<\/p>\n\u201cWe will restore security to the north. This requires maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon, and it requires that we not leave it as long as Israel\u2019s security needs demand it,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying in a Times of Israel report. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes killed three people in Lebanon on Thursday in two separate incidents. According to Lebanese state media National News Agency, the first attack took place in the town of Kfar Tebnit, where a car with two people was targeted by a drone. In a separate attack, a man was killed in a drone strike in the southern town of Zebdin, according to NNA. <\/p>\n
Negotiating period officially begins, says JD Vance<\/strong> <\/p>\nUS Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said the 60-day negotiating period with Iran has official begun. \u201cI would say the 60-day period officially started today. It was signed late, and it may have even been signed technically, you know, because of the time shift, I think it\u2019s signed technically today, Iran time.\u201d <\/p>\n
He further said that he is \u201cnot at all\u201d worried about being blamed if the deal with Iran falls, after US President Donald Trump joked that he\u2019d blame his vice president if it falls apart. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not at all,\u201d he responded when asked during a White House press briefing if that prospect concerned him. <\/p>\n
US removes blockade on Iranian ports<\/strong> <\/p>\nUS Central Command on Thursday said it has lifted its blockade on \u201call maritime traffic entering and exiting\u201d Iranian ports. <\/p>\n
\u201c All U.S. military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased. Our great Naval Ships will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect.\u201d <\/p>\n
Vance during a press briefing in White House said that the US Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. <\/p>\n
Initial talks in Switzerland<\/strong> <\/p>\nThe Swiss government has confirmed that initial talks between the United States and Iran are planned at the Buergenstock mountaintop resort in Switzerland on Friday, June 19. This comes after the two countries signed an interim peace deal to end months of war. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs things stand, the plan is still for the U.S. and Iran, along with mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other involved countries, to meet tomorrow at Buergenstock for initial negotiations about implementing the agreement,\u201d Swiss foreign ministry was quoted as saying by Reuters. <\/p>\n
“No further information is currently available regarding the schedule and details of this meeting,” it added. <\/p>\n
Pakistan PM says Hormuz will be opened<\/strong> <\/p>\nLeaders of Iran and the US have signed a memorandum of understanding, an interim document to end the Middle East war, mediator Pakistan has confirmed. ‘It shall enter into force with immediate effect”, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said. <\/p>\n
Following the signing of the interim deal, Sharif said that Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the US would lift the naval blockade. <\/p>\n
Sharif said Pakistan and co-mediator Qatar will still host an official signing ceremony on Friday in Switzerland. His statement came shortly after Trump said he\u2019d signed the agreement during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles. <\/p>\n
Trump says Iran would have used nuclear weapons<\/strong> <\/p>\nTrump claimed that Iran was all prepared to use nuclear weapons, but the US stopped it. “Iran would have 100% used a nuclear weapon, they were on the way; We went in to put out the fire,” Trump said on the sidelines of G7 summit in Paris. <\/p>\n
French President Emmanuel Macron shared first visuals of US President Donald Trump signing the MoU to end Iran war during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles in Paris. \u201cThis agreement paves the way for lasting peace and allows the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. It is an important step in the right direction for our compatriots that will soon enable a decrease in energy prices,\u201d Macron wrote on X. <\/p>\n
What is inside the agreement?<\/strong> <\/p>\nThe agreement calls for Tehran to, at a minimum, dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and would waive but not permanently end sanctions on the country, the Associated Press reported, citing US officials. <\/p>\n
The agreement would also open the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for two months and affirm a commitment to Lebanon\u2019s territorial integrity in the face of Israel\u2019s invasion against the Hezbollah militant group. <\/p>\n
<\/span><\/noscript>…Read More<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe will restore security to the north. This requires maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon, and it requires that we not leave it as long as Israel\u2019s security needs demand it,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying in a Times of Israel report. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes killed three people in Lebanon on Thursday in two separate incidents. According to Lebanese state media National News Agency, the first attack took place in the town of Kfar Tebnit, where a car with two people was targeted by a drone. In a separate attack, a man was killed in a drone strike in the southern town of Zebdin, according to NNA. <\/p>\n
Negotiating period officially begins, says JD Vance<\/strong> <\/p>\nUS Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said the 60-day negotiating period with Iran has official begun. \u201cI would say the 60-day period officially started today. It was signed late, and it may have even been signed technically, you know, because of the time shift, I think it\u2019s signed technically today, Iran time.\u201d <\/p>\n
He further said that he is \u201cnot at all\u201d worried about being blamed if the deal with Iran falls, after US President Donald Trump joked that he\u2019d blame his vice president if it falls apart. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not at all,\u201d he responded when asked during a White House press briefing if that prospect concerned him. <\/p>\n
US removes blockade on Iranian ports<\/strong> <\/p>\nUS Central Command on Thursday said it has lifted its blockade on \u201call maritime traffic entering and exiting\u201d Iranian ports. <\/p>\n
\u201c All U.S. military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased. Our great Naval Ships will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect.\u201d <\/p>\n
Vance during a press briefing in White House said that the US Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. <\/p>\n
Initial talks in Switzerland<\/strong> <\/p>\nThe Swiss government has confirmed that initial talks between the United States and Iran are planned at the Buergenstock mountaintop resort in Switzerland on Friday, June 19. This comes after the two countries signed an interim peace deal to end months of war. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs things stand, the plan is still for the U.S. and Iran, along with mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other involved countries, to meet tomorrow at Buergenstock for initial negotiations about implementing the agreement,\u201d Swiss foreign ministry was quoted as saying by Reuters. <\/p>\n
“No further information is currently available regarding the schedule and details of this meeting,” it added. <\/p>\n
Pakistan PM says Hormuz will be opened<\/strong> <\/p>\nLeaders of Iran and the US have signed a memorandum of understanding, an interim document to end the Middle East war, mediator Pakistan has confirmed. ‘It shall enter into force with immediate effect”, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said. <\/p>\n
Following the signing of the interim deal, Sharif said that Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the US would lift the naval blockade. <\/p>\n
Sharif said Pakistan and co-mediator Qatar will still host an official signing ceremony on Friday in Switzerland. His statement came shortly after Trump said he\u2019d signed the agreement during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles. <\/p>\n
Trump says Iran would have used nuclear weapons<\/strong> <\/p>\nTrump claimed that Iran was all prepared to use nuclear weapons, but the US stopped it. “Iran would have 100% used a nuclear weapon, they were on the way; We went in to put out the fire,” Trump said on the sidelines of G7 summit in Paris. <\/p>\n
French President Emmanuel Macron shared first visuals of US President Donald Trump signing the MoU to end Iran war during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles in Paris. \u201cThis agreement paves the way for lasting peace and allows the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. It is an important step in the right direction for our compatriots that will soon enable a decrease in energy prices,\u201d Macron wrote on X. <\/p>\n
What is inside the agreement?<\/strong> <\/p>\nThe agreement calls for Tehran to, at a minimum, dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and would waive but not permanently end sanctions on the country, the Associated Press reported, citing US officials. <\/p>\n
The agreement would also open the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for two months and affirm a commitment to Lebanon\u2019s territorial integrity in the face of Israel\u2019s invasion against the Hezbollah militant group. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Follow all the updates here:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 19, 2026 2:04:32 AM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: EU says too soon to discuss lifting sanctions on Iran<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
Kaja Kallas, vice-president of the European Commission, says that the issue of lifting EU sanctions on Iran will be addressed once there is an Iranian nuclear deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the conditions allow, of course, member states will discuss whether the lifting of sanctions is [appropriate], but we are not there yet,\u201d Kallas told reporters ahead of a summit with leaders of EU countries.<\/p>\n
The EU currently maintains multilateral sanctions targeting over 700 individuals and entities in Iran, which include travel bans and asset freezes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 19, 2026 1:21:12 AM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Trump envoy says Iran to invite IAEA for nuclear sites inspection after deal<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
Iran will invite the IAEA to inspect nuclear sites after the US-Iran deal, Donald Trump envoy Steve Witkoff told US lawmakers, AP reported, quoting sources.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 19, 2026 1:03:34 AM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Hezbollah reports fresh clashes as Lebanon says Israeli strikes kill 3<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
Hezbollah said its fighters were engaged in fresh clashes with the Israeli military on Thursday, hours after Lebanese state media reported that Israeli strikes in the south killed three people.<\/p>\n
The fighting came a day after the United States and Iran signed an agreement to end the Middle East war on all fronts, including in Lebanon.<\/p>\n
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, said on Thursday it was fighting “a force of the Israeli enemy army that attempted to advance from the town of Arnoun towards the outskirts of Kfar Tibnit”, near the key town of Nabatieh.<\/p>\n
“The clashes are still ongoing,” it added in the statement released in the late afternoon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 19, 2026 12:35:31 AM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: CENTCOM announces lifting of Iran naval blockade<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\u201cToday, U.S. forces lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, in accordance with the President’s direction. American forces are not impeding the transit of vessels to or from Iranian ports. All U.S. military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased. Our great Naval Ships will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect,\u201d CENTCOM said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 19, 2026 12:31:50 AM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iran says will issue Hormuz permits as \u2018quickly as possible\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the Persian Gulf Strait Authority has been charged with issuing permits as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
It has also said that the Strait of Hormuz traffic will be increased gradually. Measures on mine clearance will be carried out under the Islamabad MoU, though ships are advised to stick to the path and timing allocated by the authority, the statement published by state media added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 19, 2026 12:22:32 AM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iran says no toll on passing Strait of Hormuz for 60 days<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has said that, based on the MOU with the U.S., no fees will be charged to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, state media reported.<\/p>\n
It has also said tha fees will be covered by Iran during the 60-day period.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 19, 2026 12:19:06 AM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: US treasury imposes sanctions on Lebanese officials for aiding Hezbollah<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
The US government has announced sanctions against several Lebanese officials it said were aligned with Hezbollah and members of the sanctioned Alaa Hassan Hamieh business network for obstructing Lebanon\u2019s peace process and delaying the disarmament of Hezbollah.<\/p>\n
The US treasury department said its Office of Foreign Assets Control was also designating individuals in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Oman who it claimed were raising funds and operating front companies to generate revenue for Hezbollah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 11:37:40 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Trump says expect a complete ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US President Donald Trump said in an apparent message to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyau that Washington expects a complete ceasefire on all fronts, \u201cincluding Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 11:34:47 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iran’s supreme leader says approved US deal despite having ‘different view’<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that he had approved a deal with the United States to end the Middle East war despite having a “different view”, without elaborating.<\/p>\n
“In principle, I had a different view, but I issued my permission due to the commitment that the honourable (Iranian) president, as the chairman of the Supreme National Security Council, gave me on behalf of himself and other members to protect the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front,” said Khamenei, who has not been seen in public, in message read on state television.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 11:33:11 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iran supreme leader says direct talks with US do ‘not mean accepting its views’<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that future talks with the United States would be held directly but that did not mean “accepting its views”.<\/p>\n
“It is obvious that the face-to-face negotiations that will be held in the future will not mean accepting the enemy’s point of view,” Khamenei said in a message read on state television, his first reaction to the Iran-US deal ending the war that broke out late February.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 10:44:20 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: US military lifts blockade on Iranian ports<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: US Central Command on Thursday said it has lifted its blockade on \u201call maritime traffic entering and exiting\u201d Iranian ports.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll U.S. military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased. Our great Naval Ships will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect,\u201d CENTCOM said in a post on X.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 10:33:29 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: JD Vance rebukes US critics in Israel<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Vice President JD Vance rebuked US critics in Israel against \u201cattacking the only powerful ally\u201d it has left. He lashed out at members of the Israeli government, warning them that \u201cDonald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vance said he plans to travel to Switzerland for talks on the Iran deal but he doesn\u2019t know when that will happen. He had been expected to lead talks on implementing the agreement with Iran aimed at diluting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and restarting oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
via AP<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 10:27:58 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: US allows more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting blockade under deal, Vance says<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the U.S. Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war.<\/p>\n
Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican vice president said more than 12.5 million barrels went through the shipping channel Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we\u2019re also honoring our end of the early part of the agreement on the military side,\u201d Vance said, citing it as an immediate benefit of the deal as he downplayed criticism that the agreement tilts in favor of Iran.<\/p>\n
Via AP<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 9:43:28 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Vance doesn’t think messaging \u2018has been chaotic\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: US vice president JD Vance said he doesn\u2019t think public messaging from the White House \u201chas been chaotic\u201d regarding the agreement with Iran.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I don\u2019t think our public messaging has been chaotic. I think dealing with a fractured Iranian system, where communication isn\u2019t great, is just sometimes something that we don\u2019t fully appreciate, or we don\u2019t fully understand,\u201d Vance said during a White House press briefing Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 9:42:33 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Vance says technical talks on Iran set to begin this weekend, but that may change<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: US vice president JD Vance said on Thursday that technical talks on the Iran deal were scheduled to begin this weekend, provided the Iranian team can get to the talks.<\/p>\n
“We think these technical negotiations are going to start sometime this weekend. That’s still the plan, but that could change,” Vance said at a White House briefing, adding that Iran is a hard country to get out of.<\/p>\n
Via Reuters<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 9:40:47 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Netanyahu underscores maintaining good ties with US<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Netanyahu underscored the importance of maintaining Israel’s close ties with the US, saying Washington had stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Israel during the war with Iran, AFP reported.<\/p>\n
“The struggle is not yet over, and further challenges lie ahead. They require calm judgement, steadfast defence of Israel’s security interests, and at the same time the preservation of our vital relationship with our American friends, who stood shoulder to shoulder with us in this fight — a partnership we deeply appreciate,” Netanyahu said at a function, according to a statement issued by his office.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 9:33:01 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Vance says he\u2019s not worried about being blamed if Iran deal falls apart<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: US vice president JD Vance on Thursday said he is \u201cnot at all\u201d worried about being blamed if the deal with Iran falls, after US President Donald Trump joked that he\u2019d blame his vice president if it falls apart.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not at all,\u201d he responded when asked during a White House press briefing if that prospect concerned him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the president was joking, as he often does,\u201d Vance added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 9:31:27 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: 60-day negotiating period between US and Iran officially begins, says JD Vance<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: US Vice President on Thursday said that the 60-day period to reach a final agreement with Iran as set forth in the memorandum of understanding begins today.<\/p>\n
Addressing a White House briefing, Vance said, \u201cI would say the 60-day period officially started today. It was signed late, and it may have even been signed technically, you know, because of the time shift, I think it\u2019s signed technically today, Iran time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 8:44:04 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: In first reaction since deal, Netanyahu says Israel will not withdraw troops out of Lebanon<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said that Israeli troops will not withdraw out of southern Lebanon, even as US President Donald Trump has criticised him of extending the war and Iran has kept it as a stern condition to sign the peace deal.<\/p>\n
In his first remarks since the deal was signed virtually by Trump and Iran\u2019s President on Wednesday, Netanyahu remarked, \u201cWe will restore security to the north.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis requires maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon, and it requires that we not leave it as long as Israel\u2019s security needs demand it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 7:55:01 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Three killed in Lebanon, says state media<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Lebanon’s state media National News Agency (NNA) reported today that three people were killed in Israeli drone attacks in two separate incidents. <\/p>\n
According to the report, the first attack took place in the town of Kfar Tebnit, where a car with two people was targeting by a drone. <\/p>\n
The two have been identified as Bilal Kamal Hayek and Ali Ismail Tufaili. HT could not verify the identities independently. <\/p>\n
In a separate attack, a man was killed in a drone strike in the southern town of Zebdin, according to NNA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 7:38:06 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Qatar welcomes signing of deal between US and Iran.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Qatar has welcomed the electronic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran aimed at addressing outstanding issues, including the cessation of military operations and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. <\/p>\n
\u201cQatar considers this a renewed affirmation of the two sides’ commitment to resolving their differences through negotiation and peaceful means as well as to enhancing prospects for sustainable peace and economic growth at both the regional and international levels,” it said in a press release.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 7:29:10 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: At least 7 vessels have traversed the Strait of Hormuz so far on Thursday<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Seven vessels have traversed the Strait so far on Thursday, data from Marine Traffic shows. Four cargo ships, a French flagged LNG tanker and a Cook Islands flagged bitumen tanker all exited the strait towards the Gulf of Oman.<\/p>\n
The other vessel, the Panama flagged Starway, entered the Strait heading toward the Persian Gulf. Capable of carrying over 46,000 tons of oil, Starway turned off it\u2019s AIS transponder, effectively hiding it from view, a tactic that has become more common since the strait\u2019s initial closure in March.<\/p>\n
via CNN<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 7:19:47 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Trump says Pope Leo \u2018commends\u2019 the deal<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump on Thursday posted on Truth Social, \u201cPope Leo commends US-Iran peace deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
This comes after Trump clashed with the pontiff in April, openly condemning him after Leo criticized the war. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 7:07:40 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: China welcomes MoU between US and Iran<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: China welcomes the signing of MOU between Iran and the US and hopes that it will be implemented by both sides in good faith.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor peace to prevail, the actions of parties concerned, including Israel, should be conducive to the MOU\u2019s implementation and the next phase of negotiations,\u201d its foreign ministry said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 7:01:34 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Netanyahu trying to influence peace deal, says report; ‘skeptical of Iran\u2019s intentions’<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is aiming to influence the final Iran deal, using right-wing media figures and friendly senators to exert pressure on President Donald Trump, CNN reported citing an Israeli source. <\/p>\n
Netanyahu has been skeptical of Iran\u2019s intentions throughout the talks with the US, believing they were never willing to negotiate in good faith. Netanyahu still assesses there will not be a final deal between the US and Iran, the source told CNN, and that Tehran will not genuinely agree to restrictions on its nuclear program.<\/p>\n
Now that Trump has signed the memorandum of understanding with Iran and triggered 60 days of negotiations, the Israeli leader is trying to leverage right-wing media figures, such as pro-Israel podcaster Mark Levin, to get his message out. On Wednesday, Levin said the deal \u201cdoesn\u2019t make any sense\u201d and called the reconstruction fund for Iran a \u201cslush fund.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 6:41:25 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: \u2018Israel not bound by deal\u2019, Netanyahu tells Trump<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Netanyahu has told Trump that Israel does not see itself as bound by the deal, which requires an \u201cimmediate and permanent termination\u201d of the war in Lebanon. Israel has already scaled back its operations there under US pressure, CNN reported citing Israeli officials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 6:27:04 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: \u2018It\u2019s not $100bn\u2019, Tehran professor says Iran has $24bn in frozen assets<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iran\u2019s frozen assets abroad total about $24 billion, not the widely reported $100 billion-$120 billion, according to Mostafa Koshcheshm, a professor at the University of Tehran.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said reports of larger sums are “exaggerated” and argued that Iran has already found ways to access much of its overseas funds through alternative banking, SWIFT and currency-swap mechanisms.<\/p>\n
He also said Iranian officials remain cautious about the implementation of any agreement involving the release of assets, citing past experiences with the US.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 6:18:28 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Israeli strikes kill at least 3 in southern Lebanon<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: At least three people were killed in separate Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon on Thursday. Lebanon\u2019s National News Agency reported that two people died after an Israeli drone strike targeted a car in Kfar Tebnit, revising an earlier toll of one death. In a separate strike on the town of Zebdin, another person was killed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 6:08:06 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: National average gas prices fall<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: For the first time in months, the national average gas price has fallen below $4 per gallon after topping $4.51 just a month ago, according to AAA, Fox News reported. <\/p>\n
Drivers in states like Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, and Minnesota are seeing even lower prices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 6:03:01 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Trump lashes out at critics of Iran deal, says they are either ‘jealous or bad, stupid people’<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump lashed out at critics of his agreement with Iran on Thursday, calling those who accused him of offering concessions to end the war “fools”, ahead of negotiations in Switzerland on implementing the deal.<\/p>\n
via AFP<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 5:22:13 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iran’s Pezeshkian terms MoU a ‘historic document’, says peace hinges on mutual respect<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iran\u2019s president touted his country\u2019s agreement with the US as a \u201chistoric document\u201d Thursday, calling it a \u201cmessage from a strong Iran.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a historic document and a message from a strong Iran: peace will be achieved through mutual respect,\u201d Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on X after signing the memorandum of understanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to global peace, while preserving its dignity and independence, and to progress and regional cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 4:48:41 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Transit through Hormuz requires coordination with IRGC navy, says report<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Transit of vessels through Strait of Hormuz still needs to be in done in coordination with the revolutionary guards navy, Reuters reported citing Iran’s state TV. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 4:44:15 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates | French tanker passes Strait of Hormuz after war deal: tracker<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: A French-flagged LNG tanker left the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, a tracking platform said, as an agreement to end the US-Iran war paved the way for the key passage’s reopening.<\/p>\n
The liquefied natural gas vessel (LNG) the Mraikh, owned by the Nantes-based subsidiary of Norwegian company Knutsen OAS Shipping, was the first such French vessel to make the transit since the start of the Iran conflict on February 28.<\/p>\n
It was carrying 76,535 tons of LNG, which it loaded in Ras Laffan, Qatar, and was bound for Port Qasim, Pakistan, according to the MarineTraffic platform operated by data firm Kpler, which tracks cargo ships.<\/p>\n
via AFP<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 4:34:17 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Israel says troops 10 km inside Lebanon despite deal<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Israel Defense Forces on Thursday said it has deployed forces in the security zone \u2013 10 km inside Lebanese territory, due to operational requirements.<\/p>\n
IDF soldiers will continue to remove threats and strengthen the defense of Israel\u2019s northern residents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 4:22:49 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: China and Iran are comprehensive strategic partners, says Beijing<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: China on Wednesday said that Beijing and Iran are comprehensive strategic partners. <\/p>\n
In its daily press conference, its foreign ministry said, \u201cChina will work around to consolidate and elevate political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various affairs, and continue to advance the China\u2013Iran comprehensive strategic partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 4:19:09 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iranian newspapers claim victory, remark Trump’s military plans \u2018failed\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iranian newspaper headlines are claiming victory, following the signing of the US-Iran agreement to end the war, with front pages of several papers remarking that US President Donald Trump\u2019s military plans had failed, according to CNN. <\/p>\n
Javan, a prominent Iranian daily newspaper close to the Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), described the United States as having suffered \u201ca glorious defeat,\u201d writing that while Israel and the US entered the conflict with ambitious goals, Iran emerged stronger than its opponents expected.<\/p>\n
On the front page of the state-affiliated newspaper Hamshahri, Trump is seen biting on a crumbled piece of paper. The headline reads, \u201cGone with the Wind,\u201d a common Persian idiom referring to something being wasted.<\/p>\n
Kahyan, an influential and conservative newspaper, went with the headline: \u201cThe Strait of Hormuz is our deterrent weapon; our lever of power is not negotiable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another, Sazandegi, focused on potential economic gains after the US-Iran agreement, writing the number \u201c300\u201d in large letters, in reference to the potential $300 billion reconstruction fund outlined in the agreement.<\/p>\n
via CNN<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 3:54:33 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: \u2018No details about fund, significant trust lost\u2019, says Saudi’s Foreign Minister<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Speaking to Al Arabiya English on Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that he has \u201cno details\u201d about the fund, but said that due to Iran\u2019s attacks on Gulf states during the war, there has been \u201ca significant loss of trust,” CNN reported.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just in the beginning process of building our relationship with Iran as a result of the Beijing understanding\u2026 that was only really starting to gather momentum and potentially opening up on economic cooperation and things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have since then regressed,\u201d he said, adding that trust has to be rebuilt before any kind of economic cooperation is discussed. \u201cWe are quite early days now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 3:45:04 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Unclear if Gulf nations will invest in Iran<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: The US-Iran peace deal obliges Washington and its allies to ensure financing of a $300 billion fund for Tehran. President Donald Trump said Iran will need the money after the damaged caused to their economy, CNN reported. <\/p>\n
US vice president JD Vance said the provision requires Gulf countries to invest in Iran. However, it remains unclear which Gulf states would participate, as none have publicly committed to it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 2:47:49 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iran says missile programme not part of talks with US<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Iran said on Thursday that its missile programme would not be part of future negotiations with the United States, after the two sides agreed a framework deal for ending their war.<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding early Thursday, ending a regional war that erupted on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes.<\/p>\n
The agreement lays the groundwork for detailed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions relief for Tehran.<\/p>\n
There is no mention in the deal of Iran’s missile programme, a longstanding concern for Washington and its ally Israel.<\/p>\n
“Our missiles do not like at all to be talked about by anyone,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in an interview with Iranian state television.<\/p>\n
“Iranian missiles are only for firing, not for negotiations. Iran’s defence capability will not be discussed in any way, in any process or with any party.”<\/p>\n
via AFP<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 2:46:23 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: US-Iran Deal Signing Will Be Attended by Qatar and Pakistan, Switzerland Says<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: The signing of the interim peace deal between the US and Iran on Friday will also be attended by representatives of Pakistan and Qatar, the Swiss government said.<\/p>\n
Switzerland will host the meeting of envoys from the four countries at the B\u00fcrgenstock hotel complex, a mountain resort overlooking Lake Lucerne. The US and Iran plan to sign a 14-point memorandum of understanding there to end hostilities that have impeded transport through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
To ensure security, Switzerland agreed to mobilize as many as 2,000 soldiers, the government said in a statement on Wednesday. Airspace restrictions will also be enforced.<\/p>\n
The B\u00fcrgenstock offers organizers a venue that can be easily cordoned off for high-security guests. It was picked for that reason for a summit on Ukraine in 2024 that attracted heads of government from around the world.<\/p>\n
via Bloomberg<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 2:31:58 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Oil falls to lowest since start of Iran war<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Oil prices fell 2% on Thursday to their lowest since the first trading day of the Iran war, as a U.S.-Iran interim deal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease sanctions on Tehran boosted the global supply outlook.<\/p>\n
Brent crude futures were down $1.59, or 2%, at $77.96 a barrel as of 0811 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate fell $1.83, or 2.38%, to $74.96 a barrel.<\/p>\n
Brent sank to its lowest since March 2, which was the first day of trading after the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, while WTI was at its lowest since March 4.<\/p>\n
“The sell-off extended as energy markets continued to aggressively price in a faster-than-expected return of Iranian barrels following the recent U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding,” IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.<\/p>\n
via Reuters<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 2:13:05 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Russia welcomes US Iran deal<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Russia said it welcomes the Iran-US peace deal that ends months of conflict in the Middle East and an overall global instability. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 1:46:57 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Hegseth lashes out at NATO allies, announces a review of US forces in Europe<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday harshly criticised some NATO members over defence spending and their stances on the Iran war as he announced a review of US military forces in Europe.<\/p>\n
“It’s a review that some countries will fail, and others will pass with flying colors,” Hegseth told NATO defence ministers gathered for a meeting at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.<\/p>\n
via Reuters<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 1:42:01 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: IAEA says ready to help formulate ‘concrete steps’ towards implementing US-Iran deal<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Thursday that it was as ready to begin defining the “concrete steps” that will need to be taken to implement a US-Iran deal.<\/p>\n
“Now it’s for us to sit down with our American colleagues, our Iranian colleagues, and start formulating the concrete steps that will have to be to be taken,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told reporters in Geneva.<\/p>\n
via AFP<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 1:41:12 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: IEA chief hails ceasefire and says reopening Hormuz is key<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: The head of the International Energy Agency said on Thursday the interim agreement to end the U.S.-Iran war “made me and everyone happy” but the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened without conditions and negotiations must conclude in the next 60 days.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Istanbul, Fatih Birol said several countries are reviewing their energy policies now that it is clear that Hormuz has been closed once and could potentially be closed again.<\/p>\n
via Reuters<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 1:29:52 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Israel holding ‘stubborn’ talks with US over Lebanon, senior Israeli official says<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: Israel is “conducting stubborn negotiations” with the U.S. on the issue of continuing its deployment of troops in southern Lebanon, a senior Israeli official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Reuters.<\/p>\n
Israel has no intention of backing down on its positions, the official said.<\/p>\n
via Reuters<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Jun 18, 2026 1:25:41 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: IAEA calls peace deal a \u2018good news\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
US Iran deal LIVE updates: IAEA said that an agreement between the US and Iran is a good news. It also said that IAEA is ready to help formulate ‘concrete steps’ towards implementing US-Iran deal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jun 18, 2026 1:24:42 PM IST<\/p>\n
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US Iran deal LIVE updates: Majority of Iranian petrochemical units back to production, industry group says<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
![\"US](\"https:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/ht-img\/img\/2026\/06\/18\/400x225\/trump_mojataba_1777432667228_1777432672401_1781806366796_68cce938-7702-455d-b91f-cc8f2c41570e.jpg\" "\\"US")
<\/picture>US Iran war LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said in an apparent message to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyau that Washington expects a complete ceasefire on all fronts, \u201cincluding Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n