War, latest news. Vance takes on Israel over criticism of the deal with Iran. Khamenei: ‘Trump is acting out of desperation’

In an interview on France 2, Emmanuel Macron said he did not “believe” that the war between the United States and Iran “is completely over”, despite the agreement signed yesterday by Donald Trump at Versailles. “It is always better to have an agreement than war, especially when there is a risk of escalation,” added the French president. “We are entering a new phase of cooperation and dialogue, which is better than war.” Macron reported that the tycoon’s decision to sign the agreement with Iran at Versailles “was taken quite spontaneously”.

During the negotiations between Iran and the United States over the memorandum of understanding subsequently signed by the two countries, officials in Tehran, “driven by sincere concern and goodwill, made considerable efforts”, whilst “it was the American president”, Donald Trump, “who, driven by desperation, used every means at his disposal to achieve this result”: this was stated by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in a written message addressed to the nation.

According to Khamenei himself, the Iranian president, who had pushed for the agreement, “has explicitly stated that, should the American side seek to make excessive demands”, Iran “will not submit to them”. “From this moment onwards, we — that is to say, you, the proud nation, and this humble servant — will await the fulfilment of the aforementioned conditions. However, it is self-evident that future face-to-face negotiations will not imply acceptance of the enemy’s position”, continued Iran’s Supreme Leader.

During the negotiations between Washington and Tehran on an agreement, “I, as a matter of principle, held a different view; however, by virtue of the commitment that the esteemed President — in his capacity as head of the Supreme National Security Council — made to me on his own behalf and on behalf of the other members regarding the safeguarding of the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front, and his explicit acceptance of that responsibility, I gave my authorisation: this was stated by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in a written message released by the media of the Islamic Republic.

Whilst JD Vance, speaking from the podium in the White House press room, was defending the agreement with Iran as a resounding victory for the US, Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican who chairs the Armed Services Committee, issued a statement saying he was “concerned that the memorandum of understanding undermines the gains of Operation Epic Fury in a way that is completely at odds with the President’s objectives”. The senator adds that the 300 billion in funds earmarked for Iran’s reconstruction and economic development under the memorandum – “even if not funded by American taxpayers – will make the bribe paid to Iran at the time of President Obama’s 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison”.

US forces have lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iran’s ports and coastal areas. This was confirmed by Centcom. “We will remain in the wider area to ensure that all aspects of the agreement are complied with,” it emphasised.

The US Vice-President, J.D. Vance, has stated that technical talks on the agreement with Iran will begin this weekend in Switzerland, provided that the Iranian delegation is able to take part in the talks. “We expect these technical negotiations to begin this weekend. That is still the plan, but it could change,” said Vance during a briefing at the White House, adding that Iran is a difficult country to deal with. “The plan is to go to Switzerland; I don’t know exactly when – I think over the weekend, but I’m not sure,” he said, confirming that he will lead the US negotiating team.

Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that any agreement reached with Iran would have been profoundly different from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal signed in 2015 by the Obama administration. Judging by the details that have emerged so far, the US president is absolutely right: the two diplomatic instruments are very different in nature, objectives and scope.

At present, however, only a partial comparison can be made. This is because the agreement negotiated by the current US administration does not constitute a definitive agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, but rather a preliminary memorandum of understanding intended to lay the groundwork for a subsequent phase of negotiations. The JCPOA, by contrast, was a comprehensive and detailed agreement that precisely defined limits, controls, obligations and verification mechanisms.

“In this war, we have achieved great successes against Iran’s axis of evil. We have averted the danger of immediate annihilation; in Gaza, we control over 60 per cent of the Strip’s territory; in Lebanon, we have neutralised Hezbollah’s missile capabilities. There is still much work to be done, but we will continue to adhere to the overriding objective that has guided us – and which has guided me for much of my life –: Iran will not have nuclear weapons. As long as I am Prime Minister of Israel, it will not have them.” Benyamin Netanyahu made these remarks during the inauguration of the ‘Bible Road’, adding, “Over the generations, our people have experienced, like this road, ups and downs. We have faced many challenges and have always been able to overcome them.”

“What bothers me is that we have seen people in Bibi’s government attacking the deal and, in some cases, personally attacking the president. My message to them is that Donald Trump is the only head of state in the whole world who stands in solidarity with Israel, and he is also the leader of the world’s superpower.” This was the stern warning that JD Vance issued to members of the Israeli government who are publicly attacking the agreement with Iran, whilst also pointing out that “over the last three months, two-thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected your nation were built by American hands and paid for with American taxpayers’ money”. “If I were in the Israeli government,” he added, “I would not attack the only powerful ally I have left in the whole world.”

The Trump administration will allow Iran to access 6 billion in frozen funds in Qatar to purchase humanitarian goods and items not subject to US sanctions under the agreement signed. The Financial Times reports this, emphasising that the funds may only be used to buy goods made in the US.

Remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Kazan, Russia.

J.D. Vance maintains that Benjamin Netanyahu is not “furious” about the deal with Iran, as reported by some media outlets. “From the conversations we’ve had, that’s not my impression,” the US Vice-President said at a press conference.

Israel’s war against Lebanon has now claimed at least 3,912 lives, left 11,873 people injured and displaced over a million people since 2 March.

This was stated by the Ministry of Public Health’s Public Health Emergency Operations Unit in its latest statement. The dead include hundreds of children, women and healthcare workers.

Iran’s nuclear programme has been “completely destroyed”. This was confirmed by US Vice-President JD Vance during a briefing with journalists at the White House. “Their enrichment capabilities have been destroyed,” said the Vice-President.

The Pakistani Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, told the BBC that the signing ceremony scheduled for tomorrow in Geneva has been cancelled as the memorandum of understanding has already been signed remotely.

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation today with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Following the congratulations on the signing of the memorandum, the Pakistani Prime Minister stated that “this historic agreement will not only help to restore peace in the region, but will also make a significant contribution to the reconstruction of the Iranian nation and further strengthen relations between Pakistan and Iran in all areas of mutual interest”.

“We are the ones calling for sanctions against Minister Ben Gvir, for what he did in connection with the unlawful arrest of some citizens who were part of the Flotilla and for what he said about Italia. Should Smotrich also be included among those sanctioned? We’ll see about him; let’s start with Ben Gvir for now.” This was stated by the Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani as he left the EPP pre-summit in Brussels, responding to a question on the possibility of including not only the Israeli Minister Ben Gvir but also the Finance Minister Smotrich among those sanctioned by the EU.

“I know the timetable and the procedures; the amount does not ‘depend’ on me. We are handling everything else; there is no controversy over this.” This was Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti’s response – on the sidelines of the Senate hearing – to journalists who asked him about the comments made by Interior Minister Guido Crosetto, who had said that there is no alternative to an increase in military spending and that Giorgetti is aware of this.

“Oil is flowing, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, the stock markets are soaring, employment is at an all-time high and prices are falling. Our country is strong, secure and respected as never before. You’re welcome.” Donald Trump made this statement on his social media platform Truth, indirectly praising the memorandum of understanding reached with Iran.

According to an Israeli source quoted by CNN, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to influence the final agreement on Iran by using right-wing media figures and senators close to him to put pressure on President Donald Trump. Netanyahu – the report states – will also seek to rely on pro-Israeli senators to persuade Trump. But even senators such as the Republican Lindsey Graham, who had pushed for further attacks against Iran, have changed their minds. Graham stated yesterday that the deal with Iran “will be beneficial for the United States”.

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip since the US-brokered ceasefire came into force last October. This is according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, whilst further casualties have been reported following an attack in the last few hours.

According to medical sources, an Israeli air strike did in fact hit a vehicle on Omar Al-Mokhtar Road in Gaza City, killing three people.

“NATO is not a club for book-loving friends; it is a defensive military alliance, and those who join it must accept that they will carry the same weight as all the other nations. This is what is being asked of Europe at a difficult time for Europe. This is what we have committed to doing, and this is what we should be doing in the coming years. It is a momentous change for us.” This was stated by the Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, on the sidelines of the NATO ministerial meeting. “After all, if you want to be part of NATO and have a defensive alliance, you honour your commitments. Otherwise, you decide to stay out, but at that point, defending yourself would cost a thousand times more.”

According to Lebanese state media, Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon have killed three people today, just a few hours after the United States and Iran signed an agreement to end the war in the Middle East. “An enemy drone targeted a car” in the Kfar Tebnit area, killing two people, the official NNA news agency reported. In the nearby village of Zebdine, another drone killed a further person, NNA added.

“There are no plans for NATO to participate” in the mission to ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once it reopens, said NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, at a press conference held after the meeting of allied defence ministers, clarifying that the maritime corridor “is not within NATO territory”. “But if NATO can be of assistance in any way, we are here,” he added, acknowledging Europe’s considerable expertise in mine clearance. “We have noted that many European countries are pre-positioning assets near the theatre,” he added.

The Grimaldi Group’s Pure Car & Truck Carrier ‘Grande Torino’ passed through the Strait of Hormuz ‘in complete safety’ this morning, following the granting of authorisation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The go-ahead came after more than 100 days of being forced to remain in the Persian Gulf due to tensions in the area. The vessel, with a crew of 21 (three Italians and 18 Filipinos) and flying the Italian flag, is currently sailing in the Indian Ocean bound for China, where it will be redeployed on the Neapolitan group’s network of routes between the Far East and Europe. “Heartfelt thanks,” explains the chief executive of the Neapolitan shipping group, Emanuele Grimaldi, explains – “goes to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, who, together with his staff, worked with extraordinary commitment and determination to facilitate a positive resolution of the matter, and to Ambassador Mohammad Reza Sabouri, for helping to reach this important agreement”. When the recent hostilities in the region broke out at the end of February, the Grande Torino was in the Persian Gulf to unload new vehicles from the Far East. Unable to leave the area for security reasons, the ship had remained at anchor in the stretch of sea between the coasts of the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Residents of the city of Tyre, in Lebanon, are returning to their homes to assess the damage caused by the Israeli attacks.

The agreement between Washington and Tehran to end the war is “a historic document”, as well as “a message from a strong Iran. Peace will be achieved through mutual respect”. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote this in a post on the social media platform X. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been firmly committed to global peace,” he said, “whilst preserving its dignity and independence, as well as regional progress and cooperation.”

US President Donald Trump said today that the “fools” who claimed his deal to end the war in the Middle East was not “tough enough on Iran” are “envious, malicious or stupid”

“I cannot help but think of how much money is wasted on killing, squandered by so many who stir up wars”, “how can we fail to think of the painful exodus of Eastern Christians from their homelands?”, “There is a scourge, a plague born of war, a scourge that continues to drain the lifeblood of the Eastern Churches in particular. I define it with a single word: instability”. The Pope says this whilst speaking of “societies weakened by institutional instability, by the presence of armed gangs that carve up the territory, and by a political system influenced and, not infrequently, manipulated by external agents and interests”.

“As I look at you,” said Leone to the members of the plenary assembly of the Reunion of Charities for Aid to the Eastern Churches, “and reflect on the quiet and beneficial service you carry out, and to the many benefactors who, through you, channel resources to those in need, I cannot help but think of how much money, in this dark historical moment, is being squandered on killing, thrown away by so many who stir up wars. Whilst you bring forth life, they sow death; whilst you reach out to your brother, they seek enemies to crush; whilst you foster dialogue, they pursue monologues; whilst you open paths of hope, they lock peoples away in fear; whilst you build the future, they destroy the present.” “Daughter of war,” said Leone, referring in particular to Christians in the Middle East, “there is a scourge I would like to speak about today, one that continues to bleed the Eastern Churches dry in particular. I sum it up in one word: instability. When a visitor travels to a country that has experienced conflicts which have since fallen silent, things generally appear calm, even if deeply scarred by the tragedies of the past. Yet those societies are weakened by the instability of their institutions, by the presence of armed gangs carving up the territory, and by a political system that is influenced – and not infrequently manipulated – by external agents and interests; a system that does not operate freely, but navigates its way through a thousand subterfuges, secret agreements and partisan interests.” “And so,” he continues, “a state of perpetual precariousness is created, which stifles any possibility of development and always falls hardest on the poorest. This means that in many countries, fear and insecurity prevail everywhere: employment appears precarious, wage payments are erratic, healthcare – when it functions at all – is patchy, and education is makeshift. And this is to the detriment of ordinary people, families, children and young people, the elderly and the sick. It becomes a tragedy that weighs heavily on everyone’s hearts, devours hope and prevents the building of a future, fuelling the urge to leave, as is the case for so many of our brothers and sisters in faith, especially in the Middle East”. “I would like to make an appeal once again,” he went on to say, “to reflect on the consequences of war and precariousness, and to prevent them with intelligence and responsibility, because all this is not the result of an inevitable fate, but of free choices and therefore of morally attributable responsibility. History shows how the web of violence and oppression, of power and domination, of gains made without justice and without scruples, backfires not only on those who suffer it, but also on those who perpetrate it. We appeal to people’s consciences to be sensitive to outrage; and may respect for humanity and a proper sense of civilisation be reawakened!”

Further reading

From Obama to Trump: the differences between the two agreements with Iran

18 June 2026

There will probably be no official ceremony tomorrow, 19 June, in Switzerland to mark the signing of the agreement between Iran and the United States that will lead to a ceasefire between the two countries after almost four months of war. At least that is how it appears, given that the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, has ruled out any form of celebration for the signing of the memorandum of understanding, which has already taken place digitally. And the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, initially referred to a ceremony in a post on X but subsequently deleted the post. This is despite the fact that, until yesterday, the US media were reporting that a signing ceremony would take place and that Vice-President JD Vance and the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf would be in attendance. However, there has been no confirmation of the meeting and it is unclear at this stage whether it will take place, although it has not yet been entirely ruled out.

Tomorrow at Burgenstock, a resort near Lake Lucerne , the first talks on the Iranian nuclear issue between Washington and Tehran are nevertheless set to begin; their 60-day duration “is not set in stone”, Donald Trump clarified from Paris. The Swiss government has confirmed the start of the talks, adding that “as things stand, the plan still envisages that the United States and Iran, together with the mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other countries involved, will meet tomorrow at Burgenstock for initial negotiations on the implementation of the agreement”. In a statement, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said that “no further information is currently available regarding the agenda and details of the meeting”.

During a telephone conversation with his Cypriot counterpart, Constantinos Kombos, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, expressed the hope that the Islamic Republic might expand its economic cooperation with Cyprus, following the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States. “Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos to discuss regional developments and the Islamabad agreement. He expressed the hope that the agreement would open a new chapter in international engagement and boost economic cooperation”, the Iranian government reported in a message on X.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the impact of the war in the Persian Gulf will be short-lived on the oil market; the agency forecasts a return to a significant supply surplus as early as next year: as much as 4.7 million barrels a day, compared with a shortfall of 920,000 bg in 2026. This renewed abundance, it notes, could ‘give the market a welcome breather, offering the opportunity to replenish depleted stocks or build up new strategic reserves’.

The IEA’s initial forecasts for 2027, published two days ahead of the crucial meeting in Switzerland at which the United States and Iran are expected to sign an agreement to end the conflict and restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, are characterised by optimism.

China has welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding, initialled yesterday remotely by US President Donald Trump in Versailles and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran, between the United States and Iran, and has reaffirmed its support for peace and stability in the Gulf region of the Middle East. This was stated today by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during the daily press conference in Beijing.

“China has always supported the achievement of peace and stability in the Gulf region of the Middle East and welcomes the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran,” said Lin.

Tomorrow, in the mountain resort of Burgenstock, Switzerland, the first talks between the United States and Iran will take place following yesterday’s signing of the ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington. This was confirmed in a statement from the Swiss Foreign Ministry, as reported by various international media outlets. It was Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi, who announced on Tuesday that negotiations for a final agreement would begin immediately after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US in Switzerland. “As things stand, the plan is for the United States and Iran, together with the mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other countries involved, to meet tomorrow at Burgenstock for initial negotiations on the implementation of the agreement. No further information is currently available regarding the timetable and details of this meeting,” explains the Swiss government’s statement. The memorandum of understanding, now in force, was signed digitally in recent days by the United States and Iran, and physically yesterday evening by US President Donald Trump. The signing preceded tomorrow’s meeting in Switzerland between US and Iranian representatives. The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and US Vice-President J.D. Vance were originally scheduled to attend the meeting. It is unclear whether the meeting between the two will still take place.

One person was killed and another injured in an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in Kfar Tebnit, a village near the town of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, according to Haaretz. The raid is part of the military operations that Israel continues to carry out in the country, despite having significantly reduced the scale of its attacks ahead of the implementation of the agreement between the US and Iran. Israeli operations remain concentrated mainly in the Nabatieh Governorate and on the Ali al-Tahar ridge, where Israel has captured Beaufort Castle.

Germany will only be able to take part in a potential mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz if there is a “permissive environment” – that is, with the approval of Iran and Oman – and following parliamentary authorisation. This was stated by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on his arrival at the NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels.

Pistorius explained that Berlin could not intervene without the necessary political and legal conditions being in place. The minister pointed out that, before Germany could take part in any mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz, the consent of the countries directly concerned and parliamentary authorisation would be required.

The Iranian state news agency IRNA has published a number of photos of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian following the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the United States. The photos show Pezeshkian holding a document written in Farsi, bearing what appear to be his and Trump’s signatures at the bottom. Earlier, Donald Trump had signed a hard copy of the agreement in Versailles, France. Al-Jazeera reports, citing a US official, that the United States subsequently sent a photograph of the signed agreement to the Iranians.

US President Donald Trump has defended the agreement to end the war with Iran, arguing that he wanted to avoid an “economic catastrophe” that might have ensued had the conflict initiated by the United States continued. This is according to the Financial Times.

Trump, who in an unexpected move signed the memorandum in Versailles yesterday, said he had also been influenced by the positive performance of the markets whilst working on a solution to the conflict. The US president explained that he did not wish to be compared to former President Herbert Hoover, who was in office during the 1929 stock market crash that paved the way for the Great Depression.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has “welcomed the agreement” signed by the US and Iran that brings the war to an end. Speaking at the NATO ministerial meeting, Rutte added that “President Trump has secured a good deal, which is important because it aims to weaken Tehran’s nuclear capabilities”. According to the Alliance’s Secretary-General, a similar outcome has been achieved with regard to Iran’s missile capabilities, “which pose a threat not only to the Middle East, but also to Europe and other parts of the world”, and also with regard to “the restoration of freedom of navigation”.

President Trump personally signed a copy of the agreement between the US and Iran during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles. A photograph of the signed agreement was sent to the Iranians and the mediating countries. This was reported by Axios.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States to end the war in the Middle East entails the “instantaneous” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the “immediate” lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports. This was stated by the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif.

“The protocol will come into force with immediate effect and, as a first step, the Islamic Republic of Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz without delay and the United States of America will immediately lift the naval blockade,” Sharif wrote on X.

- Iran and the United States have signed their memorandum of understanding to end the war electronically. Axios reports this, citing two American sources. The signature was ‘digital’ and the memorandum is now in force

The United States has sent the Iranians a photograph of the agreement signed by Donald Trump. This was reported by CNN, citing a US official who stated that the president had signed the hard copy in the last few hours. There has been some confusion surrounding the signing of the agreement. In recent days, a US official had reported that both Trump and JD Vance had signed the agreement virtually, as had the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Now, however, the administration has made it known that Trump had not signed digitally but had merely witnessed Vance’s signature. “On Sunday, the memorandum of understanding was digitally signed by Vance and Ghalibaf in the presence of Trump. It has now been signed by Trump and the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian,” explained an official.