The United States and Iran have traded fresh strikes, with the U.S. hitting military sites and Iran launching missiles and drones at bases and ships near the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping remains active, but tensions are rising as calls grow for restraint and renewed talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that nuclear talks with the United States would only take place at a later stage and would not proceed unless a proposed interim deal was implemented, state TV reported. He said the interim deal would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending conflicts on multiple fronts, adding that a memorandum of understanding had not yet been signed and could still change.
Araghchi said that management of the Strait of Hormuz would not return to the pre-war era, that sovereignty over the strait belonged to Iran and Oman, and that Iran would secure safe passage for ships through it.
French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Friday called on the U.S. and Iran to seize the opportunity to end a situation that is unsustainable and sign an initial peace deal, which is close to be signed, according to a senior U.S. administration official.
"We call on both sides to seize this opportunity to end a situation that is clearly untenable and only creates losers... that is what I told my Iranian counterpart," he said in an interview with cable TV channel LCI.
Barrot said he spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday morning.
"I am cautious, but the positive signs are accumulating," he said. "I feel both sides have a will to reach this deal."
Any peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran will be signed remotely if the final stages of negotiations are completed, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said.
Earlier, the U.S mooted Europe as a potential location for the signing of any agreement.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on has called on the U.S. and Iran to seize the opportunity to end a situation that is unsustainable and sign an initial peace deal, which is close to be signed, according to a senior U.S. administration official.
"We call on both sides to seize this opportunity to end a situation that is clearly untenable and only creates losers... that is what I told my Iranian counterpart," he said in an interview with cable TV channel LCI.
Barrot said he spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Friday morning.
"I am cautious, but the positive signs are accumulating," he said. "I feel both sides have a will to reach this deal."
Management of the Strait of Hormuz won't return to the pre-war era, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, adding that authority over the sea passage belongs to Iran and Oman.
Araghchi, however, said that Tehran would secure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our sword will always hang over the Strait of Hormuz," he added, noting that nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran wouldn't begin unless a proposed interim deal was implemented, according to Iranian state TV.
The United Arab Emirtes (UAE) has agreed to unlock billions of dollars for Iran, four sources told Retuers.
The tactical shift by the Gulf State, which has come under repeated Iranian attacks during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, coincides with the final stages of broader negotiations between Tehran and Washington about ending the war.
Two regional sources told Reuters that the UAE had agreed to release a total of $10 billion, more than $3 billion of which had already been delivered.
Two other sources with knowledge of the arrangement put the total funds involved at $20 billion, adding that the move had been agreed in return for a halt to Iranian attacks on the UAE.
The Strait of Hormuz would reopen and the U.S. would lift its blockade on Iranian ports under the terms of a peace deal, a senior unnamed U.S. official has said.
Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that funds would not be released to Iran for signing a deal with the U.S. or attending a meeting, adding that the potential deal is structured to ensure that economic benefits would flow to Tehran if it meets its obligations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that an "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" for addressing the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran had "never been closer", but urged media outlets to refrain from speculating about its contents until it was finalised.
Araghchi said Iran would share all details with the public in due course, in what he called Tehran's responsible and transparent approach.
An emerging deal between the United States and Iran is "performance-based" and Tehran gets none of its frozen assets until it carries out its part of the agreement, a senior Trump administration official said on Friday.
Israeli troops will not withdraw from Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has said in a post on X.
"The IDF will continue to defend our borders and our citizens from the peak of Mount Hermon, the mountains of Lebanon, the areas of our land in the Samaria region, and most of the territory of Gaza—against the threats posed by jihadist forces and organizations, as a central lesson from the events of October 7," Katz said in a post on X translated from Hebrew to English.
"The IDF will not withdraw from the terrorist camps in northern Samaria, which have been evacuated of residents, and if necessary, the operation will be expanded to additional terrorist camps," he added.
An emerging deal between the United States and Iran is "performance-based" and Tehran gets none of its frozen assets until it carries out its part of the agreement, a senior Trump administration official said on Friday.
Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will not allow Iran to aquire nuclear weapons while he is Israeli leader.
"As long as I am Prime Minister of Israel—Iran will not have nuclear weapons. There is full agreement between me and President Trump on this issue," Netanyahu said in post on X translated from Hebrew.
"For over 30 years, I have been at the forefront of the international campaign against Iran's nuclear program," he added.
"Had it not been for this campaign, Iran would long ago have had atomic bombs to destroy Israel.
"Iran is working to destroy the Jewish state, and I dedicate my life to preventing them from doing so."
Iran’s Mehr news agency reports that a draft memorandum of understanding with the U.S. includes commitments to lift sanctions, remove U.S. forces from around Iran, and end the naval blockade.
The report also says the deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, cancel oil sanctions and release Iran’s frozen funds, with final negotiations focused on nuclear and economic issues and excluding Iran’s missile programme.
Hezbollah says it carried out 17 attacks on Israeli forces and positions in southern and eastern Lebanon, targeting soldiers, vehicles and a command centre with rockets, artillery and drones.
The group also claimed it shot down and intercepted Israeli drones, while Israel has not yet commented.
A U.S. official says commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues, despite the latest tensions.
The official said Iran appeared to target ships transiting the waterway in the recent incident.
Iranian forces did not allow a tanker to enter the Strait of Hormuz without coordination to pass, Iranian state media reported early on Friday, shortly after sounds of explosions were heard near the port city of Bandar Abbas.
U.S. forces have shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz, according to a U.S. official.
The drones appeared to target commercial ships, though the official said traffic through the waterway continues.
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Tehran will open a direct communication channel with Washington to report alleged breaches of the ceasefire memorandum of understanding, while insisting the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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Tehran will open a direct communication channel with Washington to report alleged breaches of the ceasefire memorandum of understanding, while insisting the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Iranian and Qatari delegations are expected to meet on Wednesday in Doha to discuss the release of Tehran's assets, estimated at $12 billion, that were frozen by Washington under the Iran-U.S. ceasefire memorandum of understanding, Iran's Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday (30 June).
Iran and the U.S. are at odds over planned talks in Doha, with Tehran denying any meeting is scheduled despite Washington preparing to send senior envoys. The disagreement comes amid renewed missile attacks and rising tensions that are testing a fragile ceasefire.
Iran and the United States have agreed to halt recent hostilities in the Gulf and resume talks over the Strait of Hormuz dispute, a U.S. official said. The move raises hopes of preserving an interim peace deal after days of tit-for-tat strikes.
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