US-Iran war news highlights: US forces conducted ‘self-defense strikes’, says CENTCOM after explosions in southern Iran

US-Iran war news LIVE: Iran currently has no plan to send a delegation to Pakistan, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghei.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Iran would be willing to discuss its nuclear programme and highly enriched uranium with the US if Washington implements commitments under a potential memorandum of understanding currently under negotiation, a senior Iranian diplomat told ISNA.

He said these issues could be included in 60-day negotiations in exchange for sanctions relief and the release of Iranian foreign assets.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Management of the Strait of Hormuz is an “Iranian-Omani issue” and Tehran is holding talks with Oman on the matter, a senior diplomat told ISNA.

The Hormuz waterway is a critical issue in the ongoing peace talks with the US.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Pakistan army chief Asim Munir, who has been involved in mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran, is in China with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to TV reports.

Munir recently visited Tehran along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi as part of ongoing efforts linked to ending the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

China said it would work with Pakistan to “make positive contributions to the early restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East”.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Iran’s supreme leader is staying in an undisclosed, highly secure location with very limited contact with the outside world, according to US intelligence cited by CBS News. Communication with senior Iranian officials is reportedly being handled through a network of couriers.

The report says this restricted communication is slowing decision-making in ongoing US-Iran negotiations, as responses to American proposals are delayed. It adds that even top officials do not know his exact location, with much of the leadership operating from fortified bunkers and avoiding direct contact.

A senior US official said there are “broad contours” of a potential agreement in place, but final approval is still pending.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Israeli air attacks have targeted two houses in Arzoun, a town in southern Lebanon’s Tyre area, according to the National News Agency. The strikes destroyed both buildings, the report said. It added that rescue teams were deployed to the site to evacuate the injured.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Pakistan Army chief field marshal Asim Munir is in China with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif amid ongoing US-Iran diplomatic activity, Pak TV reports. The report says Pakistan is continuing its mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran as talks on a possible ceasefire and related issues continue.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Iran is concerned that the United States is repeatedly shifting its position in ongoing negotiations, according to reporting cited by state-run Tasnim news agency.

The report says Washington has changed its demands multiple times in past rounds of talks, reinforcing Tehran’s view that US negotiating positions lack consistency.

At present, two key sticking points are said to be emerging. The first is the issue of Iran’s frozen assets abroad, which Tehran wants released as part of any agreement. The second relates to whether a proposed ceasefire framework would include Lebanon and, if so, what its scope and format would be.

On the financial dispute, Atas notes that the US has effectively reverted to a “no dust, no dollars” approach, with Iran interpreting this as meaning: “until you have the nuclear dust, your frozen assets are not going to be returned.”

US-Iran war news LIVE: Ahead of strikes, Israel’s military issued evacuation warnings for residents of 10 villages in Lebanon citing upcoming attacks on alleged Hezbollah targets.

Military spokesperson Colonel Avichay Adraee said, “In light of Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire agreement, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to operate against it with force.” He also warned civilians, “For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 metres away from these towns and villages to open areas.” (AFP)

US-Iran war news LIVE: Three people were killed in three Israeli attacks on vehicles on the Kafr Rumman-Jarmaq highway and the Jarmaq-Khardali road in Lebanon’s Nabatieh region, according to the country’s National News Agency.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla say activists freed after being detained by Israeli forces have alleged severe abuse, including rape, during detention.

According to the group, at least 15 cases of sexual assault have been documented, including reports of rape, alongside claims of beatings, humiliation, strip searches, groping, and forced nudity. Some detainees said they were thrown into makeshift prison containers, beaten with batons, and denied basic rights such as water, rest, legal access, and medical care, with reports of fractures, taser injuries, and untreated conditions.

The organisers also said some activists were held in overcrowded conditions, moved between detention sites to prevent sleep, and subjected to further humiliation upon arrival on land, including being forced to kneel for hours. Israel’s prison service has denied all allegations, calling them “false and entirely without factual basis.” (Al Jazeera)

US-Iran war news LIVE: Australian activists who took part in a Gaza-bound flotilla have returned home with allegations of severe abuse in Israeli detention.

Activist Violet Coco said Israeli authorities beat, tortured, and sexually assaulted detainees, and claimed some suffered fractures, head injuries, and denial of essential medication such as insulin and blood pressure drugs.

She also alleged she was pushed into a dark room, groped, and repeatedly struck. Another returning activist, Gemma O’Toole, also told Australian media that detainees were subjected to physical abuse and sexual violence while in custody.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Al Jazeera correspondent Zeina Khodr reported that Israeli drones were seen hovering over Beirut for a second consecutive day. She said there was “non stop buzzing of Israeli drones over central #Beirut and the capital’s southern suburbs,” adding that they were flying at low altitude.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Rubio said India remains concerned about Pakistan but has not objected to its role as a mediator in the US-Iran situation.

He said, “They’re always concerned about it, obviously. India is always pointing to the fact that there are armed terrorist groups operating from Pakistani territory that target India. They’re always concerned about that.”

He added, “But as far as the role they played as a mediator and a facilitator in the Iran situation, it never came up. I don’t think that they would complain about that. I mean, their issue with Pakistan is different.”

US-Iran war news LIVE: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, on Resistance and Liberation Day, said full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon remains a key national priority amid continued Israeli presence and attacks.

He said, “The path to a complete Israeli withdrawal remains a steadfast national demand, one that the Lebanese state is working to achieve through negotiations,” adding that “These negotiations will not be concessions or surrenders, but rather a reaffirmation of Lebanon’s exclusive right to protect its land and sovereignty and extend its authority through its army and legitimate security forces.” (Al Jazeera)

US-Iran war news LIVE: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Taj Mahal in Agra on Monday morning as part of his ongoing four-day diplomatic tour of India.

He was accompanied by his wife Jeanette Rubio, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, and guide Nitin Singh. The group posed for photographs in front of the Taj Mahal during the visit, which is part of Rubio’s official itinerary.

US-Iran war news LIVE: “Trump needs a deal, no matter how bad it is,” according to Harlan Ullman of the Killowen Group, who says the US president is seeking any agreement to ease mounting domestic pressures. (Reuters)

US-Iran war news LIVE: Iran has executed Abbas Akbari, an armed leader convicted of taking part in an alleged coup attempt in January, according to Tasnim news agency.

He was reportedly hanged following a Supreme Court ruling after being found guilty of “moharebeh” (enmity against God), destruction of public property, and firing a handgun at security forces in Nain, Isfahan province, during unrest in January.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Marco Rubio, currently in India, spoke to reporters this morning.

“We’re either going to have a good agreement, or we’re going to have to deal with it another way. We’d prefer to have a good agreement,” Rubio said.

On Lebanon, he said Washington was “working on [Lebanon] separately.” He added that Israel and the Lebanese government are not the problem and that “the problem is Hezbollah,” which he accused of “victimising the people of Lebanon.”

He also said that “Israel always has a right to protect itself… And so, if Hezbollah is going to launch missiles, or launches missiles, at them, Israel has every right to respond to that or to prevent that from happening. That’s always been understood.”

US-Iran war news LIVE: Two LNG carriers have recently cleared the Strait of Hormuz and are headed to Asian buyers, according to maritime tracking data cited by Reuters.

One vessel, the Fuwairit, loaded in Qatar at the Ras Laffan terminal in March and is en route to Pakistan, with expected arrival by Tuesday. The second ship, the Al Rayyan, has also exited the Gulf after loading in Qatar and is now positioned outside the strait near Oman and Iran, with an estimated arrival in China on June 27.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Marco Rubio said the proposed United States-Iran deal is still a “work in progress,” but described a “pretty solid” proposal that could allow Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and enter a time-limited negotiation on nuclear issues. He said the plan was “reasonable” and “the right thing for the world to get done.”

US-Iran war news LIVE: Marco Rubio added that the proposal depends on getting Iran’s response, saying that delays are due to the country’s internal decision-making process. Rubio said that the administration will not agree to a weak settlement, saying, “The president is not going to make a bad deal – he’s just not.”

US-Iran war news LIVE: Marco Rubio said there is a “pretty solid thing on the table” for a time-limited negotiation on Iran’s nuclear issue, adding that Washington hopes the effort can succeed. He indicated that the proposal focuses on a structured, short-term diplomatic window aimed at reaching an agreement on the nuclear matter.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Marco Rubio, who is on a four-day diplomatic visit to India, is set to arrive at Kheria Technical Airport in Agra on Monday morning. Rubio is expected to visit the Taj Mahal around 10am and stay at the monument for about an hour.

US-Iran war news LIVE: Israel has occupied at least 55 Lebanon towns and villages as clashes with Hezbollah intensify. Hezbollah has continued drone, rocket and missile attacks on Israeli forces inside Lebanon and across the border into northern Israel.

Israel says it is bombing Lebanon in “self-defence” and has repeatedly killed children, destroyed civilian areas, homes, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure that it claims are linked to Hezbollah.