IAEA Chief Statement Concerning Iran's Claim of Sensitive Documents + Russia & Ukraine Prisoner Exchange + Two Chinese Carrier Groups Operating in W. Pacific + FY26 Pentagon Procurement Budget Info + More

I - On Defense Podcast

1. After repeated warnings, the activist vessel (Madleen) intercepted by Israeli Navy. Four activists have been deported (voluntarily), and the remaining eight will appear before an Israeli tribunal- to authorize their deportation.

2. For the first time, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Hamas’s October 7 attack on Tuesday, while reiterating his call for the terror group to release the remaining hostages in Gaza.

“What Hamas did in October 2023 in killing and taking civilians hostage is unacceptable and condemnable and Hamas must immediately release all hostages,” Mr. Abbas wrote in a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who this month will co-chair a UN conference aimed at advancing a two-state solution.

3. IAEA Chief Statement on Iran's Claim of Sensitive Documents.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Rafael Mariano Grossi) said Monday that the information Iran claimed it seized regarding Israel’s nuclear program “seems to refer” to the country’s Soreq Nuclear Research Center.

Soreq is a national laboratory for nuclear science established in Israel in 1958, engaged in nuclear science, radiation safety and applied physics.

4. Russia & Ukraine Prisoner Exchange. Russia and Ukraine held the first stage of a prisoner swap on Monday, both countries confirmed, following an agreement reached during peace talks in Istanbul last week.

5. The United States will reduce funding allocated for military assistance to Ukraine in its upcoming defense budget, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a congressional hearing on June 10.

6. Two Chinese Carrier Groups Operating in W. Pacific.

Two Chinese aircraft carrier strike groups (CNS Liaoning 16 & CNS Shandong 17) have simultaneously deployed to the Western Pacific – a first for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), Japanese officials said on Tuesday.

7. FY26 Pentagon Procurement Budget Info.