly, this plane, shortly after takeoff, turned left and crashed.

And the thinking from law enforcement at the moment is that the plane lost power shortly after takeoff, and the thinking is that the pilot was trying to direct the plane to the highway, but instead, the plane stalled out and then crashed. Law enforcement was looking for anybody who might have been able to jump out of the plane before it crashed, but they did not find any survivors. As you said, there were family members who were there who saw it. Here's more from the sheriff there.

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SHERIFF CHAD ANDERSON, BATES COUNTY, MISSOURI: There were witnesses that were family members, yes.

You know, our hearts go out to them. There's, there's nothing we really can say to make it better. We just pray for them and their loved ones and, and their friends and their family and hope that they can recover to some sense of normalcy, if we can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILD: As you mentioned, the NTSB is arriving today. Compounding their grief, Wolf, is that it's going to take a long time to get answers. This final report will not be done for one to two years.

This incident is raising more questions about regulations for these skydiving planes. Our aviation team is reporting that the regulations around skydiving planes is similar to how private pilots are regulated, not like large commercial aircraft. Large commercial aircraft have much more stringent regulations, and concerns about regulations for these skydiving planes is something the NTSB has discussed in the past. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right. Whitney Wild, a very, very sad story indeed. Thank you very much for updating our viewers.

And just ahead, President Trump once again calling out Benjamin Netanyahu with some choice words about the Israeli prime minister's judgment.

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