Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has accused Donald Trump of making a deal with Tehran out of “desperation”, as he confirmed his approval of the long-awaited plan.
The supreme leader said he authorised the agreement despite holding a different view, after receiving assurances from president Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials that Iran's rights and the interests of the "Resistance Front" would be safeguarded.
Khamenei, who has not been seen since he was injured in the US-Israeli attacks on 28 February, added that future face-to-face negotiations with the United States would not mean accepting "the enemy's position".
The US military earlier confirmed it had lifted its blockade on Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz, as officials claim millions of barrels are once again flowing through the vital waterway.
The navy will “remain in the general area” to ensure the agreement with Iran is “adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect”, Centcom said in a statement.
In a press conference earlier on Thursday, vice president JD Vance said 12.5 million barrels of oil had passed through the strait the previous night, and that Iranian forces had not fired on any ships.
Key Points
- Trump claims Iran deal is 'unconditional surrender'
- Vance is not leaving for Iran talks in Switzerland
- Iran's supreme leader says Trump made deal out of 'desperation'
- Trump says he expects 'complete ceasefire an all fronts' in Iran and Lebanon
- More than 12 million barrels of oil moved through Strait of Hormuz — Vance
- 60-day ceasefire period begins, says Vance
Iran's supreme leader said he approved peace deal despite his 'different view'
04:45 , Shweta Sharma
Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, said he approved the peace deal with the US despite having a "different view".
"But I issued my permission due to the commitment" made by officials including Pezheshkian to "protect the rights of the Iranian nation".
"Face-to-face negotiations" with the US will be held in the future, but that does not "mean accepting the enemy's point of view", he said.
He said US president Donald Trump acted “out of desperation” to secure the deal and used “all kinds of leverage” to have it signed.
“He also made clear that if the American side seeks excessive demands, they will not accept them,” Khamenei said.
Oil falls as tankers return to Hormuz after blockade lifted
04:44 , Shweta Sharma
Oil prices fell to their lowest level on Friday since 2 March as tankers resumed passing through the Strait of Hormuz after the US lifted its blockade on Iran, reopening a key shipping route under an interim agreement designed to end the three-month war.
But Israel continued its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising questions about whether the agreement would hold.
The return of maritime traffic through the strategic waterway eased fears of a prolonged disruption to global energy supplies, weighing on crude prices.
Brent crude futures slipped 1% to $79.03 a barrel and were on track for a weekly decline of 9.5%, as traders grew increasingly confident that Gulf oil exports would continue to flow without major interruption.
Watch: Iran's supreme leader says Trump made deal 'out of desperation' as US lifts naval blockade
04:30 , Rachel Dobkin
Pentagon tells lawmakers it needs $80bn for Iran war and other bills – report
04:15 , Shweta Sharma
The US Department of Defence needs $80bn to cover costs from the Iran war as well as other non-war-related bills, deputy defence secretary Stephen Feinberg told lawmakers in phone calls this week, the Wall Street Journal said on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Since the war began on 28 February, lawmakers have repeatedly sought a comprehensive estimate of its cost, while warning that the conflict has drained valuable munitions stockpiles that may be required to address security challenges elsewhere.
Recap: ‘Worst foreign policy blunder in decades’: Republicans turn on Trump over Iran deal
04:00 , James Reynolds
Republicans have turned on Donald Trump over his plan to end the war with Iran, accusing him of making the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades”.
The U.S. released the 14-point interim agreement on Wednesday as Trump signed the documents in Versailles, France. The terms included stopping the conflict and reopening the vital shipping route the Strait of Hormuz, but also financing Iran’s recovery with a $300bn fund and scrapping sanctions.
“Reagan is rolling over in his grave,” said Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy on Wednesday, referring to the former president Trump admires.
Read the full story:
‘Worst foreign policy blunder in decades’: Republicans turn on Trump over Iran deal
US vice president cancels trip for peace talks with Iran
03:56 , Shweta Sharma
US vice president JD Vance has withdrawn from a planned trip to Switzerland, where he had been expected to meet Iranian negotiators for talks on implementing the recently signed US-Iran peace agreement, according to the White House.
The talks, which were expected to begin in Geneva on Friday, were aimed at working through the technical details of the 14-point accord reached by Washington and Tehran to end months of conflict between the two countries.
A White House spokesperson said the US delegation had been prepared to travel as soon as arrangements for the negotiations were finalised.
"But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable," the statement said.
The development comes amid uncertainty over the next phase of diplomacy.
While US officials had signalled plans for a formal signing ceremony in Geneva, Iran's foreign ministry questioned the need for such an event after the agreement was already signed by both countries' presidents on Wednesday.
Iran has also indicated that it wants to see evidence that Washington is implementing the interim deal before committing to further negotiations. Iranian media reported earlier that Tehran had not yet confirmed whether its delegation would travel to Geneva.
The diplomatic wrangling raises fresh questions about the durability of the ceasefire agreed between the two sides and the prospects for a lasting settlement after a conflict that has killed thousands, disrupted energy markets and rattled the global economy.
Pictured: Trump signs interim peace deal with Iran
03:30 , Rachel Dobkin
President Donald J. Trump signs the Iran Memorandum of Understanding.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 18, 2026
Peace through strength. pic.twitter.com/ZbdnxIkRT5
Watch: Trump says he is 'so proud' of US military
03:00 , Rachel Dobkin
US President Donald Trump said at a ceremony celebrating recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest award for US military valor in action, on Thursday that he was “so proud” of the Armed Forces.
.@POTUS "I have NO HIGHER PRIVILEGE than serving as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces—I AM SO PROUD OF THEM." pic.twitter.com/UMH8fESJsx
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) June 18, 2026
Vance is not leaving for Iran talks in Switzerland
02:36 , Rachel Dobkin
US Vice President JD Vance is not leaving for talks with Iran in Switzerland Thursday night, Washington time.
“As the Vice President said at his press conference, the plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized, and the U.S. delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity”, a White House spokesperson said, per a press pool report.
“But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now the Vice President is not departing tonight”.
Trump claims Iran deal is 'unconditional surrender,' despite Tehran being able to profit from it
02:30 , Rachel Dobkin
Donald Trump has claimed the deal he struck with Iran was “unconditional surrender,” despite Tehran being able to profit from it.
The US president made the claim in an Axios interview.
Several points in the interim peace deal could benefit Iran, including a $300 billion reconstruction fund and the lifting of sanctions.
Trump also boasted to Axios that his power has “no limits” and touted America’s military capabilities.
“We defeated them totally militarily”, Trump said.
He mentioned the US naval blockade of Iranian ports that has now been lifted.
"Who else could have done a blockade like that? I did a naval blockade where not one ship was able to get through. Some tried. It didn't last very long”, he said.
Trump envoy says Iran will invite nuclear watchdog to inspect sites: report
02:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Steve Witkoff, one of Donald Trump’s envoys, has said Iran will invite the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect its nuclear sites, according to the Associated Press.
Witkoff made the comments during a private meeting with lawmakers Thursday and was described by two people familiar with the matter.
Witkoff said the locations of Iran’s enriched material, which is believed to be buried, will be identified and uncovered.
As part of the US-Iran interim peace deal, Iran has reaffirmed not to obtain or develop nuclear weapons. Iran would need highly enriched uranium to make a nuclear weapon.
Trump’s war secretary Hegseth tears into European allies over Nato spending
01:30 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump’s war secretary has announced a review of US forces in Europe after launching a fresh attack on allies over the amount of money they are putting into the Nato alliance.
Pete Hegseth told Nato defence ministers that “for too long Nato has been a paper tiger and a one-way street” – referring to how much of the weight of troops and money have fallen on the US – at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels.
“No more,” he added. “For all of our clarity, too many allied capitals seem to still miss something in translation. Too many allies still don't recognise the historic need that President Trump has made clear to them and to Nato itself to reforge a relevant, powerful military alliance, as President Trump put it.”
Trump’s war secretary Hegseth tears into European allies over Nato spending
Top US Democratic leader bashes Trump's deal with Iran
01:00 , Rachel Dobkin
US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has bashed President Donald Trump’s interim deal with Iran.
“This is not the art of the deal. This is the art of surrender. Trump didn’t get peace through strength; he got payoff through weakness”, he told reporters Thursday.
Schumer claimed that “Americans got almost nothing we wanted and needed, and Trump gave away the store”.
The US-Iran agreement includes the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran and a promise from Iranian officials not to obtain or develop nuclear weapons.
How many ships have transited Strait of Hormuz so far?
Friday 19 June 2026 00:30 , Rachel Dobkin
As part of the interim peace deal that the US and Iran signed Wednesday, the Strait of Hormuz will be opening back up.
At least seven ships were able to transit the strait on Thursday, CNN reported earlier, citing data from Marine Traffic.
On Thursday night, zero ships were traveling through the strait, according to the Hormuz Strait Monitor.
UK minister urges Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon
Friday 19 June 2026 00:00 , James Reynolds
Britain's international development minister Jenny Chapman called on Thursday for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon so that families displaced by three months of war could return to their homes.
"Israel should withdraw from southern Lebanon, absolutely. Displacement we know anywhere in the world causes huge disruption," she told Reuters while visiting a school where displaced families were sheltering.
"That is why we want to get the conditions right so that people can return home and be secure, be safe and be confident they can stay in their homes for the long term."
Iran says it will deliver 'a crushing response' if US acts in 'bad faith'
Thursday 18 June 2026 23:43 , Rachel Dobkin
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said his country will deliver “a crushing response” if the US acts in “bad faith” during negotiations.
“We are at your command; the task assigned to us by the Supreme Leader is to pursue the realization of the conditions and clauses of the agreement.
“In the event of bad faith, breach of contract, and excessive demands by the opposing side, we have no hesitation in delivering a crushing response to the enemy.
“They were once slapped during the war; if they wish to tread that path again, they will receive an even harder slap”, he wrote on X Thursday.
Maritime security threat in the Strait of Hormuz reduced to 'moderate'
Thursday 18 June 2026 23:30 , Rachel Dobkin
The maritime security threat in the Strait of Hormuz has been reduced to “moderate” following the interim US-Iran peace deal, according to UK officials.
“The maritime security threat level in the SoH has been reduced to MODERATE following the announced intentions by both the United States and Iran for an opening ofthe waterway.
“However, Mariners should be advised of the existence of mines and expect naval presence as clearance operations continue”, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said in an update Thursday.
JMIC Advisory Note 009-26 (SoH open)
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) June 18, 2026
Click here to view the full advisory note⤵️ https://t.co/yzSYJA4lK7#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/Aw70M9AMgs
Iran's gulf authority to issue fast-tracked authorizations for ships in Strait of Hormuz
Thursday 18 June 2026 23:00 , Alex Croft
Iran's Supreme National Security Council has said that the country's Persian Gulf Strait Authority will look to issue fast authorizations for ships wanting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The move comes as per the memorandum of understanding signed by Tehran and Washington, it said in a statement.
Measures on mine clearance will be carried out under the Islamabad MoU, though ships are advised to stick to the path and timing allocated by the authority, the statement published by state media added.
Trump doesn't take questions from reporters at White House event
Thursday 18 June 2026 22:23 , Rachel Dobkin
President Donald Trump did not take questions from reporters, including one about Iran, when leaving a Model of Honor ceremony at the White House Thursday.
Trump says oil prices are 'dropping like a rock'
Thursday 18 June 2026 22:00 , Rachel Dobkin
President Donald Trump has said oil prices are “dropping like a rock” as he made an interim peace deal with Iran.
“The stock market just hit a new all-time high. The 401K's just hit a new all-time high, and oil is dropping like a rock”, Trump said at a ceremony celebrating recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest award for US military valor in action.
Watch: JD Vance sends warning to Israel as he defends Trump's Iran deal
Thursday 18 June 2026 20:35 , Alex Croft
Trump urged to include imprisoned British couple in Iran peace deal
Thursday 18 June 2026 20:12 , James Reynolds
The family of a British couple held in Iran are urging Donald Trump to push for a hostage exchange as part of a deal to end the war.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, from East Sussex, were sentenced to 10 years in Tehran’s Evin prison last year after Iran charged them with espionage during a motorcycle trip around the world. They deny the charges.
The couple have been on hunger strike for 39 and 30 days respectively, fearing “there is no other way to be heard” having effectively been stranded without legal representation, according to the family.
Family of British couple in Tehran prison want loved ones freed under Iran peace deal
Trump says he expects 'complete ceasefire an all fronts' in Iran and Lebanon
Thursday 18 June 2026 19:49 , Alex Croft
We’ve just heard from Donald Trump, who said on Thursday that the United States expects "a complete ceasefire on all fronts," including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.
"We encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The post came one day after he signed a memorandum of understanding to end a nearly four-month conflict with Iran.
“We encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold,” he added.
“The Markets are loving what is happening with Oil Prices way down, and Stocks way up.”
Iran's supreme leader says Trump made deal out of 'desperation'
Thursday 18 June 2026 19:41 , Alex Croft
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday he had authorised a memorandum of understanding signed by the Iranian and U.S. presidents.
The supreme leader said he himself held a different view, but received assurances from President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials that Iran's rights and the interests of the "Resistance Front" would be safeguarded.
He accused Trump of making the deal out of “desperation”.
In a written message to the Iranian nation, Khamenei said Pezeshkian, in his capacity as head of the Supreme National Security Council, had accepted responsibility for ensuring the agreement protected Iran's interests and pledged not to yield if Washington made what he described as excessive demands.
Khamenei added that future face-to-face negotiations with the United States would not mean accepting "the enemy's position".
What next for Iran after Trump signs ‘disastrous’ deal to end war with $300bn boost and scrapped sanctions
Thursday 18 June 2026 19:00 , James Reynolds
The United States and Iran have signed an interim deal to end their war, setting the table for two months of talks aimed at resolving long-standing disputes.
We look at the main obstacles to a more long-term peace and what happens now the documents have been signed:
What next for Iran after Trump signs ‘disastrous’ deal to end war with $300bn boost
Watch: JD Vance sends warning to Israel as he defends Trump's Iran deal
Thursday 18 June 2026 18:41 , Alex Croft
White House hands over copy of US-Iran agreement to Congress
Thursday 18 June 2026 18:19 , Alex Croft
The White House has provided a copy of the interim US-Iran agreement to the US Congress on Thursday.
The terms listed in the document to Congress matched the details of the interim US-Iran agreement read out by a US official on Wednesday.
The document, titled "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America", begins with a declaration of an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.
The document also confirmed that the US would fully end its naval blockade on Iranian ports within 30 days and Iran would ensure safe passage of commercial vessels at no charge in the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days.
Washington and Tehran commit to negotiating a final deal within 60 days, and they can extend the time frame by mutual agreement, the document showed.
The document bears signatures on behalf of Iran and the United States, with Pakistan signing as witness and mediator.
Trump attacks on past Iran deal resurface amid criticism of MoU
Thursday 18 June 2026 18:00 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump’s criticism of a past Iran deal has resurfaced amid mounting pressure over his memorandum to end the current war.
The president took to Twitter on November 24, 2013 to make his thoughts known as the US co-signed the interim Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) with allies.
“What a rotten deal we made with Iran. We get nothing (except laughter at our stupidity). They get everything, including delay and big cash!” he wrote at the time.
What a rotten deal we made with Iran. We get nothing (except laughter at our stupidity). They get everything, including delay and big cash!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2013
Vance lashes out at Israeli critics of US-Iran peace deal
Thursday 18 June 2026 17:39 , Alex Croft
Vance has issued a warning to Israel to respect the peace process between the US and Iran.
Attacks on Beirut that kill civilians were "not acceptable", he said.
He also hit out at Israeli critics peace agreement, stating on Thursday: "I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world."
Speaking to reporters from the White House, Vance said that President Donald Trump was "the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time," and chastised Israeli cabinet members that the majority of the Jewish State's defensive weapons were provided through US funding.
"The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the President of the US needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in," Vance said.
‘Worst foreign policy blunder in decades’: Republicans turn on Trump over Iran deal
Thursday 18 June 2026 17:19 , James Reynolds
Republicans have turned on Donald Trump over his plan to end the war with Iran, accusing him of making the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades”.
The U.S. released the 14-point interim agreement on Wednesday as Trump signed the documents in Versailles, France. The terms included stopping the conflict and reopening the vital shipping route the Strait of Hormuz, but also financing Iran’s recovery with a $300bn fund and scrapping sanctions.
“Reagan is rolling over in his grave,” said Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy on Wednesday, referring to the former president Trump admires.
Read the full story:
‘Worst foreign policy blunder in decades’: Republicans turn on Trump over Iran deal
Majority of Iranian petrochemical units back to production, industry group says
Thursday 18 June 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds
Iran has restored about 89% of petrochemical units that were knocked offline during the war with Israel and the U.S., the head of the country's largest petrochemical holding group said on Thursday, according to the Iranian Student News Agency.
Mohammad Shariatmadari, chief executive of Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, said disrupted facilities had returned to production following what he described as rapid reconstruction efforts, with some units operating above nominal capacity, while others had yet to reach full output.
Iran introduced a ban on petrochemical exports in April to ensure domestic supply after its petrochemical sector production was disrupted by Israeli strikes hitting utilities companies that provide feedstock for petrochemical plants.
White House confident it can lift Iran sanctions without Congress approval - Vance
Thursday 18 June 2026 16:52 , Alex Croft
Vance is now discussing the issue of US sanctions on Iran, some of which are set to be lifted during the 60-day ceasefire.
He says that the Trump administration will soon brief the US Congress on the Iran deal.
"We feel quite confident that we can temporarily lift those sanctions without going to Congress and seeking their approval on that," Vance told reporters at the White House.
Vance: I’ll be fine negotiating with the Iranians - they aren’t as tough as The View hosts
Thursday 18 June 2026 16:46 , Alex Croft
JD Vance is now seeking to prove his worth engaging in the high-stakes negotiations with Tehran over the coming weeks.
Pointing to his recent appearance on The View, in which he was mercilessly grilled by Joy Behar and her co-hosts, Vance said he is well equipped to deal with “hostile negotiations”.
“I have seen some progressive criticisms of me personally saying, what experience does the Vice President of the United States have with hostile, high-stakes negotiations,” the vice president said.
“I would point those progressive critics to the fact that just two days ago I spent over an hour on The View, so I actually have a great experience in very hostile negotiations.
“Joy Behar is way tougher than the Iranians, and she and I are best friends now. So we're going to get to a good place here,” he adds.
Read here Holly Baxter’s scathing critique of Vance’s disastrous appearance on The View.
60-day ceasefire period begins today, says Vance
Thursday 18 June 2026 16:39 , Alex Croft
The 60-day ceasefire period in which the US and Iran will lock into negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and a long-term peace deal has started today, Vance says.
"I would say the 60-day period officially started today," he told reporters at a White House briefing.
By the end of the negotiations, he says, the US expects that Iran won’t have missiles that can threaten the entire world. He did not state specifically which arm the US expects Tehran to give up.
He adds that Tehran would need to receive a lot of money in order to rebuild its nuclear programme.
Any flareups during the 60-day period will need to be managed via diplomacy, he says.
More than 12 million barrels of oil moved through Strait of Hormuz last night - Vance
Thursday 18 June 2026 16:30 , Alex Croft
We’re hearing from US vice president JD Vance, who is giving a press conference at the White House.
He says the the Strait of Hormuz has reopened, and that 12.5 million barrels of oil moved through the waterway overnight.
Iran did not shoot at any ships transiting through the strait, he adds.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says an average of 20 million barrels of oil used to flow through the strait during peacetime.
Vance also reiterates that Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities have been “largely destroyed”, a claim repeated by Trump administration officials.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest lines.
UK minister calls for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon
Thursday 18 June 2026 16:23 , Alex Croft
Britain's international development minister Jenny Chapman has called for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon so that families displaced by three months of war can return to their homes.
"Israel should withdraw from southern Lebanon, absolutely. Displacement we know anywhere in the world causes huge disruption," she told Reuters while visiting a school where displaced families were sheltering.
"That is why we want to get the conditions right so that people can return home and be secure, be safe and be confident they can stay in their homes for the long term."
Premium: Why Trump’s Iran deal is no more than a shopping list of capitulations
Thursday 18 June 2026 16:00 , James Reynolds
There are gaping holes in the 14-point US deal with Iran in which some of the trickiest sticking points have not been addressed, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew:
Why Trump’s Iran deal is little more than a shopping list of capitulations
Full details of Trump’s 14 point Iran peace deal revealed
Thursday 18 June 2026 15:30 , James Reynolds
Nearly four months after the U.S. started its war with Iran, Donald Trump has signed a long-awaited deal to end the war, restore global shipping and resolve an abiding dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Details of a 14 point plan were previously released by US officials, with an official signing ceremony expected to take place in Switzerland on Friday. However, it emerged on Wednesday evening that it had already been signed by the US president and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said any further Israeli attacks on Lebanon would be considered a breach of the terms of the deal. With Israel having continued its strikes on the country’s south, there remain concerns the deal could still fall apart.
Read Trump’s 14 point Iran peace deal in full after US announces signing of agreement
Another Truth Social rant from Trump following criticism of MoU
Thursday 18 June 2026 15:20 , James Reynolds
Trump attacks on past Iran deal resurface amid criticism of MoU
Thursday 18 June 2026 15:16 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump’s criticism of a past Iran deal has resurfaced amid mounting pressure over his memorandum to end the current war.
The president took to Twitter on November 24, 2013 to make his thoughts known as the US co-signed the interim Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) with allies.
“What a rotten deal we made with Iran. We get nothing (except laughter at our stupidity). They get everything, including delay and big cash!” he wrote at the time.
What a rotten deal we made with Iran. We get nothing (except laughter at our stupidity). They get everything, including delay and big cash!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2013
UN demands release of Craig and Lindsay Foreman in warning over ‘state hostage taking’
Thursday 18 June 2026 15:00 , James Reynolds
UN human rights experts have demanded the release of a British couple detained on spying charges in Iran, warning their case raises grave concerns over state hostage-taking.
Dr Alice Edwards, a special rapporteur on torture, and Mai Sato, a special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, said they were worried about the welfare of Craig and Lindsay Foreman.
The couple have been on hunger strike for more than 39 and 30 days respectively, fearing “there is no other way to be heard” after their contact with family in Britain was cut off.
UN demands release of Craig and Lindsay Foreman in warning over state hostage taking
Israel in talks with US over Lebanon occupation: report
Thursday 18 June 2026 14:30 , James Reynolds
Israel is holding negotiations with the U.S. as it seeks to continue its deployment of troops in southern Lebanon, two Israeli officials said on Thursday.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, made the comments a day after the U.S. and Iran signed an interim pact that calls for parties to ensure "the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon."
A senior Israeli official close to Israel’s Netanyahu told Reuters that Israel was "conducting stubborn negotiations" with Washington over continuing its deployment of troops in southern Lebanon.
The official said Israel would not back down on its positions, including keeping troops deployed in the area south of Lebanon's Litani River.
A second Israeli official told Reuters that the outcome of the talks would ultimately depend on whether U.S. President Donald Trump "decides to force the issue" by threatening repercussions if Israel does not abide by the interim Iran pact's terms.
Trump’s war secretary Hegseth tears into European allies over Nato spending
Thursday 18 June 2026 14:00 , James Reynolds
Donald Trump’s war secretary has announced a review of US forces in Europe after launching a fresh attack on allies over the amount of money they are putting into the Nato alliance.
Pete Hegseth told Nato defence ministers that “for too long Nato has been a paper tiger and a one-way street” – referring to how much of the weight of troops and money have fallen on the US – at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels.
“No more,” he added. “For all of our clarity, too many allied capitals seem to still miss something in translation. Too many allies still don't recognise the historic need that President Trump has made clear to them and to Nato itself to reforge a relevant, powerful military alliance, as President Trump put it.”
Trump’s war secretary Hegseth tears into European allies over Nato spending
Three Saudi supertankers transit Strait of Hormuz
Thursday 18 June 2026 13:30 , James Reynolds
Three Saudi-flagged supertankers with six million barrels of crude onboard sailed through the Strait of Hormuz hours after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a deal with Iran over an end to the conflict, ship tracking data showed on Thursday.
The sailings from Saudi ports were the biggest departures through the strait in weeks, according to Reuters analysis of shipping movements.
Saudi Arabia has mainly used its Red Sea port terminal of Yanbu to ship out oil due to the conflict which started on Feb. 28 and which has disrupted hundreds of millions of barrels of oil from leaving from Gulf producer ports through Hormuz.
Trump urged to include imprisoned British couple in Iran peace deal
Thursday 18 June 2026 13:00 , James Reynolds
The family of a British couple held in Iran are urging Donald Trump to push for a hostage exchange as part of a deal to end the war.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, from East Sussex, were sentenced to 10 years in Tehran’s Evin prison last year after Iran charged them with espionage during a motorcycle trip around the world. They deny the charges.
The couple have been on hunger strike for 39 and 30 days respectively, fearing “there is no other way to be heard” having effectively been stranded without legal representation, according to the family.
Family of British couple in Tehran prison want loved ones freed under Iran peace deal
Watch: Indian seafarer witnesses missiles from his vessel deck as war escalated
Thursday 18 June 2026 12:30 , James Reynolds
More Republicans turn on Trump over Iran deal
Thursday 18 June 2026 12:00 , James Reynolds
As the US revealed details of the 14-point MoU to end the war with Iran, Nikki Haley, the former US ambassador to the UN under the first Trump administration, asked why Washington appeared to be offering to help rebuild Iran as part of the deal.
“This regime chants death to America, murders our troops, and attempts to assassinate Americans on US soil,” she wrote on X.
“They believe they have an obligation to destroy us. Now, we plan to unlock billions of dollars and lift sanctions, with the promise of even more money.”
Trump insisted on Wednesday that the US would not invest in a $300bn fund and said he has not pressured Gulf states to contribute, following backlash over reports Washington could have signed up to help finance the Islamic Republic’s reconstruction.
Marc Thiessen, a Fox News contributor, assessed that the idea of handing Iran $300bn was “a disaster” akin to offering Germany a Marshall Plan “while the Nazis were still in power”.
'Technical work starts now,' says UN nuclear watchdog
Thursday 18 June 2026 11:30 , James Reynolds
The United Nations nuclear watchdog on Thursday welcomed the interim peace deal signed on Wednesday evening by Washington and Iran.
"It is good that the memorandum is there. Now the technical work starts," the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi told reporters in Geneva.
Israel says troops operating 10 km inside Lebanon despite U.S.-Iran accord
Thursday 18 June 2026 11:23 , James Reynolds
The Israeli military said on Thursday that its forces were operating in a security zone extending about 10 km (6 miles) into southern Lebanon, despite a provision in the interim U.S.-Iran agreement calling for an immediate halt to military operations in Lebanon.
The military said the deployment was dictated by operational needs and that troops remained stationed in their designated area of operations.
Watch: Moment Trump signs US-Iran peace agreement at Palace of Versailles
Thursday 18 June 2026 11:00 , James Reynolds
Moment Trump signs US-Iran peace agreement at Palace of Versailles
Donald Trump bats off criticism of his Iran framework deal
Thursday 18 June 2026 10:59 , James Reynolds
Hegseth says US will be ready to 'recommence' with Iran if needed
Thursday 18 June 2026 10:56 , James Reynolds
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth tells reporters in Brussels that if Iran does not fulfill its commitments, the US will be prepared to “recommence”.
If Iran does not give up nuclear ambitions and material, the war department is “here and prepared to restart if we need to”, he says.
He adds that the US is “more than able to reimpose an ironclad blockade” - but would rather continue down the diplomatic route.
He says the Iran deal came from a US position of strength and that they will be “the big stick behind the negotiations”.
Any changes to the US troop presence in the region will be “conditions-based”, he reveals.
Catch up: US and Iran sign ceasefire agreement
Thursday 18 June 2026 10:30 , James Reynolds
The US and Iran released the text of an interim agreement their presidents have signed to end their war on Wednesday - as Donald Trump threatened to resume attacks and kill Iranian officials if they failed to honour their commitments.
Trump, attending the G7 with other leaders in France, also withdrew at least one of his stated rationales for attacking Iran in the first place, saying it would be "unfair" for Tehran not to have ballistic missiles, having previously vowed to obliterate them.
"We're going to bomb the hell out of them if they violate the agreement," Trump said of Iran at a press conference. "I don't want them to. I want them to honor the agreement."
Earlier, he had said: "If I don't like it, if they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head, OK?"
Iran's lead negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf hailed the agreement in comments to state TV.
"Everything we sought to achieve through military action, we obtained several times over through negotiation; it was not even comparable," he said.
Oil prices fall again amid buoyed optimism around Iran
Thursday 18 June 2026 10:30 , James Reynolds
Oil prices fell again on Thursday after the United States and Iran signed their interim agreement to end the war.
Brent crude was down 1.58 per cent to $76.07 per barrel, continuing a steady downward trend correlating with optimism around the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Global stocks were torn, meanwhile, between concern about the rising chances of a US rate hike this year and optimism over the situation in Iran.
In Europe, the STOXX 600 fell 0.5%, as declines in energy shares like Shell and BP offset gains in tech stocks like ASML, Infineon and AI-exposed industrial group Schneider Electric.
Europe is more vulnerable to an increase in inflation from higher oil prices than the United States and so falling oil prices are good for European economies, but the weight of energy shares on various national markets kept the pan-regional index slightly in the red.
Signing ceremony WILL go ahead on Friday, insists Switzerland
Thursday 18 June 2026 10:21 , James Reynolds
Switzerland on Thursday said that initial talks between the US and Iran are planned at the Buergenstock mountaintop resort in Switzerland on Friday, following the signing of a ceasefire agreement.
In a statement, the Swiss foreign ministry said that as things stand, the plan is still for the U.S. and Iran, and mediators Pakistan and Qatar, to meet tomorrow at Buergenstock for initial negotiations about implementing the agreement.
It comes after Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei cast doubt on this, telling IRIB's News Network that, because the two presidents had already signed on Wednesday, "No signing ceremony will be held in Switzerland."
Watch: Trump says it would be 'unfair' for Iran to not have ballistic missiles in U-turn
Thursday 18 June 2026 10:00 , James Reynolds
Israel in talks with US over Lebanon occupation: report
Thursday 18 June 2026 09:52 , James Reynolds
Israel is holding negotiations with the U.S. as it seeks to continue its deployment of troops in southern Lebanon, two Israeli officials said on Thursday.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, made the comments a day after the U.S. and Iran signed an interim pact that calls for parties to ensure "the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon."
A senior Israeli official close to Israel’s Netanyahu told Reuters that Israel was "conducting stubborn negotiations" with Washington over continuing its deployment of troops in southern Lebanon.
The official said Israel would not back down on its positions, including keeping troops deployed in the area south of Lebanon's Litani River.
A second Israeli official told Reuters that the outcome of the talks would ultimately depend on whether U.S. President Donald Trump "decides to force the issue" by threatening repercussions if Israel does not abide by the interim Iran pact's terms.
‘I’m blaming JD’: Trump jokes at Vance’s expense on what happens if Iran deal doesn’t work out
Thursday 18 June 2026 09:30 , James Reynolds
President Donald Trump on Wednesday touted what he called a “historic” agreement with Iran while joking that if the deal falters he will pin the blame on Vice President J.D. Vance.
Speaking at a press conference at the end of the G7 summit in France, Trump defended the memorandum of understanding with Tehran, saying it would end the current conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and “prevent Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon.”
But when asked why he wouldn’t stick around Europe for a signing ceremony set for Friday in Switzerland, the president quipped that he was letting the vice president go in his stead in case the deal goes south.
Trump jokes at Vance’s expense that if Iran deal doesn’t work out: ‘I’m blaming JD’
Hegseth attacks European allies over Iran commitments
Thursday 18 June 2026 08:57 , James Reynolds
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is attending a meeting of Nato defence ministers at the alliance HQ in Belgium.
He says that too many Nato allies failed to support the US on its war in Iran, branding it “shameful” that they were denied access to airbases.
He says the Pentagon will launch a six month review of US troop posture in Europe - a ‘real review’ to ensure Nato is moving fast and irreversibly towards Europe leading the alliance.
The US cannot pay more for Nato’s defence than allies do, he adds.
Trump grilled Murdoch on whether he preferred Vance or Rubio - as they were all sat together, report says
Thursday 18 June 2026 08:50 , James Reynolds
During an October dinner, President Donald Trump reportedly polled media mogul Rupert Murdoch to get his thoughts on the question flying through Washington ahead of the 2028 presidential election: Who do you like more, Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio?
The two men sat awkwardly nearby as Murdoch responded, according to an excerpt obtained by Axios from the forthcoming book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan.
Murdoch, who reportedly tried to talk Trump out of choosing Vance in 2024, allegedly responded that Vance “has the potential to be great,” while Rubio “is brilliant.”
Read the full story:
Trump grilled Murdoch on if he liked Vance or Rubio as they sat together: report
Analysis: Why Trump’s Iran deal is little more than a shopping list of capitulations
Thursday 18 June 2026 08:23 , James Reynolds
There are gaping holes in the 14-point US deal with Iran in which some of the trickiest sticking points have not been addressed, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew:
Why Trump’s Iran deal is little more than a shopping list of capitulations
Trump's former VP says Iran deal 'smacks of appeasement'
Thursday 18 June 2026 08:22 , James Reynolds
Mike Pence, who was Trump’s vice president during his first term, acknowledged the Memorandum of Understanding “does smack of the kind of appeasement that our administration rejected in the Obama-Iran nuclear deal”.
“I would urge the President to take a step back, continue the blockade and pursue a negotiated settlement that commits Iran to dismantling their nuclear program, dismantling this missile program, ends support for terrorist proxies and opens the strait.
“Failing that, we should let our Armed Forces finish the job on our terms,” he wrote on social media.
German growth hit by Iran war energy shock, IMK says
Thursday 18 June 2026 08:15 , Reuters
Germany's economy will grow less than previously expected this year and next as the Iran war and a resulting energy price shock weigh on consumption and investment, the IMK economic institute said on Thursday.
The Macroeconomic Policy Institute (IMK) forecast gross domestic product would expand by 0.6% in 2026 and 0.9% in 2027, cutting its March projections by 0.3 and 0.7 percentage points respectively.
IMK said the outlook assumed the conflict would not escalate further, energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz would normalise later this year and oil and gas infrastructure in Gulf states would not suffer substantial additional damage.
Inflation is expected to average 2.8% in 2026, higher than previously assumed, before easing to 2.3% in 2027.
US and Iran still expected in Switzerland on Friday
Thursday 18 June 2026 07:45 , James Reynolds
The Swiss government says the plan at present is still for the US and Iran, along with Pakistan, Qatar and other involved countries, to meet at Burgenstock on Friday for initial talks on implementing the peace agreement.
Germany deploys ship to Red Sea for possible Hormuz mission
Thursday 18 June 2026 07:15 , James Reynolds
Germany is deploying two ships to the Red Sea in preparation for a possible military mission in the Strait of Hormuz, Germany's Defence minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday.
"As we speak, our minesweeper Fulda and the supply ship Mosel are sailing through the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea," he told reporters as he arrived for a meeting with his NATO counterparts in Brussels.
Pistorius said approval would be needed from Iran and Oman before any participation in a minesweeping operation, and added any mission would also depend on the developments in further talks between Iran and the United States.
Catch up: Read Trump’s 14 point Iran peace deal in full after US announces signing of agreement
Thursday 18 June 2026 07:12 , James Reynolds
Nearly four months after the U.S. started its war with Iran, Donald Trump has signed a long-awaited deal to end the war, restore global shipping and resolve an abiding dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Details of a 14 point plan were previously released by US officials, with an official signing ceremony expected to take place in Switzerland on Friday. However, it emerged on Wednesday evening that it had already been signed by the US president and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said any further Israeli attacks on Lebanon would be considered a breach of the terms of the deal. With Israel having continued its strikes on the country’s south, there remain concerns the deal could still fall apart.
Read Trump’s 14 point Iran peace deal in full after US announces signing of agreement
Vance argues Iran is not a quagmire like the Iraq war
Thursday 18 June 2026 06:59 , Namita Singh
In interviews this week, JD Vance has sought to speak directly to the skeptics in his party, a preview of the difficult explanations he may be pressed to make as a candidate on the war.
On Megyn Kelly's show, the vice president said the critics “believe Iranian propaganda” about the deal. But he acknowledged some of the frustrations on the hawkish right while trying to reassure the anti-interventionists that the Iran conflict isn't the war in Iraq, where he served as a Marine.
“We were never going to get the quagmire that a lot of people were worrying about because Donald Trump is just not George W Bush,” he said.
Democrats have stressed that even as Vance becomes the face of the Iran deal, the fate of any administration official who harbors presidential aspirations — particularly hawkish Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has largely been quiet in the agreement's final phases — will be tied to its outcome.
“I think any member of this administration is going to rise or fall on the basis of the Iran war and the handling of the economy, and I don’t think there are exceptions,” said Senator Brian Schatz.
Criticism of Iran deal continues to build in US after text is released
Thursday 18 June 2026 06:36 , Namita Singh
Backlash against the US-Iran peace deal, including from conservatives, began growing this week after the US digitally signed the memorandum of understanding with Iran on Sunday.
Luke Schroeder, a spokesperson for vice president JD Vance, said in a statement: “It’s unfortunate that some Republicans are attempting to undermine the President’s efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East and ensure Iran never has a nuclear weapon.”
Officials gave shifting answers about when they would release the text, but leaked copies of a draft were quickly met with anger and scepticism from Democratic and Republican lawmakers, as well as Israel and pro-Israel advocates.
Their criticisms included concerns that the deal, meant to open a two-month negotiating period, seemed to offer Iran wins up front while guaranteeing little in return, and that Trump’s stated reason for launching the conflict, to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, remains unresolved.
In response to the backlash and mounting questions, the US on Wednesday provided the text of the agreement to journalists.
The agreement states that Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried under rubble, must at minimum be diluted under international supervision. It also states that Iran shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons – a commitment it has made previously.
But beyond stating that the US and Iran will negotiate over Iran's nuclear program, other commitments still need to be worked out.
Criticism on the right persisted after the text was released.
Conservative radio host Erick Erickson, a hawk who has defended the war, said: “This is an American surrender.”
Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, criticised the agreement and said to reporters: “I think the president, unfortunately, is receiving bad advice.”
Vance becomes the face of Trump's tentative deal to end war with Iran
Thursday 18 June 2026 06:14 , Namita Singh
JD Vance was supposed to be spending the week promoting his new book, the kind of event a potential presidential candidate like the vice president typically uses to speak to a wide audience about his life and values ahead of a campaign.
Instead, the rollout of Vance’s second book, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, has been largely crowded out by something else he’s put his name on: the tentative deal to end the Iran war.
The Republican vice president has embraced the role of chief defender of the agreement he and President Donald Trump signed with Tehran, giving a series of interviews touting the memorandum of understanding as a success and releasing a video championing it.
It’s a striking emergence for a politician who was known for his skepticism of foreign military interventions and who seemed reluctant to speak on the conflict when Trump launched it in late February.
The vice president is poised to yoke himself further to the conflict’s outcome on Friday, when he’s expected to travel to Switzerland to kick off a new phase of negotiations with Iran. He was originally expected to attend a formal signing ceremony for the deal, but Trump formally signed it on Wednesday instead.
Vance becoming a hype man for the agreement seems to be an all-in gamble that, should he decide to seek the White House in 2028, voters will reward him for being the face of ending an unpopular conflict.
It’s also setting Vance up as the presumptive fall-guy should the deal with Iran falter.
Trump joked about such a possibility on Wednesday.
“If it works out, I’m going to take the credit. If it doesn’t work out, I’m blaming JD,” Trump said.
Trump jokes he will blame Vance if Iran deal fails
Thursday 18 June 2026 04:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Donald Trump suggested he would blame vice president JD Vance if the Iran peace deal failed.
Asked about the possibility of blaming Vance if the deal fails, Trump replied: "I like that idea, sure."
"This way, if it works out, I'm going to take the credit. If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD," the president continued.
"You better be careful, JD," he said.
Vance has become a leading administration voice promoting the initial agreement to end the war in Iran, even as Trump has occasionally contradicted facets of the agreement that Vance has announced publicly.
Trump knows his deal with Iran is bad. His closing G7 speech made that very clear
Thursday 18 June 2026 04:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
If you’d like to know how Donald Trump’s closing speech at the G7 went, it’s probably best to start at the part where he asked Scott Bessent whether the stock market was smarter than his Treasury secretary.
“No, sir,” Bessent dutifully replied. He was disagreeing with a notion Trump had just posited, but it was clear from his tone of voice that he didn’t mean to disagree.
He was simply trying to make real-time sense of what his boss had just said, which happened to be the semi-coherent and utterly baffling: “The stock market is more brilliant than anybody there is, including people on this stage, apart from me. What do you think, Scott, is the stock market more brilliant than you?”
Yes, sir? No, sir? What, sir? It was clear at that point, just a couple of minutes in, that nobody — including his own team, or perhaps especially his own team — had any idea what Trump was talking about.
More here.
Trump knows his deal with Iran is bad. His closing G7 speech made that very clear
Pakistan's Sharif deletes post on signing ceremony
Thursday 18 June 2026 04:26 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif deleted a post on the US-Iran deal and later reposted it without a reference to the Friday signing ceremony.
Sharif had written on X that there would still be a formal signing ceremony on Friday, after both sides had already signed a memorandum of agreement.
Sharif briefly removed the post a short time later, however. Then, he reposted most of the same text but removed a reference to Friday's ceremony.
That could cast doubt on whether the ceremony will happen.
Oil prices fall to $78 a barrel
Thursday 18 June 2026 04:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices fell in early trading this morning after the US and Iran signed an interim agreement that would end the Iran war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and waive US sanctions on Tehran's oil, resolving the largest energy supply disruption in history.
Brent crude futures were down 89 cents, or 1.12 per cent, at $78.66 a barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate fell 98 cents, or 1.28 per cent, to $75.81 a barrel.
Watch: Trump says unfair' for Iran to not have ballistic missiles if others have them
Thursday 18 June 2026 04:17 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Trump threatens he could still resume attacks
Thursday 18 June 2026 04:16 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Donald Trump has threatened that he could resume attacks and kill Iranian officials if they failed to honour their commitments after both nations signed the peace deal on Wednesday.
"We're going to bomb the hell out of them if they violate the agreement," Trump said of Iran at a press conference.
"I don't want them to. I want them to honour the agreement."
He also called Iranians "smart people" as US and Iranian negotiators work on a permanent truce over the coming 60 days, which Trump said he hoped would usher in peace in the Middle East and lower oil prices.
Fox News host turns blame on JD Vance for Iran negotiations: ‘Wasn’t the right person’
Thursday 18 June 2026 04:01 , Graeme Massie
Australia relaxes Middle East travel warning in boost for airlines and travellers
Thursday 18 June 2026 03:00 , James Reynolds
Australians would be able to enjoy foreign holidays at cheaper rates after the government significantly relaxed its travel warnings for several Middle Eastern countries.
The government lifted its blanket travel bans for Gulf nations on Tuesday after US president Donald Trump announced a peace deal with Iran.
The deal is expected to be formally signed in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday.
Foreign minister Penny Wong confirmed that the "do not travel" advisory had been lowered for the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel, and Kuwait.
Australia relaxes Middle East travel warning in boost for airlines and travellers
Trump says sanctions will be removed once Iran 'behaves' - ICYMI
Thursday 18 June 2026 02:01 , Alex Croft
Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that sanctions on Iran would be removed once "they behave."
"As far as sanctions are concerned, at some point, you know, we have sanctions which will never let them rebuild. They would have no money, they would be in poverty, the 91 million people would starve, so something will happen as soon as they behave. When they behave, we're going to let that go. We're going to have to. I put sanctions on a lot of people, and then I let them go," Trump told reporters.
He also suggested that frozen funds could be returned.
"We have taken their money, it's not our money, it's their money, and we froze it. At a certain point in time I guess we're going to have to give it back," Trump said. "If we didn't give it back, nobody would ever invest in the dollar again."
WATCH: President Trump signs deal aimed at ending Iran war while inside Versailles
Thursday 18 June 2026 01:33 , Josh Marcus
On Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump ceremonially signed the memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the Iran war.
The Republican inked the document during a visit to France’s Versailles palace after the G7 summit.
French President Emmanuel Macron and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looked on with approval as the Republican used a heavy ink pen to seal the deal.
“It’s signed, yeah,” Trump told reporters as he left dinner with Macron. “I signed it in Versailles.”
You can watch video of the historic moment here, via the White House.
Watch: Trump refers to Obama as 'stupid SOB' in Iran rant
Thursday 18 June 2026 01:00 , James Reynolds
Family of British couple in Tehran prison want loved ones freed as part of Trump’s Iran peace deal
Thursday 18 June 2026 00:00 , James Reynolds
The family of a British couple held in Iran are urging Donald Trump to push for a hostage exchange as part of a deal to end the war.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, from East Sussex, were sentenced to 10 years in Tehran’s Evin prison last year after Iran charged them with espionage during a motorcycle trip around the world. They deny the charges.
The couple have been on hunger strike for 39 and 30 days respectively, fearing “there is no other way to be heard” having effectively been stranded without legal representation, according to the family.
Read the full story:
Family of British couple in Tehran prison want loved ones freed under Iran peace deal
Trump thanks Putin and Xi for being 'neutral' during war
Wednesday 17 June 2026 23:30 , Alex Croft
Donald Trump on Wednesday thanked China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin for what he called their neutrality during the war with Iran.
"I just want to thank them because they made it a lot better," Trump said at a press conference on the sidelines of the Group of Seven conference in Evian-les-Bains, France, adding that both leaders had been "neutral."
60-day ceasefire period begins today - Tehran
Wednesday 17 June 2026 23:26 , Alex Croft
The 60-day ceasefire period between the US and Iran has started today, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said.
He provided some extra details on the agreement - here they are:
- Further Israeli attacks on Lebanon will be considered a breach of commitment.
- The management of the Strait of Hormuz will be the responsibility of Iran and Oman.
- Sanctions on Iranian oil should be lifted and Tehran should be able to start selling oil today and for the next 60 days.
- The US should not issue any new sanctions nor boost its military presence in the region within this 60 days.
- Fees will be received in exchange for services given to ships - there was not more clarity issued on this point.
- Iran’s nuclear materials will not be sent outside the country.
Trump and Iran sign MOU agreement
Wednesday 17 June 2026 23:18 , Alex Croft
Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war with Iran, a White House official has said.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the text of the agreement between the United States and Iran has been officially signed by the presidents of both sides, Iran state media reported early on Thursday.
Trump's Iran deal sets tone for talks
Wednesday 17 June 2026 23:00 , James Reynolds
G7 chiefs on Wednesday welcomed the preliminary agreement between the United States and Iran and said they were ready to help implement it.
They said they would make efforts to diversify energy supply routes to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked for most of the duration of its war with the US.
Trump cautioned today that the memorandum of understanding with Iran was not final, and that he could resume a bombing campaign if it was not honoured.
“If I don't like it, if they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head, OK?” he said.
Although European allies appeared supportive of the preliminary memorandum in public, diplomats cautioned that getting a lasting deal on Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programme as well as its support for proxy forces in the Middle East is no small challenge.
Watch: Trump jokes he'll blame Vance if Iran deal doesn't work out
Wednesday 17 June 2026 22:39 , Alex Croft
