Latest war news. UAE releases billions of dollars for Iran. US-Iran agreement set to be signed on Sunday

“Ambiguous” and lacking in impact in his response to Donald Trump’s remarks. This is the criticism levelled by the Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, at Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, following his statements in English on X regarding the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’, which is bringing Iran and the United States ever closer together. According to the media outlet affiliated with the Pasdaran, Araghchi did not directly refute the claims made by US President Donald Trump, who had questioned the veracity of certain Iranian accounts of the agreement. The fact that the minister had urged the media to avoid speculation before the text was finalised was interpreted by the website as a possible indirect confirmation of Trump’s accusations. The agency also highlighted Trump’s swift reposting of Araghchi’s message, which he presented as confirmation of his own version of events. Overall, Fars criticised the minister’s decision, arguing that official Iranian communication should be more clear-cut to avoid providing “media fodder” for Washington’s narrative.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry told AFP that Switzerland has offered to host the potential signing of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran. “Switzerland is fully committed. We are in close contact with the United States and Iran,” the ministry said in a brief message to AFP. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) “is actively facilitating efforts in support of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at consolidating the truce and paving the way for de-escalation in the Iran-US conflict”, the statement reads. Furthermore, the ministry specified that it had “offered Switzerland as a venue for a potential signing, should the parties agree”.

American sources claim that the agreement currently being finalised between Iran and the US to end the war will also include Lebanon, even though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated yesterday that Israel, which is attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon, is not part of the deal. “The agreement includes Lebanon, Iran, the Gulf states, and also Israel,” the source explained.

The technical details of how to remove Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium have not yet been finalised, according to CNN, citing sources within the Trump administration. “The Iranians are committed to destroying and removing the enriched material, but how is this to be done? It will take some time to work this out: the material is highly flammable and volatile. We certainly can’t just go there with a digger and a worker with a rucksack and start removing it,” the sources explained. Discussions on how to proceed with the management of the stockpile will take place during the next round of technical talks: “We will work out how to do this during the technical negotiations that follow, but we believe this is the first and most important step to truly ensure that the Iranians do not build a nuclear weapon.”

The signs of détente that have been emerging on the geopolitical front in recent days suggest the possibility of a gradual return to normality in global energy markets. However, according to the latest analyses from the aviation sector, even in the most favourable scenario, the recovery would be neither immediate nor straightforward.

In particular, even if the Strait of Hormuz were to reopen fully in the short term, it would take at least two years for the jet fuel market to return to pre-energy crisis price levels. This is the most optimistic forecast of the three scenarios outlined by the IATA (International Air Transport Association) in its latest report presented at the 2026 General Assembly.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated on X that, during a telephone conversation, the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Switzerland, Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Ignazio Cassis, welcomed what Islamabad describes as ‘encouraging progress towards an agreement between the United States and Iran’. The conversation followed rumours of a possible signing of the agreement in Geneva, perhaps as early as this weekend.

Donald Trump described the tweet in which Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi clarified that the memorandum of understanding had never been so close as “very good”. In an interview with Axios, the president said he had demanded public clarification regarding reports in the Iranian media about the agreement and that Tehran had apologised privately for “spreading false information”.

“We can confirm that a final, agreed text of the peace agreement has been reached.” This was stated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, on X.

Qatar has categorically denied a Washington Post article claiming that it had struck a “secret deal” with Iran, under which the latter would refrain from striking the Ras Laffan gas field in exchange for Doha halting gas production, a move that has driven up global energy prices and heightened the urgency to end the war with Iran. “Any insinuation that operational decisions regarding energy production have been – or have ever been – taken in coordination with Iran, for the benefit of Iran or to influence the course of the conflict is completely unfounded,” the Qatar International Press Office said in a statement. “These allegations are particularly implausible, given that Qatar was actively defending its territory against Iranian missile attacks at that time,” it added. “The allegations are based on false and unreliable material from parties whose aim is to sabotage ongoing efforts to mediate an end to the conflict, damage Qatar’s reputation and undermine the strategic partnership between Qatar and the United States,” it continued.

US President Donald Trump has reposted on Truth a post by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in which he states that ‘never has an agreement been so close’. “Pending finalisation, the media should refrain from speculating on its contents,” wrote Araghchi.

“Israel will not withdraw from the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. The IDF will continue to defend our borders and our citizens from Mount Hermon, the Lebanese mountains, Samaria and most of the Gaza Strip, against threats from jihadist forces and organisations, as a fundamental lesson learned from the events of 7 October’’. Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote this in a statement. “The US President is currently pursuing an agreement with Iran in the interests of the United States, including the shared interest with Israel, namely to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. We expect him to support this principle and other principles relating to missiles and regional terrorist groups.” “Israel must ensure that it also has the capacity to act independently in the future to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have ordered the army to prepare accordingly.”

An agreement currently being finalised between the United States and Iran is “performance-based”, and Tehran will not receive any of its frozen assets until it has fulfilled its part of the agreement: this is according to a senior official in the Trump administration, as reported by The Times of Israel.

Today, the Iranian news agency Mehr reported that the draft agreement between Iran and the United States would ensure the release of $24 billion in frozen assets within 60 days.

Hezbollah is confident that any agreement between the United States and Iran will include Lebanon, a Hezbollah official told Reuters.

Hezbollah is confident that Iran will insist on Lebanon being included in any agreement with the United States, a senior Hezbollah politician told Reuters today, as hopes grow for a deal between Tehran and Washington.

Trump: ‘The terms of the agreement released by Iran do not match those agreed.’

The Israeli army has announced that the air force has struck and destroyed five Hezbollah rocket launchers used to fire at troops in southern Lebanon, according to military reports. This is reported by The Times of Israel. The Israeli Air Force also struck a Hezbollah command centre and targeted some of its members identified near Israeli forces, the IDF added, releasing footage of the attacks.

Pakistan and the European Union have welcomed the “progress made” in the negotiations between the United States and Iran, expressing their hope for a lasting diplomatic solution to the crisis. According to a statement released by Islamabad, as reported by Sky News, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar held talks with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, during which both sides expressed support for the ongoing diplomatic developments. “The two sides welcomed the progress achieved through sustained diplomatic engagement and expressed the hope that these efforts will soon lead to a lasting agreement and a peaceful resolution,” the statement read. Pakistan and the EU also reiterated that “dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable tools” for resolving conflicts and ensuring stability in the region, at a time when there are increasing signs of a possible preliminary agreement between Washington and Tehran.

Israel is reportedly putting pressure on the United States to prevent the release of Iranian assets frozen as part of a possible ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran. This is reported by CNN, citing an Israeli source close to the talks, according to whom Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained in constant contact with US President Donald Trump, even following the American leader’s recent statements regarding a possible imminent deal with Iran. Netanyahu is said to have secured a commitment from Trump to pursue, in any final agreement, the removal of Iran’s enriched uranium, the dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear programme, limits on its missile programme and an end to Iranian support for allied groups in the region. However, in his recent public statements, Trump has focused primarily on the issue of enriched uranium, without mentioning missiles or proxy groups. According to CNN, Trump’s announcement of a deal being close reportedly initially surprised Netanyahu, who was at that moment engaged in a security meeting with Israeli leaders.

Israel, the American network reports, continues to view negotiations with Tehran with scepticism, believing that Iran is not negotiating in good faith. Even if a preliminary memorandum were to be signed between the United States and Iran, according to the Israeli source, this might not automatically lead to a final agreement.

A draft 14-point memorandum between the United States and Iran is said to outline the path towards an agreement on nuclear issues, sanctions and regional security. This was reported by Iranian media outlets close to Tehran’s negotiating team, who noted that the text is still being reviewed by the relevant authorities. Subsequently, President Trump stated that the terms of the agreement leaked by Iran do not correspond to those agreed upon.

According to the Iranian news agency Mehr, however, the agreement is said to provide for an immediate ceasefire on various regional fronts, including Lebanon, a commitment by the United States not to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs, and the withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran.

“Iran makes no commitment in this text to hand over control of the Strait or to restore conditions” to those prevailing prior to the conflict, according to IRNA, which describes “the broad outlines of the current text” as being in the final stages of drafting. Regarding the nuclear issue, according to IRNA, Tehran

will negotiate “exclusively within the framework of the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic”, and its “right to enrich uranium”, as well as “the retention of enriched material”, will be kept “at the forefront with a view to their inclusion in the final agreement”.

The most sensitive issues in the negotiations between the United States and Iran – ranging from the nuclear programme to the management of the Strait of Hormuz – will only be addressed once a preliminary agreement has been reached between the parties. This is according to Iranian state media, which reports that the memorandum of understanding currently under discussion does not yet include final agreements on these matters. The official IRNA news agency claims that nuclear talks are expected to take place within 60 days of the initial agreement being signed, opening a second phase of negotiations designed to tackle the most complex issues between Washington and Tehran. According to Iranian media, no agreement has been reached in the draft regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz either.

Tehran reiterates that the future arrangements for maritime transit should be determined at regional level, with Iran and Oman sharing responsibility. Reports confirm earlier suggestions that the initial agreement is primarily intended to create the conditions for subsequent negotiations on the most sensitive issues in the dispute between the two countries.

“Any speculation suggesting that a signing ceremony will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, or that a face-to-face meeting will be held is nothing more than a misinterpretation of the United States’ proposals and wishes”, given that a final agreement has not yet been reached. This was reported by the Fars news agency in reference to the possible signing of an agreement to end the war.

The Israeli army has issued an evacuation order for residents of three localities in the Sidon district: Sarafand, Tefahta and Mazraat Sinay. This was announced on X by the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee. In its message, the Israeli army states that its target is Hezbollah and orders residents to take refuge north of the Zahrani River, located south of the city of Sidon, the district’s capital.

“As long as I am Prime Minister of Israel, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. President Trump and I are in complete agreement on this point. For over 30 years, I have been at the forefront of the international fight against Iran’s nuclear programme. Were it not for this struggle, Iran would have had atomic bombs to destroy Israel long ago. Iran is working to destroy the Jewish state and I am dedicating my life to preventing this, and as long as I am Prime Minister of Israel, this will not happen.” This was stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement.

A memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran could be signed as early as Sunday in Geneva, Switzerland. This is according to sources cited by CNN, who report that preparations for the signing ceremony are at an advanced stage, although no official confirmation of the agreement has yet been received from Tehran.

According to people familiar with the diplomatic talks, the signing could mark the start of a “phase two” of negotiations, focused on implementing the agreement. Geneva is currently the most likely candidate to host the ceremony, although Iranian sources indicate that Vienna is also still under consideration. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump spoke of a possible “grand bargain” with Iran capable of resolving the crisis, stating that the signing could take place in the coming days in Europe, with Vice-President JD Vance in attendance. According to various sources, the memorandum is to be called the ‘Islamabad Declaration’, in reference to the mediating role played by Pakistan in the negotiations. However, the details and timing of the agreement have not yet been officially confirmed.

Qatar, one of the mediators between Iran and the United States, secretly contacted Tehran at the start of the war to suggest that it should not attack the Ras Laffan gas plant. In return, Doha would unilaterally suspend gas production, thereby causing energy prices to soar and putting pressure on the United States and Israel to bring the war to an early end. According to the Washington Post, Qatar did not secure any commitment from Iran, although events in the following weeks suggested that the agreement appeared to be a viable option, at least temporarily.

A group of hackers linked to Iran has claimed to have hacked into FBI drones and threatened to target the World Cup, which kicked off this week. This was reported by a monitoring organisation.

The Site Intelligence Group, an organisation that monitors jihadist groups, has published a statement from the Handala group, in which the hackers claim to have had access “for months” to “every image and every suspect” captured by the FPV (First-Person View) drones used by the FBI.

Several attacks attributed to Israeli forces have been reported in parts of southern Lebanon, according to the newspaper L’Orient-Le Jour, which adds that the districts most affected were those of Nabatieh and Tyre. Among the towns hit are Al-Maslakh (Nabatieh) and al-Bayyad, near Deir Aames (Tyre). An explosion in Birkat el-Dardara and artillery fire in several other locations have also been reported. It is not yet clear whether there are any casualties.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs is reported to have summoned the US chargé d’affaires for a second time in a matter of days over the attacks on several commercial vessels carrying Indian sailors off the coast of Oman: this is according to various Indian media outlets, including the Ani news agency on its website. Yesterday, US Central Command stated that it had struck the vessel MT Jalveer whilst, according to the command, it was “attempting to transport oil from Iran through the Gulf of Oman”. In a previous attack on another vessel, three Indian nationals lost their lives, according to the authorities in Delhi.

“Does Trump say that Europe has been irrelevant and that the United States won the war on its own? It wasn’t a war we took part in, nor were we supposed to. We are doing our bit. Europe is present and Italia is present to ensure maritime traffic in the Red Sea. We are present, we do our bit, but we were not, are not and will not be at war with Iran.” This was stated by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on the sidelines of the conference of Italian Consuls at the Farnesina

A draft 14-point memorandum between the United States and Iran is said to outline the path towards an agreement on nuclear issues, sanctions and regional security. This is according to Iranian media sources close to Tehran’s negotiating team, who note that the text is still being reviewed by the relevant authorities. According to the Iranian news agency Mehr, the agreement would provide for an immediate ceasefire on various regional fronts, including Lebanon, a commitment by the United States not to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs, and the withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran. Key points include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days under Iranian control, the suspension of sanctions on oil and petrochemicals, and the release of Iranian funds frozen abroad, amounting to $24 billion, half of which would be made available before the start of final negotiations. The draft would also provide for 60 days of talks to reach a final agreement on the nuclear programme and the lifting of US and UN sanctions. Tehran would reaffirm its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). According to reports, Iran’s ballistic missile programme and support for regional armed groups would remain excluded from the negotiations. The plan would also include proposals for the economic reconstruction of Iran, amounting to at least $300 billion, to be provided by the United States and its allies.

The United States and Iran are beginning final negotiations on nuclear and economic issues, the Iranian news agency Mehr reports today, stating that the draft memorandum of understanding between the two sides includes an end to the US blockade, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of oil sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian funds and a US commitment to withdraw forces from the airspace surrounding Iran. According to the Iranian news agency, the talks will not cover Iran’s ballistic missile programme, and the draft agreement still requires approval from the relevant authorities.

‘We didn’t need their support. We won the war. It was, in a way, irrelevant! I have to go, I’ve got a big meeting on, but we won the war in Iran. We didn’t need their help. Thank you very much.” This is the statement made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to La7 in a telephone conversation with Daniele Compatangelo, reported this morning on Omnibus on La7 by Alessandra Sardoni.

The US President’s comments come in response to a question about the role of European leaders and the G7 in relation to the crisis with Iran.

The West Bank is a land of occupation and daily violence. A new analysis by Oxfam, the international confederation of non-profit organisations, paints a dramatic picture: in three years, the number of Palestinian casualties has exceeded that of the previous 17 years; since 2023, Israel’s plan for ethnic cleansing and annexation has caused over 46,000 people to be displaced, the construction of more than 925 barriers preventing the movement of 3 million people, and an unprecedented wave of violence that has claimed over 1,200 lives, including nearly 270 children. And 2026 is continuing the horrific pace of 2025. In the first few months of the year alone, in fact, there have been more than 540 attacks by settlers. Yesterday saw further casualties. As reported by the Wafa news agency, armed Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers, stole agricultural equipment and contaminated water wells in the Hebron governorate; others attacked Palestinian homes in the village of Taybeh, assaulting residents and damaging property east of Ramallah, whilst others set fire to Palestinian land in the village of Burqa. ‘Every day, our staff work to assist Palestinian families whose lives have been destroyed,’ explains Paolo Pezzati, Oxfam Italia’s spokesperson for humanitarian crises, ‘and it is heart-wrenching to see dozens of children killed. This is the cost of impunity, of Israeli violence and cruelty, which are plain for all to see, whilst world leaders look the other way.”

“The world must be outraged by the children who are victims of violence in Gaza and the West Bank,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East, who noted that over the past weekend ‘eight children were killed and another 17 wounded in five different locations in the Gaza Strip, whilst in the West Bank a seven-month-old baby died after being shot by Israeli forces in Hebron’. Following the release of the B’Tselem video, which contradicts the IDF’s account of the shooting that killed the seven-month-old baby, the European Union has issued a strong condemnation. Through the spokesperson for the European External Action Service, Anouar Anouni, urged “the Israeli government to respect its obligations under international law to protect the Palestinian population in the occupied territories”.

Iran has stated that no final decision has yet been reached regarding an agreement with the United States, after US President Donald Trump called off planned air strikes and announced that the Islamic Republic had given the green light to a deal that could be signed over the weekend in Europe.

“We have not yet reached a conclusion on this matter. The issue is currently being examined by the relevant authorities and, should a conclusion be reached, we will be informed,” said Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, commenting on Trump’s remarks.

In the last few hours, Iran is reported to have “attempted to target commercial vessels” passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and US forces have “shot down two Iranian attack drones”: this is according to several international media outlets, including NBC News, citing a US official. “Traffic in the Strait continues,” the source added.

The possible signing ceremony for a “memorandum of understanding” between Washington and Tehran could take place “in the coming days” in Geneva: Axios reports, explaining that four US C-17 aircraft took off for Europe yesterday, carrying “equipment for a possible trip” by US Vice-President J.D. Vance, whom Donald Trump has designated as the figure tasked with signing the preliminary agreement, to the Swiss city.

Yesterday, the US military was about three hours away from launching strikes against Iran when President Donald Trump called them off, claiming that an agreement had been reached to end the conflict and that it would soon be signed. This is according to NBC News. At the time of Trump’s announcement, the US military had already identified the targets and the US Navy had already adjusted its operational plans and prepared the weapons for the attacks, NBC states. According to the US broadcaster, had they been carried out, the strikes would have been similar to those conducted by the US over the previous two nights. Despite Trump’s claim that the United States would soon ‘take’ the Iranian island of Kharg, the island did not feature on the list of targets. It is also reported that the president’s sudden change of course and his abrupt decision to call off the attacks left military leaders “confused”.

US President Donald Trump says that an agreement with Iran to end the three-month-old war could be reached as early as this weekend.

The announcement came on the eve of the start of the World Cup in Mexico, which the United States is co-hosting – an event the president had supported during his first term – and on Sunday Trump turns 80. To mark the occasion, the White House will host an event organised by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s leading mixed martial arts organisation. Immediately afterwards, Trump will leave for the G7 summit in France, where the conflict with Iran will be one of the main topics.

“We got everything we wanted” from the deal with Iran. Donald Trump made this remark during a virtual rally, according to Bloomberg. The deal is “practically done”, he emphasised.

Rather than mere talks, the negotiations between Iran and the United States are a cumbersome process in which messages take days to travel back and forth between couriers who cover their tracks to keep Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei safe. According to Bloomberg, citing diplomats, due to the patchy internet connection, WhatsApp messages can take up to 48 hours to reach their destination. Furthermore, the negotiations go through mediators in Pakistan who deliver the American proposals and receive the Iranian responses via phone calls or in-person visits to Tehran, followed by the deployment of couriers to deliver the messages to Khamenei.

US President Donald Trump has stated that the United States has “ended the war with Iran”, after announcing on Thursday a “major deal” which, he claimed, would resolve the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump added that Vice-President JD Vance could attend the signing ceremony in Europe in the coming days. This was reported by CNN. “They have agreed never to acquire nuclear weapons, a condition on which we insisted. That was precisely the objective; it was 95 per cent of the issue,” he added.