Day 112 | Vance defends Iran deal, Khamenei says approved it despite having “different view”

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Read more: Day 113 | ‘Israel’ & Hezbollah agree ceasefire as US-Iran deal under strain

'Israeli' forces fired three artillery shells at the Ali al-Taher heights in southern Lebanon, according to local correspondents, despite a ceasefire announced earlier between 'Israel' and Hezbollah.

The shelling raised fresh concerns over the durability of the truce as reports of violations emerged shortly after it was due to take effect.

President Donald Trump urged 'Israel' to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah during a June 19 phone call with 'Israeli' officials, NBC News reported, citing sources familiar with the discussion.

According to the report, Trump pushed for de-escalation amid rising tensions in the Middle East and ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Iran.

The remarks came as regional tensions showed tentative signs of easing, with Washington and Tehran reportedly moving closer to a memorandum of understanding, while Iranian and Lebanese officials have called for an end to hostilities across multiple fronts, including Lebanon.

Hezbollah later said it had not received any official notification regarding the timing of a potential ceasefire.

In comments attributed to a phone interview with NBC News and later quoted by a reporter on X, Trump said he had spoken with 'Israeli' officials and encouraged restraint, adding, “You just gotta calm down sometimes and use your head.” He did not specify whether his discussions included 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a call Friday that a comprehensive ceasefire must be secured in order for talks with 'Israel' to progress.

The Lebanese presidency said Aoun thanked Rubio for US support but stressed "the need for Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory to cease through the achievement of a comprehensive ceasefire, which Lebanon considers a fundamental basis for advancing the Lebanese-US-Israeli negotiations scheduled to take place in Washington next week".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States bears the responsibility for ending the war "on all fronts, including Lebanon," warning during a call with Pakistan's foreign minister that any violations of the reported memorandum of understanding would be attributed to Washington and carry consequences.

The Iranian foreign ministry said Friday there was "no urgency" to meet US negotiators in Switzerland, as a memorandum of understanding to end the Middle East war had already been signed electronically.

"Given that the signing of the text of the MoU was done digitally on June 18, there is no urgency to hold the said meeting in Switzerland, but we are planning to hold a meeting in the coming days," the ministry's spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, said.

'Israeli' airstrikes and bombardments killed at least 47 people and wounded 97 others in Lebanon on Friday, according to the latest updated toll from the Lebanese health ministry.

The dead included at least seven women and two children and the figures were released as a new ceasefire between 'Israel' and Hezbollah was due to start.

Successive 'Israeli' airstrikes and artillery shelling struck hills and several areas in and around Nabatieh in southern Lebanon amid escalating military activity along the border region.

'Israel' and Hezbollah have agreed to a renewed ceasefire in Lebanon that is set to take effect at 4 p.m. local time Friday, according to a senior US official cited by Axios. 

The agreement was brokered by the United States and Qatar following talks with 'Israel' and Iran, the official said.

The renewed truce comes after days of escalating cross-border hostilities that raised fears of a broader regional conflict. Details of the agreement were not immediately released, and it remained unclear what enforcement mechanisms would be in place to prevent further violations.

According to the senior US official, American and Qatari mediators worked with both sides to secure the ceasefire, while Iran played a role in discussions related to Hezbollah.

The White House, the 'Israeli' government, Hezbollah and Qatari officials did not immediately issue public statements confirming the agreement.

Iran has condemned ongoing ‘Israeli’ military operations in Lebanon, warning of what it described as serious consequences resulting from continued regional escalation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran strongly rejects what he called the “aggressive and terrorist operations” carried out by the “Zionist entity” in Lebanon.

Baghaei warned that the continued ‘Israeli’ military campaign risks further destabilizing the region and expanding the conflict.

He also accused the United States of bearing direct responsibility for the attacks, citing Washington’s support for ‘Israel’.

Hezbollah has pledged to defend Lebanon’s territory and people against what it described as continued ‘Israeli’ aggression, accusing ‘Israel’ of violating a ceasefire that has been in place since April 16.

In a statement, the Iran-backed group said its fighters would remain prepared to respond to any attacks, rejecting ‘Israeli’ claims that Hezbollah had breached the truce.

“The Islamic Resistance will remain vigilant against any aggression. Its fighters will defend their land and people,” the group said, adding that “the enemy has never complied with any ceasefire agreement.”

Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority has announced that ships seeking to pass through the strategic waterway will be permitted to transit during the period covered by the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, provided they meet the required conditions and procedures.

In a statement posted on X, the authority said vessels must comply with the regulations and operational requirements set for passage through the strait.

‘Israel’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah will “pay a very heavy price” following recent clashes and attacks on ‘Israeli’ forces in southern Lebanon.

He said he held security consultations with the defense minister and the military chief of staff after what he described as an attack on ‘Israeli’ troops in the south.

Netanyahu said he instructed the military to respond forcefully, claiming that around 80 targets linked to Hezbollah were struck and that “dozens of militants” were killed.

He also said the military targeted a command center belonging to Hezbollah in the Bekaa region.

The prime minister added that the military will continue to act to prevent threats against ‘Israel’, saying forces will remain in what he described as a security zone in southern Lebanon as long as necessary to protect northern communities.

Pakistan has said there are no obstacles preventing the start of US-Iran talks scheduled to take place in Switzerland.

Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar said the reported delay in launching the negotiations was linked to Iranian officials being engaged in religious observances for the month of Muharram.

He added that there are no structural or political barriers to beginning the talks, stressing that discussions should be completed within a 60-day period.

France’s Foreign Ministry has denied asking for the cancellation of an Iranian opposition rally scheduled for Saturday in Paris.

In a statement sent to Reuters, the ministry said Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot did not request a ban on the demonstration and did not discuss the People’s Mojahedin Organisation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a call on Thursday.

“This allegation is false. The minister did not mention this protest or request its cancellation,” the ministry said.

The clarification comes after Paris police announced earlier that they had banned the demonstration, suggesting it was connected to diplomatic discussions between France and Iran.

The ministry’s statement rejected that claim, insisting no such request was made during the official contact.

Iranian cargo and container ships have left Malaysian waters in recent days and are reportedly heading back toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf ports, according to analysis cited by the Financial Times.

The report, based on maritime tracking data, said six out of seven large Iranian-flagged container vessels had departed Malaysian ports by Thursday, signalling commercial routes back into the Gulf region.

It linked the movement to a recent US-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at easing tensions, which coincided with a broader shift in maritime activity involving Iranian-linked shipping networks.

Maritime analysts suggested the actual scale of vessel movements may be larger than recorded, noting that some Iran-linked ships reportedly disable automatic identification systems or use false flags to avoid tracking.

The report also referenced satellite imagery indicating significant tanker activity in eastern shipping corridors, suggesting a partial resumption of commercial oil transport routes.

‘Israel’ President Isaac Herzog said the country experienced a “painful and difficult morning” after the announcement that four soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon overnight.

Herzog made the remarks following confirmation by the ‘Israeli’ military of casualties sustained during clashes in the south, which also left a senior officer wounded.

US Vice President JD Vance said he does not trust any country in international diplomacy, when asked about ‘Israel’ during an interview on the Diary of a CEO podcast.

Responding to a direct question on trust, Vance said: “You know, I don’t trust anybody when it comes to international affairs and diplomacy.”

He clarified that this position applies broadly to all states, not a specific country, stressing that it reflects his general view of international relations.

Vance added that cooperation with ‘Israel’ remains strong when strategic interests align, describing it as a highly capable partner.

“When we have shared interests, we work together very well,” he said, adding that the United States must remain “laser-focused” on its own national interests.

'Israeli' National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir issued a strongly worded statement following the killing and injury of 'Israeli' soldiers in southern Lebanon overnight, calling for a significant escalation in military action.

Ben Gvir said Lebanon should face severe consequences after the recent escalation with Hezbollah.

“Lebanon should burn completely after Hezbollah’s escalation,” he said.

He added: “For every tear shed by a Jewish mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must cry.”

The minister also referenced international partners, including the United States, saying 'Israel' must make clear that the blood of its citizens and soldiers is not “for nothing.”

He said the primary duty of the state is to protect its citizens and military personnel, arguing that this responsibility outweighs all other considerations.

Ben Gvir called for an end to what he described as hesitation in the military response.

“In the Middle East, victory is not achieved through calculated responses or containment, but through forceful action and eliminating terrorism,” he said.

The ‘Israeli’ military says four of its soldiers have been killed, including the commander of the 52nd Battalion of the Givati Brigade, during what it described as “difficult and complex” fighting in southern Lebanon. A senior officer was also wounded in the same incident.

The announcement comes amid reports of intense overnight clashes along the southern Lebanese front involving ‘Israeli’ forces and Hezbollah fighters.

According to ‘Israeli’ media reports, the incident took place near the town of Kafartabnit, where a tank belonging to the 52nd Battalion was hit by an unidentified object, resulting in fatalities and injuries among troops.

Sources cited in ‘Israeli’ outlets said at least 17 soldiers were wounded in the same operation, while the identity of the weapon used remains under investigation. Officials are reportedly assessing whether it was a drone or a guided missile.

The ‘Israeli’ public broadcaster confirmed that a senior officer from Division 36 was among those injured in the fighting.