Latest news US, Iran highlights: Qatar says technical talks continue after row over Netanyahu's Lebanon visit

US Iran war LIVE updates: Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz picked up for the first time since Iran’s recent attacks on ships in the waterway, with more operators sending crude tankers into the Persian Gulf.

Around 24 commodity ships including tankers that transport oil and liquefied natural gas, as well as bulk carriers, transited the strait in both directions on Monday, according to data from Kpler.

Vessel movements through the waterway had dropped off after the initial attack on a container ship on Thursday.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Two members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards were killed and two others wounded in what the Guards described as a "terrorist" shooting in the western province of Kermanshah on Monday evening, state media reported on Tuesday.

The attackers opened fire outside the Guards members' home and authorities were investigating to identify those responsible, state media reported.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Sri Lanka on Tuesday cut fuel prices by up to six percent, the first such move since the West Asia war triggered a surge in energy prices in the import-dependent nation.

The state-run Petroleum Corporation said it will lower diesel by 25 rupees a litre to 382 rupees ($1.15), while petrol was lowered by 20 rupees to 414 rupees.

US Iran war LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said that his negotiators were travelling to Qatar for what he described as a "perhaps important" meeting.

The talks come after recent attacks put further strain on the ceasefire in West Asia.

US Iran war LIVE updates: The four-month US-Iran war has cost the average American household around $1,000 so far, according to Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi, who said the financial impact continues to rise despite the recent ceasefire.

In an analysis, Zandi said the estimate includes about $300 in higher petrol prices, $200 from increased diesel costs that have pushed up shipping expenses, $100 due to more expensive air travel, around $250 in military spending and another $150 linked to higher borrowing costs if the Federal Reserve raises interest rates to control inflation.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: MarineTraffic, a global ship tracking provider, said vessels continued to pass through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend despite security concerns, including attacks on two ships on Friday and Saturday.

The company said it recorded 108 verified transits over the three day period.

"Activity was highest on 26 June, with 48 crossings, followed by 38 crossings on 27 June and 22 crossings on 28 June."

Latest update on US-Iran war: Gold extended its losses and slipped below $4,000 an ounce as the United States and Iran gave conflicting updates ahead of fresh talks aimed at ending the war that has driven global inflationary pressures.

Bullion dropped as much as 1.8 per cent to $3,943 an ounce, its lowest intraday level since November, after falling nearly two per cent in the previous session, Bloomberg reported.

While Washington said negotiations with Tehran would begin on Tuesday in Doha, Iran's foreign ministry said on Telegram that it would send a team of experts but ruled out direct talks.

Latest update on US-Iran war: Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and minister of state for defence affairs, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani, received a phone call from Iran's acting defence minister, Majid Ibn Reza, on Monday evening, the Qatari defence ministry said.

According to the ministry, the two leaders reviewed the latest developments and the security situation in the region. They also discussed areas of mutual coordination in light of the current circumstances.

US-Iran war LIVE: Pakistan has purchased an emergency cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for delivery later this week as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt supplies from Qatar.

State-owned Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) bought the cargo for delivery between June 30 and July 4 from BP Plc at $16.74 per million British thermal units on Monday, Bloomberg reported citing traders familiar with the deal. Traders said the spot price for LNG in Asia was in the $15 per million British thermal units range on the same day.

US-Iran war LIVE: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that $6 billion of the $12 billion in Iranian assets frozen in Qatar would be released and returned to Tehran, according to Iranian state media.

He called the memorandum, which includes US waivers on sanctions related to Iran's oil and petrochemical sectors, "a great victory for the Iranian people."

US-Iran war LIVE: Oil held an advance before expected US-Iran talks in Doha, as conflicting signals from Washington and Tehran cast doubt over the next phase of negotiations to end the four-month war.

Brent’s more-active September contact traded above $73 a barrel, after rising 1.8% on Monday, while West Texas Intermediate was near $70. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would continue with plans to oversee traffic through the Strait of Hormuz “if for any reason Oman is not interested in doing so” jointly, highlighting differences over the future management of the vital waterway.

Washington said talks are due to begin Tuesday in Doha, while Iran’s foreign ministry said on Telegram that it would send a delegation of experts but ruled out direct negotiations. The current interim agreement said Iran wouldn’t charge tolls for 60 days but left open the possibility of ships being forced to pay some sort of fee after that — a move opposed by the US, Europe and Gulf Arab nations.
(Bloomberg)

US-Iran war LIVE updates: Gold prices dropped by more than one per cent on Tuesday and were on course for their biggest monthly decline since October 2008, as concerns over the West Asia eased while expectations grew that the US would raise interest rates to curb high inflation.

Spot gold fell 1.5 per cent to $3,956.92 an ounce by 0221 GMT. The precious metal has declined 12.7 per cent so far this month and is heading for its fourth consecutive monthly loss. US gold futures for August delivery slipped 1.7 per cent to $3,969.30.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: The UAE has said its nationals can travel to Lebanon, lifting a weeks-long ban in place because of West Asia war and concerns about Iran's influence.

The foreign ministry announced "it will allow UAE citizens to travel to the sisterly Lebanese Republic, starting from Monday, June 29, 2026," the official WAM news agency reported.

The ministry asked citizens to register with its consular services platform before travelling to Lebanon.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told the head of the US Central Command on Monday that his government remained committed to expanding the authority of the Lebanese state through the military up to the border with Israel, where the Iran backed militant group Hezbollah continues to have a strong presence.

In a statement, the presidency said Aoun reaffirmed to Admiral Brad Cooper "the Lebanese state's determination to extend its authority, through its armed forces, to the southern border". It added that the two also discussed preparations for implementing a framework agreement involving Lebanon, Israel and the US.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: Iraq's government has instructed pro-Iran armed groups to disarm by September 30, a deadline that coincides with the end of the US led anti-jihadist coalition's mission, a government spokesperson said on Monday.

The announcement comes ahead of newly appointed Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's visit to the US, as Washington continues to press Baghdad to ensure the armed factions surrender their weapons.

Speaking at a weekly press conference, government spokesperson Haidar al-Aboudi said, "All the armed groups have been informed of a specific date that marks the end of this issue (of disarmament)... which is September 30, which also marks the end of the international coalition's presence."

"After this date, all weapons outside the state framework will be subject to legal redress," he added.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: US special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, will travel to Doha on Tuesday for talks with Iran, the White House said on Monday.

The discussions come as diplomatic efforts between the two sides continue despite tensions following their recent exchange of fire over incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the visit during an interview with Fox News, saying the meeting was being held at Iran's request.

"I just spoke with the president. Iran requested a meeting. Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will travel to Doha to discuss the memorandum of understanding. On the sidelines of high-level talks, there will be technical talks," Leavitt said.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said Iran had requested a meeting, which he said would take place on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar.

"IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Monday. However, he did not say who would take part in the meeting.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: Iran's control over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz has remained a source of repeated tensions.

The issue of the waterway continues to be one of the main obstacles in the negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is bordered by Iran and Oman. Before the conflict began, around one fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the route. Iran said on Monday that it had held its first talks with Oman since the agreement was signed.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: Oil prices fell on Tuesday as investors awaited the outcome of possible talks between the US and Iran in Doha.

Brent crude futures for August delivery, which expire on Tuesday, fell 1.03 per cent, or 75 cents, to $72.40 a barrel at 0038 GMT. The more actively traded September contract was down 0.54 per cent, or 40 cents, at $73.51 a barrel.

US West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 0.66 per cent, or 47 cents, to $70.32 a barrel.

US-Iran war LIVE updates: The United States and Iran separately confirmed on Monday that they would send delegations to Qatar later this week.

However, Tehran said that it has not agreed to hold talks with the US "at any level" after attacks across the Persian Gulf over the weekend disrupted efforts to end the war.