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Listen to this article in summarized format According to Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency, the country's top joint military command said the strategic waterway was being shut in response to Washington's "clear breach of its commitments" under the first clause of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that ended the Middle East war, as well as Israel's continuing military operations in southern Lebanon. You may follow our live coverage of the West Asia war here The command described the closure as the "first step" and warned that "if the aggression continues, subsequent steps have been planned." The decision marks a dramatic reversal after ships had resumed transiting the Strait of Hormuz following the signing of the interim US-Iran agreement earlier this week. Iran had previously closed the passage during the war, disrupting one of the world's most important routes for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Washington sees no blockade, bets on diplomacyDespite Tehran's announcement, US Vice President JD Vance said Washington had seen no evidence that Iran had actually shut the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to Fox News, Vance said talks with Tehran were progressing well and expressed confidence that the ceasefire could be maintained. He said negotiations with Iran could take place as early as Sunday and that the United States intended to "give Iran negotiations a chance." Vance also said US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were on the ground for talks related to Iran and added that he expected to travel to Switzerland in the coming days. Lebanon flare-up threatens fragile truceTehran directly linked the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to developments in Lebanon, where Israeli strikes in southern parts of the country killed at least 16 people, including two children, on Saturday. Seven others were reported trapped under the rubble after strikes in and around the town of Nabatiyeh. The latest violence followed a heavy exchange of fire on Friday that reportedly killed at least 47 people in Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military said Hezbollah had fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight, prompting strikes on dozens of Hezbollah targets, including rocket-launching positions and command centres. Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it remained committed to the ceasefire but accused Israel of violating the agreement multiple times and said it would repel any attacks by Israeli troops. Also read: Congress wonders as the Iran war draws to a close: Was it worth it? Neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a signatory to the US-Iran deal, although the agreement calls for military operations in Lebanon to cease and for the country's sovereignty to be respected. The continued fighting has raised questions over the viability of the accord and threatened to derail the next phase of diplomacy. Tehran heads to Switzerland, seeks guaranteesEven as it accused Washington of failing to honour the agreement, Tehran indicated that diplomacy had not collapsed. Iran's Fars news agency, citing Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, said an Iranian delegation would travel to Switzerland to follow up on the implementation of the MoU and demand fulfilment of the other party's commitments. The announcement marks a shift from earlier indications that Iran could suspend its participation in the talks because of the continued fighting in Lebanon. Switzerland has confirmed that confidential discussions between the United States and Iran remain underway and that it continues to provide a neutral setting for implementing the agreement. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, remains one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global seaborne crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The interim US-Iran accord gives negotiators 60 days to work towards a final deal on Iran's nuclear programme and envisages sanctions relief, the unfreezing of Iranian assets and broader economic normalisation. But with fighting continuing in Lebanon and Tehran once again threatening maritime traffic through Hormuz, the agreement is facing its first major test only days after it was signed. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
President Donald Trump’s new Iran framework is drawing warnings from nuclear experts who say the deal could leave Tehran too much control over its uranium stockpile unless inspectors first locate, secure and verify the material. The concern centers on language in the reported U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) saying the two sides will resolve the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile through a still-to-be-negotiated process. The MOU identifies on-site "downblending," which means diluting enriched uranium so it is less usable for a nuclear weapon, under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supervision as the minimum acceptable method for dealing with the material. The MOU does not explicitly say Iran will retain a civilian nuclear program, but it says the two sides will discuss enrichment and other matters related to Iran’s "nuclear needs" in a final deal. "Unfettered verification is everything," Chuck DeVore, Chief National Initiatives Officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, told Fox News Digital. "There can be no denial for teams to inspect on the ground. Remote, technological means can achieve a lot, but nothing beats in-person inspections." TRUMP NUCLEAR TALKS FACE DEFINING QUESTION: WHAT HAPPENS TO IRAN’S URANIUM STOCKPILE? The warnings from experts come as the MOU has already been signed, while planned follow-up talks in Switzerland aimed at launching technical negotiations were postponed Friday. The delay leaves key nuclear details unresolved as the agreement begins a 60-day window for negotiating a final deal. IAEA supervision would only be meaningful if inspectors first regain enough access to fully account for Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and ensure Tehran does not retain unchecked control of the material, nuclear experts who spoke with Fox News Digital warned. Meanwhile, a recent IAEA report released this month underscored the agency’s limited visibility into Iran’s declared nuclear program after last year’s military strikes, saying that aside from a single inspection at an Iranian nuclear power plant, the agency "has not received information from Iran" about the status of its other declared nuclear facilities or associated nuclear material. "Nor has the Agency had access" to those sites for in-field verification, the report noted. A senior administration official told Fox News Digital on background that the MOU required Iran’s regime to reaffirm that it will not procure or develop nuclear weapons, calling that a critical first step under Iran’s new Supreme Leader. The official said the U.S. has reached understandings with Iran when it comes to its uranium stockpile, and the new deal is the first step of turning these understandings into real results, which include progress on enriched uranium stockpiles, dismantlement of nuclear sites, an enrichment ban and inspection access. The official added that the U.S. has already had productive discussions with Iran on those issues and, now that the MOU is formally in place, negotiators will work to make quick progress. US-IRAN TALKS POSTPONED IN SWITZERLAND AMID ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH TENSIONS; HORMUZ REMAINS A KEY ISSUE The official also referred Fox News Digital to comments Vice President JD Vance made Thursday, when he said the deal’s benefits depend on Iran following through on its promises. "They have promised not to enrich. They have promised that they would allow inspectors in to destroy that highly enriched stockpile. And then, of course, it's not usable anymore. You take it somewhere else," Vance said. "They promised a number of things, and that's why the deal contemplates a number of benefits if they do those things. But it doesn't do anything if they don't actually meet those promises." Andrea Stricker, deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Nonproliferation Program, told Fox News Digital that any credible agreement must begin with recovering and safeguarding Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, and not allowing Tehran to keep control of the material while it is diluted inside the country. "Without verifiably dismantling and destroying all of Iran's fundamental nuclear capabilities — nuclear material, facilities, centrifuges, manufacturing capabilities, equipment, documentation, and weaponization capacities, and ensuring scientists are redirected to civilian work — Iran's pledge on paper is meaningless," she told Fox News Digital, noting that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile could, if recovered and further enriched, provide enough weapons-grade material for roughly 22 nuclear weapons. HOW DOES TRUMP SOLVE KEY 'NUCLEAR DUST' HANG-UP IN NEGOTIATIONS TO END IRAN WAR? DeVore was more cautious about assigning a single number to Iran’s potential weapons capacity, saying the estimate depends heavily on the sophistication of the weapon design. He said the same stockpile could translate into fewer basic weapons or be stretched further by a more advanced nuclear program. He said on-site downblending, if properly verified, would be aimed at making Iran’s roughly 1,000 pounds of 60% enriched uranium unavailable for further enrichment. DeVore cautioned that the material would still need additional processing to be turned into weapons-grade uranium and said he does not believe Tehran can currently do that because key facilities were destroyed in last year’s strikes. Asked what would be needed to make any Iran deal enforceable, DeVore told Fox News Digital the U.S. must avoid repeating what he described as a key weakness of the Obama-era nuclear deal: allowing Tehran to restrict access or keep certain sites off limits. He said the "ultimate question" is on-site verification, warning that Washington cannot allow itself to be pushed into "an agreement for agreement’s sake." TOP SENATE REPUBLICAN RIPS INTO TRUMP'S IRAN DEAL, SAYS $300B MAKES OBAMA DEAL LOOK LIKE 'A PITTANCE' DeVore also said the Obama-era JCPOA gave inspectors too much notice and too little freedom to inspect suspicious locations as well, arguing that any new deal must avoid a system where Iran can delay, limit or steer inspections before the IAEA gets on the ground. DeVore told Fox News Digital that his concern is informed by his experience as a young special assistant for foreign affairs in the Reagan administration, when he worked on verification issues surrounding Cold War-era nuclear agreements with the Soviet Union, including the Peaceful Nuclear Explosions Treaty and the Threshold Test Ban Treaty. In those negotiations, DeVore said, the danger was that the minimum level of verification sought by defense and intelligence officials could become the starting point for diplomats, meaning the final deal could end up below what experts believed was necessary. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP "Once you say, ‘This is the minimum we need,’ then that becomes the starting point, so anything agreed to is less than that," DeVore said. "That’s what I fear." Fox News Digital reached out to the IAEA asking whether the agency can currently account for Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and whether it has any comment on the verification questions raised by the reported framework.
TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least seven people, including two children, hours after reports emerged of a ceasefire agreement. The persistent fighting threatened an interim agreement between the United States and Iran to end the war in the Middle East. Lebanon’s National News Agency said the strikes hit the southern town of Nabatiyeh and nearby villages. At least seven people remained trapped under the rubble, it said. Mediators were scrambling to halt the fighting between Israel and the militant Lebanese Hezbollah group, after a heavy exchange on Friday killed at least 47 people in Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers. An Israeli military official said Hezbollah had fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight, prompting the military to start targeting the militant group there. The official spoke anonymously in line with regulations. On Friday, Israeli ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, said on X that Israel “remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire” if Hezbollah honors the agreement and ceases hostilities. In public statements, Hezbollah has said it will abide by a ceasefire if Israel does, but has not said a ceasefire was actually in place. A Hezbollah official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said Friday after reports of a ceasefire deal emerged that efforts were underway by Qatar, the U.S. and Iran to broker an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire but stopped short of confirming a deal had been reached. A conflict that could sink the US-Iran dea l Hezbollah and Israel went to war just days after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, with Hezbollah firing rockets and drones at civilian communities in northern Israel and Israel seizing large swaths of southern Lebanon. The interim U.S.-Iran agreement signed this week has already reopened the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had closed as the war unfolded — cutting off the global economy from significant supplies of oil and natural gas. The deal also envisages the relaunch of talks on Iran’s nuclear program, a core issue in the war. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah are signatories to the deal, which calls for a halt to military operations in Lebanon and for the country's sovereignty to be respected. With the fighting continuing, the accord is under threat and U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland, planned to start Friday, have been delayed, with no new date announced. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep Israeli forces in southern Lebanon until any threat to Israel is eliminated. Hezbollah has refused to halt its attacks unless Israel commits to withdrawing from Lebanon, which Iran says is also a condition of the deal. The fighting in the south, near the Israel-Lebanon border Plumes of smoke rose into the sky over southern Lebanon Saturday and Israeli jets flew low over the coastal city of Tyre. A strike on the village of Barish killed four members of a family, parents and two children. In Arab Salim village, a body was pulled from a destroyed house, and in the villages of Doueir and Kfar Rumman, drone strikes killed a person on a motorcycle and a Lebanese soldier. Netanyahu's office did not immediately comment on the ceasefire efforts. On Friday, Netanyahu posted on X that, on his orders, the Israeli army had “struck powerfully” 150 Hezbollah targets, killing dozens of militants. Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the Israeli forces were operating in a “forward defense zone” and would continue doing so. Iranian and US officials cancel travel to Switzerland Iranian officials did not travel as planned to Switzerland, insisting that the fighting in Lebanon must stop before the talks can take place. U.S. Vice President JD Vance also postponed his trip. On Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told the semi-official ISNA news agency that Pakistan's interior minister will arrive in Iran as part of continued negotiation efforts. Baghaei had said earlier that consultations through mediators were ongoing regarding the next phase of negotiations to draft a final U.S.-Iran agreement. Because the initial deal was signed digitally earlier this week, the talks in Switzerland were not urgent, and plans were underway to hold a meeting in the coming days, he said. Much still needs to be resolved The talks in Switzerland were expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran maintains it's for peaceful purposes only, though it has a large stockpile of uranium enriched to higher levels that are a step short of weapons' grade. That uranium could be used to build multiple atomic bombs, should Tehran choose to do so, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Those talks are expected to be difficult. The 2015 nuclear deal, which U.S. President Donald Trump scrapped during his first term, took more than 18 months to negotiate. The interim deal gives negotiators 60 days to come up with a nuclear agreement, but that can be extended. It outlines lucrative incentives if Iran does reach a new agreement, including the eventual lifting of all international sanctions and a $300 billion fund for postwar reconstruction. Iran has already won some concessions. Following the signing of the interim deal, the U.S. lifted its blockade of Iran’s ports and is allowing it to sell its oil freely. The deal also calls for Iran’s assets to be unfrozen — though it’s not clear how quickly. ___ Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Abby Sewell in Beirut and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
Several reported killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon despite ceasefire Several people have reportedly been killed by Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, less than 24 hours after a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced. The Lebanese state news agency said at least 11 people have been killed after Israeli warplanes, drones, and artillery targeted more than a dozen areas, many around the city of Nabatieh. The Israeli military said it struck "Hezbollah terrorist targets" after the group fired over 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Washington has criticised Israel's ongoing operations in Lebanon, which was drawn into the US-Iran war when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in March, in retaliation for a strike that killed Iran's supreme leader. Washington also fears that continued tensions between Israel and Lebanon could undermine the US peace deal with Iran, which includes a commitment to end fighting on "all fronts" including Lebanon. Tehran has insisted that Lebanon must be part of any broader agreement to end the conflict. US envoy, Steve Witkoff, is reported to be heading to Switzerland for initial talks with Iran to help cement the agreement. On Saturday morning, footage and photos from southern Lebanon showed several large grey clouds of smoke billowing into the sky, purportedly after Israeli strikes. Senior Hezbollah official Hassan Fadlallah said his group had the right to respond to Israeli attacks. "What concerns us is that the enemy fully and comprehensively respects the ceasefire, and doesn't attempt to attack our country and villages or seek to occupy any new position," he said, as quoted in Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been under domestic pressure to continue military action against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shia Muslim political and military group in Lebanon. Hezbollah has said that if Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon persists, it will continue its attacks. Earlier this week, the White House criticised the Israeli government's military operation in Lebanon, saying it risks scuppering the peace deal. But speaking near Washington as he unveiled a new Air Force One jet, President Donald Trump praised Netanyahu, calling him a "warrior". When Hezbollah launched its rockets and drones into Israel in early March, drawing Lebanon into the Iran conflict, Israel responded by launching a bombing campaign across Lebanon. It is occupying around 5% of the country's territory in the south, with the aim of driving back Hezbollah fighters from its northern border. Around a million people remain displaced, while dozens of communities in the south have been completely destroyed.
Consumers are beginning to breathe a sigh of relief as oil prices fall after a shaky peace deal was agreed in the Middle East. But the hangover from the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will continue long after shipping fully resumes. Consumers in Ireland and elsewhere will be paying more for food, natural gas and electricity due to the havoc of the last four months. At the beginning of this year, oil prices were $60 per barrel, but with the outbreak of the war, they doubled to $118 on 31 March. Since mid-May, repeated promises of a breakthrough from US President Donald Trump have seen oil prices fall. Now that a resolution of sorts has been announced, oil is around $80 per barrel. The fall, if the peace deal holds, will result in lower prices for petrol and diesel at the pumps - but not immediately. Fuels for Ireland, the lobby group which represents forecourt retailers, says there has been damage to energy infrastructure, with up to 5% of refineries impacted. The other issue is that even when the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens, which may take time, it takes about 50 days for tankers to reach Europe. In late March, the Government cut the excise on petrol by 15 cent per litre, on diesel by 20 cent per litre, and by three cent on marked agricultural diesel. Those reductions will expire at the end of July unless it decides to extend them. When asked about the situation this week, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris said the Government would consider the issue in the next two weeks. But he referred to the damage to energy infrastructure, which suggests he may be open to rolling over the excise cuts. Economically, if oil prices continue to fall, it will be difficult to justify rolling over those reductions. But elsewhere across the economy, the impact of the energy crisis has yet to play out fully. Flogas, Electric Ireland, Pre-Pay Power and Yuno Energy have all announced increases of between 8% and 10.9% for electricity and 7.7% and 11.8% for natural gas. That will be a significant burden for thousands of households around the country when consumption rises in the autumn. And when the Dáil returns from its summer break in September, we can expect the Opposition to put massive pressure on the Government to introduce further supports for consumers in this October's Budget. A significant issue is whether the coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independents will reintroduce electricity credits. These payments have been enormously expensive for taxpayers in recent years. For example, the credit of €250 paid across late 2024 and early 2025 cost the State €550m. They benefit the wealthy as well as vulnerable households because they are paid to all 2.2 million electricity accounts. The owner of a house and holiday home gets twice as much as somebody owning or renting one property. The Central Bank and Economic & Social Research Institute both argue that the coalition should target supports through the social welfare system to reach those who are less well-off. However, politically, this may not work for TDs who wish to help the "squeezed middle" not covered by the social welfare system but struggling with deteriorating household incomes. The problem with electricity credits is that once introduced, they can prove very sticky and any minister who removes them can expect to be excoriated in the Dáil. In April, the Government paused a scheduled rise in Carbon Tax until October. Reintroducing that in the autumn will be controversial too because it will put up the price of fossil fuels at exactly the wrong time. In tandem with rising energy costs, we can expect the recent increase in food costs to continue. Many crops grown using higher-priced fertiliser products have yet to be harvested and reach the shelves. This week, the Central Bank warned that elevated inflation is eating into household incomes. Wages have been rising by about 4% per annum, but when the higher cost of living is taken into account, this year pay will only rise by 0.5% in real terms. The bank has increased its forecast for inflation, which it expects to be 3.5% this year and 2.9% in 2027. However, it warns that, in a severe scenario, where oil soars to €120 per barrel, inflation could reach 5%. If that happened, wages would fall in real terms. But there is a broader lesson from this year's price shock. Despite years of trying to move away from fossil fuels, which originate largely in some of the most politically unstable parts of the world, the fate of Ireland and other countries remains inextricably linked to oil. It affects transport, distribution, food, heat, electricity, manufacturing, gas ... the list goes on. Even before climate change considerations are taken into account, the further Ireland and other countries can move away from oil, the better it will be for consumers.
After months of disruption, oil exports from Iran finally picked up after Tehran and Washington reached a peace deal. According to shipping data cited by Bloomberg a wave of 11 tankers carrying 20 million barrels of crude left the Gulf of Oman port. The vessels had previously been unable to sail into the Indian Ocean due to a US military blockade aimed at limiting Iran’s access to oil revenues. Most of the country's oil exports are shipped to China. The rise in exports has come alongside Iran’s continued efforts to regulate maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz. The Persian Gulf State Authority, which oversees transit operations, has published guidance requiring vessels to follow designated routes and setting out how tolls could be imposed on ships passing through the waterway. Chabahar has emerged as the most visible outlet for increased energy shipments since the memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday. The port, located near Iran’s border with Pakistan and outside the Persian Gulf, has seen the clearest evidence of additional oil flows despite expectations that the agreement would ease the movement of oil and gas across the wider region. However, uncertainty remains over the longer-term outlook. Negotiations on a permanent peace agreement between the United States and Iran, scheduled to begin in Switzerland on Friday, have been delayed. The postponement came after overnight clashes involving Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. It remains unclear whether the delay will have any effect on shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. Traffic through the region appeared lighter on Friday morning. No non-Iranian tankers were observed heading out of the Persian Gulf, compared with Thursday when vessels carrying nearly 10 million barrels were either transiting or had already exited the Strait of Hormuz. The supertanker Tenzan, carrying a full cargo, was later spotted in the Gulf of Oman after apparently crossing the strait overnight. Additional cargo movements may become apparent in the days ahead. Ships have increasingly been travelling through Hormuz with their transponders switched off, often following routes close to Oman’s coastline.
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China: Iran exports 18 mln barrels of crude oil over past 5 days: TankerTrackers. Iran exported nearly 18 million barrels of crude oil, valued at roughly 1.44 billion U.S. dollars, over the past five days, maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers said in a post on social media platform X on Friday. The surge in shipments came as Iran and the United States finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was announced finalized on Monday and signed on Thursday, aimed at ending their conflict. Iran said on Friday that multiple Iranian oil tankers had transited through the Gulf of Oman and entered international waters over the past 24 hours, with more tankers expected to set sail in the coming days. According to the Iran-U.S. MoU published on Wednesday, the United States would immediately begin lifting its naval blockade on Iran. In return, Iran would make every effort to ensure the safe and toll-free transit of merchant vessels between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman for an initial 60-day window. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Thursday that it has officially lifted its naval blockade on all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. Also on Thursday, Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced that it will waive all transit fees for commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz for the next 60 days. On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States. The United States imposed its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, preventing ships traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway, after post-ceasefire negotiations with Iran in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on April 11 and 12 failed to lead to an agreement. Shotlist: Beijing, China - June 20, 2026: 1. Screenshot of TankerTrackers' post on X; FILE: Kharg Island, Iran - March 10, 2016 2. Various of petroleum production plants by coast; 3. Various of oil transport platform at dock; Khasab, Oman - June 18, 2026 4. Various of vessels in Strait of Hormuz; FILE: Tehran, Iran - Date Unknown 5. National flag of Iran, city view; Tehran, Iran - June 6, 2026 6. Various of Iranian national flags, traffic; FILE: Washington D.C., USA - March 2026 7. White House, U.S. national flag; FILE: Washington D.C., USA - Date Unknown 8. … More stories from StringersHub Join the flipboard community Discover, collect, and share stories for all your interestsSign up More stories from China The Mystery of China’s Oil Demand Drop Is No Mystery It’s the biggest conundrum in the world economy right now: How has China managed to go on an oil detox? As my colleague Javier Blas has written, its sharply declining appetite for petroleum is probably the single biggest factor that has kept the crude market balanced since the Strait of Hormuz … How China’s Navy Is Tightening the Noose on Taiwan Late last month, Chinese navy ships, including large guided-missile destroyers, were positioned all around Taiwan. The map below shows their approximate positions, which were shared with The Wall Street Journal by security officials in the region. This wasn’t a military drill intended to show force. … Chinese Satellite Engine Costs Plummet, Boosting Commercial Space Sector China's commercial space industry is achieving new milestones as domestically developed satellite propulsion systems see dramatic cost reductions, …
Axios says Araghchi plans trip to Switzerland for talks Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is planning to travel to Switzerland for upcoming diplomatic talks, although the trip remains subject to change, according to a report by Axios citing an informed source. The report said Araghchi has informed several foreign counterparts that the implementation of a ceasefire in Lebanon remains a critical priority for Tehran, adding that US envoy Steve Wittkopf will travel to Switzerland for a round of talks. According to Axios, Iran is insisting on seeing the ceasefire take effect in practice before moving forward with the Switzerland visit. The report said Tehran wants concrete evidence that hostilities in Lebanon have ended before proceeding with the next stage of diplomacy, underscoring the importance Iran attaches to regional de-escalation as negotiations continue.
Calm down and use your head: Trump says he pushed Israel into Hezbollah ceasefire Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire after a deadly escalation in Lebanon, easing pressure on fragile US-Iran diplomacy and helping preserve negotiations aimed at a broader Middle East peace deal. US President Donald Trump said he personally urged Israel to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, revealing that he intervened as escalating violence in Lebanon threatened to derail broader diplomatic efforts tied to the fragile peace process with Iran. In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said he spoke with Israeli officials and pressed for restraint, arguing that continued fighting risked undermining a wider regional agreement. "You just gotta calm down sometimes and use your head," Trump said, according to an NBC News reporter who posted details of the interview on X. Trump declined to say whether he spoke directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The comments came hours after Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon following a surge in hostilities that had raised fears of a wider regional conflict and cast doubt over efforts to transform the interim US-Iran agreement into a lasting Middle East peace deal. CEASEFIRE AFTER DEADLY ESCALATION A senior US official said the ceasefire came into effect around 4 p.m. local time in Lebanon after an exchange of fire between the two sides. The official said American and Qatari negotiators, with assistance from Iran, helped broker the agreement. Two Hezbollah sources and a senior Israeli official confirmed the ceasefire to Reuters. "If Hezbollah does not attack us, then for us it is not a time of war," the Israeli official said, adding that Israeli forces would remain deployed in southern Lebanon. Lebanese security sources said Israel carried out several airstrikes during the first hour of the ceasefire, though no strikes were reported after 5 p.m. LEBANON FIGHTING THREATENS IRAN TALKS The outbreak of violence in Lebanon forced the postponement of planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland that were considered crucial to advancing negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Under the interim agreement signed earlier this week, Washington and Tehran have given themselves 60 days to negotiate a broader settlement covering Iran's nuclear activities, sanctions relief and regional security issues. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Iran had made clear that further negotiations depended on a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also warned that Washington would be responsible for ensuring commitments under the agreement were upheld. TRUMP DEFENDS IRAN DEAL Trump's comments on Israel came as he mounted a fresh defence of the interim accord with Iran, which has faced criticism from some Republican allies who argue that Tehran received too many concessions. Writing on social media, Trump insisted the conflict had severely weakened Iran. "The War has diminished Iran!" Trump wrote. "We didn't meet out of desperation, Iran did. They are FINISHED!" He also rejected suggestions that Tehran would benefit financially from the agreement. "We'll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not ten cents!" Trump said.
Compromise With Iran Isn't 'Surrender' Hawks don’t understand what diplomacy is: Both sides give something up and both sides get something in return. The United States has gotten used to specific ways of ending wars. Sometimes the U.S. military decisively forces the enemy state to surrender, imposes a new political order, and gets it to stick, as in Germany and Japan in the 1940s or Panama in the 1990s. Other times, rebels wear down U.S. resources and willpower before decisively kicking out U.S. forces, as in Vietnam in 1975 or Afghanistan in 2021. But the Iran war is ending with something quite unfamiliar to Washington: compromise. The United States and Iran were unable to defeat each other in the first round, and, staring at an unacceptably costly escalation, they came to the table. While a final deal hasn't been agreed to, the ceasefire memorandum commits both sides to giving things up, with the U.S. promising to lift all economic sanctions if Iran negotiates away its nuclear program. Big parts of Washington are not taking it well, with Republicans and Democrats alike calling the peace a "blunder" or even a "surrender." It's one thing to object to specific terms of the truce. The U.S. may be promising too much and demanding too little at the outset. But some criticisms would apply to any kind of two-sided deal with a former enemy. For hawks, failure to secure the enemy's surrender is itself a form of U.S. "surrender." Simply put, hawks have forgotten how to make peace. Conservative journalist and presidential confidante Mark Levin claims that the memorandum makes the mistake of "trying to incentivize the behavior of 7th century barbaric Islamists with promises of money" and that "the West is being conquered" by agreeing to stop the war short of Iranian surrender. Others have argued that a deal shouldn't have any benefits for Iran, regardless of what Iran is offering in return. Sen. Josh Hawley (R–Mo.) said that a deal shouldn't "give Iran any money," because "they're not great actors." To borrow a Russian turn of phrase, this mentality is недоговороспособность, or "agreement incapability." An agreement-incapable actor approaches diplomacy as nothing but a weapon "to delay, deceive, and destabilise its opponents." (Levin, for example, suggested using the current negotiations to buy time for restarting the war after the U.S. midterm elections.) The agreement-incapable mind cannot imagine talks leading to "a mutually beneficial settlement." In fact, this mindset is baked into U.S. law. Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the neoconservative Foundation for Defense of Democracies, has repeatedly bragged about his role in creating a "sanctions wall" to prevent a deal. He pushed the first Trump administration to impose layers of economic sanctions on Iran under different pretexts, from the nuclear issue to human rights, so that a future administration could not resume trade with Iran without resolving all of those issues. To be clear, sanctions relief costs American taxpayers nothing, and some of it will benefit American business interests. For example, the U.S. government will immediately license Iran to spend $6 billion in its own oil revenues on American agricultural products, according to the Financial Times. But hawks are alarmed at giving away U.S. leverage. Former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D–N.J.) complained that Iran would get relief from sanctions "on human rights abusers and sponsors of terror, with zero Iranian concessions on those issues." Dubowitz's sanctions wall worked. In order to offer Iran normal economic relations, President Donald Trump will have to pick a domestic political fight over inflammatory issues like human rights and terrorism. There are serious criticisms to be made about the memorandum. It is vague about the nuclear concessions Iran has to make to unlock full sanctions relief. Vice President J.D. Vance has implied that there are unwritten "gentleman's agreements," which is not exactly reassuring. While the memorandum forces Iran to stop extorting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz in the immediate term, it leaves the "future administration" of the strait up for negotiations. Any conversation over the costs and benefits of the deal also has to take into account the costs and benefits of the alternatives. In fact, it was trying those alternatives that gave Iran leverage in the first place. Trump started down the road hawks wanted by bombing Iran, calling for regime change, and promising "no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER." The war didn't collapse the Iranian government, but it did give Iran the opportunity to harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, holding the world's oil economy hostage. Trump searched in vain for a cost-free escalation, only to discover that none existed. A ground raid to take away Iran's sources of leverage, its enriched uranium and its oil export terminal, would expose U.S. troops to serious casualties. Escalating the air war by bombing critical Iranian infrastructure would provoke Iran to do the same to its oil-rich neighbors. Trying to sneak ships through the strait during the ceasefire was provoking near-nightly naval combat. Even maintaining the status quo was rapidly depleting oil inventories around the world, which would have forced either rapid price hikes or outright shortages by the beginning of July, as oil executives were warning. Trump ultimately concluded that the deal was the least bad option. That conclusion, of course, is up for debate. But much of the hawkish rhetoric is meant to shut out debate with emotional cries about surrendering to evil and losing honor. The withdrawal from Afghanistan—which, unlike the stalemate with Iran, involved an unambiguous U.S. surrender—is a cautionary tale. After the U.S. military overthrew the Taliban government in 2001, the Bush administration declared that it was "not inclined to negotiate surrenders" and turned down the chance to integrate Taliban supporters into the new government. Nearly two decades of civil war later, the Taliban underground had gained so much strength that both Trump and Joe Biden decided that Afghanistan was a lost cause. Trump cut a deal for an orderly withdrawal, which Biden upheld, only for it to become violent chaos anyway when the Taliban stormed Kabul while U.S. troops were still there in August 2021. The Bush administration similarly turned down a deal with Iran itself, which offered up a "grand bargain" including everything from its nuclear program to its support for Hamas and Hezbollah in 2002. In return, Iranian leaders wanted an end to U.S. sanctions and a guarantee of noninterference in U.S. politics. A quarter-century and two wars later, the Trump administration is getting less than Iran was offering in 2002 for the same price. Unlike in Afghanistan, the administration is at least getting something from Iran. Again, the rhetoric about surrender and humiliation is not about weighing the relative merits of that deal or whether a better one is possible. It is about ensuring that there will be no deal at all. And, ironically, that strategy has already led to an actual U.S. surrender at least once.
Former President Barack Obama has predicted that Trump’s deal with Iran would not be “significantly different or a significant improvement from the deal that we had in the first place.” I can think of more than 13,000 differences: That’s the number of U.S. military strikes that Trump launched during Operations Epic Fury and Midnight Hammer. Unlike Obama, Trump buried Iran’s nuclear material so deep that, senior officials tell me, Iran has indicated the United States will have to dig it up because it can’t reach it to hand over. He also took out over 85 percent of Iran’s defense industrial base; sank its navy; grounded its air force; damaged its centrifuges; and decimated its ballistic missile capabilities, conventional military forces and infrastructure of repression. An Iranian journalist relayed to me that her mother was taken into a police station for questioning because of the journalist’s reporting on the war. Days later, she said, the station lay in rubble.
The government is also working towards movement of other ships through the region meant for India. Ahead of the peace deal, 13 Indian-flagged vessels were stuck in the strait alongside 16 India-bound fertiliser ships. Between March and early May, more than 20 ships reached India through the Strait of Hormuz. Also read: PM Modi to commission three indigenously built naval ships in Kolkata As part of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran for a 60-day ceasefire-when a full agreement will be negotiated-the US has agreed to end its blockade of Iranian ports and Iran. India is studying the fine print of the deal to relaunch its economic engagement with Iran from energy trade to connectivity initiatives including the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that connects India with Eurasia via Iran. Iran is set to resume oil exports to India following the lifting of sanctions, ET has learnt. India was once among the top buyers of Iranian crude. The Chabahar Port is also in focus. India, which had entered into an understanding with Iran to maintain its presence in the port after Washington withdrew its sanctions waiver, is awaiting the US notification to formally lift sanctions on the port. There are plans to link the Chabahar Port with the INSTC and connect the INSTC with the Northern Sea Route in the Arctic. India has been engaged with Iran to fast-track the conclusion of an arrangement for securing its interests in the Chabahar Port, as the US did not extend the six-month sanctions waiver that ended on April 25. New Delhi was seeking an arrangement with a local port authority to manage the port with a guarantee that this right would be returned to India when the US sanctions were lifted, ET had reported. India has also been seeking a guarantee from the Iranian government for this arrangement in the form of legal sanctity so that the deal between the two sides is honoured, ET had reported in January. Experts on Iranian affairs told ET that China may stake claim on the Chabahar Port if India does not retain its role in some form. On May 13, 2024, India signed a 10-year contract to operate the port-the first time when it took over the management of an overseas port. The agreement was signed between India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) and Iran's Port & Maritime Organisation. IPGL has invested about $120 million in equipping the port. India had also made provision for a $250 million equivalent rupee credit window for mutually identified projects aimed at improving Chabahar-related infrastructure. Also read: Indian refiners sitting on enough crude, in no rush to resume purchases from West Asia The port is critical for expanding India-Afghanistan economic partnership and supply of humanitarian aid. Afghanistan's Taliban regime is keen on effective utilisation of the port for its global outreach. Central Asian states of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are also keen to use the Chabahar Port for increasing trade with India and for access to the Indian Ocean Region. India is seeking to put in place an early-harvest free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union to access the markets of Eurasia and source goods including rare earth minerals from the region. The Chabahar Port will be a useful tool to push India-EAEU trade. The port will provide connectivity also to parts of Russia bordering Central Asia. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.
Foreign Minister of Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticised remarks by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, accusing the Israeli government of pursuing a strategy of "permanent war" after the minister called for devastating retaliation against Lebanon. The exchange followed the killing of four Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, prompting Ben Gvir to post a strongly worded message on X demanding an escalated military response. "For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn!" Ben Gvir wrote. "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 forfeit," he added. "Enough with the ping-pong. In the Middle East, you don't win with measured responses and restraint—you need to go berserk. To obliterate. To crush the terror." ALSO READ: 'Lebanon Must Burn': Israel's Ben Gvir As IDF Reports Four Soldiers Killed In Combat Against Hezbollah Responding on X, Abbas Araghchi condemned the comments and said they reflected a broader pattern within Israel's leadership. "This is not a rant by a random genocidal lunatic. It's a public post by the national security minister of the Israeli regime," Araghchi said. This is not a rant by a random genocidal lunatic. It's a public post by the national security minister of the Israeli regime.— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 19, 2026 The genocidal death cult headquartered in Tel Aviv is a threat to all of humanity. It threatens all humans. Its only interest is permanent war. pic.twitter.com/7t5bcpafs0 "The genocidal death cult headquartered in Tel Aviv is a threat to all of humanity. It threatens all humans. Its only interest is permanent war," he added. The latest war of words comes amid heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border and growing concerns that further escalation could widen the regional conflict. According to Al-Jazeeram Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon continued after a ceasefire was reported to have come into effect at 4 p.m. local time (1300 GMT), with local reports indicating at least 12 air strikes and ongoing artillery shelling across multiple locations. ALSO READ: Netanyahu Agrees To Renew Lebanon Ceasefire Hours After Flare-Up According to local accounts, the first strike was reported in Kfar Reman at 4 p.m., coinciding with the start of the ceasefire. Additional strikes followed within minutes, targeting Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Kfar Sir, the Nabatieh-Zibdin-Choukin area, Jabal al-Rafie, al-Rayhan, Adshit and Masir Habboush. Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kfar Sir were among the hardest-hit locations, with both areas reportedly struck multiple times after the ceasefire took effect. Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz began recovering following a U.S.-Iran agreement aimed at preserving the ceasefire and restoring navigation through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Kpler data logged 25 verified crossings through the Strait on June 18, the highest since April, split evenly in both directions. No physical attacks have been reported since May 10. On Wednesday, the United States and Iran signed an interim memorandum of understanding electronically that lifts the US blockade and reopens the Strait of Hormuz, with a waiver for Iranian oil and petrochemical exports that could release more than 50 million barrels of crude sitting on the water. Goldman Sachs Sees Hormuz Flows Recovering By July Analysts at Goldman Sachs believe the reopening could trigger a relatively swift normalization of oil exports from the Persian Gulf. “We now assume that Persian Gulf exports normalize to pre-war levels by end of July and Persian Gulf crude production recover by October,” Goldman’s Yulia Zhetskova Grigsby said in a note this week. The bank estimates that Gulf exports can return to normal even if visible Hormuz traffic only recovers to roughly 70% of pre-war levels, thanks to alternative routes and logistics adjustments developed during the conflict. Goldman estimates a 12.7-million-barrel-per-day increase in Hormuz flows would be enough to restore exports to pre-war levels. The bank also sees little evidence that tanker availability will constrain the recovery, estimating that vessels positioned within or near the Strait have the capacity to load roughly 861 million barrels. However, Goldman warned that shipowners remain cautious and that risk aversion among shippers could continue limiting traffic during upcoming nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. Businesses Aren’t Convinced The Crisis Is Ending While Wall Street is becoming more optimistic, businesses appear far less convinced that the Strait will quickly return to normal. A new Oxford Economics Global Risk Survey led by Jamie Thompson, head of Macro Scenarios, found that more than two-fifths of businesses expect transit through the Strait of Hormuz to remain below pre-war levels not only for the remainder of 2026 but also into 2027. The survey, conducted among 144 businesses between May 28 and June 16, showed companies remain concerned that disruptions could persist despite the U.S.-Iran agreement. Oxford Economics said businesses appear “resigned to a protracted period of disruption” and noted that the share of respondents expecting Hormuz disruptions to last into 2027 has roughly doubled compared with April. The survey also revealed that nearly three-fifths of respondents still view the Middle East as a very significant risk to the global economy over the next two years. Businesses continue to assign roughly a 30% probability to either renewed energy market disruptions or an extended period of constrained shipping through Hormuz. Oil Rebounds From Key Technical Support Crude is trading as if the crisis is all but over, up just 12% from pre-war levels. The companies that burn the oil are budgeting as if it has another eighteen months to run. One of them is wrong. © 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
MOSCOW, June 19. /TASS/. The "nuclear section" of the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran represents one of the most significant challenges to its successful implementation, according to Marat Zembatov, Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies at the Institute of Public and Municipal Administration at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. "The nuclear component remains one of the primary risks at this critical juncture," Zembatov explained to TASS. "While Iran affirms its renunciation of nuclear weapons development, it continues to assert its right to uranium enrichment, which remains a key point in ongoing negotiations. The United States will likely insist on verification measures - such as stockpile limitations, IAEA access, and a sanctions dismantlement schedule acceptable to Congress. Meanwhile, Iran seeks formal recognition of the peaceful nature of its nuclear program and the continuation of its activities." Zembatov expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of extending negotiations if necessary. "Achieving a comprehensive deal within the 60-day timeframe is conceivable, but it demands a level of discipline and flexibility that may be challenging for Washington, Tehran, Israel, and regional partners, especially at this critical moment," he warned. The analyst highlighted that Israel and Lebanon remain the most delicate external factors influencing the deal's stability. "Israel is not a convenient partner for American diplomacy. There is concern that the agreement could bolster Iran’s regional influence and restrict Israel’s freedom of action along its borders with Lebanon. Any escalation in these areas could threaten the broader ceasefire and regional stability," he noted. While acknowledging that the signed memorandum has contributed to de-escalating tensions, Zembatov emphasized that it "has not yet laid the groundwork for sustainable peace." Its ultimate success will depend on tangible steps taken by all parties - supported by financial aid, clear language regarding Iran’s nuclear program, and a managed situation in Lebanon. About the Memorandum Earlier this week, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding calling for an immediate ceasefire across all fronts, including in Lebanon. Notably, Israel did not participate in the negotiations. The Swiss Foreign Ministry’s press service reported that the planned US-Iran talks in Buergenstock, Switzerland, scheduled for June 19, have been postponed and will not take place as planned.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — As Iranian media boast of the “magnificent defeat” of the United States, Tehran is pressing its advantage, racing to sell oil under the interim peace agreement signed this week and trying to halt Israeli attacks in Lebanon. But the Islamic Republic suffered its own major blows and faces challenges ahead. Its economy is in shambles after the war, the country was rocked by mass protests in January, and its supreme leader has yet to appear in public. It is entering nuclear talks with the U.S. after coming under attack during two previous rounds. The deal offers desperately needed sanctions relief, much of which will come only if Iran rolls back its nuclear program, including at a minimum diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. That concession has angered Iranian hard-liners. The U.S. is meanwhile demanding it cease enrichment entirely, something Iran has staunchly refused for decades. Iran’s leaders are projecting confidence, having clung to power despite weeks of heavy U.S. and Israeli strikes. They also believe U.S. President Donald Trump is unlikely to carry out threats to resume the war because of Iran's demonstrated ability to close the Strait of Hormuz and damage the world economy. “It’s too much to say that Iran has emerged a victor, but it could have been much worse,” said Farzan Sabet, an Iran expert at the Geneva Graduate Institute think tank. “I think that the real victory for Iran was … survival.” The deal offers financial benefits Under the interim deal, the U.S. is to issue waivers to allow for the export of Iranian crude oil. At least three state-owned Iranian oil tankers have already set sail as the U.S. has lifted its blockade, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Iran has exported nearly 18 million barrels in the last five days, the firm TankerTrackers.com said Friday, putting the value at $1.44 billion. Dozens more tankers loaded with oil could soon depart from Kharg Island, Iran's main export terminal on the Persian Gulf, further pushing down world prices. Benchmark Brent crude, which traded over $110 a barrel last month, has fallen to around $80 since the deal was reached. The average price of a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. also has dropped to under $4, a closely watched metric ahead of midterm congressional elections. The sanctions had long forced Iran to export crude through a “shadow fleet,” selling mainly to China at below-market rates. Now it can pursue more customers and get a better price. Iran will need that cash more than ever as it grapples with the fallout from the war. Iran is facing a looming economic crisis Since authorities lifted a monthslong internet shutdown, many Iranians have posted photographs of their empty refrigerators. Meat and other staples have grown too expensive for some households. The Iranian rial, which traded at 32,000 to $1 at the time of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, now stands at over 1.5 million to the dollar. “The conflict is estimated to have cost at least one million Iranian jobs, with 20% of workforce losses tied to the state-imposed internet shutdown,” said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “Ordinary Iranians, already struggling under systemic mismanagement and corruption as well as U.S. sanctions, have felt those burdens compounded by hyperinflation that has rendered the Iranian rial effectively worthless.” The rial's collapse sparked the nationwide protests that swept across Iran in January, challenging the rule of then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran’s security forces launched their bloodiest-ever suppression, killing thousands of people. The 86-year-old Khamenei and other top leaders were killed in Israel’s opening barrage of the war on Feb. 28. Funeral ceremonies are planned for July 4-9, coinciding with the six-month anniversary of the protest crackdown. The government has sponsored nonstop rallies since the war began, in a show of force. Moderate voices in Iran are pushing for the country to seize the potential economic benefits from negotiations. Along with a complete lifting of all sanctions, the accord promises a $300 billion investment fund for Iran if it reaches a final deal with the U.S. — though it remains unclear where that money would come from. The question is how far Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader's son, along with establishment hard-liners, are willing to go. In a statement on state media, he endorsed the interim deal, saying talks “will not mean accepting the enemy’s opinion” but also saying he had a “different viewpoint,” without elaborating. The deal could unravel over Lebanon and nuclear issues The conflict in Lebanon has already put the deal at risk. Talks planned for Friday in Switzerland were postponed as fighting intensified between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Israel says it will continue to occupy large areas of southern Lebanon and fight Hezbollah until it no longer poses a threat. Hezbollah has refused to halt its attacks without an Israeli withdrawal, though the two sides agreed to halt hostilities Friday. The interim deal between Iran and the U.S. — which neither Israel nor Hezbollah has signed — calls for both sides to cease military operations and for Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty to be upheld. “The end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of (the) complete end of the war,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday. “And the end of the war also includes the end of the occupation.” That leaves very little wiggle room for the Americans, who postponed Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Switzerland. Then there’s the actual negotiations. Iran appears to have gotten two main issues long pushed by the U.S. and Israel off the table: its missile program and its support for Hezbollah and other militant groups. On the central nuclear issue, it agreed to “downblend” its highly enriched uranium, which resolves one top U.S. concern. But Raja News, a media outlet aligned with ultra hard-line factions, criticized that agreement, saying Iran had “given up its most important levers.” That shows the pressure not to back down on other issues, like the broader enrichment program. “I’m not very optimistic about the kind of second round of discussions that are going to focus on the nuclear issue,” Sabet said. “It’s not actually clear to me yet that those will go anywhere, at least this year.” ___ Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report. ___ EDITOR’S NOTE — Jon Gambrell, news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press, has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the Mideast and the wider world since joining AP in 2006.
Iran War Day 112: Tehran Withdraws From Switzerland Talks Over Israel’s Lebanon Attacks Iran withdrew from Switzerland talks scheduled for today, pointing to Israel's ongoing bombardment and occupation of Lebanon as incompatible with the memorandum of understanding (MOU) President Donald Trump signed earlier this week, as the Iran War entered its 112th day on Friday. The MOU conditions an end to the conflict on the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon” and “ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.” Trump signed the agreement on Wednesday in France, kicking off 60 days of negotiations on a final agreement. Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon from midnight into Friday morning killed at least 47 people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The strikes were part of a major clash that included an attack by Hezbollah that killed four Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, which Israel occupies. Israel has bombed or demolished homes in Lebanon every day since March 2, 2026, killing at least 3,980 people. Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted to X on Friday morning that “for every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn!” He added that “In the Middle East, you don’t win with measured responses and restraint—you need to go berserk. To obliterate.” Subscribe Today Get daily emails in your inbox Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Ben Gvir’s threat, saying that “this is not a rant by a random genocidal lunatic. It's a public post by the national security minister” of the Israeli government, arguing that what he called “the genocidal death cult headquartered in Tel Aviv” is “a threat to all of humanity” and that “its only interest is permanent war.” Analysts have said the main stumbling block to a U.S.-Iran peace deal is Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon. A U.S. official claimed that Hezbollah and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire to begin at 9 am Eastern Time. A senior Israeli official told Haaretz that Israel agreed to the ceasefire but would bomb Lebanon again if Israeli soldiers were attacked by Hezbollah. Haaretz, citing Lebanese media reports, noted that “the Israeli military continued to strike Lebanon, even after Israeli officials confirmed the truce had taken effect.” Al Jazeera reported at least 12 Israeli airstrikes and artillery shellings on Lebanon in the hour after the truce went into effect. The price of Brent Crude oil closed Thursday at $79.85 per barrel while AAA reported the national average price of regular gas on Friday at $3.97.
As Lebanon tests US-Iran deal, Trump must rein in Netanyahu, analysts say Israel’s invasion and attacks in Lebanon pose ‘greatest vulnerability’ to US-Iran diplomacy, says analyst Trita Parsi. It is not another anonymously sourced report about a rift between the United States and Israel. This time, the administration of President Donald Trump appears genuinely frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war in Lebanon. The opening of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran calls for the “permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”, but the Israelis are not stopping their attacks in the country. Recommended Storieslist of 3 items - list 1 of 3Pro-Israel hawks in US criticise Iran MoU but avoid clashing with Trump - list 2 of 3MoU’s $300bn Iran reconstruction fund becomes US political flashpoint - list 3 of 3Are prices really dropping in the US, as Trump claims? The Israeli military is continuing its deadly strikes in Lebanon and trying to advance further with its invasion, vowing to keep hold of the territory it has conquered, amounting to nearly 20 percent of the country. The Trump administration is making it clear that it is irked by Israel’s behaviour. “The United States is committed to PEACE, and we encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold,” Trump wrote in a social media post on Thursday. “The Markets are loving what is happening with Oil Prices way down, and Stocks way up. We expect a complete Ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.” For their part, the Iranians have said repeatedly that they will not finalise a ceasefire deal while Lebanon is under fire. This condition appeared to come into play on Friday when talks between the United States and Iran to discuss the technical terms of their ceasefire deal were postponed after overnight Israeli attacks on Lebanon killed dozens of people. While US officials have said that yet another ceasefire was agreed in Lebanon after the spike in violence on Friday, Israel has continued its attacks. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that he received assurances from President Masoud Pezeshkian about safeguarding the rights of “the Iranian nation and the resistance front” in talks with the US. The resistance front, also known as the axis of resistance, is a network of regional Iranian allies that includes Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said Tehran is “not joking” about its commitment to a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. “Lebanon has always been the greatest vulnerability to this deal because this is really crucial to the Iranians,” Parsi told Al Jazeera. When the MoU was announced, Israel’s allies in the US rushed to criticise the Lebanon stipulations, arguing that Israel must have freedom of military action to respond to “threats” in the country. The deal stressed Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “The language would appear to mandate Israel end efforts to disarm Hezbollah, despite Israel not being a party to the MoU and ongoing Hezbollah attacks,” The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) said on Thursday. Ryan Costello, the policy director at the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), an advocacy group that promotes diplomacy, told Al Jazeera that Lebanon poses the “greatest test” for the ceasefire deal. “I would not be surprised at all if there is a breakdown in the broader negotiations, and we see at least Israel and Iran return to fighting,” Costello said. “I think what Trump has signalled is that if you do that, Israel, you’re going to be on your own.” Lebanon and the ceasefire Israel’s assault on Lebanon has been a major fault line in the ceasefire for months. From the outset of the conflict, Iran has linked the war in Lebanon to its own confrontation with the US and Israel. But Israel has insisted that it can attack Lebanon independently, without affecting the broader ceasefire talks between the US and Iran. When the US and Israel launched their initial attacks on Iran in February, the war quickly mushroomed into a regional conflict. The Lebanese group Hezbollah joined the fighting in March as a response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as to Israel’s daily violations of the ceasefire with Lebanon forged in November 2024. The US and Iran reached their initial ceasefire on April 8. In announcing that deal, Pakistan, the lead mediator, said the ceasefire would apply to the entire region, including Lebanon. But Israel almost immediately said it would not abide by the agreement in Lebanon. The Trump administration took the side of the Netanyahu government, with US Vice President JD Vance warning Iran that it would be “dumb” to let the broader ceasefire collapse over Lebanon. Separately, Washington brokered direct talks between the Lebanese government and Israel, away from the diplomatic process mediated by Pakistan. Iran, however, has consistently maintained that Israeli attacks in Lebanon are a violation of the April 8 ceasefire, and it sprang into action, launching missiles at Israel when Beirut was bombed again earlier this month. Israel has destroyed entire towns in Lebanon, killed thousands of people and displaced more than one million residents. After the recent MoU was reached, Tehran has reiterated its position, with the Iranian military saying that Israel “should expect a harsh response” if it continues to bomb Lebanon. This time, however, there is no US manoeuvre to side with Israel in pushing to decouple the fronts. While the stipulations of the April ceasefire – including Lebanon’s inclusion – were released by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on X, this time there is more than a social media post by a third party. The MoU, signed by Trump and Pezeshkian, is public, and stopping the war in Lebanon is stated prominently and explicitly in the document. On Thursday, Vance stressed that Israel has to respect “the peace process” with Iran. “What the president is getting frustrated with sometimes is we seem to be right on the cusp of a major breakthrough in the agreement, and all of a sudden, a major explosion goes off in a civilian population centre in Beirut, and a lot of people who have nothing to do with Hezbollah lose their lives,” Vance told reporters. “That’s not acceptable.” US leverage Beyond words, analysts say, the US must use its leverage – including military and diplomatic support to Israel – to rein in Netanyahu and compel him to change his approach to Lebanon. In a message to critics of the Iran deal within the Israeli government, Vance alluded to that leverage on Thursday, reminding Israel that the US is the superpower in the relationship. “What is your exact proposal? You’re a country of nine million people. You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have,” the US vice president told The New York Times. Parsi said Vance’s statement reflects actual tensions between the US and Israel, not the usual mild criticism by Washington that fails to affect policy. “We have seen that the volume, the decibel, the aggressiveness of the American public message is now more or less at an unprecedented level,” he told Al Jazeera. “It shows that I think the paradigm of US-Israeli relations is about to change, and that this is because Trump is looking at the agreement as part of his key legacy, and he is willing to fight for his legacy.” Matthew Duss, the executive vice president at the Center for International Policy, also said that Trump appears increasingly aware that Netanyahu may spoil the ceasefire with his campaign in Lebanon. “It’s been clear for a while that Netanyahu himself is one of the main sources of instability in the Middle East right now. He’s been the main reason why we couldn’t get a ceasefire in Gaza, and why it took so long to get a ceasefire with Iran,” Duss told Al Jazeera. “So, as always, the question is: Okay, we know that there are differences of opinion between the president and the Israeli prime minister, but do we finally have an American president who’s willing to put real pressure on Netanyahu when he misbehaves?”
Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire after deadly escalation in Lebanon The truce, brokered by the US and Qatar with Iranian assistance, followed a deadly escalation that threatened broader regional diplomacy and efforts to advance negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday, a senior US official said, following a deadly escalation that threatened to derail wider diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a lasting peace deal across the Middle East. The ceasefire came into effect shortly before 4 pm local time in Lebanon (1300 GMT), according to the official, who said negotiators from the United States and Qatar helped broker the agreement with assistance from Iran. "We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire," the senior US official said on background, confirming that both sides had agreed to halt hostilities after a day of intense fighting. The breakthrough follows a flare-up in southern Lebanon in which 18 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes and four Israeli soldiers died in attacks by Hezbollah militants. The violence raised fears that tension on Israel's northern border could undermine broader diplomatic efforts tied to the conflict involving Iran. According to the US official, American and Qatari mediators worked intensively to secure the agreement, while Iran also played a role in facilitating the ceasefire. The truce is seen as a critical step toward preserving negotiations aimed at transforming the current pause in hostilities between Washington and Tehran into a more comprehensive regional settlement. The fighting in Lebanon had already complicated diplomatic efforts. Planned talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland on Friday were cancelled as violence escalated, creating uncertainty over negotiations considered vital for ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.