On June 24, 2026 (Day 118 of the Iran-Israel-US war, Operation Epic Fury / Wednesday), the neutral arbiter of the deal’s hardest question weighed in, narrowing the nuclear-inspection dispute from whether to when. THE BREAKTHROUGH: International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi delivered the agency’s firmest remarks yet, saying Iranian nuclear enrichment sites would be visited by his inspectors as part of the interim deal: the accord “says explicitly that the nuclear activities … will be supervised by the IAEA — in all letters,” and “obviously, to do that, we will have to inspect. Whether this happens the day after tomorrow or in one week or in 10 days, it’s important, but not essential. This is going to happen” (NPR, CBS, PBS/AP). IRAN’S CAVEAT: an Iranian diplomat, deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi, insisted any such visit would come only after a final deal, took a swipe at Grossi — noting Tehran did not meet him in Switzerland — and wrote that the issues “will be reviewed and decided only within the framework of a final agreement and as a result of practical action by the other side to end all sanctions,” adding: “you cannot advance the ‘stir up and take over’ policy with media hype.” Grossi acknowledged the “war of words.” THE STAKES: without access to the enrichment sites the IAEA cannot verify the status of Iran’s stockpile; both Iran and the agency say Tehran has not been enriching, but experts worry it may be moving the material — Iran is believed to hold enough highly enriched uranium to potentially build as many as 10 weapons and is the only country enriching to 60% without a weapons program (NPR, PBS). Trump said US inspectors would join the IAEA, “they’ve agreed to the inspectors,” with no rush. HORMUZ: the practical reopening accelerated — the head of the IMO said the evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors stranded on about 600 ships would take “a few weeks,” aiming to move roughly 50 vessels a day via the temporary corridor Oman opened along its coastline (south of the historic, believed-mined central lanes), and CBS tracked dozens of commercial vessels transiting Wednesday; Brent crude slid 3.1% to $74.73, extending its fall since the MOU. Trump posted that Iran told the US there are “NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS … being sought or received by Iran” — though he omitted Iran and Oman’s stated plan to manage future traffic, which they have said could involve “costs.” POLITICS: the US Senate passed a war-powers resolution 50-48 to limit US military involvement in Iran (four Republicans — Paul, Murkowski, Collins, Cassidy — crossing over, with Fetterman the lone Democrat against); Trump called it “poorly timed and meaningless,” saying he has Iran “on the ropes.” LEBANON: the fighting that threatens the diplomacy flared again — Israel launched its first airstrike on Lebanon since Saturday’s ceasefire, the IDF saying it struck two armed Hezbollah members on the Ali Taher Ridge near its security zone; two people were killed per Lebanon’s news agency. Israeli Defense Minister Katz said the US has not demanded that Israel withdraw from Lebanon, and Netanyahu declared that “as long as I am Prime Minister, we will maintain the security zone in southern Lebanon.” Mediator Pakistan said the 60-day US-Iran negotiations would likely resume next week, and Secretary of State Rubio met the UAE’s president in Abu Dhabi before heading to Bahrain and the GCC. Net assessment: Day 118 moved the nuclear dispute forward — the IAEA confirmed inspections will happen in principle while Iran retained control of the timing — and the Hormuz reopening advanced materially, even as Israel’s Lebanon strikes and Netanyahu’s security-zone vow kept the deal’s one structural fault line open heading into next week’s resumed talks.