• US Vice President JD Vance has departed for high-level talks with Iran in Switzerland, saying he is hopeful that the discussions will produce progress on Tehran’s nuclear program and the situation in Lebanon.
• Iran’s delegation, led by Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has arrived in Switzerland, saying its goal is to ensure all parties fully implement the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the war.
• Israeli forces have killed 16 people in Lebanon despite a reported ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced it is closing the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israel’s violations of the MoU, but the US military says the waterway is open to all vessels.
• US President Donald Trump says there will be no tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, unless they are collected by his own country.
   

US-Iran talks in Switzerland

High-level delegations from the United States and Iran are gathering in Switzerland for closely watched negotiations aimed at advancing a multi-point memorandum of understanding.

The talks, held under tight security at the Burgenstock Resort, bring together US officials, Iranian representatives, and regional mediators, including Qatar and Pakistan. Key sticking points include implementation of ceasefire arrangements in Lebanon, maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, and broader commitments outlined in the agreement.

With tensions still high on the ground, the summit is seen as a critical test of whether diplomacy can hold or if regional instability will once again escalate.

Vance hopes for progress on Lebanon and Iran’s nuclear ambitions

The US Vice President, JD Vance, told reporters before leaving Washington Saturday afternoon that he expects there will be one or two days of solid negotiations with his Iranian counterparts.

The vice president also said that he expects not only that they will be discussing the US’s concerns about the fragility of the ceasefire in Lebanon and the need to shore it up as much as possible to make the deal work, but that the US is also going to focus on all of the steps it can possibly devise to try to curtail Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions, not its civilian nuclear program.

The vice president also said he expects the Iranians to come in with their own priority list, but he said this is really the first chance for both sides to lay out exactly what it is they’re going to try to achieve during this 60-day period as created by the memorandum of understanding.

In 2015, Iran had a agreed not pursue nuclear weapons as included in the JCPOA. Trump annulled the agreement as he wants no nuclear program in Iran at all.

Netanyahu claims Israel’s military takes more measures to spare civilians than any other

Netanyahu is utterly saying that “no military takes more measures to minimize” civilian casualties than the Israeli military, and that and no nation is “attacked by more propaganda than Israel”.

He added, “Truth and Israel will prevail.”

The post comes amid growing criticism of Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, including from US President Trump, over their high civilian toll.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says that Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed at least 4,057 people and wounded 12,121 others. Many of the victims were women and children.

Israel is also accused of committing genocide in its war on Gaza, where Israeli troops have killed at least 73,018 Palestinians and wounded some 173,273 others.

Since its war on Gaza in October 2023, the Israeli armed war belligerent has been employing an directive, which in their Lebanon invasion is to translate into "treat everyone and everything that moves and not move in Lebanon as Hezbollah."

The directive, which is outright conflation therefore a war crime, was banned for years until October 2023.

US ‘focused on preventing Israeli actions that could trigger Hezbollah response’

Richard Schmierer, a former US ambassador to Oman, has expressed optimism about the talks in Switzerland, saying Washington was trying to halt Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.

“Washington, the US military, the president are all focused on how to ensure that Israel doesn’t take any actions in Lebanon that will trigger military response from Hezbollah,” he said.

Schmierer said he believed the US has already discussed the issue with Israel.

“I think Israel understands the need to allow this ceasefire to take hold, and so I think that it will happen” by tomorrow in Switzerland, he said. “We will have a ceasefire in place, and that element will be behind us.”

“But of course, it’s something we’ll have to keep our eye on,” he added.

He said the lack of a US reaction to Iran’s announcement over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was a positive sign, because it could mean “there are discussions behind the scenes”.

Schmierer added that while the US military has sought to reassure shipping companies that it can provide security, they will be “concerned about the Iranian threats and probably are reducing or delaying their shipments to the strait”.

The former envoy said he expected to see progress on the issue soon.

“I do hope tomorrow when the sun comes up in Switzerland that we’ll begin to see some evidence that Iran is standing down from that statement, as I believe that we’ll be seeing a more successful ceasefire in Lebanon,” Schmierer said.

“Then neither side needs to issue threats or condemn the other side. We will simply be able to move on,” he added.

Iran won’t move forward on nuclear talks unless Israel abides by MoU

Iran says its delegation that has arrived in Switzerland is not going there to start those technical talks that will take 60 days for the final phase of this peace process between Iran and the United States.

Instead, they are going there to drive home the idea that Iran is not going to move forward in the implementation of the MoU unless the Israelis abide by the agreement. They say the Americans bear the responsibility for that and that the Americans have to guarantee that the Israelis comply.

So it’s not a visit for the expected negotiations for the final agreement.

The Iranians are also taking other measures. They have announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and will continue to do that until the agreement is implemented.

They are talking about the first article, which is a ceasefire in Lebanon, and they are talking about two articles related to the Strait of Hormuz and two others, which are to do with US sanctions and the unfreezing of Iranian assets abroad.

So there is quite a lot that Iran is doing and saying to signal that the parties are still in the first phase of this peace process and that if the MoU is not respected, particularly those five points, then there is no need for the two sides to move forward.

Pakistan’s prime minister, army chief have departed for Switzerland, ministry says

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have left for Burgenstock to take part in the high-level talks between Iran and the US.

In a statement posted on X, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Qatar is also expected to take part in the talks.

“Pakistan will continue to support and advance the implementation of the understandings reached between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States,” it added.

‘Nine martyrs and not a single one of them has been found yet’

Residents of southern Lebanon are still searching for their loved ones after Israel’s deadly strikes on Saturday.

In Qannarit village, near the port city of Sidon, where Israeli strikes killed at least seven people, Qassam Ghaddar said he had lost nine members of his family.

“This is my in-laws’ house,” he said, standing beside a building reduced to rubble. “My brother-in-law, my wife’s two brothers, my mother-in-law, and my son have not been found. There are also two babies, one was just one month old, and the other is two months old. Nine martyrs, and not a single one of them has been found yet. Nine martyrs.”

The strikes have killed more than 4,000 people since they began in March, according to Lebanese authorities.

In the village of Barish, near the city of Tyre, a family of four was killed when Israeli strikes hit a three-story residential building.

“People were sleeping inside. Children, a woman and her husband,” said Abbas Ezzedine, a witness. “It was supposed to be a ceasefire yesterday with the Israeli enemy,” he said.

"... nine members of his family."

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide:

Article II

In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

1. Killing members of the group.
2. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.
3. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.
    

This is the case in Gaza for at least two years. This is going to be the case in Lebanon if the Israelis continue to violate the ceasefire with the Lebanese government, the recently reported ceasefire with Hezbollah, and ignoring the fact that Lebanon is included in the MoU.

US-Iran MoU ‘already falling apart’, Democratic lawmaker says

Members of the Democratic Party are continuing to criticize Trump over his handling of the war with Iran.

Johnny Olszewski, a Democratic congressman from Maryland, said Trump’s “war of choice” was a “disaster” and argued that the agreement with Iran was already breaking down.

“The dressed up ceasefire masquerading as a ‘deal’ is already falling apart,” he wrote in a post on X. “Americans deserve better.”

Pramila Jayapal, another Democratic member of Congress, said Republicans had cut Medicare, a US health program, to fund the war on Iran.

“They are not confused about what we want. They just work for someone else,” Jayapal said.

Israeli forces step up attacks on Lebanon after ceasefire with Hezbollah

Last Friday at 4pm local time, US officials had announced a ceasefire was going to come into effect between Israel and Hezbollah.

Immediately after that ceasefire was supposed to take effect, there were more than a dozen Israeli air strikes, which continued for several hours.

They did slow into Friday night, but just after midnight, Israeli troops launched another assault on the Ali al-Taher Hill. That is a ridge line on a mountain near the city of Nabatieh, and the Israeli military has been seeking to take that ridge and other parts of high ground around Nabatieh for some time now. This was at least their sixth or seventh assault on that hill.

Hezbollah said the Israelis had broken the ceasefire and responded by launching rockets and an ambush, killing four Israeli soldiers and wounding several others.

The Israeli military then responded, accusing Hezbollah of breaking the ceasefire and saying they launched air strikes on more than 100 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon on Saturday.

Several residential buildings were among the sites that were hit. And so civilians in southern Lebanon have been killed once again, including a family in the village of Barish – a man, his wife and their two children. Women and children were also among the dead in an air strike on a building in the district of Sidon earlier on Saturday.

We’ve also had Lebanese army soldiers killed in these targeted strikes, one of whom was on his motorbike traveling between Nabatieh and Kfar Reman.

"..including a family..."

See previous comment.

Israel orders halt to strikes on Lebanon, except at strategic hill near Nabatieh

Israeli media is reporting that the Israeli prime minister and his minister of defense have instructed the army to stay put in occupied Lebanese territory, but to hold fire, excluding the battles that continue to rage in that hill [Ali al-Taher] near Nabatieh, where Israeli soldiers were killed and injured over the past 48 hours.

The battles in that strategic location are reportedly scheduled to continue on track, but Israel considers this an implementation of the ceasefire and says that unless Hezbollah fires at its occupying forces, it will not be attacking Lebanon.

Now, the situation in Lebanon has threatened to derail upcoming talks in Switzerland, and we are seeing a divergence of positions between the US that wants to see this ceasefire with Iran hold, to see negotiations succeed and move on to a final deal, and Israel that views that memorandum of understanding as a political disaster, and doesn’t want to leave the occupied territory in Lebanon.

In the middle of all of that are upcoming elections in Israel. The Israeli prime minister has to balance between trying to stay alive politically and keeping that strategic alliance that Israel cannot gamble away with the US. That is what will judge and what will control the measures that Israel takes in the coming hours and days.

Article 1 of the MoU is clear: the war must stop on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

Where do Iran’s political factions stand on the US peace deal?

Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s reservations about his country’s interim peace deal with the United States have emboldened the country’s hard line political grouping, which opposes any concessions with Washington.

Iran’s new supreme leader appears to have handed responsibility for the deal over to President Masoud Pezeshkian, a relative moderate, who is now under fire from a more hard line camp that believes war with the US could restart soon.
 

We believe that there is no difference between what is among the Iranians, among the Israelis and what is among the Americans.

Environmentalists mourn Mona Khalil, sea turtle conservationist killed in Israeli strike

Tributes are pouring in for Mona Khalil, the marine ecologist who was killed from injuries sustained during an Israeli strike on her home in the southern village of al-Mansouri.

Khalil, who died on Friday after weeks in hospital, led efforts to safeguard one of Lebanon’s most important nesting sites for endangered sea turtles.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon mourned Khalil, describing her in a statement as “one of Lebanon’s most dedicated environmental defenders and a tireless champion of sea turtle conservation”.

The group Green Southerners said on X that Khalil’s turtle conservation programme at her iconic Orange House “inspired generations of Lebanese to value and protect their natural heritage and coastal ecosystems”.

It said the Israeli strike on the Orange House “targeted a site that had long been known for environmental conservation”, adding that Khalil’s death stands as a stark reminder of the civilian toll in southern Lebanon.

Julien Jreissati of Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa also told the AFP new agency that Khalil’s loss was felt “for the environmental movement in Lebanon and the region”, not just her family.

Vance arrives in Switzerland

A spokesperson for the US vice president has told the Reuters news agency that Vance has now landed in Switzerland.

Trump adviser hails US-Iran MoU as ‘tremendous achievement’, rejects ground war

David Sacks, Trump’s technology adviser, has defended the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, calling it “a tremendous achievement” and a better path than prolonged conflict.

Speaking on the All-In Podcast on Saturday, Sacks dismissed calls to escalate, arguing a ground invasion of Iran would make no sense given its scale and could require as many as a million troops. He branded any such attempt a “suicide mission”.

He was scornful of exiled Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, suggesting his supporters were unlikely to take up arms.

“If Reza Pahlavi wants to go to Beverly Hills and muster an army from his legion of supporters, let him try and do that,” Sacks said. “I don’t think they will sign up for it. I think they’re living too well in Beverly Hills.”

Instead, he urged Washington to test the agreement.

“Let’s give peace a chance here,” he said, warning against repeating “the forever wars of Iraq and Afghanistan”.

“I don’t understand these people who just want this war to go on forever,” he added.

Who is attending the talks, and what do they want?

• The talks between Iran and the US will take place in Switzerland’s Burgenstock today.
• Iran’s delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
• The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance and includes Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
• Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir will also attend.
• Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is also expected to take part.
• Before departing for the talks, Vance told reporters he hopes to make “progress on the nuclear issue” and “on the Lebanon ceasefire issue”.
• Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said the Iranian delegation “will be pressing for implementation” of the US’s commitments outlined in the MoU and “seeking clarity on how exactly the other side intends to carry out those commitments”.

‘Right now, Israel could be a spoiler in this kind of a negotiation’

Ross Harrison, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, says implementation of the MoU that Washington and Tehran have already signed will dominate the negotiations in Switzerland rather than technical talks on the details yet to be worked out.

“They’re going to be focused on actually enforcing compliance with the memorandum of understanding. The technical talks are concerning the nuclear file and other issues that separate the United States from Iran. But the problem is that they want to make sure before they move to phase two, which are the technical talks, that phase one is successful,” he says.

“And the Iranians have a very clear position there, and that is that, given that during negotiations in the past both Israel and the United States have bombed Iran, … they want to make sure that in fact the United States can impose its will on Israel in terms of restraining their actions in Lebanon vis-a-vis Hezbollah.”

Harrison said Iran considers the US obligated by the MoU to rein in Israel, which is not a signatory to the memo and could still act to spoil it.

“Right now, Israel could be a spoiler in this kind of a negotiation. They’re not a signatory, so in theory they’re not bound by the agreement. So, it’s not a breach between Iran and Israel. It’s a breach actually between Iran and the United States if the United States cannot impose its will and actually get Israel to abide by the ceasefire,” he said.

Netanyahu has already been the spoiler by not ceasing his war in Lebanon, as demanded in Article 1 of the MoU.

At least seven killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon’s western Bekaa Valley, Tyre district

Five people were killed, among them a child, a woman, and two elderly people, following an Israeli raid on the village of Sohmor in Lebanon’s western Bekaa Valley, according to the National News Agency (NNA) citing the country’s Health Ministry.

Sunday’s report did not specify when the attack took place.

An additional two people of Palestinian nationality were killed in Rashidieh, in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district, NNA reported.

Iran’s delegation seeks ‘implementation’ of MoU

Today is the fourth day since the MoU was signed but we're keep seeing reports telling that the Israelis continue to violate the ceasefire.

Yesterday, just before taking off from Tehran and heading for Switzerland, the chief negotiator for Iran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said that this visit to Switzerland, or the meeting that’s going to take place with the Americans, does not mean the start of the technical talks, that they are going to Switzerland just to remind the Americans that first they need to implement or at least initiate the implementation of the MoU and that the technical talks are going to take place once the Americans accept that.

The Iranians are talking particularly about Article 1, Articles 4, 5, 10 and 11 so the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, the lifting of the US maritime blockade, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the release of Iranian frozen assets and, of course, the lifting of US sanctions when it comes to Iran’s oil sector and petrochemical products and related sectors.

The Iranians are not looking for these files to be concluded in one meeting, but at least they want the initiation of the implementation.

Pakistan’s army chief arrives in Switzerland for US-Iran talks

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s military chief and top mediator, has arrived in Switzerland, where he will participate in the US-Iran talks under the Islamabad MoU framework.

That’s according to our correspondent in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, where the negotiations are to take place.

Oil industry to be testing ground for any final US-Iran deal: Iranian minister

Iran’s ⁠oil ⁠industry will be a key testing ground ⁠for any final peace agreement ⁠with the US if Western parties remain committed to its ‌spirit, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad says.

The ministry’s Shana news agency quoted Paknejad as ⁠saying that in a ⁠post-agreement era, Iran’s oil sector would offer the global ⁠economy significant investment ⁠opportunities and ⁠has hundreds of investment projects as well as technical ‌and operational partnership contracts ready to be ‌signed.

Iran warns US must honor MoU or face consequences

Mohammad Mokhbar, adviser and assistant to Iran’s supreme leader, has warned that Tehran will not accept a paper agreement unless Washington fully implements its commitments.

In a post on X, Mokhbar said the United States understood pressure in economic terms.

“Americans understand the language of economics and cost-benefit better,” he wrote. “When the agreement remains just on paper, the flow of Middle East energy will also come to a halt,” Mokhbar said.

“Our negotiators will not be satisfied except with the full implementation of commitments and the fulfillment of the nation’s rights,” he said. Mokhbar also invoked those killed in the conflict, saying Iran would not forget them.

Israeli forces advance near Syria’s Deraa, search homes

Syria’s state-run SANA news agency says Israeli forces have advanced into the Yarmouk basin area west of Deraa and searched a number of private homes.

Israel seized territory in Syria’s nearby Golan Heights in 2024 after a lightning advance by Syrian opposition forces that toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad in December that year.
 

A recent investigation by Al Jazeera found that Israeli forces have established a de facto military footprint across southern Syria that is absent from official Israeli maps.

‘No major confrontations’ reported in Lebanon

There have been no major confrontations reported – unlike the previous two days, when we have seen, basically at first light, these large escalations, widespread air attacks by Israeli warplanes and so on. It could well be that both [Israel and Hezbollah] are giving space, creating the kind of atmosphere for these talks to take place.

But there are deep suspicions here in Lebanon about Israeli motivations behind these recent attacks.

The suspicion is that Netanyahu and his coalition government have no desire for this negotiation process to continue, and would want to see it derailed.

From the Israeli point of view, they say they are merely responding to breaches in the ceasefire by Hezbollah. They point to the fact that the night before [Friday’s] clashes, there were, they say 50 projectiles fired by Hezbollah at Israeli forces, which killed Israeli soldiers. From Hezbollah’s point of view, they accuse the Israelis of hundreds of breaches of the ceasefire.

The effect for people, especially in the south of Lebanon, has been the same – more deaths and injuries, with the Ministry of Health now reporting that the official death toll for Friday, June 19 is 83 people, with 141 injured.

Trump faces Israeli backlash over Iran deal

The growing rift between the US and Israel hit new heights this week, with articles published in major Israeli publications accusing President Donald Trump of abandoning Israel to its greatest enemy following his interim deal with Iran.

Analysts described a sense of betrayal as public and political outrage over the terms of the agreement, which details the broad terms for ending the joint US-Israeli war on Iran, dominated headlines.

In one particularly blistering attack, an op-ed titled “You could have been the greatest president of all, but you failed” accused Trump of having signed a “surrender agreement with a murderous and cruel terror regime”.

Published in one of the country’s leading newspapers, Israel Hayom, which is owned by influential Trump mega-donor Miriam Adelson, the piece pulled few punches.

Styled as a letter to Trump, it went further than even some of Israel’s more extreme politicians in voicing criticism of the pact, accusing the US president of having turned the hourglass over to a new war and of having brought about the “humiliation” of his country.

Pakistan’s Sharif lands in Zurich to attend US-Iran negotiations

Pakistan’s prime minister has arrived in Zurich to participate in the US-Iran talks later today.

Sharif joins Field Marshal Asim Munir. The Pakistani leader’s office posted a video on X of him exiting the plane after arriving in the Swiss city.

Iran closed Strait of Hormuz ‘to remind US they have leverage’

The Iranian army yesterday released a statement saying that in [response to] the violation of the ceasefire agreement, or the first article of the memorandum of understanding by Israel, they are closing the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranians are closing their waters but, on the other hand, there are still ships passing [through] the territorial waters of Oman.

So it’s partially closed and since then, we haven’t seen any statement that is stating otherwise.

For the Iranians this is a strategy as well.

Israel is violating Article 1 of the MoU, and the Iranians are extremely frustrated with that. But also, as the Iranian negotiating team has just arrived in Switzerland, they are reminding the Americans that they have leverage and their biggest leverage is the Strait of Hormuz.

So on the field they are once again showing the Americans that if they are not committed to the implementation of the MoU or, if the talks fail, the cost is going to be huge and Iran has the capability of closing [the strait] whenever it wants.

About the Memorandum of Understanding

• Iran and the US declared “the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” and committed not to initiate war or military operations against each other.
• Upon signing, the US “will begin lifting its naval blockade” and fully end the embargo, and Iran will make arrangements “for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only”.
• Upon signing and until the termination of sanctions, the US “will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and derivatives.”
• The US “undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen uncertain funds and assets” of Iran and upon implementation of the MoU, the two sides “will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during negotiations”.

Israel seeks to normalize Gaza-style occupation in Lebanon

Israel defines a ceasefire in Iran as a situation where its troops are not being fired upon but a situation where it continues to occupy land.  That is true in Gaza. It’s true in Lebanon and even in Syria, where Israel has occupied a large swath of land in southern Syria after the fall of the [Bashar al-]Assad regime.

Now this doctrine of so-called security zones is all tied together. It started really in Gaza, and one can see a lot of parallels.

But a lot of things that Israel had tried to normalize in Gaza, they want to entrench and make standard in Lebanon: the demolition, systematic demolition of villages, the takeover of land, the fact that it wants areas that are completely empty not just of buildings, but also of people, specifically Shia villages that it views as equal and tantamount to Hezbollah positions.

And that is the doctrine that Israel is trying to protect because the fear in Israeli decision-making circles, according to reports, is that if Israel gives in on this area occupied in Lebanon, it will have to do the same in Syria. And that is something it’s not ready ideologically to do. The right wing, which is the base of this government, would not accept it.

".. a ceasefire in Iran as a situation where its troops are not being fired upon but a situation where it continues to occupy land."

Netanyahu had waged an aerial war on Iran, not a ground war.  So, how can Israeli troops fired upon when they're not in Iran.

Timeline of key events in Lebanon

• On March 2, Hezbollah launches attacks on Israel in retaliation for Israel’s near-daily attacks on Lebanon and the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
• Israel launches a ground invasion, and on March 26, Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, an area amounting to nearly a tenth of the country.
• On April 8, after the US and Iran announce a ceasefire, Israeli forces strike more than 100 sites in Lebanon in 10 minutes, killing more than 350 people.
  Israel and Lebanon agree to a ceasefire on April 16, but fighting continues in southern Lebanon, with the Israeli military and Hezbollah accusing each other of violations.
• Israeli forces bomb Beirut’s southern suburbs on June 7, prompting Iran to fire missiles towards Israel.
  The US and Iran’s presidents sign an interim deal on June 19, declaring an end to war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, but fighting continues in southern Lebanon.

• On June 13, 2025, Netanyahu starts a preemptive 12-day war on Iran
• On June 16, 2025, Netanyahu calls on the US for help in the assassination of Khamenei
• July-December 2025, Mossad and the CIA preparing the assassination of Khamenei.
• In December 2025, Netanyahu vows to attack Iran in 2026 again.
• On February 27, 2026, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff told Trump that Iran was going to attack
• On February 28, 2026, Netanyahu resumes his preemptive 12-day war on Iran while Oman was still mediating between Iran and the US.
• On March 1, 2026, Hezbollah vows to revenge the assassination.
• On March 2, 2026, Hezbollah fires rockets into the north of colonized historic Palestine. Netanyahu drags Hezbollah, not Lebanon in his war on Iran.
• On March 2, 2026, Netanyahu brands the revenge as an "attack on Israel," and launches a ground invasion. His army claims that the "operation is limited."
• Late March 2026, Pentagon debunks Jared Kushner's claim by saying Iran wasn't preparing before Netanyahu resumed his 12-day war.

Officials in Lebanon warn of up to $20bn in war-related damage

Israel’s war on Lebanon and the wider US-Israel war on Iran are dragging Lebanon deeper into crisis, as the country still reels from the 2024 war and the 2019 financial collapse.

Officials warn the latest escalation could wipe up to 10 percent off the economy and cause as much as $20bn in damage.

US-Iran delegations and mediators set to meet Sunday morning

The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance; the Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf; and mediation teams from Pakistan and Qatar are now all in Burgenstock, Switzerland.

“Talks between the parties are set to begin during the course of the morning,” the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Iran sending message to regional proxies: It will not abandon allies

Several [memorandum of understanding – MoU] clauses matter for Iran, like unfreezing Iranian assets, lifting the sanctions, and lifting the US blockade over the Strait of Hormuz. But these will take time.

However, the first clause of the MoU clearly says the immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, is the key issue for the Iranians.

Just before taking off, the chief Iranian negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said “our meeting in Switzerland is not to start the technical talks, but rather we are going there to make sure that the Americans are going to initiate implementation of the memorandum of understanding. Once that is initiated, then we can continue with the technical talks.”

Why does Lebanon matter so much to Iran? Overall, it’s about Iran’s geopolitical stance. If Iran wants to remain a regional power, Tehran has to keep the “axis of resistance” alive.

Iran has definitely invested in Hezbollah through the decades. So it is about Iran’s regional influence.

By including the regional allies in the MoU, Iran is sending a message to its allies and proxies in the region that it will not abandon them.

Hormuz closure hurts China most, not the US

Iran must be cautious over its renewed threat to again close the Strait of Hormuz as the vital waterway serves Tehran’s allies more than its enemies, an analyst says.

“The Strait of Hormuz foremost is certainly a very important tool in the strategy of Iran. There is absolutely no doubt about it. But Iran needs to be careful not to overplay this card,” said Wolfgang Pusztai, a security analyst and former defense attache for the Austrian government.

“One needs to remember that most of the ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz are not heading to the United States or to Europe. They’re heading to India, to China and to Pakistan.

“So the more the traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is blocked, the more it hurts the economy of China,” he says.

Iran says its delegation will meet US team Sunday afternoon

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed the US and Iranian delegations will meet in Switzerland in the afternoon along with the Pakistani and Qatari mediation teams.

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for the ministry, told the IRNA news agency: “We are going to have a one-day meeting. In the morning, we will have bilateral meetings with Pakistani and Qatari delegations as mediators in this process.

“In the afternoon, quadrilateral meetings will be held between delegations from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States with the presence of representatives from Qatar and Pakistan.”

IRNA also reported Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis “in the first official program of the Iranian delegation in Switzerland”.

Guard navy reportedly says no Hormuz passage permits issued

Citing an unnamed “military sources”, the semi-official Fars news agency reports the Strait of Hormuz “remains closed and IRGC Navy will not issue passage permits until further notice”.

The report comes as US and Iranian negotiating teams prepare to meet in Switzerland for the first face-to-face talks since the signing of the memorandum of understanding last week.

The strait has emerged as a key focus with Iran’s military command saying on Saturday it’s closed again because of the US’s “clear breach of its commitments” by failing to end Israel’s war on Lebanon.

Netanyahu grapples with falling approval as Israeli public sees truce as defeat

Israel wants to delink the Iran and Lebanon tracks even though, realistically speaking, and even for the Israeli public, it is quite obvious that the two are interlinked.

The Israeli army had to decrease its military activity and air strikes because the anger in Washington was very clear and was very vocal as well.

Netanyahu is in a very tough position at the moment. He sees the numbers of his Likud party going down, sliding down in the polls and the numbers of his rivals in the right wing climbing.

There are reports also from Washington that Trump himself and members of his administration have now opened backchannels with opposition figures that could possibly topple him in upcoming elections.

Domestically, the ceasefire in Lebanon is very unpopular because it is seen as an admission of defeat by Israel. The Israeli prime minister had promised them that Hezbollah would be crushed, and the only thing that he is delivering is the systematic destruction of Shia villages in the south.

Lebanese government appears ‘most vulnerable of all’

Geopolitical analyst Joe Macaron says Israel is currently tactically hampered in Lebanon despite its military’s escalating attacks on the south.

The professor at the University of Bath says that Israel would rather expand its offensive into Beirut and other parts of southern Lebanon but is forced to restrict attacks to the districts of Nabatieh and Tyre.

As for Hezbollah, Macaron said the group is reacting based on what the Israelis do. If the Israelis are attacking, then Hezbollah attacks in return.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese government appears the most vulnerable of all, Macaron said, because it lacks the leverage to sway the Switzerland talks in its favour without help from Iran.

“I know there’s talk in Lebanon about sovereignty, but we have to look at the facts,” Macaron said, citing the Lebanese government’s failed attempts to engage Washington in direct, bilateral talks and have the US pressure Israel into ending its attacks.

“As long as Hezbollah is part of the Iranian security structure, Lebanon is going to continue to be hit. If the Lebanese government cannot control its border, control the security arrangement around the border or cannot make sure that every agreement it signs with Israel it can implement, it cannot have the leverage,” he added.

Iran says Lebanon conflict ‘main topic’ in US talks

Iran says the ongoing conflict in Lebanon between Israel and militant group Hezbollah will top the agenda in talks with the United States in Switzerland, as well as issues such as frozen Iranian funds and the sale of the country’s oil.

“The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon, this issue will be the main topic of discussion in today’s talks,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a video shared by IRNA state news agency.

“The issue of making available Iran’s frozen or restricted assets, as well as the discussion related to issuing the necessary licenses for the sale of Iranian oil,” will also be on the agenda, he added.

Iran official says ‘we enter negotiations with power and caution’

Hojjatoleslam Abdollah Haji Sadeghi, the main representative of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, says “negotiation is not the primary option” with the United States.

“We will enter negotiations with power and caution, but we are not passive,” Sadeghi was quoted as saying in a post on Telegram.

“Our primary option is the field of jihad, whether on the battlefield or in the streets. We are not worried about the negotiations failing,” he added. “We have not gone into negotiations out of desperation or helplessness.”

Gaza ‘ceasefire’ serves Israeli security, not Palestinian lives

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire was agreed in October last year. Last night, the Israelis killed an entire family and an Al Jazeera journalist.

The central question for many Palestinians in Gaza remains why entire families continue to be killed despite a ceasefire framework. There is almost nine months of ceasefire since it was signed, and entire families continue to be deliberately targeted by the Israeli military.

The fact that large numbers of families are wiped out of the civil registry indicates a failure to adequately provide protection for the civilian population across the Gaza Strip.

Regarding, for example, the killing of the Safadi family, reports indicate that an air strike targeted a residential building, killing multiple family members, including children.

We don’t have explanation of why the Israeli military continues to target entire families.

The challenge that people face in Gaza is the fact that the Israeli military defines ceasefire as a halt of attacks on it’s a soldier, it’s a military force that is occupying many parts of the Gaza Strip while maintaining its right to attack whenever it wants.

"entire families"

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide:

Article II

In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

1. Killing members of the group.
2. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.
3. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.
    

This is the case in Gaza for at least two years. This is going to be the case in Lebanon if the Israelis continue to violate the ceasefire with the Lebanese government, the recently reported ceasefire with Hezbollah, and ignoring the fact that Lebanon is included in the MoU.

"a halt of attacks on it’s a soldier ... while maintaining its right to attack ....

In Gaza, everyone must cease, while the Israelis continue.

Iran president outlines more details of deal with US

Iran’s president says $6bn in frozen funds currently in Qatar’s possession will be returned as part of the preliminary deal with the US to end the war.

“All provisions of the memorandum of understanding are in our favor, and the achievements of these talks and negotiations will become evident,” Tasnim news agency quoted President Masoud Pezeshkian as saying.

He said President Trump “who had forbidden us from doing many things in his recent speech declared all of them as the rights of the people and the nation”.

“Our $6bn in Qatar will be returned,” he added.

Pezeshkian also took a jab at Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying he’ll be “the first to be unhappy with the negotiations” in Switzerland.

“America’s only point is that we not have an atomic bomb. This is something the martyred leader also repeatedly said, ‘We do not want an atomic bomb,’” Pezeshkian noted, referencing the religious edict decreed by slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“America said ‘write this down and sign’ – and we signed.”

Gaza death toll rises

At least nine Palestinians have been killed and 41 others injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.

Israel has killed 3,249 people across Gaza since the “ceasefire” came into force in October last year, the ministry said on Sunday.

The total number of people killed in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has reached 73,032, with 173,357 people injured, the statement said.

Israelis believe Iran won war, poll suggests

Israelis overwhelmingly believe that Iran emerged stronger from the war and its subsequent deal with the United States, a poll released on Sunday suggested.

The poll of 3,644 respondents, conducted between June 17 and 20 by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in collaboration with the Agam Institute, paints a stark picture of public sentiment following the US-Iran deal.

Of those surveyed, 92.1 percent said Iran had won or gained more from the conflict, while 82.9 percent felt that Israel’s long-term security had been weakened.

The survey revealed that even among voters who support the right-wing bloc, the electoral base of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 93.1 percent believed Iran had won.

Opposition to the US-Iran agreement was widespread, with 63.2 percent of respondents opposing it compared with just 12.1 percent expressing support.

Qatar mediation ‘very important’ for Gulf states’ energy woes

Wolfgang Pusztai, a security analyst and former defence attache for Austria’s government, says the participation of a high-level Qatari delegation bodes well for the talks in Switzerland and for the Gulf states.

“This is certainly positive news that all four of them are meeting in the same room. Qatar is representing the Gulf states, and the Gulf states are certainly those most affected by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and by the overall situation,” Pusztai said.

Iran has indicated it will impose a “service fee” on ships carrying oil and gas out of the Gulf, which has concerned Gulf nations.

“So this is a very important development, and I’m pretty sure that the Qataris will express the background that what they [Iran] intend to do with the strait is absolutely not acceptable, particularly not for Qatar.”

He noted Doha relies solely on commercial vessels for its energy exports. “There is no way to use pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz for LNG [liquefied natural gas.”

Iran using ‘strong tool’ in Switzerland negotiations, Iranian vice president says

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has expressed his hope that the negotiations in Switzerland “will come to fruition”, adding that “we are entering a new space, a space where boycotting any country in the Arab region will no longer be an option and is out of the question”.

“This is because we had a strong tool that was stronger than the other side’s, and we had not used it at all, and now we are using it,” said the senior official speaking at a government meeting on Sunday, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

Aref also sounded a warning, saying that “the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran, and our ancestors have sacrificed many lives throughout history to protect the strait, and the strait should not be crossed simply”.

Most Iran officials back US talks but prominent critics remain

The overwhelming majority of the members of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council voted in favor of the memorandum of understanding and engaging in diplomatic talks.

However, there are prominent figures in Iran who are against it and against talks with Americans.

Former president of the country, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said the memorandum of understanding with the United States is not going to lead to any success, and will instead be a “surrender”.

And then Saeed Jalili – who ran for president in 2023 and received 13 million votes then – has so far not expressed any support for these negotiations. Those expressing anti-talk sentiment are believed to be close to him.

So, overall, the government, the supreme leader, the IRGC, the National Security Council all seem to be supporting this process. But there are important figures against it who believe Iran has shown great successes on the battlefield, and this success should not be sacrificed in talks with the US.

US delegation meets Pakistani mediators in Switzerland ahead of Iran talks

US Vice President JD Vance, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have met the Pakistani mediators in Switzerland’s Burgenstock where negotiations with the Iranian delegation is set to start later in the afternoon.

The US delegation was seen shaking hands with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir.

Grossi, top Swiss diplomat discuss Iran talks, potential role of IAEA

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says he has met Cassis in Burgenstock “to take stock of recent developments regarding Iran, the path ahead and the important role of the IAEA”.

“At this critical moment, it’s important to give diplomacy every opportunity to succeed,” he said.

This month, the IAEA’s governing board passed a US-backed resolution demanding Iran provide “complete information” on its enriched ⁠uranium stocks and grant access to inspectors to verify them.

The IAEA estimated that Iran had 440kg (970lb) of uranium enriched to 60 percent, close to weapons grade, when Israel and the US launched their first joint attacks on the country in June last year.

High-stakes diplomacy as delegations meet in Switzerland

There are bilateral meetings currently taking place between various sides as they’ve been arriving this morning. It’s a high-profile presence here.

Various delegations say that bilaterals are happening between the Pakistanis and the Iranians, the Pakistanis and the Americans, the Americans and the Qataris, the Swiss, and various delegations.

But the big meeting – the quadrilateral meeting between Pakistan and Qatar mediating between the United States and Iran – has still not happened yet.

The quadrilateral meeting is to expect later this afternoon right after these bilateral meetings are over. And it is crucial because it is being led by the highest levels on both sides.

This will be the second time since the Iranian revolution that the highest levels of the Iranian and US governments will meet. The first time was in Islamabad just a few months ago, and a lot has happened since.

So it’s high-stakes diplomacy with a lot hanging on this meeting because of what it means not just between Iran and the United States. What we’re hearing from the mediators here is there’s going to be a push to try and get a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Swiss, Iranian foreign ministers meet before talks with US

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has welcomed his Iranian counterpart, Araghchi, to the country for talks with the US, according to a post on X.

Cassis also shared a photo of the pair meeting at the Burgenstock resort.

“In a challenging context, the relationship of trust between Switzerland and Iran, reflected in our protecting power mandate, remains in the service of diplomacy and for peace and security in the Middle East,” Cassis said.

Despite halt of attacks ‘deep suspicion about Israeli intentions’ in Lebanon

There has been a distinct lull in Israeli military activity this Sunday in Lebanon. There has been nothing really of significance happening in contrast to the last couple of days.

Whether this is a new ceasefire – nothing has officially been announced – or merely a resumption of the old one, regardless, it is widely welcomed given the scale of violence reported over the last few days.

But there remains a deep suspicion about Israeli intentions and, specifically, about Netanyahu and what his next moves might be given the escalating attacks and increase in air raids.

It wouldn’t take much once these peace talks in Switzerland are over for the Israelis to escalate once more – the suspicion being of course that Netanyahu – despite his protestations – is not really interested in this whole negotiating process.

US, Iran talks kick off in Switzerland, Qatar announces

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has announced the launch of the talks between the US and Iran with the mediation of Qatar and Pakistan in Switzerland.

The ministry expressed “its aspiration that these meetings will lead to the conclusion of a comprehensive and permanent agreement addressing all aspects covered in the Memorandum of Understanding”.

US, Iran have to do ‘a lot’ in 60 days, Obama’s Iran nuclear deal took 597

This is a very different deal from the Iran nuclear deal that was done by [former US] President Barack Obama … things have changed completely. But I think it’s worth looking at that deal for one reason, which is the timeline – how long these things take.

Because when they did an interim deal then, in November 2013 until the final deal in 2015, it took 597 days. So, even though the circumstances have changed – it’s a very different deal and they’ve got the knowledge of that deal as well which is helpful – it’s a lot to do in just 60 days.

[Regarding the Swiss talks], the key thing is to stop the problems … That means to stop the memorandum of understanding from being violated by Israel, so that’s the number one, and to get the Strait of Hormuz properly opened again.

The only other thing [the parties] need to do today is start the process, get an agenda for the process – and then [the rest] could be done by more junior officials. Some of it is about nuclear weapons, nuclear physics. It’s incredibly complex and if you’re not a nuclear scientist – and JD Vance is not a nuclear scientist – you really do need the real experts involved.

That’s a normal way of doing this sort of diplomatic engagement and I have to say you’ve got countries here that know a lot about diplomacy … but most conflicts are not solved by peace deals. It’s very, very rare that you get a successful peace deal, so the stakes are very high.

From Qatar’s Foreign Ministry

The ministry statement says “specialised technical and expert groups have been formed to negotiate the terms of the final agreement, which will cover all aspects of the Memorandum of Understanding” between the US and Iran.

“Additionally, follow-up groups have been established to oversee the implementation of the Memorandum, monitor progress achieved, and work toward the conclusion of the final agreement,” it added.

“This reflects the commitment of all parties to moving forward in the negotiation process in good faith, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable agreement.”

The ministry also said Qatar would continue to work with Pakistan and “all concerned parties to create a positive environment that enables the negotiations to achieve their objectives, based on its firm belief that dialogue and diplomacy represent the optimal path for addressing conflicts and resolving disputes”.

Iran deal may be imperfect but it is what US citizens want

When it comes to the war with Iran and the subsequent peace deal, there are four distinct reactions in the United States.

There are those who supported the war and now support the peace. There are those who supported the war and are not satisfied with the peace. There are those who were against the war and are now against the peace. And there are those who were against the war and are now for the peace.

This last group is the largest and most important because it represents the vast bulk of the American people who have consistently voiced their displeasure with another Middle East war but are applauding any peace deal that will offer them relief at the gas pump and at the grocery store.

The smallest group is the first, which is largely contained to the White House communications team and President Donald Trump.

No restrictions on Israel army in south Lebanon: Defense chief

There are no restrictions preventing Israeli ⁠soldiers to act against ⁠threats in southern Lebanon with invading troops remaining in the ‌so-called “security zone”, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says.

Israeli air strikes killed dozens of people in Lebanon on Saturday – a day ⁠after a ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah took effect ‌after months of escalating violence.

“The ceasefire announced yesterday leaves the [military] in all positions in the security zone that protects the northern communities,” Katz said.

“There has never been, and there is currently no restriction on soldiers in Lebanon from acting to eliminate threats… As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have made clear: Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon.”

Katz’s remarks come after Iran warned it wouldn’t enter talks on a broader agreement with Washington unless Israel’s war on Lebanon ends.

"to act against ⁠threats"

Like in the West Bank, where the Israeli war belligerent is occupying, they create threats. And when the occupied people try to resist, the Israelis branding it as a "threat." It is no different in Gaza, where no civilian is resisting, it is visible on the daily basis.

There where they wage or have have waged war, the Israelis always brought threats with them even to Lebanon since June 13, 2025.

‘Great opportunity’ for Iran to split the US-Israeli alliance

When it comes to Israel’s ongoing attacks on southern Lebanon, a defence analyst says the Iranians are manipulating the situation to create tension between staunch allies the US and Israel.

“I think Iran is using Lebanon as a tool to widen the gap between Israel and the United States – or to be more precise between the Netanyahu government and the Trump administration,” Wolfgang Pusztai said.

“Of course, Iran intends to stop the Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon. But Tehran, Beirut, Hezbollah, the Israelis and also President Trump know that this is not very realistic. The Israelis will retaliate if they are attacked.”

For the time being, the Israelis “will calm down in order not to undermine Trump’s effort, but they will retaliate if required”, Pusztai said.

“And as I said, most important for Tehran is certainly that this is a great opportunity for them – a great opportunity to split the alliance between Washington and Tel Aviv. And this is what they’re particularly pursuing right now.”

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt discuss Islamabad MoU

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry says the R-4 ministerial meeting has opened in Cairo, bringing together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

In a post on X, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the ministers met “in a restricted format” to discuss “regional developments, implementation of the Islamabad MoU, and priority areas of cooperation”.

He said the four countries reaffirmed “their commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and regional ownership of shared challenges”.

Andrabi added that “Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye & Egypt continue to deepen cooperation for a more peaceful, stable, and connected region.”

Vance’s presence at talks unusual as deal may ‘go off the rails’

Matthew Bryza, a former US ambassador with experience negotiating international agreements, says the ongoing talks are quite different from those of the past.

“This team is different from the sort of team that I was always involved with. So we always made sure we had – even beforehand – a team of experts for whatever the topic is. Nuclear arms control is a very complex topic,” Bryza says.

“I don’t think you have people with that level of expertise here from the US side. I think the Iranians do, though. So the specific details of the nuclear file are really important, although we know that will come probably come in the second phase.”

He described the American negotiating team as “so thin, so small, so tight”.

“In my day, someone like the vice president would get involved, if ever, when you think you’ve really wrapped things up but not while the negotiation was still in play, because that principle doesn’t want to be blamed if things go off the rails.”

Pakistan’s Sharif thanks Trump for ‘visionary and very dynamic leadership’

Pakistan’s prime minister thanks Trump for his “visionary and very dynamic leadership which resulted in this meeting here”.

“I think here we are going to have wonderful discussions which will lead to, hopefully, very productive results in times to come,” Sharif said.

Vance says Trump paved way for diplomatic solutions in Middle East

The US president “empowered us to find a diplomatic solution to a host of issues”, says US Vice President JD Vance at a live press conference from the talks in Switzerland.

“The question is whether we can change relations in the Middle East permanently,” Vance added.

US, Iran will ‘work together to promote peace, prosperity’, says Vance

Vance laid blame on Iran, calling it a “driver of regional instability”.

But he added that there was “great” progress made in the last few hours.

The two countries now see a “future together where everyone can work together to promote peace and prosperity”, Vance said.

Trump has asked us to “turn over a new leaf” to transform our relationship with the people of Iran, he said.

more from Vance:

• We’ve seen great progress over the last couple of days in ensuring ceasefire in Lebanon holds.
• Trump is committed to see a full regional ceasefire.
• These kinds of ceasefires are always “a little bit messy”.
• The ⁠technical negotiations may ⁠not solve ‌every disagreement but it ⁠will allow us ⁠to ⁠sit together ⁠as ⁠teams for ‌the first ‌time ‌in history.

"Vance laid blame on Iran"

• On June 13, 2025, Netanyahu starts a preemptive 12-day war on Iran
• On June 16, 2025, Netanyahu calls on the US for help in the assassination of Khamenei
• July-December 2025, Mossad and the CIA preparing the assassination of Khamenei.
• In December 2025, Netanyahu vows to attack Iran in 2026 again.
• On February 27, 2026, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff told Trump that Iran was going to attack
• On February 28, 2026,
  • Netanyahu resumes his preemptive 12-day war on Iran while Oman was still mediating between Iran and the US.
  • On February 28, 2026, Trump declares war on Iran, while the war is not his.
  • Israeli bombardment on the oil depots out side Tehran prompts Iran to shut the Strait Of Hormuz.
• Late March 2026, Pentagon debunks Jared Kushner's claim by saying Iran wasn't preparing before Netanyahu resumed his 12-day war.

Qatar PM praises US, Iran teams for Middle East peace efforts

Speaking alongside of US Vice President Vance and Pakistan’s leader Sharif, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani thanked both the US and Iranian delegations for their efforts to make peace in the Middle East.

“I think that everyone of you has highlighted how important and historic this is, not only on the security of the region but also for the security of the world and for the global economy,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

“I would like to thank all of you for your leadership and determination that put us in this room. This is not really the main celebration, this is just the beginning and I wish everyone all the best. Qatar will stay dedicated to this partnership to support this mediation until the end – until we reach a solution.”

US Iran team faces questions over nuclear expertise in Switzerland

Vice President JD Vance touched down in Switzerland at dawn, and it’s been slightly opaque. The president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff are in tow. None really has any sort of diplomatic history, intelligence history, nuclear knowledge capability.

So the question is are there other people behind the scenes that we haven’t been told about with expertise in the field of nuclear technology? That was a key part of the initial talks with the Iranians during the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

We heard from Vice President JD Vance as he took off for Switzerland saying the two key issues are the nuclear issue and bringing peace to Lebanon.

Of course, for the Trump administration, the main goal is to make sure the Strait of Hormuz is reopened. The president made that clear. He said he’s making this deal to avoid an economic catastrophe.

And so the US is going to be focused on making sure the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

"None really has any sort of diplomatic history, intelligence history, nuclear knowledge capability"

JD Vance has a background as author, while Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are realtors and businessmen.

Iran’s delegation at the Swiss talks

Iran’s delegation is very high profile. The chief negotiator is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf who has formerly been the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard air force for quite a lengthy period of time.

Then he was the police chief of Iran, and then starting from 2005 up until 2017 he was the mayor of the capital Tehran. Since 2020, he has been the speaker of the parliament and he’s known for his close ties with the Revolutionary Guard.

And then Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of the country, is there as the second highest ranking politician and representative. He is known for his close affiliation with the supreme leader’s office.

Then we have Ali Bakri who is perhaps one of the most significant men involved in the negotiations, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear file over the last decade. In 2021 he was the chief negotiator of Iran during the era of late President Ibrahim Raisi.

We also have Abdolnaser Hemmati who is the governor of the Central Bank of Iran. And then the Deputy Minister of Oil Hamid Bour is also among the delegates.

The composition of the delegation is quite striking covering the sectors of diplomacy, national security, sanctions relief, banking, energy. And at all levels, they are represented at a very senior capacity.

Trump says Iran must stop proxies in Lebanon from causing ‘trouble’

The US president says Tehran “must immediately stop their highly paid proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble”.

“If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” he posted on Truth Social.

Trump is very clear trying to turn the facts the other way around, while he and Netanyahu initiated Hezbollah to react to the Israeli assassination of Khamenei.

Then we have the ceasefire violations by the Israelis before they agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which they even violated a few minutes after the ceasefire came into effect.

Trump is just showing that he has no ability to control the Israelis, so he shoves his responsibility, he has on MoU's Article 1, on Iran's plate.

His threat comes amid JD Vance's attempt to approach the Iranians diplomatically.

Iran talks test whether Trump can force Israel to halt Lebanon war

The US and Iranian goals are somewhat on the same page. They said they want to make sure the Lebanon situation is sorted.

Obviously, Israel gets a vote in that, and this has been a very unusual time in American politics where we’ve seen not just the president having very feisty calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but Vice President Vance on camera warning the Israelis they shouldn’t upset their only friend left in the world.

And so that is going to be a focus. Can the United States actually demand Israel stop hostilities in Lebanon? In the past, we’ve seen US presidents ask the prime minister to stop doing something and he simply ignored them.

It’s a bit different now because since Netanyahu came to Congress to try and torpedo the first deal with Iran, he started losing Democratic support. There are some polls that say seven out of 10 Democrats now say they want to withdraw all US funding for Israel.

So Israel is in the position where it will have to decide: does it want to anger the US side or does it want to stop hostilities?

US trying to transform the Middle East after attacking Iran

JD Vance’s comments might have looked the sort of thing one would expect: transform the Middle East through diplomacy. What happened on February 28th may have looked that they tried to transform the Middle East through war. That didn’t work. They’re now trying a different tactic.

And it looks like we might be back on track in terms of the summaries but about what's happening in Lebanon. It seems there is some sort of calm down.

The United States is clearly putting a phenomenal amount of pressure on Israel, as there has been public pressure on Israel from JD Vance in recent days, and from President Trump himself.

But Israel has still all its troops in Lebanon. They still control territory in southern Lebanon about the size of Singapore. This is still a massive military operation by the Israelis.

Israeli army chief says troops remain ready for combat in Lebanon

The chief of staff of the Israeli war belligerent Eyal Zamir ⁠⁠says the “ceasefire” in Lebanon is fragile and occupying forces must maintain a high level of readiness for a possible resumption ⁠⁠of fighting with Hezbollah.

Speaking ⁠⁠in southern Lebanon, Zamir said ⁠⁠troops must be prepared ⁠⁠to ⁠⁠”eliminate threats” and transition rapidly to renewed attacks ‌‌if required.

“Hezbollah has suffered a severe and significant blow, and we are committed to remaining prepared to continue operating and prevent its rebuilding,” Zamir said, according to a military statement. “Hezbollah is in a very difficult position.”

Israel is under mounting pressure to halt its war on Lebanon and withdraw soldiers from the south, as demanded by Hezbollah ally Iran during negotiations with the US.

"... the “ceasefire” in Lebanon is fragile..."

If there is a ceasefire by reported consent, so not a ceasefire concluded by a followed process, then violated within minutes, there is no ceasefire not even a fragile one.

Because, the two ceasefires 'agreed' in Washington by the Israeli war belligerent with the non-combating Lebanese government, took days to achieve and still violated by the Israelis.

What is the sudden ceasefire with Hezbollah?

Qatar reaffirms mediation role

Qatar’s foreign ministry has shared a video of Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, speaking during the opening proceedings of the talks in Switzerland.

“Qatar will stay dedicated to this partnership to support these mediations until the end, until we reach a solution,” he said.

“We will always be partner in bringing more peace, prosperity, and hopefully, better future for our region.”

Lebanon death toll rises

At least 4,106 have been killed and 12,153 wounded since the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.

Among those killed were 383 women, 251 children, and 135 medical workers, it added.

Regional security and stability depend on ‘US-Iran relations, situation in Palestine’

The negotiations beginning in Switzerland are likely to centre on the order in which Washington and Tehran fulfil their respective commitments under the memorandum of understanding, former Egyptian ambassador Hussein Haridy has said..

“This is my personal take on these negotiations, [they] will probably be on sequencing,” said Haridy. “Each side will do a step number one and step number two, and I guess the Americans too stress on the sequencing.”

He also said talks between the Turkish, Saudi, Egyptian and Qatari foreign ministers in Egypt were aimed at rallying regional support for the 60-day de-escalation process, following Vance’s appeal last week for Arab and Israeli backing of the deal.

“The four countries would really press this message to the American administration and to Iran that they fully realize the consequences and the price that the countries of the region and the world as a whole will pay if military operations would resume after the 60-day period,” said Haridy.

“They expressed also the need to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. And they stressed the importance of reaching a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the Palestinian problem,” he added.

“When we talk about the security and stability of the Middle East and the future, the relations between the United States and Iran on the one hand and the situation in Palestine on the other hand are intertwined.”

First round of Iran-US talks concludes in Switzerland, reports say

There are reports saying that the first round of Iran-US talks in Switzerland has concluded.

Iranian delegation shuns photo with US before talks start

Iran’s negotiating team refused a planned exchange of handshakes and group photograph with the US team before talks began in Switzerland.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the refusal citing an unnamed “source close to the negotiations”.

US officials and meeting organizers had arranged for a handshake and photo between the two sides at the start of the multilateral talks in Burgenstock. However, the head of the Iranian delegation opposed the plan, it said.

Following Iran’s refusal, a live TV broadcast and photo session proceeded without the Iranian delegation. The Iranians entered the venue only after the media event concluded.

The US delegation requested a five-minute delay to allow journalists to leave the negotiation room before the talks began, the news report said.

Talks in Switzerland reportedly ended for ‘internal consultations’

According to Iran’s Fars news agency, the talks ended after 80 minutes for “internal consultations”.

US energy secretary says ships still passing through Hormuz

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says 67 ships went through the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours, similar to traffic before the war began in terms of oil and petroleum products.

Iran’s joint military command on Saturday said it closed the strait because of Israel’s ongoing war on Lebanon against Hezbollah. The US disputed that announcement.

Wright also told Fox News that Iran has not yet “de-mined” the strait’s central shipping channel, but the US has opened a separate route to the south and has been escorting ships through it.

Wright acknowledged some commercial shippers still have safety concerns.

Hezbollah rejects Lebanese government’s negotiations with US

Hezbollah has rejected the Lebanese government’s direct talks with the US, saying the negotiations would undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and serve Israeli interests.

In a statement, the group said the Lebanese delegation in Washington was being asked to sign off on US dictates that “confiscate Lebanon’s sovereignty” and align Beirut with those reconciling with Israel.

The group said the talks were based on a “flawed” premise and would lead to “capitulation” rather than serve Lebanese interests.

The government’s participation “hinders confronting the enemy’s project, the resistance’s efforts on the ground, and the great sacrifices of our great people” which it said the state could leverage to press for a complete and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

The group also said the government’s attendance increased risks to Lebanon’s stability and independence and amounted to “compliance with US and Israeli policy objectives”.

Iranian, Qatari delegations engage in bilateral talks after first round: State TV

Bilateral talks between Tehran and Qatari delegations have now begun following the conclusion of the first round of US-Iran talks, Iranian state TV is reporting.

Hezbollah chief says group to respond to any ceasefire violation

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem says Israel will not remain in Lebanon, adding that the group will respond to any ceasefire violation by Israel.

His statements came as Israeli officials ⁠say that ⁠troops are free to act without restriction ⁠to eliminate threats ⁠in Lebanon despite ⁠an agreed ceasefire that took effect ‌on Friday.

Iran will push to amend rules governing Strait of Hormuz: Supreme leader’s adviser

Tehran will seek to change some of the rules regulating the Strait of Hormuz “within the framework of legal and international mechanisms”, an adviser and assistant to the supreme leader has told Fars news agency.

“In any case, it will use all of its legal capacities to protect national interests,” Mohammad Mokhbar added.

Iran’s top negotiator dismisses US threats, vows readiness to respond

Iran’s parliament speaker and head negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has dismissed US threats, saying Tehran is prepared to respond if necessary.

“Don’t they think to themselves that if their threats had any effect, they wouldn’t have reached the point of desperation they are in today? We don’t count on the American threats,” Ghalibaf posted on X.

“They better be careful with their comments, our armed forces are ready to respond in a different way. Whatever they say, we are the ones who will act.”

Trump threatens Iran, saying it must stop ‘proxies’ in Lebanon

Iran says this is the beginning of a more ‘complicated phase’ with US

Iranian officials have been saying this is just the beginning of a much more complicated phase.

This is just an MoU signing to cease hostilities in the region and now they are speaking about implementation.

Regarding mutual compliance and the implementation of the MoU, the has been many questions being asked in Tehran.

Firstly, will the Israeli army stop military operations in Lebanon? The second is about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

There is optimism as they are engaging in heavy talks.

Iran says talks covered frozen assets, oil sanctions relief proposal

“In today’s negotiations, we discussed the issue of our frozen assets and the arrangements for their release,” Hussein Gurbanzadeh, ‌a member of Iran’s team negotiating with the ⁠US, told state television.

He added that discussions had focused on sanctions relief tied to Iran’s energy sector.

“In Switzerland, we discussed the temporary exemption from sanctions on oil and its derivatives, and the final draft of a proposal on this matter has been completed.”

US pressure could be why Israel is minimizing attacks on Lebanon

There is a lot of emphasis on the fact that Israel is not withdrawing from southern Lebanon.

Military analysts are saying that it’s only allowed for the Israelis to attack a Hezbollah operative or someone who’s coming close to the troops there, but rather not being able to do more than that.

This restraint might be happening, but it is not publicly announced by the Israelis. And according to certain officials telling Channel 12, they believe that the American pressure on the Netanyahu government is the reason why the Israelis are trying to minimize their attacks on southern Lebanon, as well as on other areas while they continue to lobby and to talk about the need to stay in southern Lebanon.

US Senator outlines Trump’s plan to take Strait of Hormuz if Iran deal fails

US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says that Trump plans to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz and impose tolls if diplomatic efforts with Iran fail.

In an interview on CBS, he said he had spent four and a half hours with Trump on Friday and outlined what he described as the administration’s fallback strategy.

“If this deal fails, President Trump is going to take the Strait of Hormuz over by force,” Graham said. “The United States will control the Strait of Hormuz, we’ll charge a fee for all those who go through to pay for the operation.”

Qatar PM says talks mark ‘turning point’ for regional stability

Qatar’s PM hails the MoU signed earlier this week as a landmark achievement and expressed hope it would mark a turning point towards regional stability.

“The past period has been among the most difficult our region has witnessed, with its peoples bearing heavy burdens due to uncertainty and escalation,” he said.

“We hope that the agreement we witness today will help create an environment that enables states to direct their energies towards development, cooperation, and providing opportunities for their peoples.

“The work does not end with the signing of an MoU,” he added, stressing that technical talks would be critical to translating commitments into tangible outcomes.

Trump to blame for Strait of Hormuz closure, German minister says

Germany’s Defense Minister has blamed the US president for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Ultimately, the cork in the bottleneck of the Strait of Hormuz was pushed in by Donald Trump, not by us, but we have an interest in getting it out again,” Boris Pistorius said in an interview with ARD.

Tehran had agreed to reopen it under a preliminary accord signed by Trump and his Iranian counterpart Pezeshkian, and shipping traffic had begun to recover. But on Saturday, Iran said it was once again closing the vital waterway because of Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

“The opening of the Strait of Hormuz, or rather safe passage through it, is in Europe’s interest, in the interest of our energy supply and our economic recovery,” Pistorius said.

The German defense minister refers to last April 17th, when Iran had re-closed the Strait of Hormuz less than 24 hours after briefly reopening it. The re-closure came after Trump have said that the blockade of Iranian ports remains in place.