Indirect talks between Tehran and Washington have ended in a stalemate in Doha despite President Donald Trump insisting the US is getting along “very well” with Iran.
The discussions, which were handled by mediators, concluded on Wednesday evening, as sources said teams largely focused on issues that had supposedly already been settled.
Iran has said said it would not initiate remaining clauses of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) until the initial five clauses were fully stabilised and finalised.
But President Trump told reporters that the “denuclearisation of Iran is moving along well” and that “very good meetings” were held in Qatar as he and his vice president played down any suggestion of a return to all-out combat.
Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Qatar on Tuesday to meet mediators, but no direct talks have taken place.
Sources told the Wall Street Journal that the US president would prefer to continue with diplomatic efforts, believing that further conflict could undermine Washington’s efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.
Read MoreWhy are energy bills going up and petrol still expensive despite the Iran deal?
Vance and Rubio diverge on Iran as both emerge as 2028 contenders
NATO joins drills off US coast despite Trump’s repeated criticisms of European allies
Key Points
- Iran's top negotiator calls Strait of Hormuz 'our greatest instrument of power'
- JD Vance says US in ‘great position’ even if Iran talks fail
- Oil ticks higher closer to $74
- Donald Trump contemplating further strikes, report suggests
- Why are the US travelling for peace talks again?
- Iraq to hold funeral procession for slain Iran supreme leader: Iranian official
Watch: Vance says US 'in great position' with Iran war as Tehran says peace talks on hold
23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneTrump ‘briefed on options for return to war with Iran as peace process stumbles’
22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDonald Trump is weighing a return to open war with Tehran and met with defense secretary Pete Hegseth and his most senior general to discuss renewing strikes, according to a report.
Sources told the Wall Street Journal that the US president would prefer to continue with diplomatic efforts, believing that further conflict could undermine Washington’s efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump has told aides he is fine with negotiations for a nuclear deal dragging on past the 18 August deadline as it would give them more time to work with.
You can read the full story below:
Trump ‘briefed on options for return to war with Iran as peace process stumbles’
Iran vow to deliver 'powerful response' to threats against people or leadership
21:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran will deliver an immediate and powerful response to any threat against its people or leadership, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an X post on Wednesday.
"POTUS has committed the US to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv. If they ignore their master, Iran will school them," Araqchi said.
The US and Iran held technical talks in Doha on Wednesday as they seek to agree on the flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and secure a lasting ceasefire, a source with direct knowledge of the talks and an Iranian official said.
Araqchi's X post was attached to comments made by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stating that Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was "marked for death."
US will not return to combat unless necessary, Vance says
20:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUS Vice President JD Vance has said Washington will not return to full combat with Iran unless there is a “clearly defined purpose” to it.
He added discussions between the US and Iran were going well.
The talks are based on a 14-point interim accord signed last month that was meant to halt the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February and reopen the strait, while setting up 60 days of negotiations for a permanent peace deal.
However, the US and Iran have sparred publicly over the meaning of the interim pact, leading to tit-for-tat military strikes over the past week and leaving little sign of progress on more complex issues, including on Iran's nuclear programme.
Vance said he could not guarantee that Washington would not return to full combat operations ahead of next month's deadline but that for now President Donald Trump had directed officials to make a deal.
"I can't commit to anything, because obviously it depends on what the Iranians are ultimately going to do," he told reporters on a visit to Virginia Beach, Virginia. "What I can commit to is: The president's not going to send our military back in unless he has to, unless there's a clearly defined purpose for it."
One US service member missing after helicopter goes down in Arabian Sea
20:16 , Nicole Wootton-CaneOne US service member is missing and three others were wounded but in stable condition after their MH-60S Seahawk helicopter made an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday, the US military said, adding there was no indication the crash was caused by hostile action.
"US Navy assets in the region are currently searching for other aircrewman still missing. The cause of incident is under investigation," the Navy's 5th Fleet said in a statement, adding that the helicopter was deployed to the region on the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier.
Helicopter water landings can be dangerous, even for experienced pilots, given the propensity of top-heavy aircraft to flip upside-down during submersion.
Iran claim World Cup treatment in US ‘undermined the sense of fairness’
20:00 , Daniel KeaneIran has strongly criticised its treatment at the World Cup, asserting that a "series of decisions, logistical arrangements, and circumstances" undermined the "sense of fairness" during the tournament.
This condemnation comes hours after a senior American official declared he had "danced a happy dance" upon the team's elimination.
The team's participation in the finals had been uncertain for months following air strikes on Iran by the US and Israel in February.
In May, Iran relocated its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican border city of Tijuana in an effort to alleviate visa complications. However, 11 of its federation officials were still denied entry to the US for their three group matches.
Following their exit, the Iranian team left a handwritten note addressed to the people of Mexico, expressing gratitude and raising profound questions about their experience.
Read our full story here.
Iran claim World Cup treatment in US ‘undermined the sense of fairness’
Merz says US-Iran ceasefire prerequisite for reconstruction talks
19:00 , Daniel KeaneGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a ceasefire in the Middle East was a prerequisite for any discussion on reconstruction in the region.
"As soon as it comes to rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure in the region, then we can discuss everything, but first of all the fighting must stop," he said.
Iran's foreign minister says Tehran's talks in Doha have concluded
18:34 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran’s foreign minister has said the country’s talks with mediators in Doha have concluded.
Kazem Gharibabadi said it had reached several agreements with Qatari mediators, including to establish a channel to discuss breaches of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) and to use frozen Iranian funds for items the country needs.
Earlier on Wednesday, president Donald Trump insisted discussions with Iran were going “very well”.
Channel to be established to discuss breaches of MoU, Iranian officials say
18:09 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA channel will be established to discuss breaches of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran, Tehran has said.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister also said it has been agreed that $6bn in frozen Iranian funds will be used to buy items according to the country’s needs.
It comes after meetings between the US and mediators in Doha, with Iran refusing to sit down for further peace talks until previous commitments under the MoU had been upheld.
Trump says the US and Iran getting along 'very well'
18:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States was getting along very well with Iran and that recent meetings in Qatar went well.
"The denuclearization of Iran is moving along well," Trump told reporters. "They've had very good meetings, and we'll see."
The US and Iran held technical talks in the Qatari capital of Doha on Wednesday as they seek to agree on the flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and secure a lasting ceasefire, a source with direct knowledge of the talks and an Iranian official said.
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff met the prime minister of Qatar — a mediator in the talks alongside Pakistan — to lay groundwork for the negotiations, but would not be attending the discussions themselves, the source with direct knowledge of the talks said.
"We're getting along very well," Trump said, adding Iran has "come a long way."
"I think they're fine," the president added.
Iran warns of immediate response to any threat
17:30 , Daniel KeaneIran will deliver an immediate and powerful response to any threat against its people or leadership, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an X post.
"POTUS has committed the U.S. to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv. If they ignore their master, Iran will school them," Araqchi said.
Araqchi's X post was attached to comments made by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stating that Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was "marked for death."
Vance and Rubio diverge on Iran as both emerge as 2028 contenders
16:31 , Daniel KeaneA subtle but significant divergence is emerging between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the implementation of President Donald Trump’s national security agenda, as both men potentially eye a 2028 presidential bid within a fractured Republican Party.
Their distinct backgrounds and policy experiences have led them down separate paths. Rubio, a senator with a long tenure and the son of Cuban immigrants, maintains a keen interest in Latin American affairs.
Vance, a Marine Corps veteran from the Midwest, served only two years in the Senate before becoming Trump's 2024 running mate, advocating a platform against foreign military interventions.
Read our full story below.
Watch: Vance says US 'in great position' with Iran war
15:31 , Daniel KeanePictured: Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman
15:00 , Bryony Gooch
Trump claims he is getting on 'very well' with Tehran
14:41 , Daniel KeanePresident Donald Trump has said the US is getting along very well with Iran and that recent meetings in Qatar were a success.
"The denuclearization of Iran is moving along well," Trump told reporters. "They've had very good meetings, and we'll see."
The US and Iran held technical talks in the Qatari capital of Doha as they seek to agree on the flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and secure a lasting ceasefire, a source with direct knowledge of the talks and an Iranian official said.
What are talks between Iran and US prioritising?
14:30 , Bryony GoochThe talks in Doha are structured as sessions between chief negotiators and specialists, the source with knowledge of the talks said. They began on Tuesday night and were continuing on Wednesday, said the Iranian official.
Iran has stated publicly that its priorities include agreeing on management of the Strait of Hormuz and the release of $6 billion in Iranian frozen assets, and the Iranian official said the current round of discussions would focus on those two issues.
The stated priority of the US is to ensure the free flow of traffic through the strait, the source with knowledge of the talks said. Iran's state media said on Wednesday a foreign container ship had run aground in the Strait of Hormuz after entering shallow waters outside the shipping route designated by Iranian authorities.
"Hormuz continues to reopen but it's patchy, unpredictable, and not fully transparent," said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights.
Trump weighing a return to war with Iran - report
14:00 , Bryony GoochTrump is reportedly weighing a return to war with Iran, discussing the possibility with senior officials like Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
Conversations have centered around what some officials call “finishing the job”, the paper reported.
While set to stick with diplomacy, Trump has reportedly told aides he believes another round of full-scale attacks could derail diplomacy and harm efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuke program.
The US president also told aides that he is fine if negotiations with Tehran blow past the 18 August headline.
In pictures: An Israeli tank and an APC maneuver on the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border, after crossing the border into Israel
13:30 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Vance says US 'in great position' with Iran war as Tehran says peace talks on hold
13:00 , Bryony GoochContainer ship ‘runs aground in Strait of Hormuz’
12:30 , Bryony GoochA foreign container ship has run aground in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state television reported on Wednesday, claiming the vessel failed to follow an approved route. While identifying it as a foreign container ship, the report provided no further immediate details about the incident.
The Iranian state television report appeared aimed at underlining Tehran's claims to control over the strait, which has long been considered by the world as an international waterway. A fifth of all oil and natural gas typically passes through it in peacetime.
Read more here:
Container ship ‘runs aground in Strait of Hormuz’
Iran insists on keeping control over Hormuz, senior Iranian sources say
12:00 , Bryony GoochIran is determined to win international recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz and ability to levy fees on ships entering or leaving the Gulf even if it has to do so by force, two senior Iranian sources said.
Under this month's interim deal with the US to end their three-month conflict, Iran agreed to let ships pass through the Strait for 60 days without charge. But it believes the wording of the agreement allows it to keep control of which ships may pass and which route they take through the narrow waterway.
It is also determined to secure lasting formal acceptance of this control once the interim phase expires, and its negotiators will not move to other areas of dispute in ongoing peace talks with Washington until that has been agreed, the sources said.
If the interim deal ends without being extended, Iran would start charging ships for passage in mid-August, though it has not yet laid out any list of what fees it will charge or how. Iran closed the Strait when the war began and Iranian officials have said authorities charged some vessels navigation or other fees to leave the Gulf.
How UK households are paying the cost of Trump’s Iran war
11:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe grim scale of the financial impact of the Iran war on UK households has been laid bare, with energy bills set to soar by more than £221 a year from July.
The rise in Ofgem’s price cap – the largest since 2023 – has been triggered by global energy markets being thrown into turmoil following the US and Israel’s attacks on 28 February.
Britons are now being squeezed from all angles as the Middle East conflict shows no sign of abating.
Global oil and gas prices have surged, motorists are forking out around £15 more at the pump, and food bills are soaring. Britons are also facing significantly higher mortgage costs, while businesses are being lumbered with a raft of price hikes.
Experts are warning that the cost of living crisis is only set to get worse, with painful energy price rises due to hit in October, when demand increases ahead of winter.
More here.
How UK households are paying the cost of Trump’s Iran war
Iran's top negotiator calls Strait of Hormuz 'our greatest instrument of power'
10:53 , Bryony GoochIran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said the country would not initiate remaining clauses of the memorandum of understanding (Mo) until the initial five clauses were fully stabilised and finalised.
He added that the Strait of Hormuz was a “divine gift granted to them, serving as their greatest instrument of power.”
The strait has become a key negotiating tool in Iran’s belt after the nation took control of it early on in the war, swiftly impacting the global oil market.
The price of oil has now steadied to $70 per barrel, but previously peaked at $113 in April.
This ex-general could be the biggest challenge for Netanyahu
10:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA leading Israeli general who quit prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet after accusing him of lacking a strategy in Gaza has emerged as one of the premier’s most serious challengers in elections scheduled for the autumn.
His name is Gadi Eisenkot. Yesterday in Israel, his centrist political party “Yashar!” or “Straight!” formally launched its election season campaign.
“This time it’s on us,” said Eisenkot at the launch event.
“Will we turn a blind eye to the disaster that has befallen us? Will we accept the continued division and rush to the next disaster? Or will we heal and rebuild?”
His rise from the highest ranks of the military could sharpen scrutiny of Netanyahu and his stewardship of Israel through multiple wars.
Like nearly all of the prime minister’s rivals, Eisenkot has broadly supported Israeli military operations in places such as Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. He did not mention any of those conflicts in his speech yesterday.
Ex-Israel PM says Netanyahu controlled by far-right ministers
10:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarFormer Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett has claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu is “incapable of governing his own government” because of being controlled by his far‑right ministers.
Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, alongside ultra‑Orthodox groups such as Haredim, "control him", Bennett told Mario Nawfal.
Bennet said he would not have allowed the far-right politicians, whom he said make “really stupid statements,” into a government.“Netanyahu can no longer do that because he depends upon them,” Benett added.
Iran says it will control Strait of Hormuz
09:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIranian officials have said their country has a right to manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz alongside US ally Oman, located on the other side of the strait.
Iran said the country would impose tolls on ships from mid-August, when the 60-day memorandum of understanding with the US expires.
"The sovereignty of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran and Oman, and traffic in the Strait is subject to arrangements determined by Iran," Iran's top negotiator, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, said on state TV.
Watch: Vance says US 'in great position' with Iran war
09:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarLawmaker says US ‘should not spend another cent’ on Israel
08:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS member of congress Rashida Tlaib has said that she will vote for an amendment in the House to block $3.3bn in military funding for Israel.
The Palestinian-American lawmaker said: "We should not spend another cent arming a military that is committing genocide in Palestine, ethnically cleansing Lebanon, and committing war crimes in Iran."
“A majority of Americans and a supermajority of Democrats support ending military aid to Israel. It’s time their representatives listened," she wrote on X.
This week, the House will vote on an amendment that would block $3.3 billion in military funding for the Israeli apartheid regime. I will vote yes.
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) June 30, 2026
We should not spend another cent arming a military that is committing genocide in Palestine, ethnically cleansing Lebanon, and…
Recap: ‘Trump wasn’t victorious – it was a major defeat’: protestors inside Iran speak out
08:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAmirhossein Miresmaeili hears from unimpressed protestors within Iran who feel betrayed by Donald Trump’s promises of regime change.
More here.
‘Trump wasn’t victorious – it was a major defeat’: protestors inside Iran speak out
Police officer killed in southeast Iran
07:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA police officer was killed as gunmen opened fire in Sib and Suran county in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, the provincial police information centre said this morning.
Mohammad Palangi, a Sunni Baluch officer, was on his way to work when he was shot at, the authorities said.
A Gaza footballer’s struggle to watch the tournament
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarFootball fan and founder of Palestine’s first national team for people of short stature, Haitham Al-Saqqa describes the danger of watching matches in the enclave, Maira Butt reports.
More here.
A Gaza footballer’s struggle to watch the World Cup
Iran unable to export any oil during US blockade, says negotiator
06:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has claimed that Tehran has been unable to sell any oil during the US blockade on its ports.
“From the day the blockade was lifted until today, we have exported more than 40 million barrels of oil,” he told state TV.
“By contrast, during the previous 50 to nearly 60 days, we were genuinely unable to export even a single barrel of oil,” he added.
Ghalibaf added that Iran was prioritising diplomacy with the US, but remained prepared to go to war should Trump attack again.
“We are pursuing dialogue, but if the dialogue is not implemented, we are also prepared for war and will respond accordingly,” he said.
South Korean cargo ship damaged in Strait of Hormuz attack set to depart Gulf
06:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSouth Korean cargo vessel Namu is set to leave the Strait of Hormuz by mid-July following repairs for damage sustained in a May attack.
Seoul had initially pointed to an Iranian anti-ship missile as the likely cause for the damage, although responsibility for the incident was still to be officially determined.
The hull of the bulk carrier, operated by HMM, was struck near the stern. Following the incident, Seoul stated on 27 May that an Iranian anti-ship missile was the probable cause, leading to the summoning of Iran's ambassador to share investigation findings and lodge a formal protest.
More here.
South Korean cargo ship damaged in Strait of Hormuz attack set to depart Gulf
'Israel won't leave', says Netanyahu as he visits occupied southern Lebanon
06:01 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsraeli pime minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday visited Lebanese territory occupied by the Israeli military and told soldiers that Israel would not withdraw from the country's south as long as Iran-backed Hezbollah continued to pose a threat.
It was the first visit by Netanyahu to occupied Lebanese territory since the Israeli and Lebanese governments reached a security agreement last Friday, mediated by the US, under which Israel will hand over two areas to Lebanon's army.
"Our insistence is that we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat is removed," Netanyahu told troops, according to a statement released by his office, referring to Hezbollah.
"And as long as Hezbollah remains here, armed and threatening us, we will remain here as well," he said.
Netanyahu, who last publicly visited occupied Lebanese territory in April, was joined by defence minister Israel Katz and senior military officials.
Satellite images show Isfahan nuclear complex in Iran
05:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil ticks higher closer to $74
05:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices rose in early trade this morning as investors responded to news that Iran will not be meeting with US envoys, a further strain on the interim ceasefire agreed between the two in the four-month-long war.
Brent futures rose 50 cents or 0.69 per cent to $73.45 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 63 cents, or 0.91 per cent, to $70.13 a barrel.
Brent fell by around $45 a barrel between the first and second quarters of this year, its largest quarterly loss since 2008 during the financial crisis.
US crude futures meanwhile fell by around $31, their largest quarterly loss since 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic crushed global oil demand.
Korea cargo ship Namu to exit Strait of Hormuz after attack in Gulf
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSouth Korea's oceans ministry said this morning that the cargo vessel Namu would exit the Strait of Hormuz in mid-July at the earliest once the damage sustained in an attack in May was repaired.
The bulk carrier's hull was hit near the stern in the attack, which Seoul said on 27 May probably involved an Iranian anti-ship missile, summoning the Iranian ambassador to share the results of its investigation and lodge a protest.
Saeed Koozechi, Iran's ambassador to South Korea, denied Tehran's involvement, the Yonhap news agency reported, and South Korea later said it could not conclusively determine who was responsible or whether the attack was intentional.
There are currently two vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, including Namu, with 35 crew members on board, Nam Jae-heon, vice oceans minister, told a press briefing today.
Nam added that 21 South Korean-operated vessels had passed safely through the strait since Washington and Tehran signed a ceasefire two weeks ago.
Vance says US in ‘great position’ even if Iran talks fail
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS vice president JD Vance has claimed that the Trump administration was in a "great position" despite how talks with Iran have been panning out.
"I actually think that the United States is in a great position, however, the negotiation ultimately shakes out," Vance said, as US envoys met with a Qatari official yesterday.
He told Fox News: "If the negotiation is successful, which obviously we want it to be successful, you have an Iran that is permanently transformed."
“That's not funding regional terrorism and instability; that is permanently given up on any nuclear weapons ambition, and that, as a result, is welcomed back into the world economy. That's a great outcome for the American people; it's a great outcome for the whole region."
Trump contemplating further strikes - report
04:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump has weighed a return to all-out war, holding conversations with defence secretary Pete Hegseth and chair of the joint chiefs of staff General Dan Caine on conducting more strikes, the Wall Street Journal reported.
But for now, Trump, who has publicly threatened Iran with more attacks, has decided to give diplomacy more time, the report said.
The report comes as Iran said it would not meet with top US envoys who flew to the region following an outbreak of hostilities, clouding the prospects for a lasting peace between the two countries.
Iranian officials also said the two sides must still sort out the terms of a ceasefire they signed two weeks ago before they could tackle more difficult topics, such as possible limits to its nuclear program.
The two countries were due to commence lower-level technical talks, according to Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry.
Iran’s young protesters are living in hiding for fear of execution: ‘Even my mother doesn’t know where I am’
04:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneOver 100 days after the brutal and unprecedented crackdown during Iran’s national uprising, life will never be the same for many of the young people who took to the streets.
As waves of arrests, executions and heavy sentences continue to mount, dozens of young protesters are now in a state of limbo between hiding and constant flight. They cannot return home, switch on their phones or even spend two nights in the same place.
The Independent spoke to some of them about their experiences living in hiding. You can read more below:
Iran’s young protesters are living in hiding for fear of execution by brutal regime
Why are the US travelling for peace talks again?
04:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUS delegates have travelled to Doha to take part in peace talks, according to president Donald Trump - despite Iranian officials saying no such talks are scheduled.
It comes after both sides traded strikes over the Strait of Hormuz at the end of last week, risking the fragile ceasefire that had been settled just two weeks ago.
Both sides had recently traded attacks in the Gulf, each accusing the other of violating the earlier deal.
Iran claimed a joint missile and drone operation targeting US military sites, while the US had struck Iran after a tanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz.
Watch: Qatari foreign ministry says no direct US-Iran talks at the moment, as US mediators arrive in Doha
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIraq to hold funeral procession for slain Iran supreme leader: Iranian official
02:00 , Rachel DobkinIraq will hold a funeral procession for Iran’s slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli attack at the beginning of the Iran war. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was named his successor.
“During my visit to Baghdad, I met with a number of senior Iraqi officials.
“As is the case in Iran, Iraq is preparing to hold a grand public funeral procession for His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, in an event that will undoubtedly go down in history and contribute to strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and the deep-rooted ties between our two countries and peoples”, Araghchi wrote on X.
US envoy and Trump's son-in-law meet with Qatari prime minister
01:00 , Rachel DobkinQatar’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has announced that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha Tuesday.
The foreign ministry said in a statement that the ongoing talks between the US and Iran “within the framework of the memorandum of understanding between the two parties were reviewed”.
“The meeting also addressed the latest regional developments, particularly the ceasefire in the sisterly Republic of Lebanon, and stressed the importance of consolidating it and building upon it in a way that preserves Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty and stability”, the ministry’s statement read.
Iran criticises ‘petty’ US security chief after he ‘danced a happy dance’ over team’s World Cup elimination
Wednesday 1 July 2026 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUS security chief Markwayne Mullin has drawn criticism after he said he “danced a happy dance” when Iran were eliminated from the World Cup.
The Iranian team exited the tournament in heartbreaking fashion when they were denied a late winner against Egypt by VAR, which deemed goalscorer Shoja Khalilzadeh’s toes offside.
The 1-1 draw saw Iran finish third in Group G, and they narrowly missed out on one of eight spots in the knockout rounds for third-placed teams, falling short on goal difference.
Mullin, who runs the US Department of Homeland Security, told reporters: “I’m just glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back. I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the US soil, and I might've sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.’
He added: “There wasn't a single team that we had to spend more time dealing with than Iran.”
But Iranian officials said the comments “demonstrate that US officials have no commitment to international law or the principles expected of a host nation capable of organising a global sporting event”.
You can read the full story below:
Iran criticises ‘petty’ US security chief after his ‘happy dance’ over World Cup exit
Watch: US Senate votes to halt Iran war
Tuesday 30 June 2026 23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneTrump again demands gas retailers drop price after Iran war he started sent prices soaring
Tuesday 30 June 2026 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDonald Trump has again insisted that gas prices must come down now that a fragile memorandum of understanding has been signed with Iran.
The president has repeatedly called for the cost of gas to go down in recent weeks, after the war he began with Israel at the end of February sent prices soaring.
“Gasoline Retailers must get their Prices down, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote on Truth Social late Monday.
“They’re too high considering that Oil is now at $68 a Barrel, and heading south. The Retailers must quickly react to this statement, and do what they know is right – DROP YOUR PRICE FOR OUR GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE! There will be no gauging, which is totally illegal.”
You can read the full story below:
Trump again demands gas retailers drop price after war he started sent prices soaring
In pictures: Iran depart from Tijuana after being eliminated from the World Cup
Tuesday 30 June 2026 21:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Iran adds 20 per cent mark up to oil, negotiator says
Tuesday 30 June 2026 20:34 , Nicole Wootton-CaneTehran has added a 20 per cent mark up on its oil sales, the country’s top negotiator has said.
It comes as he warned the US that if it “intends to deprive Iran of selling oil, nobody will benefit from oil”.
US negotiators are currently in Doha for peace talks, but Tehran has said no discussions are scheduled to take place.
Sovereignty of Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran and Oman, Tehran says
Tuesday 30 June 2026 20:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran’s top negotiator has said the sovereignty of the Strait of Hormuz lies only with Iran and Oman as he warned safe passage in the Strait is only agreed for 60 days.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that traffic in the key shipping route is only allowed as Tehran dictates.
He added Iran has exported 40 million barrels of oil since the US lifted its Navy blockade in the area.
Iran says it will not enter further negotiations until MoU conditions are met
Tuesday 30 June 2026 20:17 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran has said it will not enter further negotiations with the US until terms agreed in a memorandum of understanding two weeks ago are fulfilled.
The country’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Tuesday that any current meetings are being held with the intention of seeing those commitments met.
The MoU is made up of 14 points, including the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days and the US terminating any sanctions against Iran.
But the agreement looks to be on thin ice, with both sides trading strikes with each other at the end of last week.
