Iran has denied that the US and Tehran have finalised all points in peace negotiations, as claimed by Donald Trump, reiterating that the regime will not compromise on its “red lines”.
Speaking to Iranian state TV: "We have not reached a final conclusion on this matter. This is a very important issue that is currently being reviewed by the relevant decision-making bodies."
It comes after Donald Trump walked back his threat to strike Iran “hard” last night, citing progress being made in peace negotiations.
The US president said he “cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening”.
He added that “discussions and final points” have been “approved by all parties involved”. He later told reporters that a deal could be signed as soon as this weekend.
Just hours earlier, Trump had issued a bombastic warning, threatening to seize Kharg Island, a strategic hub for oil exports, after striking the country “VERY HARD”.
The missive came after Iran declared the ceasefire with Washington “practically meaningless” after US forces fired 49 Tomahawk missiles on Wednesday. On Thursday, both sides traded strikes for the second day in a row, leaving a fragile ceasefire in jeopardy.
Key Points
- Iran denies US peace deal finalised
- Trump says peace deal could be signed this weekend — but traders aren't convinced
- Qatar, UAE and Pakistan convinced Trump to stop striking Iran
- Iran prevents tanker from entering Strait of Hormuz
- Fifa dragged to court for banning Iran's pre-revolutionary flag
- Oil prices fall below $90 a barrel
Draft agreement includes lifted sanctions and US withdrawal - Iranian state media
09:57 , Alex Croft
We’re hearing some details about a potential agreement between Iran and the US from Tehran’s semi-official Mehr news agency.
The proposed memorandum of understanding - which is yet to be finalised by Iranian authorities - includes Washington’s commitment to lifting sanctions, withdrawing from around Iran, and lifting the naval blockade on Iranian ports, it said.
The Strait of Hormuz will be reopened as part of the deal, it said.
The report also claimed it includes the cancelling of oil sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen funds.
A final round of negotiations after the memorandum would focus on nuclear and economic issues, but would exclude talks about Iran’s missile programme, it said.
US shoots down two Iranian attack drones
09:33 , Alex Croft
US forces shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones as Tehran appeared to attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a US official told Reuters.
"Traffic flow through the strait continues," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
For Iranians abroad, the World Cup poses a tough choice: cheer the team or protest the regime?
09:11 , Alex Croft
When Iran’s national soccer team walks onto American soil this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it will do so against the backdrop of an Iranian government crackdown against protesters in January, an ongoing war launched by the U.S. and Israel in February, and a four-month digital blackout affecting some 92 million people. It has left many Iranian fans feeling conflicted about who exactly they’ll be cheering for.
Even before a ball has been kicked, the tension has been clear among not only supporters but team members, too. Iranian players were issued visas to the United States at the 11th hour, and the team only arrived at their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, days before the tournament kicks off.
Read more here:
For Iran’s diaspora, a tough World Cup call: cheer the team or protest the regime?
Lebanon nurse-turned-teacher says she is ‘between body bags’ at night while teaching students in the day
08:45 , Alex Croft
A nurse-turned-teacher has detailed the realities of life in Lebanon since the escalation of war, describing being “between body bags holding lost innocent lives at night and teaching students the very next day”.
Israa Hassan, 31, who lives in Aramoun near Beirut, said her school has moved lessons online, but she has “lost contact” with some of her students and her “mind immediately goes to the worst possibilities”.
In the aftermath, Israa said her school building was converted into a shelter for people who have fled their homes, and the United Nations estimates more than one million people have been registered as displaced.
With her school in Mount Lebanon repurposed, Israa said that the “warmth of a classroom changed into a cold colourless screen”, but she has tried to “keep education going in the middle of uncertainty”.
Israa told PA Real Life: “Suddenly, within one night, I became a responder – a health worker trying to alleviate pain – and an educator trying to hold a space for children who were afraid, displaced or emotionally overwhelmed.
“The hard part is keeping a smile and motivation, after spending sleepless nights due to sounds of drones and night strikes.
“Or telling students during the day that the future holds beautiful things, right after witnessing an injured mum losing her kid the night before.”
Watch: Trump claims US made 'great settlement' with Iran
08:19 , Alex Croft
Iran denies US peace deal finalised
07:56 , Alex Croft
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson has denied that the US and Tehran have finalised peace negotiations, as claimed once again by Donald Trump.
Iran will not compromise on its “red lines”, Esmail Baghaei said.
Speaking to Iranian state TV, he added: "We have not reached a final conclusion on this matter. This is a very important issue that is currently being reviewed by the relevant decision-making bodies."
But he said that large parts of an agreement have, indeed, been finalised.
UK economy shrank by 0.1% in April following impact of Iran war
07:37 , Alex Croft
Britain’s economy has contracted for the first time in eight months amid signs that the Iran war is beginning to take its toll on some sectors.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 0.1 per cent in April in a sharp pullback from growth of 0.3 per cent in March and 0.4 per cent in February.
The decline was driven by a 0.2 per cent fall in services, which was partially offset by a 0.1 per cent rise in construction and 0.4 per cent growth in manufacturing.
In the three months to April, GDP grew by 0.7 per cent, according to the ONS.
Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics, said: “The economy grew in the latest three months as a whole, reflecting strong growth in February and March.
“This was despite April showing a small fall.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves acknowledged the war in the Middle East was hitting the economy.
She said: “Before the conflict in the Middle East, growth was higher than expected and inflation was falling. This is not a war we wanted or joined, but one that will have an impact at home.
A ceasefire in name only: How war in the Middle East is only getting worse
07:03 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ceasefires have been announced, often to great fanfare, in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. So why is there still so much fighting?
In just the last few weeks, Israeli forces have captured more territory in Gaza and killed two top Hamas militants there, as well as more than a dozen other people.
And the fighting in Lebanon showed no sign of letting up. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people on Wednesday, Lebanese security sources said, while Hezbollah claimed fresh attacks against Israeli forces.
More here.
A ceasefire in name only: How war in the Middle East is only getting worse
Trump says his birthday wish is ‘peace for the world’ as he strikes Iran
06:33 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
President Donald Trump has unveiled his 80th birthday wish, revealing that he hopes for “peace for the world” - despite the US launching more strikes on Iran.
Trump, who officially becomes an octogenarian on June 14, made the remark in the Oval Office on June 10. He was responding to a reporter who asked what his birthday wish would be, other than peace in the Middle East.
After pausing, Trump responded, “Well, I’ll go a step bigger…peace for the world, OK?”
“Peace for the world,” he repeated. “Middle East? Yes. Peace for the whole world.”
More here.
Trump reveals his 80th birthday wish amid the US’s war with Iran
Netanyahu's office says Israel not party to Iran deal
06:24 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement after the Israeli leader and Donald Trump spoke that Israel was not a party to the memorandum of understanding with Iran.
Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for Trump's commitment to securing a deal that includes removing enriched nuclear material, dismantling enrichment infrastructure, limiting missile output and ending support for regional proxies, the summary showed.
Tehran has been demanding an end to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, where fighting has continued in a parallel war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
Iran condemns deaths of 3 Indian sailors in US strikes
06:01 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The Iranian foreign ministry has condemned the US strike on a commercial vessel that killed at least three Indian sailors.
Iran's Esmail Baghaei said: "The brutal US attacks... stand as clear evidence of America's ongoing policy of armed robbery and State piracy.
"We extend our sympathies to the families and friends of the slain Indian sailors and offer our sincere condolences to the Indian people and government."
India's foreign ministry earlier criticised the attack, saying: "We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions, and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region."
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is yet to issue a statement.
Israeli and Palestinian civil society meet in France as two-state solution dims
05:37 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups will meet in France today to urge the international community not to abandon a two-state solution, as Paris seeks to keep the issue alive amid the Middle East war.
The meeting, attended by foreign ministers and senior officials from dozens of countries, marks one year since the UN-backed New York Declaration, which set out a roadmap toward Palestinian statehood and prompted around a dozen countries, including France, Britain and Canada, to recognise a Palestinian state.
"Given the current situation in the region, marked by seemingly endless conflicts, too many civilian casualties and a cycle of violence, and in light of the stalled implementation of the Gaza ceasefire ... we believe this conference is now more essential and urgent than ever,” a French foreign ministry spokesperson said.
Qatar, UAE and Pakistan convinced Trump to stop striking Iran
05:37 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan called Donald Trump after the US president threatened to hit Iran “very hard tonight” and urged him to hold off strikes, Politico reported.
Trump said he “cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening”, adding that “discussions and final points” have been “approved by all parties involved” regarding the peace deal.
He later told reporters that a deal could be signed as soon as this weekend.
Iran prevents tanker from entering Strait of Hormuz
05:12 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iranian forces prevented a tanker from transiting the Strait of Hormuz without coordination with the Iranian authorities, state media reported this morning.
Iranian media earlier reported sounds of explosions near Bandar Abbas, but state news agency IRNA later said no explosions had been reported in the port city and that any sounds could have been related to military activity in maritime areas.
Iran's top joint military command announced yesterday the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, including oil tankers and commercial ships, saying any vessel that will attempt passage will be shot at.
Iranian media also reported explosion sounds off the coast of Sirik.
A military source told state media that the sounds heard near Sirik were linked to Iranian forces confronting an oil tanker attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The tanker later complied with the ban on transit after receiving warnings from the IRGC Navy, the source said.
Israel continues to bomb Lebanon
05:11 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Fifa dragged to court for banning Iran's pre-revolutionary flag
04:48 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A lawsuit has been filed against Fifa over its ban on supporters bringing the Lion and the Sun pre-revolutionary Iranian flag into the World Cup games.
The Institute for Voices of Liberty submitted a lawsuit to the Los Angeles County Superior Court, which claimed that those who wished to fly the flag possess “protected symbolic and political speech” which requires “immediate judicial intervention", according to The New York Times.
The California-based non-profit is calling for a declaration that a ban is unlawful in California and that supporters should be allowed to carry the old flag, and demanded Fifa pay compensatory damages for any individual banned for possession of the flag.
The pre-revolutionary Iran flag is associated with the country’s previous Shah-led regime.
Oil prices fall below $90 a barrel
04:39 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices slumped to two-month lows on the news of an agreement before trimming some of the losses.Brent dropped 1.1 per cent at $89.40 per barrel, having fallen nearly 3 per cent overnight.
US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were last down 1.2 per cent to $86.69 a barrel, on top of a 2.6 per cent drop overnight.
Trump claims Iran agreed to not buy nuclear weapons
04:24 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Donald Trump has claimed an initial agreement aimed at ending the war with Iran is close and claimed that Iran has agreed not to buy nuclear weapons.
Speaking during a call with supporters, the US president said: "The big thing is there will be no nuclear weapons in Iran. That means not developed and not purchased."
“They had a clause they won’t develop. I said, ‘What about purchasing?’ They said, ‘Well, we didn’t cover that.’ So, two days later, they agreed to that. We got everything we wanted,” he said.
US shoots down two Iranian attack drones
04:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US forces shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones as Tehran appeared to attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a US official told Reuters.
"Traffic flow through the strait continues," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Trump says peace deal could be signed this weekend — but traders aren't convinced
04:00 , Rachel Dobkin
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that a finalised peace deal with Iran could be signed as soon as this weekend in Europe, but traders aren’t convinced an agreement, at least a permanent one, will be reached so soon.
As of early Friday morning, traders on the prediction market Polymarket believe there’s just a 16 percent chance that the US and Iran will reach a permanent peace deal by Monday.
Are the latest strikes between Trump and Iran the prelude to all-out war - or just the new normal?
03:45 , Alex Croft
The latest strikes between the US and Iran represent a new limbo period where both sides are neither obeying a ceasefire nor fully fighting, experts have warned, as each side carries out symbolic strikes aimed at pressuring their opponent into making concessions.
Tehran and Washington’s latest escalation is “carefully choreographed” and part of a “diplomatic dance” between Tehran and Washington, analysts say. But the longer it goes on, the higher the risk it could develop into a new round of conflict.
Read on...
Are latest strikes between Trump and Iran the prelude to all-out war or a new normal?
Full story: Trump reverses course to say no new strikes on Iran after boisterous threats to hit country ‘very hard’
03:30 , Andrew Feinberg
US President Donald Trump has once again reversed course and called off planned airstrikes on Iran just hours after he threatened to escalate the current wave of American attacks on Iran and potentially dispatch ground troops to seize the country’s main oil export facility.
Writing on Truth Social Thursday afternoon, Trump said: “Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, canceled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening”.
The president’s announcement walking back his early morning declaration that the US “will be hitting Iran ... VERY HARD TONIGHT” came after what he said were “discussions” between the US and Iran as well as Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt “and others”.
Read on...
Trump reverses course on new Iran strikes after threats to hit country ‘very hard’
Watch: Trump explains why this round of negotiations with Iran is supposedly different
03:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Reporter: You have said before that Iran and the United States were close to a deal. It has not happened yet. Why are you so convinced that this time is different?
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 11, 2026
Trump: Because they have taken a pounding. They want to make a deal a lot more than I do. pic.twitter.com/4FFjcvHv3l
US military downs Iranian drones: report
02:35 , Rachel Dobkin
The US military has downed two Iranian drones, a US official told NBC News Thursday night, Washington time.
“It appears Iran has attempted to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz tonight”, the official said. “U.S. forces shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones.
“Traffic flow through the Strait continues”, the official added.
Iranian official condemns 'brutal' US attack on Indian ship
02:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign affairs ministry, has condemned a reported US attack on an Indian oil tanker that killed three seafarers.
“The brutal US attacks on Indian commercial vessels which have killed at least three Indian nationals, stand as clear evidence of America’s ongoing policy of armed robbery and State piracy”, Baqaei wrote on X Thursday.
The brutal U.S. attacks on Indian commercial vessels which have killed at least three Indian nationals, stand as clear evidence of America’s ongoing policy of armed robbery and State piracy.
— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) June 11, 2026
We extend our sympathies to the families and friends of the slain Indian sailors and…
“The international community must hold the United States accountable for its lawless conduct, which continues to threaten global peace and security while endangering the freedom of navigation”, the spokesperson added.
Read more on the reported Indian oil tanker attack from Maroosha Muszaffar:
India reports third ship ‘incident’ off Oman after US strike on tanker
US military was mere hours away from striking Iran before Trump cancelled operation : report
01:30 , Rachel Dobkin
The US military was mere hours away from striking Iran again before President Donald Trump cancelled the operation, according to a new report.
American forces already received orders from Trump to hit Iran Thursday evening, local time, before the president announced that the strikes were cancelled, two US officials told NBC News.
Trump made the announcement about three hours before missiles would have been launched, according to the sources.
Trump says US made 'great deal' with Iran
01:00 , Rachel Dobkin
President Donald Trump has said that the US made a “great deal” with Iran.
“Today we settled up with Iran”, Trump said at a telephone rally Thursday, local time, per the Associated Press.
“People will start coming home very soon. It’s pretty much completed. We got everything we wanted,” he added.
Trump claims Iran agreed never to obtain nuclear weapon
Friday 12 June 2026 00:25 , Rachel Dobkin
US President Donald Trump has claimed Iran agreed never to obtain nuclear weapons as part of a deal to end the war.
"I don't know if you heard, but we ended the war with Iran today, and they have agreed never to have a nuclear weapon”, Trump said at a telephone rally Thursday, local time, per NewsNation correspondent Libbery Dean.
Read: Trump's statement on the cancellation of additional strikes against Iran
Friday 12 June 2026 00:00 , Rachel Dobkin
🚨 President Donald J. Trump on cancelled scheduled strikes against Iran. pic.twitter.com/iIijh6j5m2
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 11, 2026
Ex-US counterterrorism chief urges Trump to 'just walk away' from Iran war
Thursday 11 June 2026 23:30 , Rachel Dobkin
Former US counterterrorism chief Joe Kent has urged Donald Trump to “just walk away” from the Iran war.
“There is no clear-cut military solution, and there is little hope for a diplomatic solution—if there were a viable option for either, I firmly believe that President Trump would just order the military action or sign the deal”, Kent wrote on X Thursday.
Kent was the director of the National Counterterrorism Center before he resigned in March over his disagreement with the war.
“The ‘Trump card’ is simple: just walk away, declare victory, and leave”, Kent continued. “This is not a coward’s retreat; it’s a strategic move to protect our troops and stop this destructive war dead in its tracks”.
Why won't Trump be at potential peace deal signing this weekend?
Thursday 11 June 2026 23:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Donald Trump has said a finalised peace deal with Iran could be signed as soon as this weekend in Europe, but he said he wouldn’t be there.
That’s because the US president will be celebrating his birthday on Sunday with an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn. The event will be part of the many celebrations of America’s 250th year of independence.
