Day 108 | Trump and Iran reach agreement that includes opening Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement has been reached with Iran, stating that Washington will end its naval blockade on the country as part of the deal. Iranian authorities have not immediately confirmed the announcement. Pakistan, which has played a key mediating role in the talks, said an official signing ceremony is scheduled to take place in Switzerland on Friday.
The expected signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran would mark the beginning of a new 60-day negotiation period focused on ending the conflict. However, uncertainty remains over the details of the agreement, as US and Iranian officials have issued conflicting statements regarding its terms and implementation.
Meanwhile, regional tensions continue to complicate diplomatic efforts. Earlier on Sunday, Trump sharply criticized Israel following a strike in Beirut, warning that such actions could undermine ongoing negotiations. Iran’s top security official also stressed that Lebanon remains one of Tehran’s “red lines” in the talks, signaling that developments there could influence the future of the agreement.
Day 109 of the US-‘Israeli’ war on Iran
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Iranian vessels break naval blockade, state TV says
Iran's Press TV said three oil tankers and two cargo ships breached the naval blockade on Iran, adding that implementation of the lifting of US maritime restrictions has begun.
'Israel' says it intercepts Hezbollah rockets in southern Lebanon
The 'Israeli' military said it intercepted several rockets fired by Hezbollah toward its forces operating in southern Lebanon.
US oil strategic reserve at its lowest since 43 years
US strategic oil stockpiles sank last week to their lowest level since 1983 as the US-Iran war slowed crude deliveries, government data showed Monday.
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to 340.3 million barrels, down 8.9 million from the prior week, according to weekly figures released by the US Department of Energy. That's the lowest level since July 1983.
Hezbollah says has repelled an 'Israeli' force in south
Lebanese group Hezbollah said on Monday it had repelled an 'Israeli' force that was trying to "advance" in southern Lebanon, despite the US-Iran agreement to end the Middle East war on all fronts including in Lebanon.
Fighters from the group "using rockets and drones" blocked an 'Israeli' force consisting of an excavator and two Merkava tanks that was "advancing" in the vicinity of Kfar Tebnit town near the southern city of Nabatieh, Hezbollah said in a statement.
Netanyahu says Iran war saved ‘Israel’ from “nuclear annihilation”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the ‘Israeli’-US war on Iran has saved them from the threat of “nuclear annihilation”.
"The most important thing is that we saved the State of Israel from the threat of nuclear annihilation," Netanyahu said, in what were his first comments after Washington and Tehran agreed to a deal to end the Middle East war.
"And what would that mean? It would mean that millions of Israeli citizens -- you who are hearing me now -- all of you would have been in terrible danger of mass death... And we have pushed away from us, for years, this danger of the annihilation of Israel's population," Netanyahu said in a televised press conference.
“We have caused enormous damage to Iran's economy; some estimate it at one trillion dollars,” Netanyahu continues.
“The mission of my life is the struggle against Iran's nuclear program. With an agreement or without an agreement, Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” he added.
Hamas hopes US-Iran deal to end 'Israel’s' “aggression” in Gaza and Lebanon
Hamas has welcomed the reported US-Iran agreement, saying it hopes the deal will help bring an immediate end to 'Israel’s' military operations in Gaza and attacks in Lebanon, and improve regional stability, while accusing 'Israel' of continuing “war of extermination, starvation, and displacement.”
US open to limited sanctions relief for Iran as talks begin, CNN reports
Senior US administration officials said Washington is prepared to consider limited sanctions relief and the release of some frozen Iranian funds as part of efforts to build trust with Tehran, while dismissing the possibility of separate agreements involving Gulf states, according to CNN.
The officials said Gulf countries have been supportive of the newly announced US-Iran negotiating process and are closely coordinating with Washington.
Iran has reportedly sought access to $12 billion in frozen assets upon the signing of an interim agreement and an additional $12 billion at a later stage, CNN reported.
However, a senior US official rejected suggestions that countries such as Qatar or the United Arab Emirates could independently unfreeze Iranian assets, describing the prospect of such "side deals" as "preposterous."
Another official said the United States is willing to make "small gestures" to ease sanctions and potentially release frozen funds if Iran takes reciprocal steps demonstrating its commitment to the agreement.
The officials stressed that no Iranian assets have yet been released, with one official saying that "$0 of unfrozen assets have been released by the United States or any other country."
France, UK to lead effort in reopening Strait of Hormuz
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking alongside Trump, has said that France and the United Kingdom will lead a mission to coordinate reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The maritime and naval effort will involve some 20 countries, Macron said, reiterating that France remains committed to helping in this regard.
France and the UK both turned down requests from Trump to send military assets earlier in the war.
Trump confirms Iran ‘deal is all signed’ from US side
Trump confirms Iran ‘deal is all signed’ from US side
Trump, Vance and Iran speaker Ghalibaf electronically signed deal: US official
US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf electronically signed a deal to end the Middle East war, a senior US administration official said Monday.
"The president wanted to sign it personally because he wanted to show his... dedication to bring this through to a successful resolution," the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters in a call.
Trump on Iran agreement: It's a very powerful document
Trump on Iran agreement: It's a very powerful document
Trump says Strait of Hormuz will be 'completely open' Friday
The Strait of Hormuz will be "completely open" from Friday after a deal between Iran and the US to end the Middle East war that limited shipping in the critical bottleneck, President Donald Trump said on Monday.
Speaking at the start of bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a G7 summit in France, Trump added "I don't think we will need much help" on keeping the strait open, after London and Paris proposed a joint naval mission.
Trump, Vance and Ghalibaf sign Iran memorandum electronically, US official says
US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance electronically signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran, while Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf signed on Tehran's behalf, a senior US official told Reuters.
Araqchi says Iran-US talks to begin after memorandum signing
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Tehran and Washington are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on Friday in Switzerland, after which formal negotiations on the nuclear file and sanctions relief will begin.
Lebanon state media says one dead in 'Israeli' strike on car in south
Lebanese state media said an 'Israeli' strike in the south on Monday killed one person, the first reported deadly strike since the announcement of a deal to end the Middle East war on all fronts, including Lebanon.
"Enemy drone aircraft targeted a car at the Kfar Tibnit roundabout, leading to the death of its driver," the National News Agency (NNA) said, referring to a village near the city of Nabatieh.
Trump lands in Geneva ahead of G7 summit in France: AFP
US President Donald Trump arrived Monday in Geneva to attend the G7 meeting of world powers in neighbouring France, with allies hoping his outline deal with Iran translates into a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Air Force One carrying Trump touched down at the airport in the Swiss city, from where Trump was to transfer to the nearby French spa resort of Evian which is hosting the event, an AFP correspondent said.
Iran's foreign ministry says “deep mistrust” in US remains despite deal
Iran's foreign ministry said on Monday that Tehran still holds "deep mistrust" of the United States despite an agreed framework aimed at ending the war.
"Unfortunately, it must be acknowledged that Iran's deep mistrust of the United States stems from long history of wrongdoing by American leaders," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a press briefing.
"The United States still has a long way to go before it can earn the trust of the Iranian people," he said, adding that the framework was "merely a step towards reducing tensions".
The United States and Iran announced a deal to end the Middle East war on all fronts and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, sparking relief Monday after months of deadly violence and global economic chaos.
The conflict had erupted in late February, with US-‘Israeli’ strikes on Iran, which retaliated with attacks on ‘Israel’ and US allies in the region.
Baqaei said Washington had committed to releasing Iran's frozen funds abroad and compensating it for damages during the war under the framework deal.
"The release of the frozen Iranian assets as well as the reparations for damages are two essential points. The American side has committed to taking measures in both areas," he said.
Under the deal, Iran will manage the Strait of Hormuz -- a key conduit for global oil supplies that Iran has blockaded since the start of the war -- and charge maritime service fees on ships transiting the waterway, rather than imposing tolls.
"We have always maintained that we do not seek to collect transit tolls, but fees for navigation services, environmental protection, ship insurance and other necessary services will be charged," Baqaei said.
He also said the US must ensure that ‘Israel’ commits to stopping the war in Lebanon under the framework deal.
Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war in early March when Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on ‘Israel’ in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader, prompting ‘Israeli’ strikes and a ground invasion.
Baqaei said "the United States must honour its commitments. It must ensure that the Zionist regime also respects its own regarding Lebanon".
He added that Tehran "neither trusts Israel nor the United States".
The framework paves the way for 60-day negotiations for a final agreement covering Iran's contentious nuclear programme and relief of longstanding sanctions against it.
"The final agreement is expected to be endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution after a period of 60 days," Baqaei said, adding that Tehran "will learn from past experience".
"The adoption of a resolution will be essential... but the most effective guarantee of the implementation of any commitment lies in the leverage and power we have identified over the past three months," he said.
Macron warns Iran against imposing tolls in Hormuz
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday warned Iran against imposing tolls on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, saying "everything" should be done so fees are not charged for passage through the key bottleneck.
Iran's Fars news agency reported earlier that Tehran added a clause on imposing maritime service fees to the framework deal with the United States on ending the Middle East war, shortly before its announcement.
"We defend international law and we will do everything in our power to ensure there is no toll," Macron told TF1 television ahead of the G7 summit in France, set to be attended by US President Donald Trump.
The details of the agreement have not been disclosed publicly. Macron said the accord had already been signed "electronically" and additional annexes would be "finalised" on Friday.
"I don't want to enter into the details," he said.
Macron said a joint France-UK mission to ensure the Strait opens was prepared to deploy "very quickly", with the French flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle ready to be in the zone "on a timescale of two to three days".
"We do every thing so that this accord is a reality and that Hormuz can reopen," Macron said. European countries are impatiently awaiting the reopening of the Strait to bring down the price of energy and other goods.
Macron denied that the deal was a victory for Tehran, saying: "I would be patient and prudent."
"As you know, we didn't participate in that offensive," he said, referring to the US-‘Israeli’ war against the Islamic republic.
"So our objective now is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. And indeed, there shouldn't be any tolls or anything that would enrich those in power," he said.
He added that Iran's stocks of enriched uranium need to be neutralised and placed under the supervision of the UN atomic watchdog.
"We will ensure that the enriched uranium capabilities that remain are properly neutralised," Macron said.
The sensitive stocks should be "either taken out, or diluted" and then looked after by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Macron said.
Vance says US expects Hormuz strait to reopen “toll-free”
Vice President JD Vance said Monday that the US expects Iran will not charge tolls on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, but that the issue would be discussed as part of the new peace deal.
Asked on CNBC if there was an understanding with Iran that the crucial waterway would reopen toll-free for just an initial period of 60 days or longer term, Vance said: "Our expectation is that the strait is going to be opened in a toll-free way for the long term, and that's the sort of thing that we're going to figure out in these technical negotiations."
