As the global energy market holds its breath, a new round of technical talks between the United States and Iran has commenced in Doha. Aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire and ensuring the free flow of maritime traffic, these discussions represent a critical juncture following months of conflict that crippled one of the world's most vital shipping choke points.

US-Iran talks focus on regional security & strait of hormuz

President Donald Trump recently announced that Iran is making "very big concessions" as negotiations toward a final peace agreement continue. Following the signing of the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" last week, the U.S. and Iran have entered a 60-day window to finalize terms regarding Iran’s nuclear program, the lifting of sanctions, and the management of the Strait of Hormuz.


Trump Claims Iran Making Major Concessions In Peace Talks 

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran would agree to extensive weapons inspections as part of efforts to ensure what he called “nuclear honesty” in the years ahead.&nbsp;“Everybody is fully aware that Iran will agree to have Major Weapons Inspections to ensure ‘Nuclear Honesty’ long into the future,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.&nbsp;His remarks came shortly after Vice President JD Vance said talks between US and Iranian officials in Burgenstock, Switzerland, had created a "very good foundation" for a final agreement. Vance also stated that Tehran had agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to return.&nbsp;On June 14, Iran and the United States announced a 14-point understanding reached through Pakistani mediation. The arrangement was aimed at ending the four-month conflict, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and establishing a framework for future nuclear negotiations.&nbsp;The memorandum officially took effect on June 18 after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump signed it electronically.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vance-says-iran-has-agreed-to-resume-iaea-nuclear-inspections-probably-by-this-week-1782143460029">Vance says Iran has agreed to resume IAEA nuclear inspections, probably by ‘this week’</a><h2>Iran rejects US claims on inspections</h2>However, Iran pushed back against the US claims, saying no new commitments were made during the latest discussions in Switzerland.&nbsp;Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that Tehran had not negotiated its nuclear programme and had not accepted any additional obligations during the talks.&nbsp;Baghaei said cooperation with the IAEA would continue “under the current procedures.” He added that Iran's engagement with the agency would proceed “in accordance with Iran’s obligations under safeguard agreements” and “in line with resolutions passed by Parliament and decisions of the Supreme National Security Council.”&nbsp;Iran's parliament passed a law last summer that limited cooperation with the IAEA and suspended inspections. According to IRNA, however, cooperation was never fully halted. The report said the law still allows inspectors to visit “active nuclear sites,” including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, on a “case-by-case basis.”&nbsp;IRNA further reported that access to damaged nuclear facilities and any arrangements involving Iran's enriched uranium stockpile would depend on a separate mechanism to be agreed as part of a final deal following the 60-day negotiation period outlined in the memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

Trump's remarks followed Vice President JD Vance's claim that talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland had laid the groundwork for a final agreement, including Tehran's reported acceptance of IAEA inspectors.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran would agree to extensive weapons inspections as part of efforts to ensure what he called “nuclear honesty” in the years ahead. “Everybody is fully aware that Iran will agree to have Major Weapons Inspections to ensure ‘Nuclear Honesty’ long into the future,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. His remarks came shortly after Vice President JD Vance said talks between US and Iranian officials in Burgenstock, Switzerland, had created a "very good foundation" for a final agreement. Vance also stated that Tehran had agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to return. On June 14, Iran and the United States announced a 14-point understanding reached through Pakistani mediation. The arrangement was aimed at ending the four-month conflict, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and establishing a framework for future nuclear negotiations. The memorandum officially took effect on June 18 after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump signed it electronically. Also Read: Vance says Iran has agreed to resume IAEA nuclear inspections, probably by ‘this week’ Iran rejects US claims on inspections However, Iran pushed back against the US claims, saying no new commitments were made during the latest discussions in Switzerland. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that Tehran had not negotiated its nuclear programme and had not accepted any additional obligations during the talks. Baghaei said cooperation with the IAEA would continue “under the current procedures.” He added that Iran's engagement with the agency would proceed “in accordance with Iran’s obligations under safeguard agreements” and “in line with resolutions passed by Parliament and decisions of the Supreme National Security Council.” Iran's parliament passed a law last summer that limited cooperation with the IAEA and suspended inspections. According to IRNA, however, cooperation was never fully halted. The report said the law still allows inspectors to visit “active nuclear sites,” including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, on a “case-by-case basis.” IRNA further reported that access to damaged nuclear facilities and any arrangements involving Iran's enriched uranium stockpile would depend on a separate mechanism to be agreed as part of a final deal following the 60-day negotiation period outlined in the memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

Trump's remarks followed Vice President JD Vance's claim that talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland had laid the groundwork for a final agreement, including Tehran's reported acceptance of IAEA inspectors.

Trump claims Iran will accept inspections to ensure 'nuclear honesty'; Tehran pushes back

High-level talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland have produced the clearest signs yet that both sides are attempting to move from a fragile ceasefire towards a broader political settlement. While negotiators have reported progress, officials on both sides have stressed that the process remains incomplete and that a final deal is far from guaranteed.&nbsp;So, where does the peace deal stand at present? This is what we know:<h2>1. A roadmap has been agreed, not a final deal</h2>The biggest outcome from the Switzerland talks is an agreement on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement. Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said the two sides had established a framework for further negotiations, but no final peace agreement has yet been signed.<h2>2. The ceasefire remains the foundation</h2>The talks are taking place under a ceasefire arrangement that was agreed earlier this month. According to Reuters, the roadmap extends efforts to preserve the truce while negotiators work through the more difficult political and security issues. The ceasefire remains essential to preventing a return to military confrontation.<h2>3. Nuclear inspections are emerging as a breakthrough area</h2>One of Washington’s primary demands has been greater oversight of Iran’s nuclear activities. Reuters reported that Iran has agreed in principle to allow international nuclear inspections, a move that US officials view as a critical confidence-building measure. However, the precise scope and duration of inspections are still being negotiated.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-war-ends-but-did-trump-achieve-his-objectives-wion-decodes-1781606302003">US-Iran war ends - But did Trump achieve his ‘objectives’? WION Decodes</a><h2>4. Sanctions relief has started, but only temporarily</h2>The United States has already taken a significant step by issuing a temporary 60-day licence permitting Iranian oil sales and related financial transactions. According to Reuters, the measure is intended to support negotiations rather than represent a permanent lifting of sanctions. Future relief will likely depend on Iran meeting its agreed commitments.<h2>5. The Strait of Hormuz remains a major sticking point</h2>Although both sides agree that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must continue, disagreements remain over events surrounding the waterway. Negotiators have established communication mechanisms to ensure safe maritime transit, but the issue remains sensitive given its importance to global energy supplies.<h2>6. Frozen Iranian assets are under negotiation</h2>A mechanism for handling Iranian assets frozen abroad is being developed as part of the broader package. Reuters reported that any release of funds would likely be subject to oversight arrangements involving the United States and Qatar, reflecting continued mistrust between the two sides.<h2>7. Lebanon has become part of the negotiations</h2>The talks are no longer limited to bilateral US-Iran issues. According to Reuters, negotiators have discussed a ceasefire framework in Lebanon and established deconfliction channels aimed at reducing regional tensions. Progress on this front could be critical to securing a broader settlement.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-world-is-no-longer-afraid-of-america-and-that-should-worry-washington-wion-decodes-1779864189948">The world is no longer afraid of America - and that should worry Washington | WION Decodes</a><h2>8. Technical talks will continue this week</h2>The political negotiations have now moved into a technical phase. Mediators announced that specialist teams will continue discussions on sanctions, nuclear verification, dispute resolution mechanisms and implementation timelines. These negotiations are expected to determine whether the roadmap can be transformed into a binding agreement.<h2>9. Both sides can still walk away</h2>Despite the positive rhetoric, senior US officials have warned that neither side is locked into the process. Reuters reported last week that both Washington and Tehran retain the option of abandoning the memorandum if disagreements over sequencing and implementation prove insurmountable.<h2>10. Diplomats are cautiously optimistic</h2>Perhaps the strongest indication of progress came from US Vice President JD Vance, who said the Switzerland discussions had laid a “good foundation” for a final peace agreement. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif similarly described the talks as successful and constructive. Even so, officials acknowledge that the toughest negotiations are still ahead.

US-Iran talks in Switzerland produced a 60-day roadmap toward a political settlement, extending the ceasefire and making progress on nuclear inspections and sanctions, though a final deal remains uncertain.

High-level talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland have produced the clearest signs yet that both sides are attempting to move from a fragile ceasefire towards a broader political settlement. While negotiators have reported progress, officials on both sides have stressed that the process remains incomplete and that a final deal is far from guaranteed. So, where does the peace deal stand at present? This is what we know: 1. A roadmap has been agreed, not a final deal The biggest outcome from the Switzerland talks is an agreement on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement. Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said the two sides had established a framework for further negotiations, but no final peace agreement has yet been signed. 2. The ceasefire remains the foundation The talks are taking place under a ceasefire arrangement that was agreed earlier this month. According to Reuters, the roadmap extends efforts to preserve the truce while negotiators work through the more difficult political and security issues. The ceasefire remains essential to preventing a return to military confrontation. 3. Nuclear inspections are emerging as a breakthrough area One of Washington’s primary demands has been greater oversight of Iran’s nuclear activities. Reuters reported that Iran has agreed in principle to allow international nuclear inspections, a move that US officials view as a critical confidence-building measure. However, the precise scope and duration of inspections are still being negotiated. Also read: US-Iran war ends - But did Trump achieve his ‘objectives’? WION Decodes 4. Sanctions relief has started, but only temporarily The United States has already taken a significant step by issuing a temporary 60-day licence permitting Iranian oil sales and related financial transactions. According to Reuters, the measure is intended to support negotiations rather than represent a permanent lifting of sanctions. Future relief will likely depend on Iran meeting its agreed commitments. 5. The Strait of Hormuz remains a major sticking point Although both sides agree that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must continue, disagreements remain over events surrounding the waterway. Negotiators have established communication mechanisms to ensure safe maritime transit, but the issue remains sensitive given its importance to global energy supplies. 6. Frozen Iranian assets are under negotiation A mechanism for handling Iranian assets frozen abroad is being developed as part of the broader package. Reuters reported that any release of funds would likely be subject to oversight arrangements involving the United States and Qatar, reflecting continued mistrust between the two sides. 7. Lebanon has become part of the negotiations The talks are no longer limited to bilateral US-Iran issues. According to Reuters, negotiators have discussed a ceasefire framework in Lebanon and established deconfliction channels aimed at reducing regional tensions. Progress on this front could be critical to securing a broader settlement. Also read: The world is no longer afraid of America - and that should worry Washington | WION Decodes 8. Technical talks will continue this week The political negotiations have now moved into a technical phase. Mediators announced that specialist teams will continue discussions on sanctions, nuclear verification, dispute resolution mechanisms and implementation timelines. These negotiations are expected to determine whether the roadmap can be transformed into a binding agreement. 9. Both sides can still walk away Despite the positive rhetoric, senior US officials have warned that neither side is locked into the process. Reuters reported last week that both Washington and Tehran retain the option of abandoning the memorandum if disagreements over sequencing and implementation prove insurmountable. 10. Diplomats are cautiously optimistic Perhaps the strongest indication of progress came from US Vice President JD Vance, who said the Switzerland discussions had laid a “good foundation” for a final peace agreement. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif similarly described the talks as successful and constructive. Even so, officials acknowledge that the toughest negotiations are still ahead.

US-Iran talks in Switzerland produced a 60-day roadmap toward a political settlement, extending the ceasefire and making progress on nuclear inspections and sanctions, though a final deal remains uncertain.

Where does US-Iran peace deal stand? Explained in 10 points

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have all freedom to act against threats in Lebanon. In a post on X he wrote, "Our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or emerging threat to them or to the residents of the North."&nbsp;"The IDF has no restrictions in this regard. I stand behind them; the entire nation stands behind them, he further said and added, "I stand firm that we will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon as long as necessary to protect the residents of the North and all citizens of the country."&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-allows-iranian-oil-sales-hormuz-iaea-jd-vance-frozen-assets-1782138233424">US issues 60-day license for Iranian oil sales, explores Iranian frozen assets for US farm products</a>&nbsp;The statement by Netanyahu comes at a time when the first round of talks between US and Iran held in Switzerland on Sunday was focused amongst other things on stopping Israel's war with the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.<h2>What does Iran say on Lebanon?</h2>&nbsp;Inclusion of Lebanon has been one of Iran's core issues that it considers non-negotiable for a consolidated peace settlement with US. On several occasions Iran has threatened to abandon the agreement entirely if Israeli strikes and its territorial occupation in Lebanon continued.&nbsp;Israel has so far not been a part of the negotiations between US and Iran and has objected to a ceasefire in Lebanon becoming part of the deal.&nbsp;Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ahead of the talks on Sunday had said Washington holds a "commitment and responsibility" to force live up to the terms of the peace deal on all fronts.&nbsp;While Israel has maintained that military operations in southern Lebanon will continue till the time it perceives Hezbollah as a direct threat.&nbsp;According to clause 1 of the memorandum of understanding, the end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is a prerequisite of the memorandum.&nbsp;

The statement by Netanyahu comes at a time when the first round of talks between US and Iran held in Switzerland on Sunday was focused on stopping Israel's war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have all freedom to act against threats in Lebanon. In a post on X he wrote, "Our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or emerging threat to them or to the residents of the North." "The IDF has no restrictions in this regard. I stand behind them; the entire nation stands behind them, he further said and added, "I stand firm that we will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon as long as necessary to protect the residents of the North and all citizens of the country." ALSO READ: US issues 60-day license for Iranian oil sales, explores Iranian frozen assets for US farm products The statement by Netanyahu comes at a time when the first round of talks between US and Iran held in Switzerland on Sunday was focused amongst other things on stopping Israel's war with the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. What does Iran say on Lebanon? Inclusion of Lebanon has been one of Iran's core issues that it considers non-negotiable for a consolidated peace settlement with US. On several occasions Iran has threatened to abandon the agreement entirely if Israeli strikes and its territorial occupation in Lebanon continued. Israel has so far not been a part of the negotiations between US and Iran and has objected to a ceasefire in Lebanon becoming part of the deal. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ahead of the talks on Sunday had said Washington holds a "commitment and responsibility" to force live up to the terms of the peace deal on all fronts. While Israel has maintained that military operations in southern Lebanon will continue till the time it perceives Hezbollah as a direct threat. According to clause 1 of the memorandum of understanding, the end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is a prerequisite of the memorandum.

The statement by Netanyahu comes at a time when the first round of talks between US and Iran held in Switzerland on Sunday was focused on stopping Israel's war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Netanyahu says Israel has 'full freedom of action' in Lebanon as first round of peace talks end

The first round of high-level talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the wider Middle East conflict has concluded in Switzerland, with mediators Pakistan and Qatar describing the discussions as "positive and constructive". After a marathon 8-hour session, negotiators shared a joint statement on what happened at the talks.While they stopped short of announcing a final breakthrough, negotiators suggested that the talks produced the clearest roadmap yet for a potential agreement. These vital talks between Washington and Tehran come after months of war, regional instability and economic disruption. WION Decodes what happened at the first round of negotiations and what will happen going forward.<h2>What happened?</h2>The negotiations took place at the Lake Lucerne Summit in Burgenstock, Switzerland, under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the agreement reached earlier to halt hostilities and create a pathway toward a broader settlement.According to a joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar, both sides agreed to continue discussions and established several new mechanisms designed to keep negotiations moving forward.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Joint Statement by the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Regarding The Conclusion of Lake Lucerne Summit, First High-Level Committee Meeting with Participation of the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran Lucerne | June 22, 2026 The first… <a href="https://t.co/bLVpaR2uua">pic.twitter.com/bLVpaR2uua</a>&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) <a href="https://x.com/MofaQatar_EN/status/2068863423987778035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🔊PR No: 1️⃣5️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Joint Statement by the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Regarding the Conclusion of Lake Lucerne Summit, First High-Level Committee Meeting with Participation of the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran <a href="https://t.co/2G3PAf7LVY">pic.twitter.com/2G3PAf7LVY</a>&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) <a href="https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2068863783637057739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The biggest outcome was the creation of a High-Level Committee that will oversee the mediation process and provide political guidance to negotiators.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-araghchi-says-switzerland-talks-delivered-major-progress-on-sanctions-oil-exports-1782093628417">Iran's Araghchi says Switzerland talks delivered 'major progress' on sanctions, oil exports</a><h2>Who was involved in the talks?</h2>The talks brought together delegations from the United States and Iran, with Pakistan and Qatar acting as mediators.Here's a look at the delegates who were present for the negotiations:<h3>Iranian Delegation</h3><ul><li>Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf - Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Head of Delegation</li><li>Abbas Araghchi - Foreign Minister, Chief Diplomatic Negotiator</li><li>Esmaeil Baghaei - Foreign Ministry Spokesperson</li><li>Ali Bagheri Kani - Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council</li><li>Abdolnasser Hemmati - Head of Economic and Banking Committee</li><li>Hamid Bord - Head of Energy and Oil Committee</li></ul><h3>United States Delegation</h3><ul><li>JD Vance - Vice President of the United States, Head of Delegation</li><li>Steve Witkoff - White House Special Envoy</li><li>Jared Kushner - Senior Adviser and Special Envoy</li></ul>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/children-of-minab-are-watching-us-iran-s-ghalibaf-arrives-in-switzerland-for-talks-with-us-1782012769144">'Children of Minab are watching us': Iran's Ghalibaf arrives in Switzerland for talks with US</a><h3>Pakistan (mediator)</h3><ul><li>Shehbaz Sharif - Prime Minister of Pakistan</li><li>Syed Asim Munir - Field Marshal and Chief of Defence Forces</li></ul><h3>Qatar (mediator)</h3><ul><li>Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani - Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar</li><li>Senior Qatari diplomatic officials</li></ul><h3>Switzerland (host nation)</h3><ul><li>Ignazio Cassis - Swiss Foreign Minister Swiss diplomatic facilitation team</li></ul><h3>International/Technical Presence</h3><ul><li>Rafael Grossi - IAEA Director General (attending sidelines and technical consultations)</li></ul>Total known participants: Around 15-20 senior political, diplomatic, security, economic and technical officials across the delegations and mediation teams.<h2>Where do the negotiations go from here?</h2>The newly formed High-Level Committee has agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days. Several working groups will now begin technical discussions on key issues, including:<ul><li>Iran's nuclear programme</li><li>Sanctions relief</li><li>Monitoring and dispute resolution mechanisms</li><li>Regional security arrangements</li></ul>Technical talks are expected to continue throughout the week in Switzerland.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-peace-deal-inside-the-14-point-mou-that-ended-over-108-days-of-war-wion-decodes-donald-trump-mojtaba-khamenei-benjamin-netanyahu-lebanon-1781513800001">US-Iran peace deal: Inside the 14-point MoU that ended over 108 days of war | WION Decodes</a><h2>Why are these talks important?</h2>The negotiations come after months of conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The crisis had rattled global energy markets and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, driving oil and crude prices to alarming highs.One of the most significant developments announced was the creation of a direct communication line between Washington and Tehran to "avoid incidents and miscommunication" with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.A separate de-confliction cell involving Iran, the US and Lebanon has also been established to monitor the cessation of military operations in Lebanon.<h2>How is Iran describing the outcome?</h2>Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck an optimistic tone following the talks.In a post on X, he claimed that Pakistani and Qatari mediation had delivered "major progress" and suggested that several economic concessions were already emerging from the process.According to Araghchi, restrictions affecting Iran's oil and petrochemical exports are being eased, some frozen Iranian assets are set to be released, and a major reconstruction and development programme for Iran is being launched.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War. Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction &amp; development plan launched for Iran. 1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell <a href="https://t.co/q0okD2qwSO">https://t.co/q0okD2qwSO</a>&mdash; Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) <a href="https://x.com/araghchi/status/2068866564997206221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What remains unresolved?</h2>Despite the positive language, major questions remain unanswered.Neither side has publicly detailed the scope of sanctions relief, the future of Iran's uranium enrichment activities, or the exact timeline for implementing commitments under the MoU.The next few weeks will likely determine whether the momentum generated in Switzerland can be converted into a lasting agreement or whether familiar disagreements once again restart the war. For now, both sides appear committed to diplomacy, but the hardest part of the negotiations may still lie ahead.

After an eight-hour negotiating marathon in Switzerland, the United States and Iran agreed on a roadmap for further talks and created a new High-Level Committee to oversee negotiations. Here's all you need to know about the Lake Lucerne Summit and the road ahead.

The first round of high-level talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the wider Middle East conflict has concluded in Switzerland, with mediators Pakistan and Qatar describing the discussions as "positive and constructive". After a marathon 8-hour session, negotiators shared a joint statement on what happened at the talks. While they stopped short of announcing a final breakthrough, negotiators suggested that the talks produced the clearest roadmap yet for a potential agreement. These vital talks between Washington and Tehran come after months of war, regional instability and economic disruption. WION Decodes what happened at the first round of negotiations and what will happen going forward. What happened? The negotiations took place at the Lake Lucerne Summit in Burgenstock, Switzerland, under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the agreement reached earlier to halt hostilities and create a pathway toward a broader settlement. According to a joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar, both sides agreed to continue discussions and established several new mechanisms designed to keep negotiations moving forward.

After an eight-hour negotiating marathon in Switzerland, the United States and Iran agreed on a roadmap for further talks and created a new High-Level Committee to oversee negotiations. Here's all you need to know about the Lake Lucerne Summit and the road ahead.

Lake Lucerne Summit: First US-Iran talks in Switzerland end with cautious optimism. What was agreed and what comes next? | WION Decodes

As US-Iran peace talks continue despite a tense opening round, US Vice President JD Vance shared a personal perspective on his connection with India and Pakistan. Speaking amid high-stakes diplomatic negotiations, Vance reflected on his family ties and regional understanding while discussions on the Strait of Hormuz, Lebanon, and broader Middle East security remain in focus. What does his South Asian connection mean for US diplomacy in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape?


US-Iran Peace Talks: US Vice President On His Connection With India & Pakistan

The first round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland on ending the Middle East war has concluded, said mediators Pakistan and Qatar in a joint statement on Monday (Jun 22). The vital talks concluded with cautious optimism, as negotiators agreed on a framework to keep discussions moving and laid out a roadmap aimed at reaching a broader agreement within the next 60 days. The discussions, held at the Lake Lucerne Summit, were described by mediators as "constructive" and "positive", despite weeks of tensions across the Middle East and lingering disagreements over key issues.According to Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, "major progress" was achieved. He said the developments include waivers for Iranian oil and petrochemical exports.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-peace-deal-inside-the-14-point-mou-that-ended-over-108-days-of-war-wion-decodes-donald-trump-mojtaba-khamenei-benjamin-netanyahu-lebanon-1781513800001">US-Iran peace deal: Inside the 14-point MoU that ended over 108 days of war | WION Decodes</a><h2>Major breakthroughs achieved</h2>In a post on X, Araghchi said that "tireless" mediation of Qatar and Pakistan "has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War". According to him, restrictions on Iran's oil and petrochemical exports would be eased, the blockade affecting Iranian trade routes would be lifted, a portion of the country's frozen assets would be released, and a large-scale reconstruction and development programme would be launched for Iran.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-us-talks-expected-to-continue-through-the-night-despite-rocky-start-in-switzerland-1782088162418">Iran-US talks expected to continue through the night despite rocky start in Switzerland</a>Additionally, as per the joint statement posted on X by the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the warring nations have agreed on the creation of a new High-Level Committee that will provide political oversight for the negotiations.The committee will receive regular updates from chief negotiators and supervise a series of working groups tasked with tackling some of the most sensitive aspects of the talks, it said.Those groups will focus on nuclear-related matters, sanctions relief, and the establishment of monitoring and dispute-resolution mechanisms designed to ensure both sides adhere to commitments already outlined in the memorandum of understanding (MoU).Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Araghchi credited Qatari and Pakistani mediation for the breakthrough, saying the talks produced tangible progress on sanctions relief, oil exports and economic recovery as both sides agreed on a roadmap for further negotiations.

The first round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland on ending the Middle East war has concluded, said mediators Pakistan and Qatar in a joint statement on Monday (Jun 22). The vital talks concluded with cautious optimism, as negotiators agreed on a framework to keep discussions moving and laid out a roadmap aimed at reaching a broader agreement within the next 60 days. The discussions, held at the Lake Lucerne Summit, were described by mediators as "constructive" and "positive", despite weeks of tensions across the Middle East and lingering disagreements over key issues. According to Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, "major progress" was achieved. He said the developments include waivers for Iranian oil and petrochemical exports. Also read | US-Iran peace deal: Inside the 14-point MoU that ended over 108 days of war | WION Decodes Major breakthroughs achieved In a post on X, Araghchi said that "tireless" mediation of Qatar and Pakistan "has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War". According to him, restrictions on Iran's oil and petrochemical exports would be eased, the blockade affecting Iranian trade routes would be lifted, a portion of the country's frozen assets would be released, and a large-scale reconstruction and development programme would be launched for Iran.

Araghchi credited Qatari and Pakistani mediation for the breakthrough, saying the talks produced tangible progress on sanctions relief, oil exports and economic recovery as both sides agreed on a roadmap for further negotiations.

Iran's Araghchi says Switzerland talks delivered 'major progress' on sanctions, oil exports

US and Iranian negotiators remained locked in talks in Switzerland into the early hours of Monday (Jun 22), as both sides attempted to build on a fragile agreement aimed at ending months of conflict that destabilised the Middle East and rattled global energy markets. The discussions, being held at the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, were expected to continue overnight, a US diplomat familiar with the negotiations told news agency AFP.<h2>When Iran walked out of Switzerland negotiations</h2>Despite the ongoing dialogue, the latest round of talks got off to a rocky start after Iran's delegation briefly walked out following remarks by US President Donald Trump, who warned Tehran against backing Hezbollah attacks in Lebanon.Trump on X had threatened military action against Iran if it failed to "immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/children-of-minab-are-watching-us-iran-s-ghalibaf-arrives-in-switzerland-for-talks-with-us-1782012769144">'Children of Minab are watching us': Iran's Ghalibaf arrives in Switzerland for talks with US</a>However, instead of intimidating the Islamic Republic, Trump's strongman act triggered a sharp response from Tehran. Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that the country's delegation left the negotiating venue after meeting Qatari mediators, citing Trump's remarks as the reason for its protest.Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded by warning that Iran's military was prepared to react if threatened."They would do better to be careful with their statements," Ghalibaf said. "Our armed forces are ready to respond to them in a different manner."Despite the tensions, both sides later returned to discussions.<h2>Robust discussions continue</h2>A US diplomat said negotiators were engaged in "robust discussions" covering various aspects of a potential nuclear agreement and broader regional security concerns. However, as per Iran's state news agency IRNA, Tehran's nuclear programme did not make it into the discussions "during the 80-minute first round of talks".One focus of the talks was ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open through the creation of deconfliction mechanisms. The strategic waterway has once again become a major point of concern after Iran threatened to close it in response to recent Israeli military operations in Lebanon.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-round-of-us-iran-talks-concludes-in-switzerland-what-s-the-outcome-1782058343955">First round of US-Iran talks concludes in Switzerland. What’s the outcome?</a><h2>The Lebanon matter</h2>Iranian officials have insisted that progress toward a final agreement remains linked to developments in Lebanon. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said it would be difficult to move toward a comprehensive settlement while fighting continued there.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US and Iranian negotiators are expected to continue overnight talks in Switzerland despite a brief walkout by Tehran's delegation triggered by President Donald Trump's warning against Iranian support for Hezbollah.

US and Iranian negotiators remained locked in talks in Switzerland into the early hours of Monday (Jun 22), as both sides attempted to build on a fragile agreement aimed at ending months of conflict that destabilised the Middle East and rattled global energy markets. The discussions, being held at the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, were expected to continue overnight, a US diplomat familiar with the negotiations told news agency AFP. When Iran walked out of Switzerland negotiations Despite the ongoing dialogue, the latest round of talks got off to a rocky start after Iran's delegation briefly walked out following remarks by US President Donald Trump, who warned Tehran against backing Hezbollah attacks in Lebanon. Trump on X had threatened military action against Iran if it failed to "immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble". Also read | 'Children of Minab are watching us': Iran's Ghalibaf arrives in Switzerland for talks with US However, instead of intimidating the Islamic Republic, Trump's strongman act triggered a sharp response from Tehran. Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that the country's delegation left the negotiating venue after meeting Qatari mediators, citing Trump's remarks as the reason for its protest. Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded by warning that Iran's military was prepared to react if threatened. "They would do better to be careful with their statements," Ghalibaf said. "Our armed forces are ready to respond to them in a different manner." Despite the tensions, both sides later returned to discussions. Robust discussions continue A US diplomat said negotiators were engaged in "robust discussions" covering various aspects of a potential nuclear agreement and broader regional security concerns. However, as per Iran's state news agency IRNA, Tehran's nuclear programme did not make it into the discussions "during the 80-minute first round of talks". One focus of the talks was ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open through the creation of deconfliction mechanisms. The strategic waterway has once again become a major point of concern after Iran threatened to close it in response to recent Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Also read | First round of US-Iran talks concludes in Switzerland. What’s the outcome? The Lebanon matter Iranian officials have insisted that progress toward a final agreement remains linked to developments in Lebanon. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said it would be difficult to move toward a comprehensive settlement while fighting continued there. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US and Iranian negotiators are expected to continue overnight talks in Switzerland despite a brief walkout by Tehran's delegation triggered by President Donald Trump's warning against Iranian support for Hezbollah.

Iran-US talks expected to continue through the night despite rocky start in Switzerland

US Vice President JD Vance in a brief interaction with the media before sitting for negotiations with senior Iranian officials on Sunday (June 21) spoke of accomplishing the deal together and 'changing relations in the Middle East permanently.'&nbsp;“The question before us now is how much more can we accomplish together? Can we turn over a new leaf?”, said Vance in his interaction with the media as the talks, dubbed the “Lake Lucerne Summit,” got underway.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-have-no-intention-of-building-a-bomb-pezeshkian-says-ready-to-guarantee-no-nuke-weapons-but-there-s-a-condition-1782040509353">‘We have no intention of building a bomb’: Pezeshkian says ready to guarantee no nuke weapons. But there’s a condition</a>&nbsp;“Can we change relations in the Middle East permanently, or do we go back to doing things the old way, which is not our preference, but is certainly very much something that can happen," he further said.&nbsp;He also said that US wants to “fundamentally transform” relations with Tehran and " build a more sustainable development for peace."&nbsp;He further said that US and Iran have made significant progress in the last few hours and he hopes the development to continue.<h2>What Iran says and demands?</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, for Iran a ceasfire in Lebaon is main sticking point of the deal along with the release of frozen assets.&nbsp;Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei while speaking to reporters on Saturday warned that “A violation of Article 1 calls the entire agreement into question."&nbsp;According to clause 1 of the memorandum of understanding, the end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is a prerequisite of the memorandum, which has been violated on several occasions.&nbsp;He further said that Iran has fulfilled its obligations but the other side (US) was required to compel Israel to cease fire in Lebanon&nbsp;

“The question before us now is how much more can we accomplish together? Can we turn over a new leaf?”, said Vance in his brief interaction with the media.

US Vice President JD Vance in a brief interaction with the media before sitting for negotiations with senior Iranian officials on Sunday (June 21) spoke of accomplishing the deal together and 'changing relations in the Middle East permanently.' “The question before us now is how much more can we accomplish together? Can we turn over a new leaf?”, said Vance in his interaction with the media as the talks, dubbed the “Lake Lucerne Summit,” got underway. ALSO READ: ‘We have no intention of building a bomb’: Pezeshkian says ready to guarantee no nuke weapons. But there’s a condition “Can we change relations in the Middle East permanently, or do we go back to doing things the old way, which is not our preference, but is certainly very much something that can happen," he further said. He also said that US wants to “fundamentally transform” relations with Tehran and " build a more sustainable development for peace." He further said that US and Iran have made significant progress in the last few hours and he hopes the development to continue. What Iran says and demands? Meanwhile, for Iran a ceasfire in Lebaon is main sticking point of the deal along with the release of frozen assets. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei while speaking to reporters on Saturday warned that “A violation of Article 1 calls the entire agreement into question." According to clause 1 of the memorandum of understanding, the end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is a prerequisite of the memorandum, which has been violated on several occasions. He further said that Iran has fulfilled its obligations but the other side (US) was required to compel Israel to cease fire in Lebanon

“The question before us now is how much more can we accomplish together? Can we turn over a new leaf?”, said Vance in his brief interaction with the media.

Want to 'fundamentally transform' relations with Tehran, says Vance in Switzerland

Delegations from Iran, Qatar and the United States are holding a meeting in Switzerland to discuss a ceasefire in Lebanon - one of the major sticking points of the peace deal between US and Iran - &nbsp;and Iran’s frozen assets.&nbsp;“A tripartite meeting involving Iran, the United States and Qatar on the subjects of a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s blocked assets is currently being held at the negotiation venue,” state broadcaster IRIB says in a report.&nbsp;Israel has so far not been a part of the negotiations between US and Iran and has objected to a ceasefire in Lebanon becoming part of the deal, which Iran strongly vouches for due to its proximity to Hezbolla, a prominent regional proxy of Tehran.<h2>What is Iran's main demands?</h2>&nbsp;According to clause one of the memorandum of understanding, the end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is a prerequisite of the memorandum, which has been violated on several occasions by both sides. It was implemented starting last night &nbsp;along with departure of the Iranian negotiating team to Switzerland, said Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, a state run media.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-have-no-intention-of-building-a-bomb-pezeshkian-says-ready-to-guarantee-no-nuke-weapons-but-there-s-a-condition-1782040509353">‘We have no intention of building a bomb’: Pezeshkian says ready to guarantee no nuke weapons. But there’s a condition</a>&nbsp;Frozen assets under clause 11 of the memorandum is another sticking point for Iran which has said the motive behind attending the Switzerland negotiations is to pursue five clauses, including the two mentioned topics. The other three commitments fall under articles 4, 5 and 10.&nbsp;Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei while speaking to reporters on Saturday warned that “A violation of Article 1 calls the entire agreement into question."&nbsp;He further said that Iran has fulfilled its obligations but the other side (US) was required to compel Israel to cease fire in Lebanon&nbsp;

Israel has so far not been a part of the negotiations between US and Iran and has objected to a ceasefire in Lebanon becoming part of the deal.

Delegations from Iran, Qatar and the United States are holding a meeting in Switzerland to discuss a ceasefire in Lebanon - one of the major sticking points of the peace deal between US and Iran - and Iran’s frozen assets. “A tripartite meeting involving Iran, the United States and Qatar on the subjects of a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s blocked assets is currently being held at the negotiation venue,” state broadcaster IRIB says in a report. Israel has so far not been a part of the negotiations between US and Iran and has objected to a ceasefire in Lebanon becoming part of the deal, which Iran strongly vouches for due to its proximity to Hezbolla, a prominent regional proxy of Tehran. What is Iran's main demands? According to clause one of the memorandum of understanding, the end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is a prerequisite of the memorandum, which has been violated on several occasions by both sides. It was implemented starting last night along with departure of the Iranian negotiating team to Switzerland, said Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, a state run media. ALSO READ: ‘We have no intention of building a bomb’: Pezeshkian says ready to guarantee no nuke weapons. But there’s a condition Frozen assets under clause 11 of the memorandum is another sticking point for Iran which has said the motive behind attending the Switzerland negotiations is to pursue five clauses, including the two mentioned topics. The other three commitments fall under articles 4, 5 and 10. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei while speaking to reporters on Saturday warned that “A violation of Article 1 calls the entire agreement into question." He further said that Iran has fulfilled its obligations but the other side (US) was required to compel Israel to cease fire in Lebanon

Israel has so far not been a part of the negotiations between US and Iran and has objected to a ceasefire in Lebanon becoming part of the deal.

Implementation of 5 Clauses of MoU vital, says Iran as meeting with US, Qatar underway

High-stakes diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to begin in Switzerland, aimed at solidifying the recent interim peace agreement. Following the signing of a 14-point memorandum of understanding, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and high-level Iranian officials have arrived to initiate technical negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and the stabilization of the Lebanon conflict. The process faces severe pressure as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate, casting uncertainty over the fragile ceasefire.  


US-Iran Peace Deal on the Brink! High-stakes Talks Kick Off in Switzerland

The U.S.-Iran diplomatic thaw faces a critical test. As negotiators converge in Switzerland to solidify the "Islamabad Memorandum," reports reveal that Washington and Qatar are discussing a mechanism to release $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets for humanitarian aid. This potential lifeline aims to incentivize Iran’s full compliance with the 60-day peace framework.


US-Iran Peace Deal: US to Release $6B to Iran? Trump’s Risky Gamble for Middle East Peace! 

US-Iran Peace Deal: New Round of Negotiations Over West Asia War to Kick Off 

The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived in Zurich on Saturday for the first round of technical discussions with the United States under the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities in West Asia, according to Iranian state media Press TV.&nbsp;The Iranian negotiating team has been named "Minab 168" in honour of the victims of the Minab school incident. Iranian officials have previously referenced the incident during diplomatic and political engagements on the international stage.&nbsp;The development comes as US Vice President JD Vance also departed for Switzerland to take part in negotiations focused on implementing the agreement signed by Washington and Tehran earlier this week.&nbsp;Before leaving Joint Base Andrews, Vance said the talks would centre on Iran's nuclear programme and the ceasefire in Lebanon.&nbsp;"I think we're going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue. Those are the two big things that I think we're to be focused on," Vance told reporters, adding that he expected to remain involved in the talks for only a short period.&nbsp;Negotiations were initially scheduled to begin in Switzerland on Friday, but were postponed after Israel launched a series of strikes in Lebanon following the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in combat.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-strike-kills-journalist-in-gaza-military-calls-him-hamas-terrorist-1781990599844">Israeli strike kills journalist in Gaza, military calls him 'Hamas terrorist'</a>&nbsp;<h2>Truce violations remain a key challenge</h2>Since then, Israel and Hezbollah have traded accusations of violating the newly established truce, which formed part of the preliminary understanding reached between the United States and Iran.&nbsp;Despite the tensions, Vance expressed optimism about developments in Lebanon."It's going to be something we're just going to have to continuously manage to ensure that... Israel and Lebanon are both safe and secure," he said.&nbsp;"The big problem is that you have somebody who will shoot and then somebody will respond, and you kind of have a chicken and egg problem where you've just got to stop the shooting for long enough to get the ceasefire to keep hold."&nbsp;Vance also noted that US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already in Switzerland working on the technical aspects of the discussions.

The Iranian delegation has adopted the name "Minab 168" in tribute to the victims of the Minab school incident, which Iranian officials have frequently referenced during diplomatic and political engagements abroad.

The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived in Zurich on Saturday for the first round of technical discussions with the United States under the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities in West Asia, according to Iranian state media Press TV. The Iranian negotiating team has been named "Minab 168" in honour of the victims of the Minab school incident. Iranian officials have previously referenced the incident during diplomatic and political engagements on the international stage. The development comes as US Vice President JD Vance also departed for Switzerland to take part in negotiations focused on implementing the agreement signed by Washington and Tehran earlier this week. Before leaving Joint Base Andrews, Vance said the talks would centre on Iran's nuclear programme and the ceasefire in Lebanon. "I think we're going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue. Those are the two big things that I think we're to be focused on," Vance told reporters, adding that he expected to remain involved in the talks for only a short period. Negotiations were initially scheduled to begin in Switzerland on Friday, but were postponed after Israel launched a series of strikes in Lebanon following the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in combat. Also Read: Israeli strike kills journalist in Gaza, military calls him 'Hamas terrorist' Truce violations remain a key challenge Since then, Israel and Hezbollah have traded accusations of violating the newly established truce, which formed part of the preliminary understanding reached between the United States and Iran. Despite the tensions, Vance expressed optimism about developments in Lebanon. "It's going to be something we're just going to have to continuously manage to ensure that... Israel and Lebanon are both safe and secure," he said. "The big problem is that you have somebody who will shoot and then somebody will respond, and you kind of have a chicken and egg problem where you've just got to stop the shooting for long enough to get the ceasefire to keep hold." Vance also noted that US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already in Switzerland working on the technical aspects of the discussions.

The Iranian delegation has adopted the name "Minab 168" in tribute to the victims of the Minab school incident, which Iranian officials have frequently referenced during diplomatic and political engagements abroad.

Vance departs for Switzerland as Iranian delegation arrives in Zurich for negotiations

As Iran declared that it will charge a fee on ships transiting the vital Strait of Hormuz after a 60-day negotiation period, US President Donald Trump on Saturday (June 20) claimed that "there will be NO tolls after the 60-day period expires."&nbsp;Trump threatened that if a deal is not reached during the period, the United States will impose tolls for services it provided to the Middle East, describing America as the "Guardian Angel" to the region.&nbsp;There will be no tolls "unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America, should the deal not be completed, for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East for purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs," Trump posted on Truth Social.&nbsp;Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington, Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that the Islamic Republic will charge a maritime services fee for transiting the waterway.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/driven-by-bigotry-and-hatred-india-hits-back-at-pakistan-prez-calls-out-its-abysmal-human-rights-record-1781983344062">'Driven by bigotry and hatred': India hits back at Pakistan Prez, calls out its abysmal human rights record</a>&nbsp;"Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war conditions. Iran has the right to sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and of course, we will receive a fee for services," he said in a statement.&nbsp;Earlier in the day, Iran’s military command officially announced a fresh closure of the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to upend the fragile diplomatic truce achieved just days ago in response to alleged ceasefire violations by Israel in southern Lebanon.&nbsp;Iran claims that continued Israeli airstrikes and a refusal to withdraw forces from southern Lebanon constitute a flagrant breach of the MoU’s first clause, which requires an immediate and permanent termination of military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon.&nbsp;However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) disputed that a functional blockade is in place. CENTCOM reported that maritime traffic continues to flow under close observation, noting that 55 merchant vessels successfully transited the strait on the day of the announcement, moving over 17 million barrels of oil to international markets.&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump warned that if negotiations fail within the 60-day period, the United States could impose its own tolls on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that Washington deserves compensation for its past, present and future security role in the Middle East.

As Iran declared that it will charge a fee on ships transiting the vital Strait of Hormuz after a 60-day negotiation period, US President Donald Trump on Saturday (June 20) claimed that "there will be NO tolls after the 60-day period expires." Trump threatened that if a deal is not reached during the period, the United States will impose tolls for services it provided to the Middle East, describing America as the "Guardian Angel" to the region. There will be no tolls "unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America, should the deal not be completed, for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East for purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs," Trump posted on Truth Social. Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington, Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that the Islamic Republic will charge a maritime services fee for transiting the waterway. Also Read: 'Driven by bigotry and hatred': India hits back at Pakistan Prez, calls out its abysmal human rights record "Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war conditions. Iran has the right to sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and of course, we will receive a fee for services," he said in a statement. Earlier in the day, Iran’s military command officially announced a fresh closure of the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to upend the fragile diplomatic truce achieved just days ago in response to alleged ceasefire violations by Israel in southern Lebanon. Iran claims that continued Israeli airstrikes and a refusal to withdraw forces from southern Lebanon constitute a flagrant breach of the MoU’s first clause, which requires an immediate and permanent termination of military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon. However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) disputed that a functional blockade is in place. CENTCOM reported that maritime traffic continues to flow under close observation, noting that 55 merchant vessels successfully transited the strait on the day of the announcement, moving over 17 million barrels of oil to international markets. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump warned that if negotiations fail within the 60-day period, the United States could impose its own tolls on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that Washington deserves compensation for its past, present and future security role in the Middle East.

'There will be NO TOLLS': Trump pushes back on Iran's Hormuz fee plan, threatens US tolls if talks fail

After days of uncertainty over the participants, venue and prospects of renewed talks between the United States and Iran, White House envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly travelling to Switzerland.Iran and US were to sit for first negotiations on Friday to chalk out a deal to end the war that started by a joint US and Israel airstrike on February 28. But the fresh Israeli strikes in Lebanon cast doubts on the deal to end the war, and Vice President JD Vance was forced to cancel his visit to Switzerland for the talks.&nbsp;The ceasefire has brought fresh focus to the broader geopolitical situation in the Middle East and its global implications.&nbsp;<h2>Factors that led to a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon?</h2>&nbsp;US led diplomatic efforts was the primary factor behind the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon to prevent regional escalation and protect broader US-Iran negotiations. Washington put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the ceasefire o allow a broader interim deal with Iran to proceed as Tehran has since the start of negotiations been demanded a halt to hostilities in Lebanon.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bibi-s-last-stand-by-scorching-lebanon-is-israel-trying-to-thwart-iran-us-permanent-peace-the-big-question-1781938190846">Bibi’s last stand: By scorching Lebanon, is Israel trying to thwart Iran-US permanent peace? The Big Question</a>&nbsp;Years of conflict in Lebanon, including continued aerial strikes by Israel and ground operations that occupied parts of southern Lebanon &nbsp;led to heavy casualties and caused massive damage to infrastructure in the region. Both, the Lebanese government and its citizens are exhausted by the conflict and looked forward to a halt in the fighting.&nbsp;US, Qatar and Iran played pivotal roles in bringing Israeli and Lebanese representatives to the negotiating table in Washington in order to achieving a lasting peace.&nbsp;<h2>How does it affect US Iran talks?</h2>&nbsp;Since the start of negotiations with US, Iran has maintained its demand of halt to hostilities on all regional fronts, including Israeli military actions in Lebanon.&nbsp;Inclusion of Lebanon has been one of Iran's core issues that it considers non-negotiable for a consolidated peace settlement with US. On several occasions Iran has threatened to abandon the agreement entirely if Israeli strikes and its territorial occupation in Lebanon continued.&nbsp;Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Washington holds a "commitment and responsibility" to force live up to the terms of the peace deal on all fronts.&nbsp;On the other hand Israel says that military operations in southern Lebanon will continue till the time it perceives Hezbollah as a direct threat.&nbsp;<h2>What could be the impact on oil prices and markets?</h2>&nbsp;The US-Iran peace deal will significantly normalizing commercial shipping which will lead to lower global oil prices. The opening of Strait of Hormuz and lifting of all types of blockades in the vital shipping corridor - through which roughly 20-25% of the world's oil supplies transit - has already pulled down crude oil prices, which now is in its low $80 range. The prices of crude oil during the blockade had gone beyond $126 a barrel.&nbsp;Several other factors like insurance premiums, maritime risk surcharges, and overall logistics costs associated with transporting oil through the Middle East have begun to decline. Despite these improvements, crude oil prices are unlikely to return to their exact prewar levels immediately.&nbsp;

US led diplomatic effort was the primary factor behind the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon to prevent regional escalation and protect broader US-Iran negotiations.

After days of uncertainty over the participants, venue and prospects of renewed talks between the United States and Iran, White House envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly travelling to Switzerland. Iran and US were to sit for first negotiations on Friday to chalk out a deal to end the war that started by a joint US and Israel airstrike on February 28. But the fresh Israeli strikes in Lebanon cast doubts on the deal to end the war, and Vice President JD Vance was forced to cancel his visit to Switzerland for the talks. The ceasefire has brought fresh focus to the broader geopolitical situation in the Middle East and its global implications. Factors that led to a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon? US led diplomatic efforts was the primary factor behind the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon to prevent regional escalation and protect broader US-Iran negotiations. Washington put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the ceasefire o allow a broader interim deal with Iran to proceed as Tehran has since the start of negotiations been demanded a halt to hostilities in Lebanon. ALSO READ: Bibi’s last stand: By scorching Lebanon, is Israel trying to thwart Iran-US permanent peace? The Big Question Years of conflict in Lebanon, including continued aerial strikes by Israel and ground operations that occupied parts of southern Lebanon led to heavy casualties and caused massive damage to infrastructure in the region. Both, the Lebanese government and its citizens are exhausted by the conflict and looked forward to a halt in the fighting. US, Qatar and Iran played pivotal roles in bringing Israeli and Lebanese representatives to the negotiating table in Washington in order to achieving a lasting peace. How does it affect US Iran talks? Since the start of negotiations with US, Iran has maintained its demand of halt to hostilities on all regional fronts, including Israeli military actions in Lebanon. Inclusion of Lebanon has been one of Iran's core issues that it considers non-negotiable for a consolidated peace settlement with US. On several occasions Iran has threatened to abandon the agreement entirely if Israeli strikes and its territorial occupation in Lebanon continued. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Washington holds a "commitment and responsibility" to force live up to the terms of the peace deal on all fronts. On the other hand Israel says that military operations in southern Lebanon will continue till the time it perceives Hezbollah as a direct threat. What could be the impact on oil prices and markets? The US-Iran peace deal will significantly normalizing commercial shipping which will lead to lower global oil prices. The opening of Strait of Hormuz and lifting of all types of blockades in the vital shipping corridor - through which roughly 20-25% of the world's oil supplies transit - has already pulled down crude oil prices, which now is in its low $80 range. The prices of crude oil during the blockade had gone beyond $126 a barrel. Several other factors like insurance premiums, maritime risk surcharges, and overall logistics costs associated with transporting oil through the Middle East have begun to decline. Despite these improvements, crude oil prices are unlikely to return to their exact prewar levels immediately.

US led diplomatic effort was the primary factor behind the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon to prevent regional escalation and protect broader US-Iran negotiations.

What impact will Israel-Hezbollah truce have on US-Iran talks and the global economy? WION Decodes

The long-standing strategic alignment between Washington and Jerusalem is facing its most severe test in years. Following the Trump administration's recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran—aimed at de-escalating regional hostilities and securing the Strait of Hormuz—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself in an increasingly isolated and precarious position.

Netanyahu Caught Between Trump and Israel's Red Lines

For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the war with Iran was an extension of the response to the October 7 terror attack on Israel in 2023. Southern Lebanon, the stronghold of Iran-backed Hezbollah, was the last remaining patch of victory. The US-Iran peace deal upended his plans. Israel did not join the negotiations or sign the MoU. Between its remote signing by US and Iran, and their planned meeting in Switzerland to refine it, Israel hit southern Lebanon harder, killing dozens of people: Hezbollah militants according to Israel; civilians according to the Lebanese government.<h2>The MoU explicitly covers Lebanon — and Israel kept bombing anyway</h2>Clause &nbsp;1 of the 14-point <a href="https://time.com/article/2026/06/17/us-iran-peace-deal-agreement-leaked-draft-text/">text</a> of the MoU, as shared by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, declares the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Yet Israeli air strikes continued targeting southern Lebanon ahead of the talks supposed to be held on Friday to end the war on all fronts. It was the most sensitive stage of US-Iran <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/19/israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-iran-talks">diplomacy</a>. The Israeli attacks continued even as a separate, &nbsp;US-backed Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire was being negotiated and agreed upon. Possibly, Netanyahu wanted to preserve military leverage before any <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-hezbollah-agree-ceasefire-starting-friday-us-official-2026-06-19/">Iran deal</a> reduced Israel’s room for action.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-peace-deal-us-president-dismisses-criticism-of-60-day-agreement-with-iran-1781921497659/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-peace-deal-us-president-dismisses-criticism-of-60-day-agreement-with-iran-1781921497659/embed</a><h2>The diplomatic fallout: MoU already violated before a firm peace deal could be achieved</h2>The MoU's first clause has been violated, further talks disrupted and postponed amid the fighting. If this may have been a possible goal for Israel, it has achieved that goal, for now. &nbsp;Even after a ceasefire was announced, Israel hit southern Lebanon, causing <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/least-five-killed-israeli-strikes-south-lebanon-despite-ceasefire-2026-06-20/">deaths </a>just after the truce was supposed to begin. The targets of these air and drone attacks are Beirut’s southern suburbs and Hezbollah strongholds. This is seen as an expansion of operations beyond immediate <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/6/14/israel-issues-forced-displacement-orders-for-29-towns-in-southern-lebanon">border </a>defence to degrade Hezbollah’s political and military position.&nbsp;The pounding of Lebanon could only lead to Iran hardening its negotiating position, which could ruin further peace talks, possibly leading to the exact outcome Bibi needs: a cold peace or simmering tensions that leave open the leeway for more strikes on Iran-linked <a href="https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/world/991440/iran-questions-us-commitment-to-peace-moves-as-israel-strikes-lebanon/story/">targets </a>in the region. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/switzerland-announces-us-iran-talks-called-off-after-vance-postpones-trip-1781847501169">Switzerland announces US-Iran talks called off after Vance postpones trip</a><h2>Netanyahu faces domestic pressure to keep the fire kindling</h2>Remember that anti-Netanyahu parties hold the majority in parliament, and he is leading a coalition government. Elections are due in October. Bibi cannot afford to have a diplomatic outcome that leaves Iran strengthened and better-funded ($6 billion from Qatar to start with), while Hezbollah stays politically intact. In such a scenario, Israel would become unable to dictate the post-war regional order.This is why Lebanon is a critical <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/19/lebanon-nabatieh-city-ashura-ceremony-hezbollah-israel">battleground</a> for Netanyahu. He said he ordered strikes against dozens of Hezbollah targets after four troops were killed, and promised that Israel would "exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah." Lebanese President Joseph Aoun countered that the killing and destruction constitute a dangerous escalation that targets all efforts to consolidate the ceasefire.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-peace-deal-in-limbo-israel-strikes-southern-lebanon-after-ceasefire-1781892693389">Israel strikes southern Lebanon despite agreeing to ceasefire: State media</a><h2>Israeli escalation in Lebanon directly disrupted the Iran-US diplomacy</h2>Reports said the US envoy for Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is to travel to Switzerland for further talks. But that happened not before VP JD Vance <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/19/nx-s1-5863544/trump-us-iran-agreement">delayed</a> his trip to Switzerland to negotiate the peace terms, raising questions over the sturdiness of the MoU, as the bombardment continued. Iran's position hardened too: Iran says the deal to end the war with the US requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, and Hezbollah said Tehran told it talks with Washington could not proceed without a comprehensive <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israel-and-hezbollah-renew-ceasefire-after-u-s-and-iran-call-off-talks-over-fighting-in-lebanon">ceasefire.</a>

Israel intensified strikes on Hezbollah targets just as the US and Iran pursued a peace MoU covering Lebanon. This has managed to disrupt further negotiations on a permanent ceasefire. The timing is interesting, and the future of peace, uncertain

For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the war with Iran was an extension of the response to the October 7 terror attack on Israel in 2023. Southern Lebanon, the stronghold of Iran-backed Hezbollah, was the last remaining patch of victory. The US-Iran peace deal upended his plans. Israel did not join the negotiations or sign the MoU. Between its remote signing by US and Iran, and their planned meeting in Switzerland to refine it, Israel hit southern Lebanon harder, killing dozens of people: Hezbollah militants according to Israel; civilians according to the Lebanese government. The MoU explicitly covers Lebanon — and Israel kept bombing anyway Clause 1 of the 14-point text of the MoU, as shared by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, declares the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Yet Israeli air strikes continued targeting southern Lebanon ahead of the talks supposed to be held on Friday to end the war on all fronts. It was the most sensitive stage of US-Iran diplomacy. The Israeli attacks continued even as a separate, US-backed Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire was being negotiated and agreed upon. Possibly, Netanyahu wanted to preserve military leverage before any Iran deal reduced Israel’s room for action. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-peace-deal-us-president-dismisses-criticism-of-60-day-agreement-with-iran-1781921497659/embed The diplomatic fallout: MoU already violated before a firm peace deal could be achieved The MoU's first clause has been violated, further talks disrupted and postponed amid the fighting. If this may have been a possible goal for Israel, it has achieved that goal, for now. Even after a ceasefire was announced, Israel hit southern Lebanon, causing deaths just after the truce was supposed to begin. The targets of these air and drone attacks are Beirut’s southern suburbs and Hezbollah strongholds. This is seen as an expansion of operations beyond immediate border defence to degrade Hezbollah’s political and military position. The pounding of Lebanon could only lead to Iran hardening its negotiating position, which could ruin further peace talks, possibly leading to the exact outcome Bibi needs: a cold peace or simmering tensions that leave open the leeway for more strikes on Iran-linked targets in the region. Also read: Switzerland announces US-Iran talks called off after Vance postpones trip Netanyahu faces domestic pressure to keep the fire kindling Remember that anti-Netanyahu parties hold the majority in parliament, and he is leading a coalition government. Elections are due in October. Bibi cannot afford to have a diplomatic outcome that leaves Iran strengthened and better-funded ($6 billion from Qatar to start with), while Hezbollah stays politically intact. In such a scenario, Israel would become unable to dictate the post-war regional order. This is why Lebanon is a critical battleground for Netanyahu. He said he ordered strikes against dozens of Hezbollah targets after four troops were killed, and promised that Israel would "exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah." Lebanese President Joseph Aoun countered that the killing and destruction constitute a dangerous escalation that targets all efforts to consolidate the ceasefire. Also read: Israel strikes southern Lebanon despite agreeing to ceasefire: State media Israeli escalation in Lebanon directly disrupted the Iran-US diplomacy Reports said the US envoy for Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is to travel to Switzerland for further talks. But that happened not before VP JD Vance delayed his trip to Switzerland to negotiate the peace terms, raising questions over the sturdiness of the MoU, as the bombardment continued. Iran's position hardened too: Iran says the deal to end the war with the US requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, and Hezbollah said Tehran told it talks with Washington could not proceed without a comprehensive ceasefire.

Israel intensified strikes on Hezbollah targets just as the US and Iran pursued a peace MoU covering Lebanon. This has managed to disrupt further negotiations on a permanent ceasefire. The timing is interesting, and the future of peace, uncertain

Bibi’s last stand: By scorching Lebanon, is Israel trying to thwart Iran-US permanent peace? The Big Question

Following the signing of a preliminary memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at de-escalating the conflict in West Asia, President Donald Trump has set a firm "60-day deadline" for follow-up negotiations with Iran.

Trump Warns of Harsh Measures if No Deal Reached Within 60 Days 

President Donald Trump has struck back against bipartisan criticism of the newly signed memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. Following the formal signing of the 14-point agreement at the Palace of Versailles, the President took to social media to lash out at critics, labeling opponents of the deal as "fools" who are "jealous, bad people, or stupid."


US-Iran Peace Deal: US President Dismisses Criticism of 60-Day Agreement with Iran

US President Donald Trump flexed his muscles after a deal to end the war with Iran was reached. Speaking to a Axios on Thursday (June 18) Trump said that he believes there are "no limits" to his ability to exert power. He said the deal reached with Iran amounts to “unconditional surrender” by Tehran.&nbsp;Trump said he negotiated the agreement to end the war that lasted for three months and led to the closure of Strait of Hormuz - an important shipping corridor - to prevent the conflict from triggering a global economic depression&nbsp;The memorandum of understanding between the two countries include the reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz and a framework for nuclear negotiations. Decision on several other key issues are yet to be reached and will be discussed in subsequent negotiations.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-wants-to-turn-attention-to-north-korean-nuclear-programme-after-iran-says-south-korea-s-lee-1781877188870">Trump wants to turn attention to North Korean nuclear programme after Iran, says South Korea's Lee</a>&nbsp;On being asked in the Axios interview as to what he has learnt from the war Trump said, &nbsp;“I haven’t learned that lesson yet. I know there are, but there are no limits.”&nbsp;He then said that the MoU points to a probable "unconditional surrender" and added, "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."&nbsp;Trump insisted that the deal was not a show of strength but a move to save the world from economic depression.&nbsp;"The only way I can get tougher is if I go in there for another two or three weeks and continue to bomb the hell out of 'em. Right? But what does that get us? The Strait of Hormuz will not be open. We wouldn't have oil for months. This is the kind of thing that could cause a worldwide depression," Trump said to Axios. &nbsp;

Decision on several other key issues other than  the reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz and a framework for nuclear negotiations are yet to be reached and will be discussed in subsequent negotiations.

US President Donald Trump flexed his muscles after a deal to end the war with Iran was reached. Speaking to a Axios on Thursday (June 18) Trump said that he believes there are "no limits" to his ability to exert power. He said the deal reached with Iran amounts to “unconditional surrender” by Tehran. Trump said he negotiated the agreement to end the war that lasted for three months and led to the closure of Strait of Hormuz - an important shipping corridor - to prevent the conflict from triggering a global economic depression The memorandum of understanding between the two countries include the reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz and a framework for nuclear negotiations. Decision on several other key issues are yet to be reached and will be discussed in subsequent negotiations. ALSO READ: Trump wants to turn attention to North Korean nuclear programme after Iran, says South Korea's Lee On being asked in the Axios interview as to what he has learnt from the war Trump said, “I haven’t learned that lesson yet. I know there are, but there are no limits.” He then said that the MoU points to a probable "unconditional surrender" and added, "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." Trump insisted that the deal was not a show of strength but a move to save the world from economic depression. "The only way I can get tougher is if I go in there for another two or three weeks and continue to bomb the hell out of 'em. Right? But what does that get us? The Strait of Hormuz will not be open. We wouldn't have oil for months. This is the kind of thing that could cause a worldwide depression," Trump said to Axios.

Decision on several other key issues other than &nbsp;the reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz and a framework for nuclear negotiations are yet to be reached and will be discussed in subsequent negotiations.

'No limits to my power': Trump flexes muscle after Iran deal calls it ‘unconditional surrender'

Despite the ceasefire under the US-Iran peace deal that was virtually signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday (Jun 17), Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued. On Friday (Jun 19), the Israeli military said that four soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon as the fighting continues with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Following this, the Israeli far-right minister has threatened that “all of Lebanon must burn”.“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for bargaining. All of Lebanon must burn,” Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said.Meanwhile, Lebanon said that 18 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes. In a statement, its health ministry said, “The intensive Israeli airstrikes carried out from midnight until this morning have prevented the evacuation of the martyrs and wounded, and have resulted in a preliminary toll of 18 martyrs and 33 wounded.”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/switzerland-announces-us-iran-talks-called-off-after-vance-postpones-trip-1781847501169">Switzerland announces US-Iran talks called off after Vance postpones trip</a><h2>Did Israeli strikes postpone US-Iran talks?</h2>The Swiss government announced that the US-Iran talks, which were scheduled on Friday (Jun 19) have been called off. This comes after US Vice President JD Vance postponed his trip to the European nation hours before his departure to hold talks with the Iranian delegation in Burgenstock. The Swiss government’s latest confirmation on the status of the talks came after it earlier said that a meeting between the US and Iran would be held in Burgenstock, along with mediators Pakistan and Qatar.“The planned talks between the US, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan have been postponed,” the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement to AFP. It added that “Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks. The relevant preparatory work at Burgenstock is continuing.”The announcement came after White House stated that Vance’s trip to the Swiss mountaintop resort was postponed as “logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable.”No details have been shared by the US, Iran, Switzerland or mediators Pakistan and Qatar on why the talks are stalled once again. It is unclear whether the talks were cancelled over a disagreement, although it is possible that continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon could be the reason.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-peace-deal-inside-the-14-point-mou-that-ended-over-108-days-of-war-wion-decodes-donald-trump-mojtaba-khamenei-benjamin-netanyahu-lebanon-1781513800001">US-Iran peace deal: Inside the 14-point MoU that ended over 108 days of war | WION Decodes</a><h2>What does MoU says about Lebanon?</h2>The 14-point memorandum states that the US, Iran and their respective allies “declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”The MoU also states “not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.”Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. &nbsp;

Despite the US-Iran ceasefire, Israel-Hezbollah clashes continue. Four Israeli soldiers and 18 people in Lebanon were killed. Israel's Ben Gvir warned that “all of Lebanon must burn” as US-Iran talks were postponed.

Despite the ceasefire under the US-Iran peace deal that was virtually signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday (Jun 17), Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued. On Friday (Jun 19), the Israeli military said that four soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon as the fighting continues with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Following this, the Israeli far-right minister has threatened that “all of Lebanon must burn”. “With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for bargaining. All of Lebanon must burn,” Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said. Meanwhile, Lebanon said that 18 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes. In a statement, its health ministry said, “The intensive Israeli airstrikes carried out from midnight until this morning have prevented the evacuation of the martyrs and wounded, and have resulted in a preliminary toll of 18 martyrs and 33 wounded.” Also read | Switzerland announces US-Iran talks called off after Vance postpones trip Did Israeli strikes postpone US-Iran talks? The Swiss government announced that the US-Iran talks, which were scheduled on Friday (Jun 19) have been called off. This comes after US Vice President JD Vance postponed his trip to the European nation hours before his departure to hold talks with the Iranian delegation in Burgenstock. The Swiss government’s latest confirmation on the status of the talks came after it earlier said that a meeting between the US and Iran would be held in Burgenstock, along with mediators Pakistan and Qatar. “The planned talks between the US, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan have been postponed,” the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement to AFP. It added that “Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks. The relevant preparatory work at Burgenstock is continuing.” The announcement came after White House stated that Vance’s trip to the Swiss mountaintop resort was postponed as “logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable.” No details have been shared by the US, Iran, Switzerland or mediators Pakistan and Qatar on why the talks are stalled once again. It is unclear whether the talks were cancelled over a disagreement, although it is possible that continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon could be the reason. Also read | US-Iran peace deal: Inside the 14-point MoU that ended over 108 days of war | WION Decodes What does MoU says about Lebanon? The 14-point memorandum states that the US, Iran and their respective allies “declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” The MoU also states “not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.” Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Despite the US-Iran ceasefire, Israel-Hezbollah clashes continue. Four Israeli soldiers and 18 people in Lebanon were killed. Israel's Ben Gvir warned that “all of Lebanon must burn” as US-Iran talks were postponed.

‘All of Lebanon must burn’: Israeli minister warns as clashes continue despite US-Iran ceasefire

The United States and Iran have agreed to halt hostilities after 108 days of war that drove up oil prices globally. On Truth Social, US President Donald Trump confirmed the truce agreement and announced "Let the oil flow" as he revealed that the US would lift its blockade of Iranian ports. Following the announcement, in what may be the most detailed public account of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the warring nations, Iran state-affiliated Mehr News has shared the 14 conditions that form the basis of the current agreement. Among them is the condition that the US won't "interfere" in Iran's internal affairs and also withdraw its blockade that, in the past few weeks, has sought to bleed Tehran's coffers dry. Here's a breakdown of the 14-point MoU and what each condition signifies:<h2>Iran and US's 14-point MoU</h2>Citing a source close to Iran's negotiating team, Mehr News reported that the Memorandum has 14 provisions. These are:<h2>1. Permanent and immediate end to war on all fronts, including Lebanon</h2>In the past few days, Lebanon has emerged as a sticking point between the US and Iran, as Israel continued its strikes on the nation. Just a day earlier, on Sunday, Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that there was "no point" in continuing peace talks with the United States after its ally Israel attacked Beirut's southern suburbs."The Zionists' aggression against Dahieh once again showed that the United States either lacks the will to implement its commitments or lacks the ability to do so," he said in a post on X. "If you do not have the will or the ability to fulfil your commitments, then there is no point in talking about continuing down this path," he added.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/enemy-had-no-choice-but-surrender-iran-claims-victory-as-us-agrees-to-permanently-end-war-1781482980593">'Enemy had no choice but surrender': Iran claims victory as US agrees to 'permanently' end war</a><h2>2. US commitment to non-interference in Iran's internal affairs and respect for the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran</h2>This provision appears to be centred on reports that the US was seeking a regime change in the Islamic Republic. Additionally, this preventive step may have been added to the MoU to avoid a situation similar to Venezuela, where, after triggering a regime change by capturing former president Nicolas Maduro, the US continued to be a party to the nation's internal affairs.<h2>3. Complete lifting of the naval blockade within 30 days</h2>Following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Tehran, Trump directed CENTCOM to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports. Subsequently, US troops blockaded all vessels entering or departing Iranian coastal areas and ports, aiming to cripple Iranian oil revenues and deter toll-collection. According to reports, this blockade cost Iran $6 billion in oil revenues.<h2>4. US commitment to withdraw its forces from around Iran</h2>According to reports, since the start of the ongoing conflict on February 28, the US has deployed between 50,000 and 57,000 troops to the Middle East. Additionally, &nbsp;three U.S. aircraft carriers—the USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower—anchored the regional presence, carrying tens of thousands of personnel and specialised air wings.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/let-the-oil-flow-crude-prices-down-to-81-15-as-us-iran-announce-immediate-end-to-hostilities-truce-trump-mojtaba-khamenei-1781483972835">'Let the oil flow': Crude prices down to $81.15 as US, Iran announce 'immediate end' to hostilities</a><h2>5. Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days, under Iranian arrangements</h2>Under this, Iran is expected to retain primary operational control of the strait, through which around 1/5th of the global oil supply passes.This move is expected to help stabilise the global oil markets. Notably, just after the two nations announced that they've reached an agreement to end hostilities, oil prices tumbled by more than four per cent, reaching $81.15 a barrel.<h2>6. Suspension of sanctions on oil and petrochemical product sales and derivatives, and full Iranian access to its financial resources</h2>Already, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy have said that they are prepared to lift sanctions imposed on Iran and will work "with the US, Iran and regional partners to seize this moment, maintain momentum and achieve a long-term diplomatic settlement."<h2>7. Reconstruction plans to be presented by the US and its allies, totalling at least $300 billion</h2>This fund is expected to help Tehran repair and rebuild its crippled oil export infrastructure, industrial facilities, and public utilities which were damaged during the conflict.<h2>8. A 60-day negotiation period to reach a final agreement on the nuclear issue and the complete removal of US primary and secondary sanctions, UN Security Council resolutions, and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions</h2>Iran said on Monday that it would begin negotiations with the United States within the next two months to pursue a final agreement aimed at formally ending the war between the two countries.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-ceasefire-iran-reveals-roadmap-to-final-us-agreement-and-possible-24-billion-payout-1781487819256">After ceasefire, Iran reveals roadmap to final US agreement and possible $24 billion payout</a><h2>9. Reaffirmation of Iran's NPT commitment not to produce nuclear weapons</h2>The US and Israel started the war against Iran alleging that the Islamic Republic was days away from developing a nuclear weapon. Since then, Trump has demanded that Tehran hand over its "nuclear dust".Now, Iran must explicitly recommit to never seeking, developing, or acquiring any nuclear weapons. This means that Tehran agrees to maintain its status as a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), binding its program to international law.10. During the negotiation period, the US commits not to add forces to the region and not to impose new sanctionsThe US will have to maintain its regional force presence at current levels and will be barred from deploying any additional soldiers, ships, or aircraft to the Middle East during the talks. Furthermore, Trump cannot introduce any new economic penalties, trade restrictions, or designations against Iranian entities or sectors.<h2>11. Release of $24 billion in Iran's blocked funds during the 60-day final negotiation period, with half of that amount to be made available to Iran before negotiations begin</h2>According to Mehr News, the US would release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets during the 60-day negotiation period. The report claims that $12 billion, half of the total amount, would be made available to Iran before formal negotiations begin.<h2>12. Establishment of a monitoring mechanism to implement the agreement</h2>The safeguard has been put in place to ensure that both sides honour their commitment. During the conflict, both the US and Iran have accused each other of flouting their commitments.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-delays-ali-khamenei-funeral-when-will-the-slain-supreme-leader-be-laid-to-rest-1781227414587">Iran again delays Ali Khamenei's funeral: Why the slain supreme leader remains unburied after 100 days</a><h2>13. The final agreement to be ratified by a UN Security Council resolution</h2>The final step to codify the MoU is its formal ratification through a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution, which will elevate the bilateral deal into binding international law.<h2>14. Final negotiations will not begin until half of Iran's blocked funds are released, oil sanctions are suspended, and the naval blockade is lifted. The final agreement will address only the fate of enriched materials and enrichment, sanctions relief, and Iran's economic reconstruction programme. Talks on Iran's missile programme and its support for Resistance groups have been definitively removed from the agenda</h2>Finally, according to Mehr News, Iran would not participate in any negotiations till the US releases $12 billion of Iran's frozen funds, lifts oil sanctions and lifts its naval blockade.Notably, as per the report, these provisions are only preliminary and still require "review and finalisation by the relevant institutions in Iran."

Iranian media has published details of a reported 14-point US-Iran memorandum that halted 108 days of conflict. The agreement includes sanctions relief, a $24 billion asset release, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear negotiations and a phased end to hostilities. All you need to know.

The United States and Iran have agreed to halt hostilities after 108 days of war that drove up oil prices globally. On Truth Social, US President Donald Trump confirmed the truce agreement and announced "Let the oil flow" as he revealed that the US would lift its blockade of Iranian ports. Following the announcement, in what may be the most detailed public account of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the warring nations, Iran state-affiliated Mehr News has shared the 14 conditions that form the basis of the current agreement. Among them is the condition that the US won't "interfere" in Iran's internal affairs and also withdraw its blockade that, in the past few weeks, has sought to bleed Tehran's coffers dry. Here's a breakdown of the 14-point MoU and what each condition signifies: Iran and US's 14-point MoU Citing a source close to Iran's negotiating team, Mehr News reported that the Memorandum has 14 provisions. These are: 1. Permanent and immediate end to war on all fronts, including Lebanon In the past few days, Lebanon has emerged as a sticking point between the US and Iran, as Israel continued its strikes on the nation. Just a day earlier, on Sunday, Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that there was "no point" in continuing peace talks with the United States after its ally Israel attacked Beirut's southern suburbs. "The Zionists' aggression against Dahieh once again showed that the United States either lacks the will to implement its commitments or lacks the ability to do so," he said in a post on X. "If you do not have the will or the ability to fulfil your commitments, then there is no point in talking about continuing down this path," he added. Also read | 'Enemy had no choice but surrender': Iran claims victory as US agrees to 'permanently' end war 2. US commitment to non-interference in Iran's internal affairs and respect for the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran This provision appears to be centred on reports that the US was seeking a regime change in the Islamic Republic. Additionally, this preventive step may have been added to the MoU to avoid a situation similar to Venezuela, where, after triggering a regime change by capturing former president Nicolas Maduro, the US continued to be a party to the nation's internal affairs. 3. Complete lifting of the naval blockade within 30 days Following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Tehran, Trump directed CENTCOM to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports. Subsequently, US troops blockaded all vessels entering or departing Iranian coastal areas and ports, aiming to cripple Iranian oil revenues and deter toll-collection. According to reports, this blockade cost Iran $6 billion in oil revenues. 4. US commitment to withdraw its forces from around Iran According to reports, since the start of the ongoing conflict on February 28, the US has deployed between 50,000 and 57,000 troops to the Middle East. Additionally, three U.S. aircraft carriers—the USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower—anchored the regional presence, carrying tens of thousands of personnel and specialised air wings. Also read | 'Let the oil flow': Crude prices down to $81.15 as US, Iran announce 'immediate end' to hostilities 5. Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days, under Iranian arrangements Under this, Iran is expected to retain primary operational control of the strait, through which around 1/5th of the global oil supply passes. This move is expected to help stabilise the global oil markets. Notably, just after the two nations announced that they've reached an agreement to end hostilities, oil prices tumbled by more than four per cent, reaching $81.15 a barrel. 6. Suspension of sanctions on oil and petrochemical product sales and derivatives, and full Iranian access to its financial resources Already, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy have said that they are prepared to lift sanctions imposed on Iran and will work "with the US, Iran and regional partners to seize this moment, maintain momentum and achieve a long-term diplomatic settlement." 7. Reconstruction plans to be presented by the US and its allies, totalling at least $300 billion This fund is expected to help Tehran repair and rebuild its crippled oil export infrastructure, industrial facilities, and public utilities which were damaged during the conflict. 8. A 60-day negotiation period to reach a final agreement on the nuclear issue and the complete removal of US primary and secondary sanctions, UN Security Council resolutions, and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions Iran said on Monday that it would begin negotiations with the United States within the next two months to pursue a final agreement aimed at formally ending the war between the two countries. Also read | After ceasefire, Iran reveals roadmap to final US agreement and possible $24 billion payout 9. Reaffirmation of Iran's NPT commitment not to produce nuclear weapons The US and Israel started the war against Iran alleging that the Islamic Republic was days away from developing a nuclear weapon. Since then, Trump has demanded that Tehran hand over its "nuclear dust". Now, Iran must explicitly recommit to never seeking, developing, or acquiring any nuclear weapons. This means that Tehran agrees to maintain its status as a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), binding its program to international law. 10. During the negotiation period, the US commits not to add forces to the region and not to impose new sanctions The US will have to maintain its regional force presence at current levels and will be barred from deploying any additional soldiers, ships, or aircraft to the Middle East during the talks. Furthermore, Trump cannot introduce any new economic penalties, trade restrictions, or designations against Iranian entities or sectors. 11. Release of $24 billion in Iran's blocked funds during the 60-day final negotiation period, with half of that amount to be made available to Iran before negotiations begin According to Mehr News, the US would release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets during the 60-day negotiation period. The report claims that $12 billion, half of the total amount, would be made available to Iran before formal negotiations begin. 12. Establishment of a monitoring mechanism to implement the agreement The safeguard has been put in place to ensure that both sides honour their commitment. During the conflict, both the US and Iran have accused each other of flouting their commitments. Also read | Iran again delays Ali Khamenei's funeral: Why the slain supreme leader remains unburied after 100 days 13. The final agreement to be ratified by a UN Security Council resolution The final step to codify the MoU is its formal ratification through a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution, which will elevate the bilateral deal into binding international law. 14. Final negotiations will not begin until half of Iran's blocked funds are released, oil sanctions are suspended, and the naval blockade is lifted. The final agreement will address only the fate of enriched materials and enrichment, sanctions relief, and Iran's economic reconstruction programme. Talks on Iran's missile programme and its support for Resistance groups have been definitively removed from the agenda Finally, according to Mehr News, Iran would not participate in any negotiations till the US releases $12 billion of Iran's frozen funds, lifts oil sanctions and lifts its naval blockade. Notably, as per the report, these provisions are only preliminary and still require "review and finalisation by the relevant institutions in Iran."

Iranian media has published details of a reported 14-point US-Iran memorandum that halted 108 days of conflict. The agreement includes sanctions relief, a $24 billion asset release, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear negotiations and a phased end to hostilities. All you need to know.

US-Iran peace deal: Inside the 14-point MoU that ended over 108 days of war | WION Decodes

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