President Donald Trump has threatened to restart the war in Iran if he doesn’t like the terms of any deal agreed with Tehran.
Speaking from the G7 summit in the French Alps on Wednesday, he said that a memorandum of understanding had not been finalised but that he would go back to “shooting at them and dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head” if he did not like the agreement.
Meanwhile, Israel reportedly struck targets in southern Lebanon again on Wednesday, brushing off warnings from Trump and threatening to derail the US peace process with Iran.
Israeli forces were said to have carried out an airstrike in the Nabatieh district and raids on the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, according to Lebanese media and Al Jazeera Arabic.
There was no immediate comment from Israel. Iran has warned of a “hard response” if Israel does not stop its attacks on Lebanon, and Hezbollah says Tehran promised it would not sign the final nuclear deal with the US unless Israel stops.
Read MoreTrump’s Iran hawk backers are not feeling good about ceasefire deal: ‘It all seems bad’
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Trump’s peace deal to allow Iran to sell oil and fuel immediately in major concession
Netanyahu’s nightmare has become reality with Trump’s Iran deal
Key Points
- Trump hopes Iran war will be in 'rearview mirror'
- Israel denied permission to see US-Iran agreement over fears Netanyahu would leak it
- Trump's Iran deal includes $300 billion fund - report
- Israeli strikes kill four in Lebanon despite Trump's criticism
- Oil prices stabilise below $80 a barrel
- Iran will get certain benefits 'if they behave': JD Vance
Leaked document includes $300bn US financing of Iran despite Trump denial
12:30 , Maira ButtA leaked memorandum of understanding reportedly agreed between the US and Iran appears to confirm reports that the US has agreed to finance Iran’s economic development and rehabilitation to the tune of $300bn.
A US official shared the agreement with CNN and it has reportedly been digitally signed by president Donald Trump and Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf.
Point 6 of the document states: “The United States undertakes, together with its regional partners, to create a comprehensive plan agreed upon by both parties for the rehabilitation and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while ensuring financing of at least $300 billion. The implementation mechanism of this plan, as part of the final agreement, will be formulated within 60 days.”
During comments at the G7 on Wednesday, Trump had denied the claims saying that Iran would not receive “ten cents”.
Trump’s 14 point Iran deal leaked as president threatens to drop bombs again if Tehran doesn’t ‘behave’
12:21 , Maira ButtNearly four months after the U.S. and Israel started its war with Iran, Donald Trump is working to secure a long-awaited deal to end the war, restore global shipping and resolve an abiding dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The U.S. president was quick to celebrate an interim deal agreed over the weekend, but remained tight-lipped on the details ahead of a signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday.
Details of a 14 point plan have now been leaked to multiple media outlets, though Trump insisted Wednesday that the so-called memorandum of understanding is not final and issued new threats if he wasn’t happy with the agreement.
James C Reynolds reports:
Trump’s 14 point Iran deal leaked as president threatens to bomb Tehran again
Full text of US-Iran agreement revealed
12:18 , Maira ButtA memorandum of understanding agreed between Iran and the US has been shared with CNN revealing the details of the deal negotiated between the countries over the last few weeks.
While not a binding contract the “political document” shared with the outlet by a US official has reportedly been digitally signed by President Donald Trump and Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher-Ghalibaf.
The first 5 points include: 1. A cessation of hostilities and a “permanent end to the war on all fronts” including Lebanon, 2. Respect for each other’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity”, 3. To “reach a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days extendable by mutual consent”,4. The lifting of a US naval blockade and restore normal traffic within 30 days, 5. Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump threatens to 'drop bombs smack in the middle of their head' if he doesn't like Tehran deal
12:07 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has threatened to restart the war in Iran if he doesn’t like the terms of any deal agreed with Tehran.
Speaking from the G7 summit in the French Alps on Wednesday, he said that a memorandum of understanding had not been finalised but that he would go back to “shooting at them and dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head” if he did not like the agreement.
Trump disputes report of $300bn fund in Iran deal
12:03 , James ReynoldsSpeaking now in France, Donald Trump says the report of a $300bn reconstruction fund for Iran is false.
The US is not investing in Iran, he says.
He goes on to say that the provisional deal is not final and he reserves the right to go back to bombing if he doens’t like it.
Trump claims Israel ‘would have been blown up’ without him in new warning to Netanyahu
12:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump issued a new warning to Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday amid mounting concern that Israel’s parallel war with Hezbollah could derail the entire peace process with Iran.
“Israel would have been blown up a long time ago, had I not got involved,” the US president told reporters in France ahead of a meeting with G7 leaders on ensuring stability in the Middle East.
Trump repeated his claim that “without the United States, there would be no Israel” and urged Israel’s prime minister to “be more responsible” on Lebanon.
Read the full story:
Trump says Israel ‘would have been blown up’ without him in new warning to Netanyahu
Analysis: Netanyahu’s nightmare has become reality with Trump’s Iran deal
11:30 , James ReynoldsAs Donald Trump crows about peace in the region, ominous signs are coming from Israel and Hezbollah, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew:
Netanyahu’s nightmare has become reality with Trump’s Iran deal
Recap: Pentagon used Elon Musk’s Grok AI to fire 2,000 missiles at Iran, official says
11:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump’s administration turned to Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot to launch thousands of missiles in Iran, according to a top defense official.
In a sworn statement defending the trillionaire from a lawsuit alleging xAI data centers are illegally polluting Black communities, the Pentagon’s artificial intelligence chief said the chatbot’s continued operation is “a matter of paramount national security” — and was used to fire more than “2,000 munitions at 2,000 distinct targets within 96 hours.”
Grok, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by xAI, is among four AI models “currently capable of supporting national security applications,” according to Cameron Stanley, the Pentagon’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer.
Pentagon used Elon Musk’s Grok AI to fire missiles at Iran, official says
G7 leaders demand ceasefire in Lebanon, welcome Iran deal
10:48 , James ReynoldsLeaders of the G7 countries demanded a ceasefire in Lebanon on Wednesday and said they will diversify energy supply routes to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz in response to the war in Iran, as they welcomed an interim deal to end the conflict.
The leaders met for a summit in the French town of Evian-les-Bains on Lake Geneva, while details of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement trickled out of Washington and Tehran ahead of its formal unveiling, expected on Friday across the nearby Swiss border.
"We underline the need for the negotiation ... to address the threats posed by Iran in the region and beyond and ensure that they never obtain a nuclear weapon," the leaders said in a statement.
They also called for an "immediate robust ceasefire" in Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
The summit gave U.S. President Donald Trump a chance to present his deal with Iran to major allies Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
They mostly share Washington's concerns about Iran's nuclear programme and other issues, but never endorsed his decision to go to war and worry that Tehran gained leverage by withstanding the onslaught and asserting control over the strait.
Mapped: Reports of fresh strikes in southern Lebanon
10:34 , James ReynoldsNew details emerge after deadly B-52 fireball crash kills eight
10:30 , James ReynoldsEight people were killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
The fiery incident occurred Monday, with the Boeing B-52 slamming into the ground about halfway down the runway, just a very short time after becoming airborne.
The bomber, which was participating in a test mission as part of a program to keep the oldest aircraft in the U.S. fleet flying for decades to come, took off shortly before noon on a clear day. It flew straight before crashing on the same 15,000-foot runway.
The compact wreckage indicated the plane dropped sharply, with aerial footage showing virtually nothing left of the aircraft. Officials determined no one could have survived.
New details emerge after deadly B-52 fireball crash kills eight
Pecae deal presents opportunity to stop Iran obtaining nukes: Rutte
10:26 , James ReynoldsNato chief Mark Rutte says that a potential deal with Iran creates an opportunity to ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of defence ministers, the secretary general also says that the US has made clear it is committed to Nato, and that its nuclear deterrent is solid.
He says Europe and Canada are more capable and will take more responsibility for security.
Watch: Trump vows to read Iran deal to the media 'word by word'
10:00 , James ReynoldsHas Trump achieved his goals in the war with Iran?
09:30 , James ReynoldsShortly after the US and Israel attacked Iran, Donald Trump laid out a host of objectives, from destroying Iran's ballistic missile capabilities to ensuring Tehran can never have a nuclear weapon.
With a preliminary peace deal now in place, what has Trump achieved?
Missiles and drones
Before the war, Iran held the largest ballistic stockpile in the Middle East, with between 2,500 and 6,000 missiles of different types.
Roughly one month into the war, U.S. sources told Reuters that one-third of that arsenal was destroyed, with another third likely damaged, destroyed or buried.
It is unclear how many missiles Iran has left, but the country still has the ability to reach US allies - most recently on June 6, when it launched salvos at Kuwait and Bahrain, and June 7, when it fired missiles at Israel.
Military capabilities
The US says it has degraded Iran's conventional military ability to project power in the region or threaten US operations.
It claims to have destroyed at least 161 Iranian naval ships and 82 per cent of its air defence systems. But Iran was still able to shut the Strait of Hormuz for the duration of the conflict.
Nuclear programme
Trump has repeatedly said that his main goal is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Tehran has consistently said it has no intention of building a bomb and its program is for peaceful purposes.
But the war has not significantly changed Iran's nuclear capability. US intelligence last month estimated that Iran would need less than a year to produce a nuclear weapon - the same timeline it laid out following the June 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iranian proxies
Trump said on March 2 at the White House that Tehran cannot be allowed to continue to arm and fund the armed proxy groups in Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen that Iran has relied on for decades to project power and harass enemies.
US Admiral Brad Cooper said in May that Iran no longer has the ability to reliably supply those groups with advanced weapons, though he did not specify what that meant.
Regime change
Trump encouraged Iranian protesters to overthrow their rulers before the war began and said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death on February 28 was their "single greatest chance" to seize the government.
The war has failed to dislodge Iran’s government, but supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed and replaced by his son at the start of the conflict.
Trump in recent weeks has refrained from repeating his calls for the toppling of Iranian leaders.
In pictures: Destruction across Tyre as fighting in Lebanon comes into focus
09:00 , James Reynolds
News analysis: Trump’s Iran hawk backers are not feeling good about ceasefire deal: ‘It all seems bad’
08:30 , James ReynoldsTrump’s biggest backers on the neoconservative right were thrilled by his decision to go to war. But now they’re coming to terms with just how far short of their goals he’s come, writes John Bowden:
Trump’s Iran hawk backers aren’t feeling good about the ceasefire: ‘It all seems bad’
Israeli forces 'launch air attacks on southern Lebanon'
08:03 , James ReynoldsAl Jazeera Arabic is now corroborating reports carried by Lebanese media of strikes in southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces are claimed to have carried out an air strike on the outskirts of Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district.
Israeli forces also reportedly launched raids on the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa and hit the Ali al-Taher heights.
Israel is yet to comment on the reported strikes, amid growing pressure from Donald Trump and Iran to end the parallel war with Hezbollah.
Catch up: Israel blocked from reading Iran peace deal draft as Trump fears Netanyahu would leak it, reports say
08:00 , James ReynoldsIsrael’s request to access the text of the interim Iran agreement was rejected by the U.S., according to reports, as tensions between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump have become more prominent since the ceasefire in hostilities with Iran.
The original text of the memorandum of understanding reached between the U.S. and Iran to end the war in the Middle East has remained elusive, as Trump said the final version would be made public in a formal setting in a few days.
The interim deal reached Sunday would extend a tenuous ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blocked since the U.S. and Israel attacked the country in February.
Israel ‘blocked from reading’ Iran peace draft as Trump fears Netanyahu would leak it
Israel 'strikes targets in Lebanon' despite Trump pressure
07:18 , By Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Israeli military reportedly struck targets in southern Lebanon again on Wednesday morning, despite warnings from Donald Trump and Iran over the parallel war with Hezbollah.
Israeli fighter jets struck Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while a drone strike hit Ansariyeh on the coast, the National News Agency reported.
The Israeli military is yet to comment on the report.
Israel blocked from reading Iran peace deal draft - report
07:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsrael’s request to access the text of the interim Iran agreement was rejected by the US, according to reports, as tensions between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump have become more prominent since the ceasefire in hostilities with Iran.
The original text of the memorandum of understanding reached between the U.S. and Iran to end the war in the Middle East has remained elusive, as Trump said the final version would be made public in a formal setting in a few days.
The interim deal reached Sunday would extend a tenuous ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blocked since the U.S. and Israel attacked the country in February.
More here.
Israel ‘blocked from reading’ Iran peace draft as Trump fears Netanyahu would leak it
Iran says US peace deal hinges on Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has argued that a peace deal with the US would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.
“Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end,” said Iran's top diplomat.
His statement comes after Donald Trump berated Benjamin Netanyahu for his incessant bombing of Lebanon and urged the Israeli leader to behave "more responsibly". Trump said Israel's attack on Beirut was "vicious".
G7 welcomes peace deal between US and Iran
06:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Group of Seven leaders have issued a joint statement welcoming the peace deal between Iran and the US.
The G7 leaders said they "reaffirm that the right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the backbone of international trade".
"We support and are ready to contribute to the US-Iran deal implementation."
US to withdraw forces from areas surrounding Iran
06:39 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Trump administration has promised to withdraw its forces from areas surrounding Iran, Bloomberg reported, citing a clause in the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran to end their war.
The clause states that the US will withdraw its forces within 30 days of a final peace agreement. The MOU is due to be formally signed in Geneva on Friday.
Trump hopes Iran war will be in 'rearview mirror'
06:12 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump hopes that the Iran war would be in the "rearview mirror" after the official signing of the peace deal, details of which remain unknown to US lawmakers.
When asked if the president would now focus on the Ukraine war, Trump responded: "We were focused on Iran. That's going to be in the back, in the rearview mirror…. I want to do whatever I can."
Few details have been publicly released about the initial deal, but it is believed to include reopening the Strait of Hormuz to global oil shipments, financial incentives for Iran if it meets certain benchmarks, and a 60-day period for talks on ending the country's nuclear programme.
The deal will be formally signed on Friday in Geneva.
Iran deal includes $300 billion fund - report
06:06 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA $300bn private fund designed to kickstart investment into Iran is outlined in the US-Iran framework agreement and more than half that sum has already been committed, Reuters reported.
The fund is designed to give both sides an economic incentive to conclude a final deal to end the war, the agency reported, citing sources.
More than half of the amount has already been committed and it will be comprised entirely of private-sector funds, according to the report.
US and Iranian officials said on Sunday they had agreed on a framework to end their war, which began when US and Israeli forces attacked Iran on 28 February, halt the US blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key supply route for global oil and gas.
The new fund is a private investment vehicle, not a reconstruction or reparations programme and will not include any government money or grants, the source said, adding that companies based in the US, the Gulf Arab states, Asia, South America and Africa have agreed to commit financing.
Investments pledged span energy, logistics, manufacturing and transport, the source said.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran had originally sought $400bn as compensation for war damages from the US but Washington had said it would not provide it.
The idea for the fund, which is to be named the Reconstruction and Development Fund, then emerged.
Tanker carrying one million barrels of Iranian oil crosses US blockade
05:54 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA third tanker carrying one million barrels of Iranian crude oil has reportedly sailed past the US navy blockade in the Gulf of Oman, Al Jazeera reported, citing TankerTrackers.
The maritime tracking service said the Sonia I vessel “exited the blockade line” at 1.11 GMT.
At least two other tankers carrying a total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian oil exited the blockade line yesterday, according to the report.
Australia relaxes Middle East travel advice
05:38 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAustralia this morning relaxed its travel advice for several Middle Eastern countries, allowing Australians to transit through and travel to the biggest Gulf air hubs with the security of being covered by insurance.
Foreign minister Penny Wong said the previous "do not travel" advisory had been lowered for the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel and Kuwait after the US and Iran reached an interim deal to end the war.
She said the advisory had moved to "reconsider your need to travel" to those countries, as the security situation could still deteriorate rapidly with little warning.
The removal of the "do not travel" warning is positive for Gulf airlines. They had carried more than half of all passengers flying from Europe to Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands before the war began in late February, according to aviation data firm Cirium.
Many Australian travellers concerned about the risk of missiles and drones, schedule disruptions and the lack of travel insurance coverage had preferred flights on carriers like Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines and Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways that transited in Asia, driving up airfares.
Watch: Trump vows to read Iran deal to the media 'word by word'
05:00 , Rachel DobkinIsraeli strikes kill 4 in Lebanon despite Trump's criticism
04:55 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsraeli drone strikes targeted three vehicles in southern Lebanon, killing at least four people and wounding others, even as Donald Trump berated Benjamin Netanyahu for his attacks on Lebanon.
Two people were killed in a double-tap strike, with a drone hitting a car in the village of Mayfadoun followed by a second strike after people had gathered at the scene, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.
Another drone strike on the town of Shoukin killed two other people, the agency said.
Fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has eased but has not completely stopped following the announcement of an interim peace deal between the United States and Iran on Monday.
Canada says US-Iran deal 'game changer'
04:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarCanadian prime minister Mark Carney has said that the US-Iran peace deal is a “game changer" and that Ottawa supports efforts to implement the truce.
“We’re very pleased with the deal that’s been struck. It sets the groundwork to ensure Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon, and could also enable a reintegration over time of the economies in the region as well as progress toward a settlement in Lebanon," Carney told CNN.
The prime minister said he had seen the agreement and was “absolutely” supportive of it. The text of the deal has not been made public by the Trump administration.
Oil prices stabilise below $80 a barrel
04:27 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices edged higher in early trade this morning, clawing back some of the previous session's losses, as investors assessed whether the Iran war will truly end and the Strait of Hormuz reopen.
Brent crude futures gained 47 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $79.43 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate rose to $76.53 a barrel, up 48 cents, or 0.6 per cent.
Both benchmarks fell about 5 per cent for a second straight session yesterday to three-month lows on hopes a U.S.-Iran deal would allow oil flows through the Strait.
Iran will get certain benefits 'if they behave': JD Vance
04:01 , Rachel DobkinUS Vice President JD Vance has said Iran will get certain benefits “if they behave.”
“There are all of these benefits contemplated that the Iranians can get if they behave.
“If they stop developing terrorism, if they stop funding terrorism, if they stop supporting the rebuilding of the nuclear arms program, they actually can get some real benefits”, Vance told Fox News Tuesday evening, local time.
“If they don’t do any of that stuff, they don’t get anything”, he added.
Trump looks awkward in bizarre aerial photo of grinning G7 leaders
03:00 , James ReynoldsUS president Donald Trump looked awkward in a bizarre aerial photo of grinning world leaders at the G7 summit in France.
Trump and other members of the forum are meeting in Évian-les-Bains this week to discuss the wars in Iran and Ukraine, alongside other major international issues from the global economy to AI.
However, the smiles in the unusual drone-style shot were shared by the French hosts with the rather cheery caption “Bienvenue à Évian!”(Welcome to Evian!) on social media.
Trump looks awkward in bizarre aerial photo of grinning G7 world leaders
Iran claim they were forced to leave US minutes after World Cup opener
02:00 , James ReynoldsIran have claimed they were forced out of the United States just minutes after their opener with New Zealand concluded, saying his team are the “most oppressed” at the World Cup.
The team’s build-up to the finals has been profoundly impacted by the conflict between Iran and the United States. The squad was forced to move their training camp to Mexico, with the Trump administration only allowing them into the country on matchdays.
They opened their World Cup with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand, roared on by a passionate Iranian-American crowd.
Iran claim they were forced to leave US minutes after World Cup opener
Iran war may be ending but experts warn price pain is far from done
01:00 , James ReynoldsA tentative deal to end the Iran war has sparked immediate questions about how quickly consumers might see relief from soaring prices on everything from gasoline to groceries and airline tickets. However, experts caution that any significant drop in costs is unlikely to materialize swiftly.
Even as oil begins to flow again from the Middle East, economists and industry analysts predict a considerable delay before the effects are felt at fuel pumps, supermarkets, and other retail outlets.
"It is not clear, despite three months of war, that anything has been achieved that makes the American consumer better off," said Brett House, an economist at Columbia Business School.
Read the full story:
Iran war may be ending but experts warn price pain is far from done
Analysis: Trump has achieved none of his aims in Iran. His ‘ceasefire’ can’t work and won’t work
Wednesday 17 June 2026 00:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has trumpeted his ceasefire as a diplomatic breakthrough but it is a juvenile fantasy which won’t last, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Trump has achieved none of his aims in Iran. His ceasefire can’t work and won’t work
Pope Leo thanks God for deal to end US-Iran war
Tuesday 16 June 2026 23:29 , Alex CroftPope Leo has praised the interim deal between the US and Iran to end the regional war in the Middle East, saying "thanks be to God" that the two powers are set to formalize their accord on Friday.
Leo, who drew the ire of US president Donald Trump after criticising the Iran war, said he hoped the deal will end the conflict for good.
"There will still be several points to settle, but it is always better to do so through dialogue, through negotiations, and not by returning to war," the first U.S. pope told journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
"I hope that it truly is a solution to the war, that the war really is over, and that we can move forward," he said.
In full: Trump claims Israel ‘would have been blown up’ without him in new warning to Netanyahu
Tuesday 16 June 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump issued a new warning to Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday amid mounting concern Israel’s parallel war with Hezbollah could derail the entire peace process with Iran.
“Israel would have been blown up a long time ago, had I not got involved,” the US president told reporters in France ahead of a meeting with G7 leaders on ensuring stability in the Middle East.
Trump repeated his claim that “without the United States, there would be no Israel” and urged Israel’s prime minister to “be more responsible” on Lebanon.
In full:
Trump says Israel ‘would have been blown up’ without him in new warning to Netanyahu
Tuesday 16 June 2026 22:31 , Alex CroftDowned US Apache helicopter in Strait of Hormuz was involved in secret oil operation: report
Tuesday 16 June 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsA US Apache helicopter, shot down by Iran on June 9 and prompting retaliatory bombings from the United States, was reportedly involved in a clandestine ship-to-ship oil transfer operation designed to maintain the flow of Gulf energy exports.
This intricate operation used aerial and water drones, along with helicopters, to guide convoys to awaiting tankers, according to four sources, including a former U.S. official with direct knowledge of the incident.
Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters revealed six pairs of tanker ships clustered in a small area off Oman’s port of Sohar on the day the Apache was downed.
Downed Apache helicopter in Strait of Hormuz was involved in secret operation: report
Iran threatens hard response if Israel does not stop Lebanon attacks
Tuesday 16 June 2026 21:29 , Alex CroftIsrael should expect a hard response from the Iranian armed forces if it did not stop its attacks on southern Lebanon, Iran's Top Joint Military Command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
The statement came days after Tehran and Washington announced a MoU to end the regional war.
But the memorandum does not include an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, US officials have said.
Recap: Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could take weeks to resume, say operators
Tuesday 16 June 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsCommercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could take weeks to resume, the world’s largest tanker operator has said, despite Donald Trump’s insistence the vital waterway is already “partially opened” to traffic.
Jotaro Tamura, CEO of Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines, told the FT that it was not enough for shipping companies to see a “simple agreement between the relevant companies” to resume shipping and assuage down global energy prices.
"Given the experiences in the last couple of months, I think it’s reasonable to assume that it may take at least a couple of weeks or if not a month," Tamura said, before Trump announced a preliminary arrangement with Iran.
The framework deal between the US and Iran was already under pressure on Monday as Israel suggested it would stay in Lebanon despite the reported agreement stipulating the conflict would be ended on all fronts.
Trump was in France on Tuesday for the second day of the G7 summit with the leaders of France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan. Meetings will focus on ending the Middle East crisis, and security for Europe.
Israel denied permission to see US-Iran agreement over fears Netanyahu would leak it
Tuesday 16 June 2026 20:34 , Alex CroftIsrael has been denied permission to see the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, Israeli media is claiming.
Permission to view the document was denied because Donald Trump feared his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu would leak it before its official release, CNN reported.
Israel’s i24 news outlet described it as a “remarkable and highly unusual development between close allies on an issue of such critical national security importance”.
