US Iran war highlights: Witkoff leaves for talks, Trump claims US ‘wiped out everything’ in Iran
US Iran war highlights: Donald Trump said that in “60 days, we have to make a deal, otherwise we will do things that won't make them (Iranians) happy,” in his speech, adding that he doesn’t think it will get to that.
US Iran war highlights: Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on Friday after fresh clashes in Lebanon threatened to derail the fragile agreement aimed at ending the wider Middle East war....Read More
The truce, which took effect at 4 pm local time (1300 GMT), was brokered by US and Qatari mediators following consultations with Israel and Iran, a US official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Iran starts large volume of shipping
Meanwhile, Iran has begun shipping large volumes of oil that had been held back under a US blockade, potentially boosting Tehran's finances days after it signed an interim peace agreement with Washington.
According to shipping data compiled by Bloomberg, 11 tankers carrying a combined 20 million barrels of crude departed this week from the Iranian port of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman.
The vessels had previously been prevented by the US military from entering the Indian Ocean as part of efforts to restrict Iran's oil revenues. China remains the main destination for most Iranian crude exports.
At the same time, Tehran has moved to tighten its oversight of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. In a document published on its website, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority said vessels transiting the strategic waterway must adhere to designated routes and outlined provisions that could pave the way for tolls on shipping in the future.
The United States on Thursday ended its blockade of Iran, allowing oil tankers to resume normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz after months of disruption to traffic through the key waterway, as a temporary peace deal aimed at ending the conflict came into force.
The developments came as Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei backed direct talks with the US in a statement carried by state media.
US-Iran deal LIVE: Latest key points
- Oil prices fell on Friday on the prospect of more supply returning to the market after oil tankers began to move through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The White House said Thursday night that Vice President JD Vance was delaying a trip to Switzerland to lead a new round of negotiations with Iran citing difficult logistics for negotiations.
- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei endorsed direct negotiations with the US on Thursday in a statement read by state media.
- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's lead negotiator and parliament speaker, has said Tehran will not accept any violation of the memorandum of understanding by the United States.
- The deal gives negotiators 60 days to reach agreement on the status of Iran's nuclear program, and set up a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran and other financial incentives.
JD Vance's rant against Israeli ‘freakout’
US vice president JD Vance on Thursday delivered a sharp response to Israeli critics of the Iran deal, slamming what he described as the “freakout in Israel” over the peace accord.
"Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time," Vance said during a news briefing at the White House on Thursday.
"The problem for Israel is not Donald J Trump, and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in."
In an interview with The New York Times published earlier on Thursday, Vance said: “I find this whole freakout in Israel a little bit odd because I think that it comes from a place of mistrust, and I think that America has earned the trust of that region, of the world."
Mojtaba calls Trump ‘desperate’
Mojtaba Khamenei said that he had approved the memorandum of understanding, while adding that “desperate” US President Donald Trump had used all forms of leverage during the negotiations.
"In principle, I had a different view (about the memorandum of understanding), but I issued my permission due to the commitment that the honourable (Iranian) president, as the chairman of the Supreme National Security Council, gave me on behalf of himself and other members to protect the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front," Khamenei said in message read on state television
Khamenei said Trump had "used all kinds of levers" to secure the deal "out of desperation".
Vance to skip Switzerland trip to lead new US talks with Iran
The White House said Thursday night that Vice President JD Vance was delaying a trip to Switzerland to lead a new round of negotiations with Iran citing difficult logistics for negotiations.
It said the team lead by Vance had been ready to leave but was postponing, citing difficult logistics for negotiations.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 07:02:23 AM IST
Updates to this blog have ended.
Our live blog has shifted here. Please follow for updates on the US-Iran negotiations.
- 20 Jun 2026, 06:59:21 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Key highlights
• Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is travelling to Switzerland for the first round of talks with Iran on a potential nuclear deal, Axios reported on Friday, citing a US official. Jared Kushner is already in Switzerland.
• US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) claimed that he would be able to prevent Israel from carrying out strikes on Lebanon, asserting that Israeli leadership acts on his directions due to what he described as strong mutual respect.
• The head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee says the Donald Trump administration has shown a “failure to commit to the first clause” of the MoU with Tehran.
• Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told Al Jazeera Arabic that Tehran wants to continue to negotiate with the US, if it is serious about respecting their agreement and ensuring Israel adheres to its terms.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 06:36:11 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Oil tanker in Persian Gulf heads to Hormuz after briefly reversing direction
US Iran war LIVE: An oil supertanker is once again heading from the Persian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz after briefly reversing direction, Bloomberg reported.
The Desh Vibhor, which had earlier appeared to be sailing toward a southern route that’s recommended by the US military, is now heading in a more northerly direction toward the Iranian coast. The vessel had made a U-turn before turning again back to resume its journey toward the strait, tanker tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- 20 Jun 2026, 05:59:05 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Woman killed, several injured in Israeli strike on Gaza City apartment
Al Jazeera Arabic reported that a Palestinian woman has been killed following an Israeli air attack targeting a residential apartment in central Gaza City.
The local ambulance and emergency services said several other people sustained injuries in the strike, according to the report.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 05:33:49 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Witkoff will join Jared Kushner in Switzerland
Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is already in Switzerland, Axios has reported
- 20 Jun 2026, 05:22:07 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: White House envoy on his way to Switzerland
Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is travelling to Switzerland for the first round of talks with Iran on a potential nuclear deal, Axios reported on Friday, citing a US official.
The development comes a day after Vice President JD Vance cancelled plans to attend the talks, which were called off amid the renewed fighting in Lebanon. That escalation has raised fresh uncertainty over the fate of negotiations critical to reopening the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 05:09:01 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Ceasefire violations expected but manageable, says former US general
Mark Kimmitt, a former assistant US secretary of state for political-military affairs, says there will be occasional ceasefire violations in complex deals like the one reached between the US and Iran – but that doesn’t mean the deal will fail.
“One can expect that ceasefires have these types of violations. There hasn’t been a ceasefire in the history of the world that hasn’t had violations,” he told Al Jazeera.
Israel has continued strikes across Lebanon despite the US-Iran deal stating that the war would end on all fronts.
“Whether it is persistent, and it causes one or the other side to declare the end of the ceasefire, then we have problems,” Kimmitt said, adding that both Washington and Tehran face the challenge of persuading their allies to step back from the brink.
“We’ve got to understand it comes with difficulty, it comes with complexity.”
- 20 Jun 2026, 04:53:49 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: How US lawmakers are reacting to the peace deal
Democratic US Senator John Hickenlooper says on X that, while people have faced increased costs in the US for months due to the war, “Iran gets money back” while Americans do not. “It’s despicable,” he says.
Senator Chris Van Hollen says Democrats should be arguing that the war been a “blunder” and there is “no good way out of a bad war”, so those pushing for a return to fighting should be confronted. “When you’re in a hole, stop digging,” he said.
In response to reports that says the Pentagon is asking for an additional $80bn to cover Iran war costs and other bills, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren slammed the government’s “outrageous” priorities. “There is always money for war halfway around the world,” she wrote on X.
Republican Senator Rand Paul expressed strong support for Trump’s efforts, saying that “proponents of forever wars have zero credibility”.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 04:33:51 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Trump on preventing Israeli strikes on Lebanon
US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) claimed that he would be able to prevent Israel from carrying out strikes on Lebanon, asserting that Israeli leadership acts on his directions due to what he described as strong mutual respect.
During an interview on The Axios Show, when asked whether he could influence Israeli military actions in the region, particularly regarding potential strikes on Lebanon, Trump said that he would be able to exercise control over such decisions.
"Yeah, I will be. I mean, they have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say," Trump said.
Trump also referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he maintains a strong but closely managed relationship with him.
"It's good, but we have to keep him a little bit sane," he remarked.
- 20 Jun 2026, 04:05:07 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Israeli settlers vandalise Palestinian home in the West Bank
Israeli settlers have attacked a Palestinian home in the al-Hara’iq area of the West Bank, south of Nablus, the Wafa news agency is reporting.
Elsewhere, Israeli forces assaulted a young man in the Bir Qouza area in Beita. He was transferred to a local medical facility.
Israeli settlers also destroyed olive trees belonging to Palestinians in the village of Kisan, east of Bethlehem, according to local sources.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 03:48:53 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Qatar PM holds regional security talks in Switzerland
Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has held discussions in Switzerland with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on the US-Iran deal and regional security.
The pair met in Burgenstock for talks on “diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting security and stability in the region” after the signing of the MoU, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed “affirmed Doha’s support for launching negotiations between the US and Iran to reach sustainable solutions to outstanding issues through dialogue and peaceful means”.
- 20 Jun 2026, 02:53:30 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Iranian official warns US over agreement commitments
The head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee says the Donald Trump administration has shown a “failure to commit to the first clause” of the MoU with Tehran.
That first clause states that both sides agree to “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.
“America’s failure to commit to the first clause of the agreement demonstrates that America still lacks the will to gain the trust of the Iranian nation,” Ebrahim Azizi wrote on X.
“The continuation of this situation will come at a heavy cost to them, the first of which will be an intelligent and deterrent response to the violation of the agreement’s commitments,” he said.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 02:32:32 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Iran accuses French foreign minister of ‘hypocrisy’
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has criticised French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot for his “hypocrisy”.
“You remained silent – you even made yourself complicit – while Iranian cities were savagely bombed and innocent Iranians were brutally massacred,” he wrote on X.
Baghaei was reacting to a video of Barrot saying that the Iranian people were the losers of the war, caught between repression and bombing.
“And yet, today, when it serves the political interests of your regime, your selective conscience suddenly awakens, and you claim to lecture the entire world on human rights,” Baghaei said.
- 20 Jun 2026, 02:30:42 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Palestinian Authority slams Israeli seizure of church land in East Jerusalem
The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned what it described as the Israeli seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan.
In a statement on X, the ministry said Israeli authorities seized the land on June 15, expelled the Patriarchate’s representative from the site, confiscated equipment, uprooted trees and enclosed the area with walls and gates.
The ministry described the move as a “grave assault on church properties” and a “gross violation of the legal and historical status quo in occupied Jerusalem”.
It said the measures “do not create any legal rights for the occupation and do not alter the prevailing legal and historical status in East Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian land”, adding that all annexation, confiscation and seizure measures are “null and void under international law”.
The ministry called on the international community to take urgent action to halt what it described as violations against Christian and Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem and to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 02:11:22 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Iran deputy foreign minister says ‘ready to move forward’ in deal with US
Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told Al Jazeera Arabic that Tehran wants to continue to negotiate with the US, if it is serious about respecting their agreement and ensuring Israel adheres to its terms.
In an interview in the wake of the latest wave of Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon on Friday, he said that Israel’s “continued war-making” would have consequences that are “serious and immediate”.
Iran was seeking “peace on all fronts, including Gaza,” he added.
- 20 Jun 2026, 02:09:48 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Stocks stall as Iran nuclear talks hit early snag
Global stocks are ending a strong week on a cautious note as relief over an interim peace deal between the US and Iran gave way to a focus on the challenges of securing a lasting agreement.
With US cash markets closed for the Juneteenth holiday, S&P 500 futures declined after the benchmark posted its best week since the end of May. Europe’s Stoxx 600 dipped 0.2%, while Asian stocks retreated 0.3% from an all-time high. Markets in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan were also shut.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 01:47:10 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Trump says US ‘wiped out everything’ in Iran
Donald Trump said that the US has “had a lot of victories” during a speech at a ceremony to mark the unveiling of a new Air Force One gifted by Qatar as a replacement aircraft for ferrying the US president.
“You’re going to see oil drop so low, I hope the companies are happy about it,” he said.
“We have the greatest military in the world. You saw that in Iran, in one week, virtually, we knocked out their entire navy, their entire air force, their radar. We wiped out everything,” he said.
- 20 Jun 2026, 01:44:17 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Trump says 60 days for deal with Iran or ‘US will do things that won’t make them happy’
Donald Trump said that in “60 days, we have to make a deal, otherwise we will do things that won't make them [Iranians] happy,” in his speech, adding that he doesn’t think it will get to that.
“Remember, if we do that, then all of a sudden you’re not going to have the oil flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz because people who have billion-dollar ships don’t love missiles flying over them, don’t love mines all over the water,” he added.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 01:42:57 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Trump says he asked China to stay out of Iran conflict
US President Donald Trump says he thanked China for not becoming involved in the conflict with Iran.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he had personally asked China not to intervene despite its heavy reliance on energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
“I want to thank China because I asked China not to get involved with Iran,” Trump said.
Noting that China receives around half of its oil through the strategic waterway, Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to stay out of the conflict.
“They get 50 percent of their oil from the Strait, but I asked him not to get involved, and he said he wouldn’t – and he didn’t,” Trump said. “He made it very nice, actually, very nice. And I appreciate that.”
- 20 Jun 2026, 01:41:14 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Oil gains as Iran war negotiations falter
Oil gained on Friday as planned negotiations between the US and Iran were delayed and tanker traffic out of the Persian Gulf slowed.
Brent futures traded above $80 a barrel in London as Iran delayed the start of negotiations over a permanent peace deal with the US amid an uptick in fighting in southern Lebanon. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz thinned on Friday, a day after a surge in oil shipments renewed as the two countries vowed to lift a dual blockade.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 12:50:47 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: US push to get Iran talks started hits an early bump
The American push to quickly begin high-stakes talks with Iran hit a snag Friday, just days after the signing of an agreement that opens a two-month window for negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program and returning oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to prewar levels.
Iranian officials did not travel as planned to Switzerland, insisting that Israeli strikes on Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon must stop before the talks can take place, according to three regional officials and a person familiar with the matter. They were not authorised to publicly discuss the ongoing mediation to try to get the talks rescheduled and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The situation was fluid as Israel and Hezbollah agreed on Friday to renew their ceasefire, according to a U.S. official and regional officials. It remains to be seen whether that could help put the U.S.-Iran talks back on track.
- 20 Jun 2026, 12:41:34 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Norway proposes ban on trade with Israeli settlements
Norway has launched a public consultation on proposed legislation that would ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, the country’s foreign ministry has announced.
The proposed law would prohibit the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements and ban exports to them. It would also prohibit the purchase of property in settlements, services linked to their construction or sale and the acquisition of businesses based there.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.
“The Israeli settlements in Palestine are in breach of international law,” Eide said. “We intend to prohibit trade with the unlawful settlements.”
The consultation period will run until September 19, after which the government will consider whether to submit the proposed legislation to parliament.
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- 20 Jun 2026, 12:28:18 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Envoy says Israel 'committed' to Lebanon ceasefire
Israel's ambassador to the United States said on Friday that his country would commit to an "immediate ceasefire" in Lebanon if Hezbollah respected it, hours after a US official said the two parties had agreed a new truce.
"Israel remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire," Yechiel Leiter posted on X. "If Hezbollah honours the agreement and ceases its hostilities, they will be met with quiet," he added.
- 20 Jun 2026, 12:16:25 AM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Trump heads to Camp David as Iran talks falter
The US president will make a rare trip to Camp David this weekend, returning to the presidential retreat for only the second time since retaking office last year.
Trump will hold policy and political meetings during his visit, a White House official said, according to a report by the Reuters news agency. His family will travel with him for the weekend, which includes Father’s Day on Sunday.
The trip comes as Trump works to secure a final agreement to end the war with Iran. US-Iran talks in Switzerland planned for Friday were cancelled as fighting flared in Lebanon despite reports of a ceasefire, creating new uncertainty about the timing of negotiations vital to ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping and restoring peace in the Middle East.
Trump last visited Camp David in June 2025, meeting with top military leaders and foreign policy advisers to discuss immigration protests in California, Iran and the Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 11:28:50 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Rubio, Lebanese president talk amid Israeli aggressions
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have discussed the situation in Lebanon on a phone call.
Aoun emphasised the “necessity of halting Israeli aggressions on Lebanese territories through the achievement of a comprehensive ceasefire,” the Lebanese Presidency said in a statement.
Lebanon considers this a “fundamental pillar” for advancing US-Lebanese negotiations in Washington next week.
Rubio reaffirmed US support for Lebanon and its “commitment to achieving security and stability” and “extending the state’s authority over all its territories, and supporting its legitimate institutions,” the statement said.
- 19 Jun 2026, 10:43:52 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: JD Vance emerges as Trump's chief negotiator in push to end Iran war
US Iran war LIVE: US Vice President JD Vance is set to assume his most prominent international role yet as President Donald Trump's lead negotiator in efforts to end the three-month war with Iran, a development that could influence his prospects as a future White House contender.
The two countries agreed to a provisional peace deal on Wednesday that halted hostilities but left key issues unresolved. Questions surrounding Iran's nuclear programme, its support for regional armed groups and the strategically important Strait of Hormuz have been deferred to a 60-day negotiating process.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 10:28:25 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia back US-Iran dialogue, urge vigilance against threats to peace
US Iran war LIVE: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Friday voiced support for continued dialogue between the United States and Iran, while stressing the need to remain vigilant against any attempts to derail the peace process.
In a post on X, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had held a "warm and most cordial telephone conversation" with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
"We agreed that the next phase of negotiations must continue to be guided by a firm commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and vigilance against any attempt to undermine the peace process," Sharif said.
- 19 Jun 2026, 09:53:28 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Global stocks turn cautious as focus shifts from US-Iran truce to lasting peace
US Iran war LIVE: Global markets ended a strong week on a cautious note as initial relief over an interim peace agreement between the United States and Iran gave way to concerns over the prospects of securing a durable deal.
With US cash markets closed for the Juneteenth holiday, S&P 500 futures were little changed after the benchmark index posted its strongest weekly performance since late May.
Europe's Stoxx 600 slipped 0.2%, while Asian equities fell 0.3% from record highs. Markets in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan remained closed.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 08:48:37 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Iran dismisses Strait of Hormuz closure reports, says shipping continues safely
US Iran war LIVE: Iran dismisses Strait of Hormuz closure reports, says shipping continues safely, according to Iran International.
- 19 Jun 2026, 08:35:15 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Iran says no urgency for Switzerland talks with US after digital signing of war-ending pact
US Iran war LIVE: Iran said on Friday there was "no urgency" to hold talks with US negotiators in Switzerland, saying the memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the Middle East war had already been signed electronically on June 18.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran was planning to hold a meeting in the coming days.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 08:20:17 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Israeli strikes kill 47 in Lebanon, says health ministry
US Iran war LIVE: At least 47 people were killed in the latest Israeli strikes on Lebanon, the country's health ministry said.
- 19 Jun 2026, 08:04:46 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Hostile aircraft alert triggers sirens in northern Israel
US Iran war LIVE: Air raid sirens were activated in northern Israel after the military detected a suspected hostile aircraft in the airspace over Zre'it.
The Israeli military said the incident was under investigation and that further details were being examined.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 07:30:26 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Iran says digital signing of US war-ending MoU made Swiss meeting unnecessary
US Iran war LIVE: Iran's Foreign Ministry said the memorandum of understanding with the United States aimed at ending the war had already been signed digitally, making the planned meeting in Switzerland on Friday no longer urgent.
- 19 Jun 2026, 06:57:37 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Israel says troops to remain in buffer zone as long as Hezbollah threat persists
US Iran war LIVE: Israeli forces will remain in the "buffer zone" for as long as Israeli citizens face a threat from Hezbollah, an Israeli military spokesperson said on Friday.
The spokesperson said the deployment would continue until the threat posed by the Iran-backed group is removed, signalling that Israel does not intend to withdraw its troops from the area in the near future.
The remarks came despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah brokered with US and Qatari involvement after renewed fighting in Lebanon.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 06:54:55 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Trump says Iran, not US, negotiated out of 'desperation'
US Iran war LIVE: US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran, not the United States, had entered negotiations out of "desperation", pushing back against criticism of the interim agreement reached between the two countries.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "We didn’t meet out of desperation, Iran did. They are FINISHED!"
Referring to the 60-day timeline for negotiating a final agreement outlined in the memorandum of understanding, he added, "We’ll play out the 60 days."
Trump also insisted that Tehran would not receive any financial relief during the talks.
"They get no money, not ten cents!" he wrote.
- 19 Jun 2026, 06:45:48 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire after fresh clashes in Lebanon, says US official
US Iran war LIVE: Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that will take effect at 4 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) on Friday, a senior US official told Reuters, after a sharp escalation in hostilities overnight in Lebanon.
"Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire," the official said, adding that US and Qatari negotiators brokered the deal with assistance from Iran.
“We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire,” the official said.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 06:37:38 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Iran says ships need its approval to cross Hormuz, hints at future fees
US Iran war LIVE: Iran has asserted greater control over the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that vessels must obtain its permission before crossing and signalling that it may introduce charges through mandatory insurance arrangements in the future.
In a document published on the website of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, Iran said all ships transiting the strategic waterway would be required to obtain a mandatory insurance policy.
While the coverage is currently free, Tehran indicated that "insurance fees" could be imposed later.
The authority also said vessels must follow a designated route running along Iran's coastline and that alternative passages would not be permitted, raising the prospect of tighter oversight over one of the world's most critical shipping lanes.
- 19 Jun 2026, 05:51:11 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Iran oil exports jump after blockade lifted
US Iran war LIVE: Iranian crude exports appeared to surge after a months-long US naval blockade on the country’s ports was lifted.
Shipping data compiled by news agency Bloomberg showed seven supertankers departing from the Iranian port of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman on Friday. Together, the vessels can carry about 14 million barrels of crude oil.
The activity marks a sharp increase from the previous two days, when only four tankers were observed leaving the port, the report added.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 05:29:57 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Israel-Hezbollah clashes test new US-Iran peace deal as talks delayed
US Iran war LIVE: Fresh exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon piled pressure on a newly signed agreement aimed at ending the Middle East war, after planned talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland were postponed.
The delay came as Iran's chief negotiator warned that Tehran would not compromise on its "red lines" and said the country's finger remained "on the trigger", even as shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz picked up following disruptions during the conflict.
The agreement, signed this week by US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, seeks to bring an end to a war that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- 19 Jun 2026, 05:13:10 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Iran says US talks remain bound by Tehran's 'red lines'
US Iran war LIVE: Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Friday said negotiations with the United States would continue within the framework of Tehran's "red lines", stressing that Iran remained committed to protecting its national interests.
"As we have shown in the past path of negotiations, we are steadfast in fulfilling the conditions and red lines set, and in achieving the interests of the Iranian nation," Ghalibaf said in remarks carried by the official IRNA news agency.
He also warned that Iran was prepared to respond forcefully to any hostile action.
"If the enemy seeks to be excessive, we have proven that our fingers are on the trigger and we have no hesitation in giving a crushing response to the enemy," he said.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 04:33:01 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Iran issues new transit procedures for vessels seeking passage through Strait of Hormuz
US Iran war LIVE: Iran issues new transit procedures for vessels seeking passage through Strait of Hormuz.
- 19 Jun 2026, 04:25:47 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Hormuz vessels to get 60-day fee waiver, says Iranian maritime authority
US Iran war LIVE: Iran's Strait of Hormuz authority said vessels transiting the strategic waterway would not be charged any fees for the next 60 days.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 04:09:07 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Netanyahu warns Hezbollah of 'very heavy price' over attacks on Israeli troops, territory
US Iran war LIVE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not tolerate attacks on its soldiers or territory and warned that it would exact a "very heavy price" from Hezbollah.
Netanyahu said the country's military would remain in Lebanon for "as long as necessary".
- 19 Jun 2026, 04:04:55 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Israel to stay in south Lebanon, respond with force to any attack, says Defence minister
US Iran war LIVE: Israel to stay in south Lebanon, respond with force to any attack, says Defence minister.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 04:04:18 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: 'All of Lebanon must burn': Israeli security minister after four soldiers killed in Lebanon
US Iran war LIVE: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Friday called for a massive escalation against Lebanon, declaring that "all of Lebanon must burn" after Israel's military announced the deaths of four soldiers in the country.
The deaths marked the first Israeli military losses announced since a US-Iran deal aimed at ending the Middle East conflict came into effect.
The agreement was also intended to halt fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon, though Washington has voiced frustration over Israel's continued military campaign.
"With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for bargaining. All of Lebanon must burn," Ben Gvir said in a statement.
"For every tear shed by an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep," he added, arguing that "in the Near East, you don't win with measured responses and restraint."
- 19 Jun 2026, 02:42:31 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Strait of Hormuz crossings hit highest level since mid-April after reopening, says AXSMarine
US Iran war LIVE: Crossings through the Strait of Hormuz have risen to their highest level since mid-April following the waterway's reopening, according to maritime data provider AXSMarine.
(AFP)
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- 19 Jun 2026, 02:35:11 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Most Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of Iran despite steady approval rating, according to a poll
US Iran war LIVE: Most Americans disapprove of US President Donald Trump's handling of Iran, even as his overall job approval rating remains largely unchanged, according to a new AP-NORC poll conducted as Trump indicated that a deal with Tehran had been reached.
The survey highlights the unpopularity of the three-month conflict with Iran among Americans, despite Trump's sharp shift from issuing threats against Tehran to resuming negotiations.
Views on the president's handling of the issue remain deeply divided along partisan lines.
Overall, 65% of US adults disapprove of Trump's approach to Iran. While Democrats and independents overwhelmingly view his actions negatively, only 28% of Republicans expressed dissatisfaction, underscoring the partisan divide over the conflict.
- 19 Jun 2026, 02:18:06 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Shipping industry watches as US-Iran accord leaves Hormuz fees unresolved
US Iran war LIVE: US Vice President JD Vance declined to directly answer questions on whether Iran could eventually impose fees on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a key concern for the oil, shipping and Gulf energy sectors as traffic gradually resumes through the strategic waterway.
Under a memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran on Wednesday, commercial vessels will enjoy "safe passage with no charge" for an initial period of 60 days.
The agreement also outlines talks involving Iran, Oman and other Persian Gulf states to determine the future administration and maritime services of the strait.
The issue is being closely monitored by shipowners, Gulf allies of Washington and energy companies.
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- 19 Jun 2026, 01:51:41 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: ‘Peace is good for everyone’, says Congress MP Shashi Tharoor
US Iran war LIVE: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday welcomed the peace deal between the United States and Iran, stating that India, as a "peace-loving country," should support the development as it will benefit both the nation and the world.
Speaking to reporters, the Congress MP said, "The point is we have had a lot of experience in our country. In Asia, even in South Korea, factories were closing down. So, in this situation, when a solution comes, peace comes; it's good for everyone, it's good for the world.''
- 19 Jun 2026, 01:25:16 PM IST
US Iran war LIVE: Death toll in Lebanon rises, 18 killed so far
US Iran war LIVE: Lebanon said 18 people were killed Friday in Israeli airstrikes in the south, while Israel's military reported its first soldiers killed there since the sealing of a US-Iran deal to halt the Middle East war, including in Lebanon.
Israel had said it was striking Hezbollah targets overnight and into the morning, while the Iran-backed militant group said it was attacking Israeli forces around the southern town of Nabatieh.
"The intensive Israeli airstrikes carried out from midnight until this morning have prevented the evacuation of the martyrs and wounded, and have resulted in a preliminary toll of 18 martyrs and 33 wounded" in at least 10 villages and towns, the Lebanese health ministry said.
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