Iranian speaker says martyrs guide mission to Switzerland Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Zurich on Saturday for talks aimed at advancing implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed between Tehran and Washington. In a post on X, Qalibaf said he remained committed to those killed during the recent conflict and described them as a guiding force for the delegation's work. "I regard the innocent children of Minab and all the martyrs of our beloved Iran as ..

US and Iranian teams prepare for detailed negotiations in Switzerland Iranian media have published images showing the country's delegation travelling to Switzerland for technical-level negotiations with the United States, marking the next stage in efforts to implement and expand the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the two countries. Ahead of the talks, US Vice President JD Vance said significant work remained to be done. followup He told reporters that Washington's ..

Trump says only US could impose Hormuz transit charges US President Donald Trump said there would be no tolls for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz during the 60-day ceasefire period established under the memorandum of understanding with Iran. In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump wrote: "There will be NO TOLLS in the Hormuz Strait for 60 days during the Cease Fire Period, and there will be NO TOLLS after the 60 day period has expired, unless they are imposed by and for the ..

Outcry after several injured in attacks targeting Muslims in Edinburgh Submitted by Bilge Kotan on Sat, 06/20/2026 - 22:46 Rights groups say attacks were fuelled by political rhetoric as Counter Terror Police investigate Friday attacks that injured five people In this file photo, First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney meets members of the Muslim community during a visit to the Edinburgh Central Mosque, in Scotland on 5 August 2024 (AFP) Off Politicians and rights groups condemned a series ..

Iranian delegation arrives in Switzerland Irans delegation has arrived in Switzerland to take part in the technical talks tomorrow, Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. The delegation is led by Irans parliamentary speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir are on their way to Switzerland to join the technical-level talks between the US and Iran tomorrow, according to the ..

Trump threatens US tolls on Hormuz strait if Iran talks fail US President Donald Trump warned Saturday that Washington could impose tolls on the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway if negotiators are unable to complete a deal to end the Iran war. There will be no tolls "unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America, should the deal not be completed, for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East for purposes of both past, present, and future ..

US forces monitoring Strait of Hormuz to ensure it stays open The US military on Saturday deniedIran's claims that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying the critical waterway remained open and that US forces were monitoring the situation to ensure that it continued. "Irandoes not control the Strait of Hormuz," US Central Command spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told Reuters. "Traffic continues to flow, and US forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case." Iran's ..

Iran negotiators leave for Switzerland to discuss US deal An Iranian negotiating team left Iran for Switzerland on Saturday for discussions on the implementation of its agreement with the United States to halt the war, state media said. The official news agency IRNA reported the delegation's departure, quoting foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei as saying they would "follow up and demand implementation of the other party's commitments" under the deal. "The other side must take the ..

Netanyahu, Katz order forces to cease southern Lebanon attacks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz have ordered the Israeli army to cease attacks on southern Lebanon, Channel 12 reported. Israel will not withdraw from the occupied areas, the report said, adding thatthe decision was made in coordination with the US. Israeli attacks since 2 March 2 have killed at least 4,057 people and wounded 12,121, mostly in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese ..

Pakistan says US-Iran talks to take place in Switzerland on Sunday Pakistans foreign ministry said on Saturday that technical-level talks between the US and Iran would be held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday, following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. In a statement posted on X, the ministry said that US and Iranian representatives would participate alongside mediators from Pakistan and Qatar. PR No.148/2026 Technical-Level Talks Under the Islamabad Memorandum of ..

US Centcom says 55 vessels passed through Hormuz today US Central Command (Centcom) announced on Saturday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz remained intact today, with 55 merchant ships carrying cargo and oil to global markets transiting through. Commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz increased [on] June 20 as US forces continued operating in the general area to support freedom of navigation, Centcom said in a statement on X. The statement came after Iran announced that ..

Lebanons death toll surpasses 4,000 after 83 killed on Friday Lebanon's health ministry said on Saturday that Israeli attacks since 2 March have killed more than 4,000 people, including 135 health and emergency workers, and wounded 12,121 others. The latest figures came after the final death toll from Israeli strikes on Friday rose to 83, with 141 wounded. Smoke rises following Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon on 19 June 2026 (Jalaa Marey/AFP)

Iranian lawmaker accuses US of violating first clause of MoU Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, accused the Trump administration of failing to uphold the first clause of the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington. According to Azizi, that provision commits both sides to "the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon". In a post on X, Azizi said: "America's failure ..

Iran agreement sparks debate across Capitol Hill The memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran has triggered mixed reactions across the US Congress, with some lawmakers criticising provisions that could support reconstruction efforts in Iran while others defended the agreement as a path away from further conflict. Democratic Senator John Hickenlooper criticised the arrangement, writing on X that while Americans had faced rising costs during the war, "Iran gets money back" and US ..

Iran lawmaker warns US over ceasefire violations The head of the Iranian parliaments national security committee has accused the Trump administration of failing to honour the opening clause of its memorandum of understanding with Tehran. Ebrahim Azizi said the first clause requires both sides to agree to the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. In a post on X, Azizi said Washingtons conduct showed it had not met that obligation. ..

Trump warns Iran must reach deal within 60 days Trump has warned Iran that it has 60 days to reach an agreement with Washington or face unspecified action. Speaking during a public address, Trump said that in 60 days, we have to make a deal otherwise we will do things that wont make them [Iranians] happy, while adding that he did not believe the situation would reach that point. He also warned that any escalation could threaten oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most ..

Trump boasts of Iran attacks at Air Force One event US President Donald Trump said the United States has had a lot of victories, during a speech marking the unveiling of a new Air Force One aircraft gifted by Qatar. Trump used the ceremony, held for the plane that will replace the aircraft used to transport US presidents, to boast about US military power and predict a sharp fall in oil prices. Youre going to see oil drop so low. I hope the companies are happy about it, he said. He then pointed ..

Trump thanks China for staying out of Iran conflict Trump says he thanked China for staying out of the conflict with Iran after personally urging Beijing not to intervene. Speaking to reporters, Trump said he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to keep China away from the fighting, despite Beijings dependence on energy shipments moving through the Strait of Hormuz. I want to thank China because I asked China not to get involved with Iran, Trump said. Trump said China receives about half of ..

Trump heads to Camp David as Iran talks stall US President Donald Trump will travel to Camp David this weekend, making only his second visit to the presidential retreat since returning to office last year. A White House official told Reuters that Trump will hold policy and political meetings during the trip. His family will also join him for the weekend, which includes Fathers Day on Sunday. The visit comes as Trump pushes for a final agreement to end the war on Iran. Planned US-Iran talks in ..

UN calls on RSF to cease imminent offensive on Sudans el-Obeid Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 06/19/2026 - 19:22 The United Nations' Volker Turk warned that a siege could lead to a repeat of the atrocities that took place in el- Fasher People are transported in the back of a truck, some 30 kilometres east of the city of el-Obeid, in Sudan's North Kordofan region, on 9 January 2023 (Ashraf Shazly/AFP) Off The United Nations has issued an urgent warning saying that Sudans paramilitary Rapid ..

Iran plans to charge insurance fees to vessels in Hormuz after US deal expires Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 06/19/2026 - 17:19 Iran lays the groundwork for a new transit system in critical waterway, but will need Oman's buy-in to shore up legal defence Cargo ships are pictured off the coast of the Khor Fakkan container terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in the emirate of Sharjah, along the Gulf of Oman, on 19 June 2026 (AFP) Off Iran ..

An organisation in 'crisis': Jewish anti-Zionists hit back at Board of Deputies Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Fri, 06/19/2026 - 16:04 Pro- Palestine groups contest the Board of Deputies of British Jews' statement about its protest outside the Great Israeli Real Estate Event Demonstrators and counter-demonstrators face off outside the Great Israeli Real Estate Event (Maya Saad/MEE) Off Anti-Zionist Jewish groups have responded to the statement issued by the Board of Deputies of British Jews ..

Iran denies inviting IAEA to inspect nuclear sites Iran has denied reports that it invited the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect its nuclear facilities, saying any wider access will depend on the outcome of talks. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had made no such invitation to the United Nations nuclear watchdog. He said Iran would keep its nuclear programme under the current status quo while negotiations over a final agreement continue, in line with the ..

How the war on Iran will redefine the Middle East order Submitted by Ahmed Mawlana on Mon, 06/15/2026 - 16:29 The conflict has upended long-held beliefs about the US security umbrella, fuelling a broader regional realignment The foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia pose for a photo during a diplomacy forum in Antalya, Turkey, on 17 April 2026 (Turkish Foreign Ministry/AFP) On Far beyond military outcomes, some wars have the capacity to reshape the region. Iraq s ..

Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Israeli shelling was reported across southern Lebanon early on Friday, including in Tyre and Nabatieh, despitea recent agreement between the US and Iran, which categorically calls for a halt to fighting between Israel and Lebanon. While Israel's military said it was striking Hezbollah targets, the country's National News Agency indicated that areas targeted were populated residential towns. Here are the latest updates from the region: ..