The US has partially lifted sanctions on Iranian oil exports following “encouraging” talks over ending their months-long war.
The US Treasury on Monday issued a 60-day sanctions waiver, which would allow Iran to sell oil in US dollars for the first time in decades. The high-stakes talks aimed at finalising a deal to end the war are expected to continue after US vice president JD Vance claimed they “laid a very good foundation for a successful final deal”.
However, Iran has reportedly denied a claim by Vance that Tehran would allow nuclear inspectors back into the country following initial talks in Switzerland.
Vance said discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency could be happening "as soon as today". But, Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran had made "no new commitments" on nuclear inspections.
The lead negotiator of the Iranian delegation, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, insisted on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran and would follow international laws.
"Hopefully we can activate the strait again, in terms of passage, and bring prosperity back to regional and global economy," he said.
Read MoreThe Trump administration is angry with Netanyahu - but it won’t break with Israel’s far right
UK ‘did not like’ Starmer refusing to be drawn into Iran war, says Trump
Vance says talks with Iranian officials set 'good foundation' for a deal to end the war
Key Points
- US partially lifts Iran oil sanctions
- What did the US and Iran agree in Switzerland?
- Iran disputes Vance's nuclear inspection claims
- Iran agreed to allow more nuclear inspectors, Vance says
Iran's lead negotiator insists Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran
04:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe lead negotiator of the Iranian delegation, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, insisted that the Strait of Hormuz would be managed by Iran and would follow international laws.
Qalibaf, who is also the speaker of the parliament, spoke with Iran's state media on a plane on his way back from Switzerland.
"Hopefully we can activate the strait again, in terms of passage, and bring prosperity back to the regional and global economy" he said.
Qalibaf confirmed that the issue of releasing the frozen assets, as well as the sale of Iranian oil were discussed in the talks with the US.
Iran disputes Vance's nuclear inspection claims
04:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran has reportedly denied a claim by US vice president JD Vance that Tehran would allow nuclear inspectors back into the country following initial talks in Switzerland.
Vance said discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency could be happening "as soon as today".
However, Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran had made "no new commitments" on nuclear inspections.
Since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in 2025, inspectors have visited the Islamic Republic.
US partially lifts Iran oil sanctions
04:14 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe US has partially lifted sanctions on Iranian oil exports following “encouraging” talks over ending their months-long war.
The US Treasury yesteday issued a 60-day sanctions waiver after the first talks under a nascent peace deal.
US vice president JD Vance said talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland had laid a good foundation for a final peace deal, although Iran denied that it had begun discussions of its nuclear program.
Watch: Trump says Israel would be 'eviscerated' without him
04:00 , Rebecca WhittakerNetanyahu's claims about Iran's nuclear program run counter to public evidence
03:00 , Rebecca WhittakerIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran would have developed a nuclear weapon and used it on Israel were it not for the two recent wars. There is no public evidence for that assessment, which runs counter to those of the U.N. nuclear watchdog and U.S. intelligence agencies.
For decades, Netanyahu has made dire predictions about Iran's disputed nuclear program, most famously at the United Nations with visual aids. The rhetoric has escalated since the U.S. and Iran reached an interim peace deal this month, and as Netanyahu faces elections later this year.
Read more here:
FACT FOCUS: Netanyahu's claims about Iran's nuclear program run counter to public evidence
Recap: What did the US and Iran agree in Switzerland?
02:00 , Rebecca WhittakerNegotiators for the US and Iran met in Switzerland over the weekend for talks on a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said they had agreed to a roadmap towards a final deal on ending their war in 60 days.
They also said the two sides had agreed to a mechanism to end fighting between US ally Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
And they said they had opened a communications line to help ensure safe passage for commercial ships through the strait, a vital global supply route for oil and liquefied natural gas.
Technical talks will continue for the rest of the week in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, the joint statement said.
Vance claims Iran will allow nuclear inspectors in after hailing ‘great progress’ in peace talks
01:00 , Rebecca WhittakerJD Vance said on Monday that Iran has agreed to allow nuclear inspectors into the country again following an initial round of discussions aimed at resolving the conflict with the United States.
Speaking after discussions in Switzerland, the US vice president said the development was “probably what we’re most excited about as Americans”, and that plans could be drawn up as soon as this week.
Iran’s nuclear programme has been at the centre of the dispute with the US and Israel since before the conflict erupted, and remains the focus of the new 60-day window for talks to finalise a deal to end the war.
Read more here:
Vance claims Iran will let nuclear inspectors in following ‘great progress’ in talks
Watch: Vance claims Trump wants to 'turn over new leaf' in ties with Iranian people
Tuesday 23 June 2026 00:00 , Rebecca WhittakerWhat did the US and Iran agree in Switzerland?
Monday 22 June 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsNegotiators for the US and Iran met in Switzerland over the weekend for talks on a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said they had agreed to a roadmap towards a final deal on ending their war in 60 days.
They also said the two sides had agreed to a mechanism to end fighting between US ally Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
And they said they had opened a communications line to help ensure safe passage for commercial ships through the strait, a vital global supply route for oil and liquefied natural gas.
Technical talks will continue for the rest of the week in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, the joint statement said.
Recap: Iran agreed to allow more nuclear inspectors, Vance says
Monday 22 June 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsJD Vance told reporters in Switzerland on Monday that Iran had agreed to admit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as talks continue.
He said the development “is probably what we’re most excited about as Americans”.
“That is a major milestone for the American people, and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran, and that’s exactly what we wanted to do,” he added.
'I will do what I have to do,' if Iran violates agreement says Trump
Monday 22 June 2026 21:41 , Rebecca WhittakerDonald Trump has stressed "I will do what I have to do" if Iran does not stick to its agreement with Washington.
"If Iran doesn't live up to their agreement, or if they're not behaving, I will do what I have to do," Trump told reporters.
Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed an interim US-Iran deal last week.
Trump said on Monday Iran was supposed to use the money being unfrozen to buy food exclusively from the United States.
"All that money's coming back in the form of purchases of food which they desperately need. They have 91 million people, they can't feed them. So, the money that we lift is going to go to our farmers," Trump said.
Trump says Iran will 'never have a nuclear weapon'
Monday 22 June 2026 21:38 , Rebecca WhittakerDonald Trump has claimed the Strait of Hormuz is open and that Iran will “never have a nuclear weapon.”
Speaking in the Oval Office the US president said: “The strait is totally open, you know that, and we're negotiating.
“We'll see how that all goes, but we have two things: we have an open strait, and we have a country that will never have a nuclear weapon, will never ever have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump says Strait of Hormuz is open and threatens Iran to 'stick to an agreement'
Monday 22 June 2026 21:14 , Rebecca WhittakerDonald Trump has suggested the Strait of Hormuz is "totally open" while publicly signing an executive order related to quantum computing in the Oval Office.
He added that “if Iran doesn’t stick to an agreement, I will do what I have to do.”
His comments come after Iran hit back at the president after he threatened to “take over the rest of the country” if the Strait of Hormuz is closed again.
Number of ships passing through Strait of Hormuz plummets again after Iran closes waterway
Monday 22 June 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsTraffic in the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted after Iran declared the vital waterway closed again - although a handful of ships appear to still be attempting to transit the route.
Five vessels were seen heading into the Strait of Hormuz on Monday morning, two days after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that the channel would be closed due to Israel’s continued attacks in Lebanon.
Five ships also crossed on Sunday, down from 26 spotted a day earlier, according to ship tracking data from analytics firm Kpler.
Number of ships passing through Strait of Hormuz plummets again
Oil prices fall and stock markets rise as Iran claims ‘great progress’ made in peace talks with US
Monday 22 June 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsOil prices fell and stocks rose on Monday after negotiators said that “great progress” had been made in talks with Iran and the United States, despite a growing war of words between Donald Trump and Iranian officials.
Brent crude futures were down 0.7% to $80.07 a barrel after mediators from Pakistan and Qatar said the parties had agreed over the weekend on a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days.
Optimism around negotiations saw stock prices rise in Asia, where Japan’s Nikkei climbed 1.8% this morning, while Chinese blue chips stocks were up 1.6%. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.6%.
Oil prices fall as Iran claims ‘great progress’ in talks
Watch: Qatar PM appears to snub JD Vance at US-Iran peace talks
Monday 22 June 2026 19:31 , Rebecca WhittakerRecap: Iran agreed to allow more nuclear inspectors, Vance says
Monday 22 June 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsJD Vance told reporters in Switzerland on Monday that Iran had agreed to admit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as talks continue.
He said the development “is probably what we’re most excited about as Americans”.
“That is a major milestone for the American people, and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran, and that’s exactly what we wanted to do,” he added.
Iran will agree to have major weapons inspections, according to Trump
Monday 22 June 2026 18:03 , Rebecca WhittakerIran will agree to have major weapons inspections long into the future, according to US president Donald Trump.
He wrote in a post on Truth Social: “Everybody is fully aware that Iran will agree to have Major Weapons Inspections in order to ensure “Nuclear Honesty” long into the future. President DONALD J. TRUMP”
What did the US and Iran agree in Switzerland?
Monday 22 June 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsNegotiators for the US and Iran met in Switzerland over the weekend for talks on a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said they had agreed to a roadmap towards a final deal on ending their war in 60 days.
They also said the two sides had agreed to a mechanism to end fighting between US ally Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
And they said they had opened a communications line to help ensure safe passage for commercial ships through the strait, a vital global supply route for oil and liquefied natural gas.
Technical talks will continue for the rest of the week in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, the joint statement said.
Recap: Trump says Israel would be 'eviscerated' without him
Monday 22 June 2026 17:30 , James ReynoldsIran's top negotiator is traveling to Oman for talks
Monday 22 June 2026 17:01 , Rebecca WhittakerIran’s top negotiator is heading to Oman for talks, according to his account on Telegram.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is set to “discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation and joint efforts to consolidate Iranian arrangements for managing the Strait of Hormuz.”
In pictures: Destruction to homes in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, following Israeli bombardment
Monday 22 June 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds
Iran didn't negotiate on its nuclear programme during Switzerland talks
Monday 22 June 2026 16:46 , Rebecca WhittakerTehran did not negotiate on its nuclear programme nor did it accept any new commitments in Sunday's talks with the US in Switzerland, the the Iranian foreign ministry has said.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told the official IRNA news agency on Monday that Iran's interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will continue in accordance with current procedures, subject to the approval of Iran's parliament and the decisions of the Supreme National Security Council.
Rubio heads to UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain to discuss Iran deal
Monday 22 June 2026 16:25 , Rebecca WhittakerUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, according to a State Department spokesperson.
The trip over the next few days will give the Trump administration a chance to sell its preliminary Iran accord directly to Gulf Arab allies.
While in Bahrain, Rubio will also meet with the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, a grouping of six Sunni monarchies that also includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman, State Department `spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on Monday.
While GCC leaders have broadly supported efforts to end the US-Israeli war with Iran, many are disconcerted by the specific terms of the memorandum of understanding that US President Donald Trump signed last week.
US issues Iran-related general license for oil sales
Monday 22 June 2026 16:00 , James ReynoldsThe US Treasury Department issued a general license for Iran on Monday that allowed the production, delivery and sale of crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian-origin through August 21.
Under the memorandum of understanding signed last week between Washington and Tehran, the United States agreed to issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, and transportation.
Transactions authorised in the general license include importation of Iranian-origin crude oil, petrochemical and petroleum products to the United States. It does not authorise transactions involving North Korea or Cuba.
Netanyahu insists IDF will remain in Lebanon
Monday 22 June 2026 15:43 , James ReynoldsIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still reassuring his base that the IDF will remain in Lebanon to protect residents in northern Israel.
“Our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or emerging threat against them or against the residents of the north. The IDF has no restrictions in this matter,” he says.
“I stand firm on the fact that we will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as is required to protect the residents of the north and all the citizens of the state,” he adds.
ההנחיה שלי ושל שר הביטחון לצה״ל היא ברורה והיא לא השתנתה:
ללוחמים שלנו בדרום לבנון יש חופש פעולה מלא לסכל כל איום ישיר או מתהווה עליהם או על תושבי הצפון. אין לצה״ל שום הגבלה בעניין זה.
אני עומד מאחוריהם, העם כולו עומד מאחוריהם.
אני עומד איתן על כך שנישאר ברצועת הביטחון בדרום… pic.twitter.com/tbSZG3VwMr
Recap: Vance claims Trump wants to 'turn over new leaf' in ties with Iranian people
Monday 22 June 2026 15:30 , James ReynoldsThe four issues in focus as talks begin in Switzerland
Monday 22 June 2026 15:00 , James ReynoldsJD Vance outlined four US priorities for initial talks with Iran in Switzerland on Monday.
The first was a mechanism for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, he said, insisting that the waterway is currently open. He added that they need coordination to rid the channel of mines.
They also want to ensure a similar mechanism for regional ceasefire, after Israel and Hezbollah renewed their agreement to stop clashes in Lebanon.
Vance said Iran has agreed to allow nuclear inspectors into the country.
And Vance said they also set up a process for talks to continue after the lead negotiators leave Switzerland today.
What happens next around talks to end the war?
Monday 22 June 2026 14:28 , James ReynoldsIran and the US are expected to continue their mediated talks in Switzerland this week.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said sanctions on Iranian oil were waived, some frozen assets were released and a ‘reconstruction’ plan was launched.
Mediators are also focusing on implementing a mechanism to ensure the conflict in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah stays calm, after a ceasefire was renewed on Friday afternoon.
Relatedly, a ‘line of communication’ is meant to be set up to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open, mediators said.
Trump accuses newspaper of ‘treason’ after it questioned what the Iran war had actually achieved
Monday 22 June 2026 14:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has again lashed out over negative press coverage of his war with Iran, singling out The New York Times for criticism after it asked what the conflict had actually achieved.
“The way the Corrupt and Failing New York Times is covering stories on a very battered and beat up Iran, through FAKE & MADE UP ‘FACTS’ is, in my opinion, ‘TREASONOUS,’” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform late Sunday.
“I will be adding all of their false and ridiculous reporting to my multi Billion Dollar lawsuit against them. They are Criminals!”
Read the full story:
Trump accuses newspaper of ‘treason’ after it questioned what Iran war had achieved
The four issues in focus as talks begin in Switzerland
Monday 22 June 2026 13:44 , James ReynoldsJD Vance outlined four US priorities for initial talks with Iran in Switzerland on Monday.
The first was a mechanism for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, he said, insisting that the waterway is currently open. He added that they need coordination to rid the channel of mines.
They also want to ensure a similar mechanism for regional ceasefire, after Israel and Hezbollah renewed their agreement to stop clashes in Lebanon.
Vance said Iran has agreed to allow nuclear inspectors into the country.
And Vance said they also set up a process for talks to continue after the lead negotiators leave Switzerland today.
Iran agreed to allow more nuclear inspectors, Vance says
Monday 22 June 2026 13:35 , James ReynoldsJD Vance told reporters in Switzerland on Monday that Iran had agreed to admit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as talks continue.
He said the development “is probably what we’re most excited about as Americans”.
“That is a major milestone for the American people, and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran, and that’s exactly what we wanted to do,” he added.
What did the US and Iran agree in Switzerland?
Monday 22 June 2026 13:30 , James ReynoldsNegotiators for the US and Iran met in Switzerland over the weekend for talks on a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said they had agreed to a roadmap towards a final deal on ending their war in 60 days.
They also said the two sides had agreed to a mechanism to end fighting between US ally Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
And they said they had opened a communications line to help ensure safe passage for commercial ships through the strait, a vital global supply route for oil and liquefied natural gas.
Technical talks will continue for the rest of the week in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, the joint statement said.
Oil tanker traffic picks up through Hormuz
Monday 22 June 2026 13:27 , James ReynoldsTwo crude tankers with just under 2 million barrels of oil sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, ship tracking data showed, in a sign that traffic was picking up following weaker flows on Sunday due to concerns over passage through the waterway.
Separately, two supertankers, which can carry a maximum of 4 million barrels of crude, sailed into the Gulf through the strait on Monday with one of the vessels showing the Iraqi port of Basra as its destination, according to separate shipping tracking data and analysis from Kpler.
The sailings through Hormuz are still a fraction of the average daily crossings of 125 vessels before the Iran war began on February 28.
Iran's president expected to visit Pakistan tomorrow
Monday 22 June 2026 13:21 , James ReynoldsIranian president Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to visit Pakistan on Tuesday, the state-affiliated Tasnim news agency reports.
The visit will likely be a one-day trip and would be his first trip abroad since 2025. The Iranian president visited Pakistan last August.
Recap: Trump threatens to 'take over' Iran again
Monday 22 June 2026 13:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump threatened to “take over” Iran if they try to close the Strait of Hormuz again during a turbulent weekend for diplomacy as negotiators met in Switzerland to begin a period of high-stakes talks to end the war.
The US president said he had warned Iranian officials directly that “you close [the strait] and you won’t have a country”, Fox News’s Trey Yingst reported on Sunday, as Iran again restricted maritime traffic in response to Israel’s clashes with Hezbollah.
“You won't even make it back to your f***** country,” the president said he told the Iranians, adding: “We'll take over the rest of the country.”
High stakes talks aimed at finalising a deal to end the war are expected to continue through the week, after a “difficult” start that saw Iranian negotiators walk out over Trump’s “insults”.
The first round of talks nonetheless concluded early on Monday morning, with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi praising Pakistan and Qatar for their mediation and saying they “delivered major progress”.
And despite the public bluster, JD Vance told reporters that Trump had “asked us to turn over a new leaf to transform our relationship with the people of Iran”.
Israel will not withdraw from security zone in Lebanon, reiterates defence minister
Monday 22 June 2026 12:30 , James ReynoldsAs US and Iran began talks in Switzerland on Sunday, Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz took to social media to reiterate that the IDF would not withdraw.
“Israel has no intention of withdrawing from the Beaufort, which is an integral part of the security zone in Lebanon and essential for the defense of the Galilee settlements and IDF forces.”
Israel captured the medieval Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon on 31 May and have vowed to stay.
“As Prime Minister Netanyahu and I have clarified - Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon.”
Dollar steady as first round of US-Iran talks ends
Monday 22 June 2026 12:00 , James ReynoldsThe dollar was steady on Monday after the first round of US-Iran talks ended, although threats from President Donald Trump left investors nervous.
A joint statement from mediating nations Qatar and Pakistan said the US and Iran agreed to a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days, providing hope for an eventual resolution of a conflict that has cast a shadow over the global rates outlook.
The parties agreed to a mechanism to end the fighting in Lebanon and opened a communications line to help ensure safe passages for commercial ships through the contested strait, the statement said.
Oil prices fell over 1% after the announcement with Brent crude futures last at $79.36 a barrel. O/R
Watch: Vance claims Trump wants to 'turn over new leaf' in ties with Iranian people
Monday 22 June 2026 11:30 , James ReynoldsWhat happens next around talks to end the war?
Monday 22 June 2026 11:15 , James ReynoldsIran and the US are expected to continue their mediated talks in Switzerland this week.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said sanctions on Iranian oil were waived, some frozen assets were released and a ‘reconstruction’ plan was launched.
Mediators are also focusing on implementing a mechanism to ensure the conflict in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah stays calm, after a ceasefire was renewed on Friday afternoon.
Relatedly, a ‘line of communication’ is meant to be set up to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open, mediators said.
Three in four Americans say Iran was was not worth the cost
Monday 22 June 2026 11:00 , James ReynoldsThree-quarters of Americans want Donald Trump’s war with Iran to end without further resumption of hostilities on either side — and almost as many say the war wasn’t worth it in the first place.
A new CBS poll released Sunday found that the president’s foreign policy choices are deeply underwater with voters as peace talks are supposedly set to continue and the administration oversees the rollout of a new ceasefire extension signed by U.S. and Iranian officials on Wednesday.
In the poll, 78 percent of U.S. adults say that they want the war to be over, a clear refutation of the Trump administration’s insistence that Americans would be willing to weather economic pain and frustration in exchange for removing the supposed threat of Iran’s nuclear weapons.
Read the full story:
Americans say they want the Iran war to end and it was not worth the cost
Explosion as Qatar restarts gas export terminal hurts 54 and leaves 18 missing
Monday 22 June 2026 10:30 , James ReynoldsAn explosion tore through Qatar's key natural gas export terminal Sunday night as workers tried to resume operations there after Iran bombed it during the war, causing a fire that hurt at least 54 people as another 18 were still missing hours later.
The blast at the Ras Laffan industrial area could cause further chaos in global energy markets, particularly as Qatar remains one of the world's top natural gas producers. Qatar shut down its production after Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz meant it couldn't get shipments out to its clients.
Explosion as Qatar restarts gas export terminal hurts 54 and leaves 18 missing
In pictures: Destruction to homes in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, following Israeli bombardment
Monday 22 June 2026 10:00 , James Reynolds Iran seizes on valiant world cup campaign
Monday 22 June 2026 09:30 , James ReynoldsIran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf took to social media on Sunday to share the national team’s efforts to hold Belgium to a draw in the World Cup.
Iran have two points and will next face Egypt in Seattle on Friday. Their campaign has been overshadowed by restrictions on their stay in the US surrounding the conflict.
This is how we protect our land pic.twitter.com/Y9x0OoE7Kb
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) June 21, 2026
Araghchi hails major progress in talks on Lebanon
Monday 22 June 2026 09:00 , James ReynoldsIran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Pakistan and Qatar had delivered ‘major progress’ to end the fighting in Lebanon.
In focus was a ‘deconfliction cells’ between the US, Iran and Lebanon to ensure adherence to a renewed ceasefire brought in last week.
Araghchi said this would be the first test to come from talks.
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 & development plan launched for Iran.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 22, 2026
1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell https://t.co/q0okD2qwSO
Iran squad thanks LA hosts amid continued restrictions on US stay
Monday 22 June 2026 08:33 , James ReynoldsIran left a message in their SoFi Stadium locker room on Sunday thanking Los Angeles for its hospitality during the World Cup and saying they are leaving with dignity after a 0-0 draw with Belgium kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
Los Angeles hosted both of Iran's Group G matches so far, with the team returning to their base in Tijuana, Mexico between games. Iran have spent the tournament based in Tijuana commuting to the US for their matches because of restrictions surrounding their stay in the country, while a number of Iran's team staff and officials have been banned.
"From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilized Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast," read the handwritten note, which was released by Iran's football federation. "Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality. We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor, and leave with dignity."
The note also thanked Iranian supporters who gave their "heart, voice and soul" for the team during the two matches and ended with a call for peace, respect and friendship among all nations.
Switzerland hails progress in talks overnight
Monday 22 June 2026 08:27 , James ReynoldsSwitzerland says in a statement that they welcome the “constructive progress made during diplomatic talks” overnight betwen the US, Iran and mediators.
“Switzerland welcomes the establishment of a high-level committee by the parties on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding. This is a positive step, which will help to structure the next phase of the political and technical process,” they add.
“Switzerland particularly welcomes the agreement on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days. This roadmap creates the conditions for the immediate resumption of new technical discussions.”
Switzerland says it remains ready to have a role in supporting the diplomatic process.
Watch: Qatar PM snubs JD Vance, greets Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif instead
Monday 22 June 2026 08:00 , James ReynoldsIsraeli strikes leave Lebanon's ancient coastal city of Tyre shaken
Monday 22 June 2026 07:29 , James ReynoldsThe dust has barely settled in Tyre after weeks of Israeli airstrikes on the ancient city along Lebanon 's Mediterranean coast. Despite the relative calm, life remains largely at a standstill.
A new ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group is in effect. But previous ceasefires have broken down.
Uncertainty and fear linger, even as the U.S. and Iran meet for talks in Switzerland that Lebanese residents hope will bring calm to their troubled country.
Here’s how Tyre is weathering the latest conflict as the war in Lebanon threatens to derail the peace process:
Israeli strikes leave Lebanon's ancient coastal city of Tyre shaken
Trump tells Iran ‘we will take over your country’ if Strait of Hormuz is closed
Monday 22 June 2026 06:50 , John BowdenDonald Trump threatened to “take over” Iran if the Strait of Hormuz was not immediately re-opened, the president told Fox News.
His latest round of threats came in response to news Saturday that Iran was once again closing the key waterway, just days after signing an agreement to ensure that traffic could flow through. Iran announced that it would close the Strait of Hormuz after Israeli forces continued an all-out assault into Lebanon aimed at dislodging Hezbollah militants.
Fox’s Trey Yingst reported Sunday that in an early morning phone call, the US president said he’d warned Iranian officials directly that "you close [the Strait of Hormuz] and you won't have a country.”
"You won't even make it back to your f***** country,” Yingst said the president claimed to have relayed to the Iranians, adding: “We'll take over the rest of the country."
Read the full story here:
Trump threatens to ‘take over’ Iran in profanity filled tirade: report
Who's who at the US-Iran talks in Switzerland?
Monday 22 June 2026 06:30 , Adam WithnallThe chief negotiators in Switzerland for the US include JD Vance, the vice president; special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of the president.
Iran is represented by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the parliamentary speaker, and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.
It’s unclear when Vance will depart Switzerland, although he told Fox News in an interview on Saturday that he anticipated only staying for a “day or two”. Kushner and Witkoff are handling much of the technical details on behalf of the US delegation.
In a joint statement, Pakistan and Qatar said the high-level talks had ended on Sunday and that technical negotiations would continue in Switzerland for the rest of the week.
The statement said the sides had agreed to establish a “communication line” to ensure safe passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a mechanism to bring about an end to the fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The US offered no immediate comment, while Iran praised the meditators’ work. Araghchi wrote on X that the first “real test” of negotiations would be whether the mechanism succeeded in halting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
The senior US diplomat said among the issues discussed was Iran’s messaging as it related to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran’s military said it closed Saturday in response to continued fighting in Lebanon. US Central Command has disputed that Iran closed the strait again.
