• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US has “never been closer”.
• Araghchi also provided details of what is in the memorandum, saying it agrees to end the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, according to Iranian state media.
• Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said earlier a “final, agreed-upon text of the peace deal has been reached” with “next steps” to be finalized.
• The US military’s Central Command said US forces “continue to strictly enforce” the Trump administration’s blockade on Iranian ports.
• Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said the country will not withdraw from Lebanon, Syria or Gaza, stressing that Israel must retain the “ability to act independently to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons”.
  UN peacekeepers have observed “extensive” Israeli military activity in parts of southern Lebanon, the UN said.

Ceasefire in Lebanon a ‘litmus test’ for US-Iran deal

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been explaining why the deal hasn’t yet been signed, saying that there is a disagreement, or a level of disagreement, between the Supreme National Security Council and other leaders.

They are discussing; they are not on the same page yet.

But that’s not a big deal, according to him. It’s going to be finally agreed on, and there is no deadline for that, but understandably, it’s very soon.

And once it is approved, at the beginning there will be a remote electronic signing, and then there will probably be a meeting between the two sides somewhere to sign it on paper.

Of the two phases, the first one is key to this process because there will be a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon. There will be the lifting of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and also there will be a mechanism in place to deal with the unfreezing of Iranian assets.

The second phase will include the nuclear file and some other points, such as, for instance, the lifting of sanctions on Iran.

So, there is a degree of optimism now different from before.

The two sides are closer than ever before to the signing of that memorandum of understanding, which is going to hopefully lead to a final end to the war.

The sticking point, of course, in any case – whether in the first phase or in the second phase – will be Lebanon. Because in the first phase there should be that ceasefire.

That’s a litmus test.

Deal signing with Iran likely days away despite ‘belligerent’ Trump tone

What Donald Trump is saying is that you’re not to believe what the Iranians are leaking. He is very angry. He says it bears no relation to what is actually in the deal.

He’s said that they’re very dishonorable people to do business with, that there’s no such thing as negotiating in good faith. And he also warned them that they had better get their act together and do it quickly.

That’s a slightly belligerent tone from Donald Trump, who 24 hours ago was saying this deal was almost done and they were looking forward to getting it signed within the next couple of days.

JD Vance, the vice president, has been out and about saying that the US and their allies are getting what they want, they are protected, and their concerns are the priorities in this deal.

And he says that there are certain benchmarks that Iran has to meet, and when they do that, if they hit those targets, then they will get some financial rewards.

And that’s how a lot of agreements are structured – you do this, and we do that. And it seems that’s exactly what is happening here.

But it’s clear that Donald Trump is not happy with what the Iranians have leaked.

State media reports senior Iranian official’s claim that $24bn in assets to be unfrozen

A senior Iranian official claims that US President Donald Trump has agreed to the unfreezing of Iranian funds despite his public silence on the matter, Iranian state media reports.

Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, said Trump “has agreed to the release of $24 billion of Iran’s frozen assets, but he does not explicitly declare this”, according to the state-run Fars news agency.

President Trump earlier declared such reports in Iranian media as “fake news”.

White House insists recent military strikes convinced Iran to make deal

It appears that the deal is not unlike what was on the table a few weeks ago, but any changes that there have been are important because they’ve sought clarity.

They don’t want there to be any ambiguity in this agreement.

And if you ask anyone in and around the White House, they’ll tell you one thing brought this to a conclusion, and that was the US military and the strength of Donald Trump.

We saw two nights of attacks on Iran.

The first night we were told was in response to the downing of an Apache helicopter.

The second night, Donald Trump said it, Pete Hegseth said it … this was all about getting Iran to negotiate, to accept the deal that was on the table.

They believe that Iran had been stringing this out, and they believe that the strength of the US military was the key point in getting Iran to sign on to this deal – even though they’re still waiting to get the final details of the deal, where and when it will be signed, to make sure it is actually all done and dusted.

What’s been announced about US, Iran negotiations?

• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US had “never been closer”.
• President Donald Trump then reshared Araghchi’s post on his Truth Social platform. The US President had said a day earlier that a deal had been reached and the war had ended.
• Iranian state media later reported extensive details of what it said was included in a document with the US, noting that it also included Lebanon in the agreement.
• Trump had earlier complained that the “terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to in writing”, and warned Iran’s leaders to “get their act together, fast”.
• Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, which has been mediating the talks, also said a “final, agreed-upon text of the peace deal has been reached”, with “next steps” to be finalised.
• Israel Katz, the defense minister of Israel, which has not been part of the US-Iran talks, said his country “will not withdraw” from Lebanon, Syria or Gaza.

If nuclear talks falter in 60-day negotiation period, provision allows for ceasefire extension

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi basically confirmed that this paper is now on the table here in Tehran, that it is being discussed by the highest leaders in the country.

He referred to some kind of disagreement about it in the Supreme National Security Council in particular, but he did not indicate that it is something that is going to obstruct Iranian approval of it.

So, it’s going to take a bit of time. No confirmation of when and where it is going to be signed.

He said it might be signed in a first phase, it might be signed electronically, remotely, and then there will be a meeting between the two sides to put their signatures on paper.

The first phase will include a ceasefire across the board, on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and a commitment not to commit aggression – a mutual commitment between the warring parties.

And, it is not clear if Israel is included in that commitment, but understandably, the Americans are representing the Israelis in this discussion.

There will also be a process or a mechanism to start the unfreezing of Iranian assets.

That’s key to the Iranians, and there will be, essentially and most importantly, a lifting of the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. This is during the first phase.

During the second phase, the most important and the strongest point of disagreement, the nuclear file, will be discussed in the next 60 days.

If no resolution is concluded in those 60 days – with some satisfaction with how it is proceeding – then the warring parties might extend the ceasefire to give more chance for peace talks.

US claims that it downed multiple Iranian drones targeting ships in Hormuz Strait

The US military said that Iran launched multiple one-way attack drones over several hours in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

“US forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.

“The international trade corridor remains open for transit,” it said.

Trump says Iranians ‘cannot be trusted’ but remains keen on deal

Donald Trump believes that the Iranians have leaked the details of this MoU, and said it’s got no relation to what is actually in the deal.

He described the Iranians as dishonorable people to do business with, and they cannot be trusted.

Certainly, JD Vance has been talking in the last couple of hours.

He says … there are certain benchmarks that Iran must reach before there will be financial relief for them.

He said they are going to achieve some of their main goals, no nuclear weapons for Iran, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, all of these seem as very important by the United States.

My understanding is that the deal that has been agreed was very close to what was being discussed in the last few weeks, but the Americans wanted to make sure there was clarity in the words, like no ambiguity, no possibility of Iran managing to wriggle out of any of the commitments that they’re making.

It’s clear that the deal is getting closer and closer every single day.

Donald Trump may be angry with the Iranians, but he is very keen to get this deal done.

If a US president has a team, which includes two notorious Zionists, and he himself has been known for his flip-flop Middle East politics, and regularly is accused of changing demands, while adding new, excessive maximalistic demands then who is not to trust and dishonorable?

UN Security Council condemns killing of UNIFIL peacekeeper in southern Lebanon

Members of the United Nations Security Council have issued a joint statement condemning the killing of a Serbian peacekeeper from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on June 4.

“The peacekeeper died from critical injuries sustained when mortar shells struck his position,” the statement said, noting that two other peacekeepers were injured in the attack.

The council’s 15 members also expressed their “deepest condolences” to the family of the victims, and “wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured”.

The council did not specify who was behind the mortar fire, instead calling for the UN to “swiftly investigate” and for those responsible to be “held accountable without delay”.

The council also “paid tribute to the dedication and service of all United Nations peacekeepers who risk their lives in service of international peace and security and expressed their deep appreciation to UNIFIL’s troop-contributing countries”.

Iranians reject US claims that recent attacks pressured Tehran’s leaders into deal

They don’t believe and they don’t accept the American view that they came under military pressure over the last few days, and that’s why they have now decided to sign this agreement.

They said this agreement basically had been on the table a couple of weeks ago via the Pakistan mediation.

They agreed on it, but the Americans came back to ask for more changes, which is the reason why it took more time for the Iranians to study those recent requests by the Americans for modification, and that’s why it has been delayed.

The Iranians believe that they will come out of this discussion, from this deal, with major gains, including a continuation of a kind of control over the Strait of Hormuz, an eventual lifting of sanctions and the unfreezing of the assets.

Also, their missile capabilities are not being discussed in this process, which is a major victory for Iran, according to the leaders here.

So, they believe Iran is going to come out of this war and deal much stronger and in a much more favorable position than ever before.

US military says forces remain present and ‘vigilant’ in Middle East

The US military’s Central Command has shared a photograph it says shows an F-16 fighter jet “patrolling the skies above the Middle East”.

“American forces maintain regional presence and vigilance,” the brief post added.

CENTCOM recently reported that US forces have downed, in recent hours, “multiple one-way attack drones” launched by Iran in “an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz”.

“The international trade corridor remains open for transit,” CENTCOM added.

The photo shows an F-16 fighter jet in a cirrus cloudy sky, which doesn't proof that the photo is taken above the Middle East.

US deports Iranian woman to Central African Republic, lawyer says

The United States has deported an Iranian pro-democracy activist to the Central African Republic, her lawyer told the Reuters news agency.

Emily Trostle, who represents the woman, as well as two other Iranian women facing deportation from the US, said that she had told US authorities the move was “super dangerous”.

“These individuals are being removed from the United States and abandoned in a country where they have no status, no connection and no support network. We fear they will ultimately be forced to return to the countries they originally fled,” Trostle told Reuters.

The US State Department and Central African Republic’s presidency did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters about the deportations to the Central African Republic.

The US Department of Homeland Security said last week that all deportees would receive full due process.

The deportation took place while the United States has been a attacking war belligerent since February 28, 2026.

What does international law say when an attacking country uses its existing immigration law to deport a citizen, who lives in the attacking country but is from the attacked country, to an alien country, where the deported citizen has no status, no connection and no support network?

International law prohibits the arbitrary deportation of individuals to alien countries where they lack legal status, connections, or support. While states have sovereign control over immigration, this power is strictly constrained by human rights conventions, refugee treaties, and the laws of armed conflict.

Iran using Lebanon as a foreign policy ‘instrument’ amid US talks

Iran is using the fighting in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel to its own advantage amid negotiations with the US, and any agreed-to withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory will not happen immediately, former US diplomat Henry Ensher said.

Iran, Ensher said, “see the Lebanese very much as an instrument of their foreign policy”.

“That’s one thing. Second thing is the Israelis are not going to instantly withdraw from south Lebanon. I imagine that this will be a process,” Ensher, a former ambassador to Algeria, says.

He said many things could still derail the pending deal between the US and Iran and that any agreement will be the start, not the end, of the negotiation process between Tehran and Washington.

“The American [side] … is not going to instantly reopen the strait. Likewise the Iranians are not going to instantly drop all of their capabilities to block the strait,” he said, referring to the Strait of Hormuz.

“So, all of these things will be a process,” Ensher said.

“In other words, there’s lots of ways in which things can still go wrong. I really have to suggest that this is not a final agreement by any means. It’s an agreement to start a process at most,” he added.

About the Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

The UN Security Council has condemned the killing of Serbian peacekeeper Milovan Jovanovic in southern Lebanon on June 4.

Jovanovic was the seventh UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeper killed since Israel escalated its attacks against Lebanon on March 2.

About UNIFIL’s mounting casualties:

• Four Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents on March 29 and 30, including one who died of his injuries weeks later.
• The UN said investigations into the killings of the Indonesians were ongoing but that preliminary findings showed the first attack was likely Israeli tank fire while the second was likely due to an explosive device the UN assessed “was most likely placed by Hezbollah”.
• Two peacekeepers from France were killed in an attack on April 18, including one who died of his injuries a few days later. France’s President Emmanuel Macron said Hezbollah was responsible.
• The UN Security Council has asked UNIFIL to investigate who was behind the attack that killed Serbian peacekeeper Jovanovic.
• In total, there have been 347 UNIFIL members killed since the mission began in 1978, making Lebanon the deadliest mission since UN peacekeeping began in 1948.
• The UN Security Council voted last year to end UNIFIL’s peacekeeping mandate in Lebanon at the end of 2026.
• China, a permanent member of the council, said recently that most council members think this is not a good time to withdraw UNIFIL.

Iran’s FM Araghchi says US deal ‘has never been closer’

Iran’s foreign minister has verified that an upcoming ceasefire agreement with the United States features the unfreezing of confiscated Iranian assets.

Simultaneously, Abbas Araghchi shared on X that a final accord to permanently conclude the US-Israel war on Iran has “never been closer”.

Trump seeks ‘off-ramp’ to escape political, economic impacts of Iran war

There have been no details whatsoever, apart from what we heard from President Trump in the last 24 hours on the MoU with Iran.

Trump hasn’t been specific about what is precisely contained in this memorandum of understanding, apart from saying it is getting closer at one stage and then saying he’s going to hammer Iran again at another stage.

It’s become more and more apparent of the president’s absolute desire to get a deal in place.

Looking for an off-ramp appears to be increasingly clear.

And the deal is that particular off-ramp for him to be able to put the war behind him, and to be able to escape what are the effects and impact of this war on the American people, both economically and politically.

This is something that President Trump wants to leave behind – the way to get to that exit ramp.

To get out of this war is to get a peace agreement in place, which he can then claim as a victory.

Sticking points still remain in US-Iran deal

The Iranian foreign minister has tried to persuade public opinion about the necessity of this memorandum of understanding with the US.

He also tried to portray it as a victory, even though when it came to details, he preferred not to spill the beans.

We know that this deal is on the table and that it’s being considered by the Supreme National Security Council and supreme leader.

This is not a sudden deal.

There is a process to it, and this is a positive indication, however the road to the deal still remains difficult.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was talking about the remaining sticking points and said that on issues like the Strait of Hormuz and frozen assets, there are some initial agreements.

But regarding the nuclear dossier and sanctions removal, in that regard, there are still sticking points remaining that require a certain amount of talks.

They are talking about 60 days to discuss this to ensure that this process results in a long-lasting peace.

Trump denies economic impact of the war, but it is having an effect

The directions from the Trump administration to all departments have been to keep information close and to not reveal any of the details to outside sources until the deal is signed.

The contents of that deal remains undisclosed until it is signed, if it actually is signed.

There is no doubt that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is having an economic impact in the US, not just in the rise of fuel prices but also in the rise in transport costs, which results in a rise in the price of products on supermarket shelves.

Trump has denied this, saying the US doesn’t need the strait, as it is an oil-exporting nation.

But the facts in the US indicate that he’s incorrect.

Yet Trump does appear willing to get out of this conflict, the reason being economic but also political.

This war is deeply unpopular. Opinion polls show that over half of the population are deeply opposed to it.

Many observers believe that is why he keeps threatening Iran, and then going back to saying they are close to a deal.

He doesn’t want to go through with the threats because that would renew the conflict and make getting to that exit ramp, and being able to declare a victory, all the more difficult.

Israelis demolish homes, government buildings in south Lebanon

Israeli attacks at dawn have demolished homes and government buildings in southern Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil, the country’s National News Agency reports.

Quiet start to morning in Lebanon suggests possible slowdown in Israeli attacks

There has been continued Israeli activity over the past 24 hours, while talk of this deal reaches a fever pitch.

Over the course of Friday and into the evening, there were continued Israeli air attacks, and forced displacement orders issued for towns and villages that are well north of what the Israelis call the “Yellow Line”.

That’s the part of southern Lebanon that they have been seeking to control and to occupy.

But in the early hours of this morning, while we would sometimes see Israeli air raids – they’re operating under the cover of night, sometimes trying to soften up the ground in advance of a troop advancement – we haven’t seen that in the last couple of hours.

So that could be an indication that there is a slowdown.

But without any kind of official confirmation or anything on paper, people here are still waiting to see how this plays out.

The Lebanese government and people have been through this before.

And so, even though we’ve had interviews and statements from Iranian officials as senior as the foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, saying that Lebanon is included in this deal, that the memorandum of understanding stipulates not just a ceasefire but in fact an Israeli withdrawal, the Israelis have pushed back on that.

Israel issues forced displacement orders for 20 Lebanese towns, villages

The Israeli military has ordered residents of 20 Lebanese towns and villages to flee their homes.

The forced displacement orders apply to Deir al-Zahrani, al-Namirieh, al-Sharquieh, al-Dewayr, Harouf, Habboush, Kfarjoz, Zibdine (Nabatieh), Nabatieh al-Tahta, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Kfar Rouman, Al-Mahmoudieh, Sajed (Jezzine), Reihan, Aaramta, Kfarchouba, Mlki, Al-Lawiza (Jezzine), Jarjouh and Arab Salim.

Israel’s military ordered residents to leave their homes immediately and move “north of the Zahrani River”.

Lebanese MP says Hezbollah’s ‘mistakes’ do not justify siding with Israel

Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil has said that Hezbollah has made “mistakes” since the 2006 war with Israel, but that the wrongdoings of any Lebanese factions does not justify siding with Israelis.

Bassil, who is the son-in-law of former President Michel Aoun and whose party represents the Maronite Christian community, stressed that Israel was the one waging war on Lebanon and destroying its economy, homes and social fabric.

He added that condemning Hezbollah’s actions does not mean ignoring the reality on the ground.

Divisions have been deepening in Lebanese society since President Joseph Aoun took the unprecedented decision of holding direct talks with Israel.

Earlier this month, after the fourth round of direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials, both sides agreed to implement a ceasefire that would require a “complete cessation” of fire by Hezbollah, yet the fighting continues.

The next round of talks between the two countries is expected on June 22, with a view towards reaching a comprehensive agreement.

‘Positive indication, but road to diplomacy still challenging’

Engulfed by a cloud of uncertainty and mistrust, Iran has decided to go through the trajectory of diplomacy, even as we hear that their fingers are on the triggers in case negotiations fail.

In Foreign Minister Araghchi’s interview with the state broadcaster, we heard him say the Strait of Hormuz would not return to its pre-war state, in terms of the management system for transiting through this geostrategically significant chokepoint.

He also talked about the US-imposed naval blockade, saying one of the conditions in this agreement is its removal, as well as a ceasefire across the region, particularly in Lebanon.

He said we are not going to leave Lebanon alone.

All in all, this is a positive indication.

But the road to diplomacy remains challenging.

Israel renews military activity in south Lebanon, issues sweeping displacement order

There are renewed Israeli military activity.

Things were sort of quiet from midnight until about 6 or 7am. Less activity than what has reported in recent days.

There are often air raids at 3 or 4am as the Israelis try to soften things up in preparation for any troop advancements they’re trying to make.

There are air attacks on two locations, towns in the district of Tyre and in Nabatieh.

And just in the last couple of minutes, the Israeli military has issued a wide-ranging forced displacement order for more than 20 locations. That’s in the district of Nabatieh and in Jezzine.

Multiple people in towns and villages there were told to leave immediately.

There is no slowdown that people might have hoped for here in Lebanon, given the assurances from the Iranian side that Lebanon would be included in this ceasefire and memorandum of understanding.

The White House is suggesting the deal is close, if not imminent

The Trump administration hasn’t provided any details on what was in the MoU, and also whether it is a two-phase process, as many reports – and at one stage the US – have indicated.

President Trump goes between expressing optimism about the deal and resorting to threats should it not take place.

But above all, he seems intent that this is going to happen, and it could happen as early as next week, as some members of his staff are saying.

Although there are doubts surrounding the actual nature of the deal, as far as the White House is concerned, the deal is close, if not imminent.

Pakistan’s FM holds phone call with Egyptian counterpart

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has held a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, to discuss the ongoing efforts to end the US-Israel war on Iran.

“They expressed hope that an early and constructive outcome in the ongoing engagement between the United States and Iran would be reached,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X.

The discussion with his Egyptian counterpart followed a recent call Ishaq Dar held with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, the ministry said.

Pakistan has been the main mediator in US and Iranian negotiators.

Switzerland, meanwhile, has offered to host a possible signing of an MoU between Tehran and Washington “should the parties agree to it”, the Swiss Foreign Ministry told the AFP news agency earlier.

‘Hugely important’ for both US, Iran to present deal as victory

Simon Mabon, professor of international politics at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, has said that it is “hugely important” for both the US and Iran to be able to present a possible memorandum of understanding as a win to their people.

“This is very important, but also potentially dangerous if both sides take umbrage with the idea that the other side has come out of this with the upper hand,” he said.

Iran is trying to obtain sanctions relief from the US, which it can sell as a win at home, while Trump is trying to avoid that as he has been very critical of the previous US President Barack Obama administration’s decision to release economic pressure on Iran, according to Mabon.

“The details of what’s believed to be included [in the deal suggest that] there’s not much Trump can sell as a win besides reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which was open before the war,” he continued.

“If we listen to what Iranian officials are saying, the Strait of Hormuz is not going to go back to what it was before the war, there’s always going to be a sword hanging over [it], and that’s a worrying sign for the global economy.”

Lebanon to remain sticking point in future US-Iran negotiations

There are reports in the US media of aircraft flying to [the Swiss city of] Geneva to prepare the site for the vice president to take part in the signing of the memorandum.

Now, that is not confirmed, but that is the type of speculation that is going around, which has largely been fuelled by the administration, which continues to try to talk up the prospects of a deal that is not only going to happen but may happen imminently.

There does appear to be a sense of agreement on a phased process: the signing of a memorandum of agreement and then another defined period of time to start negotiating, perhaps, the more contentious issues.

President Trump has stated repeatedly that Lebanon will not be part of the MoU. This is a critical point because this is something that Iran has been insisting is the case.

Trump and his administration say that the issue of Israel versus Lebanon is separate from the wider issue of Iran and the US. Tehran begs to differ.

So, this is a sticking point, and this is one that is a very widely differing position between the two parties, even before we see exactly what is in that MoU and what isn’t.

President Aoun says Lebanon at ‘fateful juncture’ as divisions deepen

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said the country is at a “fateful juncture” as it stands to decide between “a sovereign state that monopolises arms and upholds the rule of law” or to remain “hostage to the logic of militias and the culture of exclusion”.

Speaking on the anniversary of the assassination of former minister Tony Suleiman Frangieh in 1978 by armed factions, Aoun said national unity was an “existential necessity”.

“We are at a moment that tolerates neither sectarian luxury nor regional tug-of-war,” he said.

Aoun, a former armed forces chief, has faced the difficult task of disarming Hezbollah without pushing Lebanon into renewed civil conflict.

More Israeli raids reported in southern Lebanon

An aerial strike hit the town of Khiam, in the Marjayoun district, while drones targeted the town of Qasiba, in Nabatieh.

Multiple attacks also targeted the town of al-Sarirah, in Jezzine, while artillery shelling was reported in Majdal Zoun, in the Tyre district.

Israel targets southern Lebanon’s Jezzine district

The Israeli military targeted the municipalities of Ar-Rihan and Kfar Hounah in southern Lebanon’s Jezzine district in drone attacks, according to our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic.

The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) said a van was attacked in Kfar Hounah, without elaborating on the results.

A separate Israeli attack was also reported in the city of Khiam, southern Lebanon.

Israel kills mayor in southern Lebanon’s Jezzine district

Ali Badie, the mayor of Ar-Rihan municipality, has been killed in an Israeli attack on the area in the Jezzine district of southern Lebanon, according to the country’s National News Agency (NNA).

The circumstances of the killing were not immediately available.

We absolutely do not trust Americans,’ says Iran’s chief justice

Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei has said the Iranians “absolutely do not trust the Americans, and this distrust stems from historical facts and events”, referring to last year’s 12-day war, according to Iran’s semi-state Tasnim news agency.

Mohseni-Ejei was part of the three-man transitional council to lead Tehran after the US and Israeli attacks assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the current war, on February 28.

He claimed that in the ongoing war, Iran has “succeeded in beheading the enemies and cutting off the hands of the aggressors”.

Reminder:

If a US president has a team, which includes two notorious Zionists, and he himself has been known for his flip-flop Middle East politics, and regularly is accused of changing demands, while adding new, excessive maximalistic demands then who is not to trust and dishonorable?

Lebanese MP optimistic about US-Iran deal, criticizes Lebanon-Israel talks

Lebanese MP Amin Sherri has said there are “positive indicators” for a deal between the US and Iran, adding that Israel would be the biggest loser in that case.

“We are waiting to see how the American president will deal with this agreement, and we hope to reach a happy conclusion that will reflect on the situation in Lebanon,” he told Voice of all Lebanon radio station, according to Lebanon’s NNA news agency.

Sherri, who is part of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, added that “no one will be able to disarm” the group.

He criticised the recent talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, saying that the Lebanese government “made concessions to Israel without any guarantees” for the country.

“The word ‘withdrawal’ was not even mentioned in the outcome of the last negotiations, but rather vague statements were used,” he added. “Hezbollah does not agree to continue this direct negotiation process, considering that the next round will be a copy of what came before.”

Israel kills four people in southern Lebanon

Earlier, one person was killed in Maarakeh in the Tyre district, and the Rihan municipality’s mayor was killed in the Jezzine district.

Two more people have since been reported killed after an Israeli air raid on Deir al-Zahrani in the Nabatieh district. The attack also destroyed a residential building.

Pakistan’s top diplomat discusses US-Iran talks with Swiss counterpart

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has spoken with his Swiss counterpart, according to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, after Switzerland earlier proposed to host the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.

Islamabad has been the chief mediator in the US-Iran talks to end the war.

In a conversation with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, Dar welcomed the “encouraging progress towards an understanding between the United States and Iran”.

The leaders “expressed hope that ongoing efforts would soon contribute to peace and stability in the region. Both sides agreed to remain in close contact,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement said.

Israel ‘very worried’ about imminent US-Iran memorandum of understanding

Israel is very worried about the upcoming memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, because it is not interested in a deal that ends the war.

The strategic goal set by Israel and presented to the Israeli public was far higher than an agreement that would keep the governing system in place in Iran. This is where the discussions are focused in the Israeli media.

The issue of Lebanon is even more strategic and immediate for [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, because it has to do with the ability of residents in northern Israel to stay in their hometowns.

This is an issue that can make or break elections, and it seems that the Israeli prime minister is trying to get as many gains on the ground as he can.

Israel threatens more Lebanese towns, villages

The Israeli military has issued further forced displacement orders for residents of Lebanese towns and villages.

Those in Ghassaniyeh, az-Zrariyah, Mazraat Kaoutariyet er-Rizz and Sir el-Gharbiyeh have been told to move north of the Zahrani River.

The announcement follows an earlier displacement order for 20 towns and villages.

Hamidreza Gholamzadeh, director of the Iranian think tank Diplo House, says that given the security situation in Tehran due to the US-Israel war, communication between negotiators and the top Iranian leadership “takes time”.

“We do not have confirmation whether the supreme leader or the national security council has officially approved the text or not,” he said.

The analyst also noted that Israeli aggression in southern Lebanon could disrupt the peace negotiations. “Iran has already clarified what it would do in that case, by attacking Israel [earlier this week], when Israel pressed to attack Beirut,” said Gholamzadeh. “We need to wait and see whether the ceasefire includes only Beirut or the occupied parts of Lebanon as well.

“In southern Lebanon, we are sure that Israelis cannot be trusted and they might attack again,” he said, speaking from Tehran.

He added that it would be a misinterpretation to believe that “both Iran and the United States are too enthusiastic about a deal that they would not act against the Israeli aggression.”

Pakistan says US-Iran deal likely to be finalized in next 24 hours

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said on X the finalisation of the US-Iran agreement is likely expected in the next 24 hours, with “the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical level talks next week”.

He thanked the US and Iran for their commitment during the talks, and those in the region for their support.

“We are confident that this historic peace deal will form a strong foundation for lasting peace,” he concluded.

Israel attacks villages in south Lebanon’s Tyre

The Israeli military has renewed attacks on the Tyre district of southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA).

Air raids hit the villages of Qana, Bazouriyeh and Rashkananiyeh, the report said.

A new attack was also reported in the municipality of Nabatieh al-Fawqa in the Nabatieh district, while the village of Khirbet Selm in the Bint Jbeil district was hit by artillery shelling.

Possible US-Iran deal marks ‘moment of danger’ for Lebanon

There hasn’t been any cessation in military activity in Lebanon, despite the Iranian foreign minister saying Lebanon would be included in a deal with the US.

Instead, over the course of Saturday morning military activity is wide-ranging, forced displacement orders against 20 towns and villages in the districts of Nabatieh and Jezzine. The Israeli military issued new orders to leave for people in parts of the Sidon district.

Both of those areas are quite far north of the so-called “Yellow Line”, which is the part of southern Lebanon that Israeli troops have sought to control and indeed to occupy. There have been multiple air raids across the south over the morning as well. This once again represents an expansion, rather than a cessation of Israeli military activity.

As regional powers are discussing whether or not Lebanon is included in a deal between Iran and the US, this isn’t necessarily a moment of peace here. In fact, it is a moment of danger, just like it was on April 8, when there were discussions on whether or not Lebanon was going to be included in the deal.

The Israeli prime minister and his military made it clear that it would not be, and later that afternoon it turned into the deadliest day of the war as more than 350 people were killed.

Tanker struck by projectile off Oman coast: UKMTO

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported that a tanker has been “struck by an unknown projectile in the Port Bow”, six nautical miles (11km) east of Oman.

The alert published on X said the crew is reported safe and there is no reported environmental impact.

“The tanker is continuing to its next Port of call. Authorities are investigating,” the statement further added. “Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”

Iran’s top negotiator says Tehran will stand firm until victory

Marking the anniversary of last year’s 12-day war last year, Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the US and Israel of targeting civilians and pledged that Tehran would remain steadfast.

In a statement, Ghalibaf wrote: “They murdered innocent children and refrained from no crime or cruelty.

“Inspired by the heroic and oppressed martyrs of the 12-Day War, we stand firm until the end for the glory and ultimate victory of our dear Iran,” he added.

Lebanese soldier severely injured in double Israeli attack, army says

The Lebanese army says a soldier was injured after being targeted by the Israeli military twice as he was traveling on the Kfar Reman–Nabatieh road.

An Israeli drone struck the first time near the al-Najda Hospital in Nabatieh, without injuring the soldier. A second strike followed, causing severe wounds, the army said on X.

At least 29 soldiers from the Lebanese Armed Forces have been killed since Netanyahu's resumption of his preemptive 12-day war on Iran in June 2025, whereby he dragged Hezbollah in the resumption by assassinating the Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei.

The total includes multiple officers, notably a prominent Lebanese general killed alongside other troops in an Israeli strikes.

Israelis claim they have hit more than 70 targets in southern Lebanon in past day

The Israeli military claims to have killed several Hezbollah fighters and destroyed the group’s rocket launchers as well as buildings in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours.

It said on X that more than 70 Hezbollah sites were hit in that period.

At least five people were killed and a Lebanese soldier was injured in the latest Israeli attacks.

"claims" is in the Israeli (war) political language no other than talking about what they claim, mostly with no or (Unit 8200) fabricated evidence provided, to have achieved. They never talk about what they have done to civilians while achieving what they are claiming.

Senior Iranian scholar cautions leaders negotiating with the US

Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, a senior member of the Leadership Council of Iran’s

Assembly of Experts, has cautioned Iranian officials negotiating with the US to remain within the framework of the supreme leader’s directives and red lines.

“We must demonstrate our power to them; otherwise, they will not agree to our conditions through these talks,” he said, in an interview with Iran’s semi-state Tasnim news agency.

“God willing, they will succeed by acting within the framework defined by the supreme leader,” he added.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that a memorandum of understanding could be finalized within the next 24 hours.

Pakistan eager to get first stage of US-Iran deal finalized

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ‌has been confident about a deal being reached. He is saying we’re very close to it, you’ve all agreed on it, so rather than wasting the opportunity and figuring out who is going to go where, let’s sign it electronically, let’s put a pin in it, let’s commit to those 30 or 60 days as have been floated in the media.

The Pakistanis know they’ve been here so many times, and this is the point where it makes or breaks it, and they want it to be done as soon as possible. The urgency is to get to the next hurdle, which is to get a commitment for the next 30 to 60 days, get the Strait of Hormuz open, release Iranian assets and get the Iranians to agree to a 15-year period of no nuclear enrichment.

Those really bare-knuckle, rolled-sleeves talks can happen. It could be in [the Swiss city of] Geneva, it could be in Islamabad, or it could very well be at the IAEA in Vienna, Austria, because a lot hinges on what happens on the nuclear front. And this is why it’s important to get the first bit out of the way.

The Pakistani position is different from that of everyone else. They’ve got the backing of the Egyptians, the Turks and the Saudis. They’ve got an open door of communication with China, and apparently, the army chief can pick up the phone and call the White House whenever he wants.

US-Iran deal will not be signed tomorrow: Iran’s Foreign Ministry

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says the US-Iran memorandum of understanding will not be signed on Sunday, but he does not rule out that it could happen in the “coming days”, according to state media.

“The Islamabad memorandum, which is being pursued, focuses on ending the war, and at this stage, it has been decided that there will be no discussion about the nuclear issue,” he said, referring to the document negotiated with the mediation of Pakistan.

“We must wait for the exact time of signing the memorandum; although it will not be tomorrow, the possibility that it will happen in the coming days is not ruled out. However, due to the other party’s instability, we must be cautious about any statements regarding this process,” he added.

To Iran, Lebanon is included in any deal going forward

Muhanad Seloom, assistant professor of international politics and security at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, says the US is “insisting” on separating Lebanon from the memorandum of understanding, but Iran has made its stance clear.

“I think Iran made sure that the message is heard clearly in Tel Aviv and in Washington, DC, by bombarding Israel in response to what Israeli forces did in Lebanon. So, I think in taking the initiative during this very critical time to bomb Israel, that was a clear message,” Seloom says.

However, the Israelis will “not abide” even if they come under pressure from the US to stop their attacks on Lebanon, he added.

“They might stop for a moment, then they would resume again. Have a look at Israel today, it’s surrounded by yellow lines, even within its own borders – inside Gaza, you have a yellow line, inside Syria, the same, and inside Lebanon,” Seloom said.

On April 8, 2026, Pakistan's Prime Minister Sharif wrote in a message on his X-account, that all involved parties have agreed that Lebanon is included.

It turned into a unclear issue after Netanyahu rushed on the same day to react by writing on his X-account, that Lebanon is not included.

Iranian deputy FM meets Russian, Chinese ambassadors

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says in a joint meeting with the ambassadors of China and Russia that the three countries’ officials discussed and exchanged views on the latest developments regarding the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.

He added in a post on X that the “strategic partnership between Iran, China, and Russia, as well as the coordination and interactions among the three countries, will continue with full strength”.

Lebanon death toll since March 2 rises to 3,756

Israel has killed at least 3,756 people in Lebanon from March 2 to June 13, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

It added that 11,632 others had been injured in the Israeli attacks.

Israeli attacks reported in Nabatieh, Tyre districts

Israeli forces have carried out further attacks across southern Lebanon, according to local media.

An Israeli air raid targeted the municipality of Kfar Tibnit in the Nabatieh district, while Israeli artillery shelled Majdal Zoun in the Tyre district. Two additional Israeli air attacks were reported at the junction between Nabatieh and Kfar Reman.

The latest attacks come hours after the Israeli military issued more forced displacement for several towns and villages in southern Lebanon, beyond the so-called yellow line buffer zone created by Israel.

‘Murkiness’ remains over details of imminent US-Iran deal

There is no official comment from the White House since the announcement by the Pakistani prime minister.

There has been some skepticism here domestically in the US given that the President Donald Trump has time after time promised a deal was around the corner only for one to not materialize yet.

There’s also a lot of murkiness regarding what the terms of this memorandum of understanding would entail; it appears to involve a 60-day extension of the ceasefire in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the US dropping its blockade of Iranian ports.

That seems to be the topic on both sides, but there’s also a lot left undecided, which will be kicked down for the second phase of negotiations, namely, what to do with Iran’s nuclear program, US sanctions, as well as the unfreezing of Iranian assets.

Pakistan says peace deal ‘ready for signatures’

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, says a peace agreement is “ready for signatures” and could be finalized “very shortly”.

According to a statement from Sharif’s office on X, the Pakistani leader made the remarks during a phone call on Saturday with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

Sharif thanked Qatar for supporting Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during the crisis, while the Qatari prime minister praised Pakistan’s role in mediation efforts and expressed hope that an agreement would bring lasting peace to the region, the statement added.

Both agreed to remain in close contact in the coming days.

No plans for negotiators to travel to Geneva, Islamabad in ‘next day or two’

The Iranian foreign ministry is saying that Iran has no plans for its negotiating team to travel to Geneva or Islamabad in the next day or two to sign an agreement.

However, spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that the possibility of the MoU being signed in the coming days is high, reported Iran’s IRNA news agency.

“We must wait for the exact time of the signing,” he said.

Southern Lebanese villages, towns targeted in more Israeli strikes

According to local media, Israeli warplanes have carried out a second strike on the town of Bir Ayshiyeh in Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil district.

There were also other attacks:

• Two additional air raids were reported on the town of al-Riz in Sidon district.
• Further Israeli strikes targeted Deir Qanun al-Nahr in the Tyre district.
• The towns of Rmeish in Bint Jbeil district and as-Sawana in Marjayoun district were also hit.

The latest attacks follow Israeli displacement orders issued earlier today for several towns and villages in the south of Lebanon.

Pakistan, Saudi foreign ministers welcome ‘final stage’ of US-Iran talks

Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has welcomed US-Iran negotiations in a call with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

The pair “expressed the hope that this important development will contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region”, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a post on X about the talks.

“The Saudi Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan’s consistent and sustained efforts in support of mediation and dialogue throughout the process,” it added.

Rubio tells Indian counterpart all vessels in Hormuz ‘should comply with orders’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar that “all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces” in the Strait of Hormuz, the State Department says.

In a readout of yesterday’s call between the two leaders, the State Department said Rubio also stressed that “violations of the US blockade” of Iranian ports “and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated”.

The Rubio-Jaishankar call came after a US strike on an oil tanker in the key Gulf waterway killed three Indian sailors earlier this week, prompting condemnation from New Delhi.

The Indian foreign minister said yesterday that he had “reiterated India’s strong protest” over the attack in his call with Rubio. “Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified,” he wrote on X.

Trump says US-Iran deal to be signed tomorrow, Hormuz will be ‘open to all’

Trump posted a statement on his Truth Social platform about negotiations towards a deal with Iran.

“The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL”

US to take nuclear dust in Iran and ‘destroy it’: Trump

In his Truth Social post, the US president also says “when all is calm” the United States will “get the Nuclear Dust”.

“Downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran, or the United States. We look forward to working with Iran, and the entire Middle East, long into the future,” Trump said.

“Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly. If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!” he added.

How will Gulf states manage collective security after Iran war ends?

The US operates military facilities in at least 19 locations across the Middle East and North Africa, and between 40,000 and 50,000 American troops were stationed across the region before the war on Iran started.

For years, this US-Gulf relationship appeared to insulate states from conflicts engulfing other parts of the region.

But over the past four months, Gulf states hosting US military facilities have been targeted by Iran – raising questions about the US-Gulf security arrangement.

“Just the war itself has pierced that sense of security, the US security umbrella is moribund at worst, or ineffective at best,” Simon Mabon, professor of international relations at Lancaster University, said.

Trump says deal imminent but omits mention of Israel, Lebanon in post

There is no mention of Israel or Lebanon, which are reportedly among the key issues preventing the two sides from reaching a final agreement.

Trump says the deal between Iran and the United States will be signed tomorrow. In his post on Truth Social, he used much of the language he previously employed to criticise the Obama administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran.

He argues this will be a better deal than the one negotiated under Obama. He also references the Strait of Hormuz, saying it will be open to all once the agreement is signed. While he does not mention Iran’s demand for an end to the US-led blockade of Iranian ports, we know that remains one of Tehran’s key demands in the negotiations.

If the deal is signed tomorrow – which coincides with Trump’s 80th birthday – it could represent a significant political victory for the US president. Trump has always been motivated by the optics of coming out on top and presenting himself as a dealmaker, particularly given how unpopular the conflict has become among many Americans.

Points in Trump’s post appear to conflict with view in Tehran

Iran has yet to release an official response to Trump’s social media post.

However, a few elements of the US president’s comments appear to contradict earlier statements by Iranian officials – notably on the timeline for the signing of the MoU between the two countries.

Tehran had acknowledged that there is momentum and that they are working to finalize and review the draft text with the relevant authorities, specifically the National Security Council and the supreme leader.

A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry said the US-Iran memorandum would not be signed on Sunday. He said there was a high chance it would be signed in the next days.

Lebanon tensions could still derail US-Iran agreement

Dania Thafer, executive director of the Gulf International Forum, says there is a “higher degree of optimism” about the prospects for a US-Iran agreement than at any previous stage of the negotiations.

Thafer pointed to positive signals from regional actors, including Pakistan, but cautioned that several obstacles remain.

“There are still a lot of considerations, but we’re closer than before,” she said, noting that continued exchanges of fire in Lebanon and uncertainty surrounding a ceasefire there could still have a “spoiler effect” on the broader diplomatic process.

One of the key issues for Tehran remains the release of frozen Iranian assets and sanctions relief, she noted, adding that negotiations may have been delayed because Trump does not want to appear to be directly providing funds to Iran.

Instead, alternative mechanisms involving third parties could offer a face-saving solution. “It may not be a cash transfer, but other mechanisms of aid,” Thafer said.

What have US, Iran and Pakistan said about when deal could be signed?

Officials in the US, Iran and Pakistan have all indicated that negotiations are progressing – although they have offered differing assessments of when the MOU could be signed:

• Trump wrote on Truth Social a few minutes ago that the deal is “scheduled to get signed tomorrow”.
• The prime minister of Pakistan, which has played a key mediating role in the negotiations, said earlier that the finalisation of a deal was expected within the next 24 hours.
• In a later statement, Shehbaz Sharif said the deal was “ready for signatures” and could be finalised “very shortly”.
• Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, said the deal would not be signed on Sunday, though he did not rule out an agreement being reached in the “coming days”.

Israelis bomb Lebanese town of Blat amid string of attacks

The Israeli army has bombed the town of Blat in Lebanon’s southern Marjayoun district, reports the National News Agency.

Elsewhere, Israeli warplanes raided the town of Khirbet Selm in the Ain area, while the military carried out a drone attack in Bayt al-Sayyad.

Israeli artillery shelling targeted the town of Shahour in Tyre district, while air strikes were reported in Burj Qalawiya in Bint Jbeil district, as well as the town of Zrarieh in Sidon district.

Hezbollah says it targeted Israeli command center

Israelis have carried out drone strikes on the towns of al-Majadel and al-Kawthariyah al-Saida.

Hezbollah said it fired an air-to-air missile to intercept an Israeli Hermes 450 drone over the Iqlim al-Tuffah area.

The group also said it fired missiles at a concentration of Israeli military vehicles in Jdeidet Mays al-Jabal and targeted an Israeli command centre near Yahmor al-Shaqif, with what it described as a “diving drone”.

The Israeli military has not immediately commented.

As Iran-US deal nears, Tehran remembers another recent conflict

The first anniversary of last year’s 12-day war between Iran and Israel is being marked this week in Tehran and other cities.

They are commemorating the dozens of senior military commanders killed between June 13 and 24, 2025.

They include Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the armed forces; Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ali Akbar Hajizadeh, longtime aerospace chief.

"12-day war"

The war began on June 13, 2025 with Netanyahu claiming with no evidence, that Iran was accelerating its nuclear program. His preemptive war ceased on June 26, 2025. However, in December of that year, Netanyahu vowed to attack Iran again in 2026. That is why the war since February 28th is a resumption of the war in June 2025.

‘How will Israeli PM sell deal to the public without admitting defeat?’

The Truth Social post from the US president focused on Iran not having a nuclear weapon; This is something that Netanyahu can build on because it is in line with Israel’s priorities.

Everything else is not being talked about in detail, and according to some of the reports we’ve seen, some of the unnamed officials talking to Israeli media, it doesn’t seem like the assessment [of the US-Iran deal] in Israel is positive.

Israel is aware that it doesn’t have many choices, however. The US has decided there is a way out of this war and Israel will have to comply. The question now is, how will the Israeli prime minister sell this to the public without admitting defeat?

There is widespread support [in Israel] for escalating the war on Iran, for escalating the war on Lebanon. And right now, the military in Israel is getting ready for orders to halt the ground invasion and to downscale the attacks in Lebanon in anticipation of the obligations that will be imposed on Israel because of the agreement between the US and Iran.

" ... it is in line with Israel’s priorities ... "

In 1968, so a year after the Israelis had their first nuclear weapons, the then-Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin said during his speech at the UNGA, that "one" must make sure that no enemy has a nuclear reactor, while the Israelis had their Dimona reactor secretly built in violation of the Atoms For Peace Agreement.

"one" refers to the Israelis themselves as no country in the world had a nuclear enemy but the Israelis created themselves in the region.

Begin's statement became an Israeli doctrine meant to attack any country in the region preemptively, which dares to begin its own nuclear program. The doctrine aims to make sure that the Israelis are the only nuclear power in the Middle East, and is very clear a nuclear deterrence to hold off any Arabic state from preventing Israeli expansion into their territory.

In relation to the Israeli nuclear rivalry, the above is the only Israeli priority.

Hezbollah reports multiple attacks on Israeli military positions

Hezbollah has said it carried out a series of attacks against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, including several drone strikes and what it described as an ambush targeting an Israeli infantry unit.

The group said it targeted an Israeli armoured vehicle near Hamams Hill, south of Khiam, as well as Israeli troops positioned in a building in Khiam, with Ababil drones.

Hezbollah also said it struck a newly established Israeli artillery position in al-Adaisseh with a drone.

In another statement, the group claimed it lured an Israeli infantry force into an ambush near Kfar Tebnit; Hezbollah said explosive devices were detonated and artillery fire was directed at the area, forcing Israeli troops to withdraw.

Trump attempting to ‘control the narrative’ amid negotiations

Ross Harrison, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, has cautioned against assuming a US-Iran agreement is guaranteed despite optimistic statements from Trump.

“We have seen this before, where we get close to a deal, and Donald Trump claims we’re at a deal, and it unravels at the last moment,” Harrison said.

However, Harrison said there appears to be a greater commitment to negotiations than in previous rounds.

“There seems to be a level of seriousness in Washington and Tehran that we haven’t seen before,” he said, while suggesting Trump’s public comments may reflect a desire to shape perceptions around the talks.

“Trump seems to have a desire, or instinct, to control the narrative,” he said.

Uncertainty around deal reflects ‘chaos’ of US diplomacy under Trump

Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, says the war with Iran has demonstrated that the US president is “making things up as he goes along”.

“It’s a lot of improvisation and I think that is a by-product of a lack of planning on his part, or on the part of the administration. Clearly this current war was a very big miscalculation,” Elmasry said.

He said that several questions remain unanswered as the world watches whether a US-Iran deal will be signed soon, including on the Iranian nuclear issue and the Strait of Hormuz.

“We still don’t know exactly the state of the Strait of Hormuz. What is the US position on the Iranians exercising control over the [waterway] and charging a fee?”

“There’s a lot to still iron out in terms of Iran’s ability to enrich uranium going forward, but also the stockpile … of highly enriched uranium. And the two sides disagree on how to deal with it,” Elmasry added.

Israeli strike hits southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh

Israeli attacks are continuing across southern Lebanon, with our colleagues on the ground reporting an air strike on the city of Nabatieh.

Other Israeli attacks:

• Additional Israeli strikes were reported in Kfar Jouz, also in Nabatieh district, while two air raids targeted the town of Blat in Marjayoun district.
• Israeli artillery shelling was reported on the outskirts of Sahmar and Yahmar in the western Bekaa; Wadi al-Hujeir in the south, and the outskirts of al-Samawiyya and Deir Qanun Ras al-Ain in Tyre district.

Hezbollah said it had clashed with Israeli forces in the town of Majdal Zoun, claiming to have destroyed several military vehicles.

The group also said it fired missiles at Israeli troop concentrations near Kfar Tibnit and Majdal Zoun.

Qatar, Kuwait FMs express hope deal will be signed soon

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, has discussed latest developments in the US-Iran negotiations with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

In their call they expressed support for the progress that has been achieved and their hope that a deal will be signed soon by Washington and Tehran, said the Qatari foreign ministry.

“Both sides affirmed their full support for the ongoing commendable efforts to address all pending issues through dialogue and peaceful means,” the statement said.

Questions continue to swirl around possible signing of deal

The Iranians haven’t confirmed that they will sign tomorrow, and they haven’t confirmed that the leadership here has agreed officially on the deal.

A lot of questions [are swirling], and until we see the text of the memorandum of understanding, I think there will be differences between what the Americans are saying and what the Iranians are saying.

Iran’s frozen assets, sanctions relief among key issues

Experts say Trump does not want to appear to be directly providing funds to Iran, which has made the release of frozen Iranian assets and sanctions relief among the key sticking points in US-Iran negotiations.

“The United States has always used these sanctions and access to these assets as a stick to try and prevent Iran from developing economically or … [supporting] armed groups in the Middle East,” said Christopher Featherstone, an associate lecturer at the University of York in the UK.

Featherstone said that while the release of Iran’s frozen assets was unlikely to benefit common people in the country, it would have an effect on the Iranian economy after years of sanctions.

“But that is arguably why the United States is very keen for Iran to not have access to these assets,” he said, noting that estimates put the frozen funds at about $100-120bn.

Netanyahu faces political pressure over US-Iran deal ahead of election

It’s unlikely that Israel’s prime minister will be able to oppose a US-Iran deal once it is agreed, says Yossi Mekelberg, an associate fellow in the Middle East program at the Chatham House think tank in London.

But Mekelberg said that the real question is whether Netanyahu “is capable of undermining [the agreement] step by step”.

With an election coming up in Israel, Netanyahu “will be asked many questions”, including why Israel has been at war for more than two years, if Iran will be able to keep its ballistic missiles and enriched uranium, Mekelberg said.

“It’s [about] the pressure also from his own government and the idea that he has to face the electorate in a few months,” he added.

Israeli opposition leader Lapid slams Netanyahu as ‘complete failure’

Yair Lapid has delivered a scathing critique of the Israeli prime minister, saying the emerging US-Iran deal has failed to secure any of Israel’s war objectives.

“The [Iranian] regime survives, the missile program remains intact, and Iran can rebuild its nuclear program,” the Israeli opposition leader said in a social media post.

Lapid described the US-Iran deal as the result of a “complete failure” by Netanyahu, whom he accused of turning Israel into “a client state”.

“No press conference, no media spin, and no AI-generated video will be able to hide this failure,” he added.

Hezbollah says it launched 22 attacks on Israeli forces in past 24 hours

Hezbollah says it used drones and rocket barrages in its attacks on sites and Israeli troop deployments in southern Lebanon.

The group also claimed it intercepted Israeli drones using surface-to-air missiles several times.