U.S-Iran Peace Deal, UFC at the White House & Knicks Celebrations - Monday, June 15, 2026

**Erica Mandy** (0:00)
Today is Monday, June 15th. We're talking about what could be a major breakthrough in the Middle East, what we know about the US and Iran's new deal. Also highlights from the UFC fights at the White House, in and out of the octagon, as well as massive celebrations and some chaos after the Knicks' first championship win in half a century. Plus another batch of UFO files from the Pentagon, an urgent recall of infant formula, and newly minted millionaires, billionaires, and even a trillionaire, thanks to a record-breaking stock market debut. Those stories and more news to know coming up.
Welcome to The NewsWorthy, all the day's news in less than 15 minutes. I'm Erica Mandy. Thanks so much for being here. Let's do this.
The US and Iran have made a deal to stop fighting. Both countries confirmed the agreement yesterday. Under the deal, strikes are supposed to stop across the region. That means Iran and Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah were still exchanging fire just hours before the announcement. Also before this agreement, the US and Israel said they believed Iran had plans to launch an attack on Israel. So negotiators reportedly scrambled to avoid a conflict that could have sparked an even wider regional war. Besides pausing strikes, President Trump also says the deal means the Strait of Hormuz will reopen, that ships will be allowed to pass toll free, and the US will lift its naval blockade against Iran. It could still take months for shipping to return to normal, since infrastructure needs to be repaired, mines need to be cleared, and security conditions must improve. But eventually, the hope is it lowers the pressure on global energy markets. This deal also means the start of nuclear talks. Specifically, it calls for the US and Iran to negotiate over the next two months. In that time, the US will talk about releasing frozen Iranian funds and easing sanctions. The agreement is expected to be signed this Friday in Switzerland.
The US military struck and killed the leader of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang out of Venezuela. TDA is one of the most notorious criminal groups in Latin America and has been a top target for the Trump administration. President Trump posted footage of what appears to be the air strike and said it was coordinated with the Venezuelan government using CIA intelligence. Trump has accused TDA of terrorizing communities across the US with extortion, drug trafficking and illegal immigration. His administration even declared it a foreign terrorist organization, putting it in the same category as ISIS. Though it's not clear what immediate impact the death will have on TDA's finances or the flow of drugs into the US. Either way, this is the latest operation that signals a shift in the fight against organized crime. Traditionally, the US has supported law enforcement in Latin American countries, like Colombia and Mexico, with training, weapons and logistical support. But now, national security experts say, the US has shown willingness to carry out attacks on its own. The US has also recently launched joint military operations with Ecuador's government. And Trump has reportedly been pressuring the Mexican government to allow the US to do the same in Mexico.
Leaders of the world's richest countries are getting together today. We're talking about the G7, including the US, France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan. And this year's summit is expected to get into quite a few issues. The top one is expected to be Iran. And Trump will likely be pressed for more details on the latest ceasefire extension. There's also Ukraine. And President Volodymyr Zelensky is an invited guest set to speak tomorrow. Plus, there are discussions scheduled on trade, artificial intelligence, global inequality and more. Even before world leaders arrive, protestors have been making their voices heard on quite a few issues. Yesterday, an estimated 20,000 people rallied in Geneva. It started off peacefully, but groups of protestors later smashed windows at a United Nations agency and set a Tesla vehicle on fire. Some ripped bricks from the ground to throw at police and fired flares. Authorities have deployed thousands of police to provide security for the summit.
It was called a mass media spectacle unlike any in the history of the presidency. We're talking about the first ever UFC event at the White House that lasted into the early morning hours. President Trump sat ringside as fighters beat each other just inches away. The guest list also included President Trump's family members, Vice President JD Vance and much of the president's cabinet, as well as business leaders like Paramount CEO David Ellison and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Thousands more were sitting beneath a 500-ton steel arch contraption called The Claw, not to be outdone by the White House itself. Fighters were filmed walking out through various rooms inside the historic residence, and patriotic videos played throughout the event. The spectacle also featured a 12-jet flyover during the national anthem, and at one point, the crowd sang Happy Birthday to the President, who turned 80 years old yesterday. Of course, there were also the several fights throughout the night, and it all ended with a major upset victory. American Justin Gaethje beat Ilya Toporya, giving Gaethje the lightweight title belt and Toporya the first loss of his career. Gaethje celebrated with a backflip off the top of the octagon cage. Then President Trump and his family entered the octagon and watched fireworks go off over the Washington Monument to end the night.