# South Korea president urges Trump to help make peace with North SEOUL - South Korea's president has urged US President Donald Trump to help him make peace with North Korea, "just as he has resolved the conflict in the Middle East", Lee Jae Myung's office said on Wednesday. The United States and Iran are set to sign a memorandum of understanding on Friday to end their war, and there has been speculation that the Trump administration may then turn its attention to North Korea

Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, The US-Iran agreement faced its first major test as Iran warned of retaliation over continued Israeli operations in Lebanon and President Donald Trump publicly criticised Israel's conduct

China calls for 'sustainable security architecture' in Middle East Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has called for a firm commitment to the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, urging all parties to work towards building a "sustainable security architecture in the region", according to the state-run Xinhua news agency

Shipping firms await proof of safety before returning to Hormuz Shipping companies are waiting for evidence that the agreement between the United States and Iran will hold before resuming operations through the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera Arabic reported

Foreign Policy article calls Iran war a bigger defeat than Vietnam The United States' war against Iran represents a more serious strategic setback than the Vietnam War, contending that it directly damaged core US interests and weakened Washington's position on the global stage, a ForeignPolicy analyst has reported

Pezeshkian says Iran will not accept humiliation as talks approach Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country would not accept humiliation and had learned from the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, to preserve its dignity in the face of external pressure

SAN FRANCISCO (June 17): Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence tool Grok was used in strikes against Iran, the United States government revealed in a legal briefing seen Tuesday by AFP

Iran threatens crushing response to any violation of memorandum Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, warned that any breach of the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington would trigger a "crushing response" from Iran

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg on Tuesday urged relevant parties of the Yemeni conflict to seize the opportunity created by regional de-escalation following the Iran-US deal and revive the stalled political process.

Araghchi briefs parliament on US-Iran agreement ahead of Geneva talks Iran has intensified diplomatic consultations ahead of the signing of its agreement with Washington and the start of negotiations in Geneva

The back-and-forth talks seem to indicate the US could not dictate terms to Iran.

Vance says US has fundamentally changed Middle East with Iran deal US Vice President JD Vance said Washington views negotiations with Iran as a means of achieving results rather than rewarding Tehran, adding that he would attend upcoming talks in Geneva to assess Iran's commitment to the process

Bloomberg reports details of leaked draft US-Iran memorandum Bloomberg has published what it says are leaked details of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran that would formally end hostilities and establish a framework for a broader agreement

Iran team must leave US within hours of World Cup matches, official says US officials have confirmed that Iran's national team will be required to leave the United States within hours of the final whistle of its World Cup group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle

Mereka mendakwa diketepikan dalam proses penempatan semula berbanding warga negara lain biarpun sudah bertahun melakukan protes, mogok lapar dan merayu.

Merz says US-Iran peace deal must hold as G7 backs accord German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the agreement between the United States and Iran offers an opportunity for regional stability and economic security, stressing that "the agreed-upon peace must now hold"

Mehdi Torabi issued a new visa after previous one expired when team returned to Mexico following the New Zealand game.

PEMAIN Iran, Mohammad Mohebi menjadi perhatian selepas sambutan golnya ketika aksi Piala Dunia menentang New Zealand pada Selasa mencetuskan perdebatan dalam kalangan penyokong, di tengah-tengah suasana yang sudah pun dibayangi ketegangan geopolitik melibatkan Iran dan Amerika Syarikat (AS).Mohebi yang beraksi bersama FC Rostov di Rusia menjaringkan gol kedua Iran dalam keputusan seri 2-2 do Los Angeles, sekali gus membantu pasukannya bangkit mengikat perlawanan.Elijah Just menjadi watak utama New Zealand apabila meledak dua gol, namun Iran kekal memberi tentangan untuk membawa pulang satu mata.Sebelum sepak mula, suasana di stadium sudah tegang dengan latar belakang hubungan dingin IranAS, selain protes di luar stadium serta reaksi bercampur-baur terhadap lagu kebangsaan Iran yang disambut sorakan, siulan dan ejekan sebahagian penonton.Beberapa bendera lama Iran dengan lambang singa dan matahari yang diharamkan Persekutuan Bolasepak Antarabangsa (FIFA) turut dilihat di sekitar stadium, sekali gus mencerminkan sensitiviti politik yang turut mengiringi perlawanan tersebut.Kontroversi kemudian tercetus apabila Mohebi melakukan sambutan gol dengan mengangkat dua jari dan menggerakkannya ke udara, yang disalah tafsir oleh sebahagian penyokong sebagai isyarat menyerupai pistol.Dalam suasana yang sudah sarat dengan sensitiviti geopolitik, tindakan itu pantas mencetuskan reaksi tidak puas hati dalam kalangan penonton, sehingga ada yang menggesa FIFA meneliti insiden berkenaan.Namun dalam bola sepak moden, sambutan gol sering berlaku secara spontan dan kerap menjadi ruang luahan emosi pemain tanpa niat politik, walaupun ia mudah diperbesarkan apabila melibatkan pasukan dari negara yang sedang berdepan ketegangan diplomatik.Mohebi kemudian tampil menegaskan bahawa sambutan tersebut tidak membawa sebarang mesej tersirat atau provokasi."Pertama sekali, saya ingin berterima kasih kepada semua penyokong Iran yang hadir di Los Angeles

Australians should continue to delay non-essential travel to the Gulf states, the Foreign Minister said.

Iran's 2-2 draw with lower-ranked New Zealand on Monday left the players more consumed by off-field turmoil than by fixing tactics for their next match, captain Mehdi Taremi said.

Members of Iran's World Cup delegation who were denied U.S

IRAN mendakwa mereka berdepan layanan tidak adil di Piala Dunia selepas gangguan perjalanan saat akhir akibat ketegangan IranAmerika Syarikat (AS) menjejaskan persiapan pasukan sehingga memberi kesan kepada prestasi mereka ketika seri 2-2 dengan New Zealand.Jurulatih Iran, Amir Ghalenoei berkata persiapan pasukan turut terganggu apabila lokasi kem latihan terpaksa diubah pada saat akhir dari Arizona ke Mexico susulan ketidaktentuan berkaitan visa AS.Menurutnya, pasukan itu turut berdepan gangguan lain apabila dijangka bermalam di Los Angeles untuk pemulihan, namun diarahkan kembali ke Mexico tanpa penjelasan lanjut."Saya fikir kamilah pasukan yang paling ditindas di Piala Dunia," kata Ghalenoei.Tambahnya, beliau tidak mengetahui sebab sebenar sekatan atau arahan tersebut, namun menyifatkan situasi berkenaan sebagai tidak adil kepada pasukannya.Katanya, gangguan logistik itu memberi kesan kepada persiapan dan pemulihan pemain menjelang perlawanan penting di kejohanan berkenaan.Dalam masa sama, beberapa pemain dilaporkan berdepan keletihan dan kekejangan otot akibat jadual perjalanan yang padat, sekali gus menjejaskan tahap kecergasan pasukan.

Full text of US-Iran deal promises sanctions relief and phased access to frozen funds Iran is set to receive sanctions relief for the sale of its oil and related petroleum products as part of a memorandum of understanding with the US that could also unlock $300bn for the redevelopment of the Islamic Republic, according to the text of the agreement circulating in US media

Full text of US-Iran deal promises sanctions relief and phased access to frozen funds: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 06/16/2026 - 22:15 US may pull forces out of areas near Iran as part of a final peace deal and commits to supporting a $300bn reconstruction fund, Bloomberg says US President Donald Trump speaks during a 'Secure America Act' signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on 10 June 2026 (Ken Cedeno/AFP) Off Iran is set to receive sanctions relief for the sale of its oil and related petroleum products as part of a memorandum of understanding with the US that could also unlock $300bn for the redevelopment of the Islamic Republic, according to the text of the agreement circulating in US media

Germany signals readiness to support regional peace efforts after Iran-US deal German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said Berlin is prepared to contribute to efforts aimed at maintaining stability in the Middle East following an interim agreement between Iran and the United States to end the US-Israeli war on Iran

Tracking platform Kpler detected just four crossings of the strategic waterway on Tuesday by vessels carrying raw materials.

IEA warns Southeast Asia faces soaring energy costs after war-related disruptions Southeast Asian countries could face sharply rising energy costs unless they accelerate efforts to diversify their energy supplies, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The report says disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered an energy shock across the region, leading to higher fuel costs and increased inflation

Heres what came out of the G7 summit in France.

Netanyahu yet to see US-Iran agreement as questions grow over Lebanon provisions Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not seen the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran as of Tuesday evening, according to a person familiar with the matter cited by the Associated Press

How Oman offers a glimpse into the post-war Gulf US President Donald Trump threatened to attack just one Arab Gulf country during the war on Iran : Oman

Iran's relationship with its Gulf neighbours, which it attacked during the war, has been damaged.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Irans players during a World Cup dressing room visit after the teams 2-2 draw.

Oil prices fall to three-month low ahead of US-Iran agreement Oil prices have fallen sharply to their lowest levels in three months, as markets reacted positively to the anticipated signing of a formal agreement between Washington and Tehran later this week

The US president added that Sharaa was "very good with Hezbollah" and "does not like them", while describing the Syrian leader, who rose to power following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, as "no boy scout". Trump's remarks are likely to fuel speculation about Washington's expectations of Syria's new leadership and its potential role in reshaping regional security dynamics amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

Qatar looks to rapidly restart LNG exports once Hormuz reopens: Report Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Tue, 06/16/2026 - 17:00 Source says QatarEnergy is ready to resume LNG production very quickly after US-Iran deal reopens Strait of Hormuz This photo shows QatarEnergy's operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City, north of Doha, Qatar, on 2 March 2026 (AFP) Off Qatar is aiming to restore a large portion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity within two months, according to a report published by Bloomberg on Tuesday

Iran and Oman reaffirm commitment to free navigation through Hormuz Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, have reaffirmed their countries' commitment to international law governing maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Oman News Agency

'From outlier to trailblazer': How Oman offers a glimpse into the post-war Gulf Submitted by Sean Mathews on Tue, 06/16/2026 - 13:11 Despite Trump's threats, Oman has reaped financial gains from the US-Israeli war on Iran, with Muscat's neighbours racing to catch up Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, right, receives Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, left, during a reception at al-Alam Royal Palace in Muscat, Oman, on 27 May 2025 (Iranian presidential office/AFP) Off US President Donald Trump threatened to attack just one Arab Gulf country during the war on Iran : Oman

Pakistani officials previously said China played a key role in supporting its US-Iran mediation efforts.

China's top diplomat says the next phase of US-Iran negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, will be tougher than the first.

The Iran war has exposed major risks for Southeast Asia that could cost the region billions of dollars, if it does not diversify sources of energy more quickly, according to an International Energy Agency (IEA) report released on Tuesday

Los Angeles: Pemain tengah New Zealand, Matthew Garbett terlepas aksi Piala Dunia selepas mengalami kecederaan hamstring ketika sesi latihan sebelum perlawanan pembukaan Kumpulan G menentang Iran yang berakhir dengan keputusan seri 2-2, pagi tadi.

Pengurus pasukan itu bagaimanapun tidak menyatakan pihak mana yang mengarahkan mereka meninggalkan California.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that "Russia should make a deal" to end its four-year war in Ukraine.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that a new round of US-Iran negotiations will begin in Switzerland on Friday.

Five Iranian ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday as the United States lifted its naval blockade following the announcement of a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

The Iran-US memorandum of understanding (MoU) is a welcome step toward de-escalation, with potential benefits for regional security and stability, says an analyst.

Irans Team Melli is the most oppressed team in FIFA World Cup history, says head coach Amir Ghalenoei.

US president also made unusually critical comments about Israel's military offensive in Lebanon.

Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei hits out after his team is forced to return to Mexico early following a 2-2 World Cup draw with New Zealand.

PENGURUS Pasukan Bola Sepak Kebangsaan Iran, Amir Ghalenoei menyifatkan skuad kendaliannya sebagai "pasukan yang paling ditindas dalam Piala Dunia," mendakwa mereka diarah untuk meninggalkan Los Angeles menuju ke tempat latihan mereka di Mexico, sejurus selepas perlawanan pembukaan pada Isnin malam menentang New Zealand, lapor Anadolu Ajansi (AA).Ghalenoei berkata, pasukan itu pada mulanya menjangkakan untuk bermalam di kota metropolitan California itu dan menjalankan sesi pemulihan pada keesokan harinya, tetapi sebaliknya diberitahu sejurus selepas wisel penamat dibunyikan yang mereka harus pulang."Kami meluangkan terlalu banyak masa di udara untuk berulang-alik, malah mereka tidak memberikan kami masa untuk pulih."Selepas perlawanan hari ini, mereka berkata kepada kami: 'Kamu perlu pergi dengan segera,'" katanya melalui seorang jurubahasa, menurut portal sukan Amerika Syarikat (AS), ESPN.Ghalenoei bagaimanapun tidak menyatakan pihak mana yang mengarahkan pasukan itu untuk meninggalkan California pada Isnin malam, walaupun Kapten Iran Mehdi Taremi menyatakan yang Presiden FIFA Gianni Infantino, ada melawat pasukan itu di dalam bilik persalinan selepas perlawanan berkenaan."Sudah tentu beliau mahu cuba membantu kami, tetapi ini juga melibatkan perkara lain

Trump says hell will rain down if Iran gets nuclear weapons

Washington and Tehran announced a Memorandum of Understanding had been reached over the weekend.

US military copied Iran's smuggling tactics to move Gulf oil, report reveals The US military has secretly coordinated the transfer of an estimated 90 million barrels of Gulf oil since May, adopting Iran s own sanctions-evasion tactics to covertly move the oil, a recent Reuters investigation revealed

# Penamatan perang termasuk di Lubnan jadi keutamaan Iran dalam perjanjian dengan AS TEHRAN - Menteri Luar Iran, Abbas Araghchi menegaskan penamatan perang di semua medan konflik, termasuk di Lubnan, merupakan perkara paling penting dalam memorandum persefahaman damai yang diumumkan bersama Amerika Syarikat (AS) pada Isnin

The war on Iran has driven the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to its lowest level since 1983, raising concerns about future supply disruptions.

Iran team 'most oppressed' at World Cup, says coach after LA airport delay Iranian national football team's return to their Tijuana training camp after their World Cup opening match was delayed as captain Mehdi Taremi and assistant coach Saeed Alhoei were held up by airport authorities in Los Angeles

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesdays lunch summit would focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran winger Mehdi Torabis single-entry US visa expires after World Cup opener vs New Zealand, casting doubt on his tournament future.

Iran fans react to teams first World Cup match amid political schisms

Any attack on Lebanon is violation of agreement with US: Iranian foreign minister Any Israeli attack on Lebanon or continued presence on Lebanese territory from now on constitutes a violation of the interim agreement with the United States , Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said

Foto Shahrun Jelasnya, bagaimanapun kerajaan perlu sentiasa bersiap siaga kerana perkembangan geopolitik dunia ketika ini boleh memberi kesan langsung terhadap bekalan dan harga tenaga di peringkat antarabangsa. Sekarang dah elok-elok Iran aman, Israel serang bersama Amerika

Iran's foreign minister says ending the conflict on all fronts, including Lebanon, is the most important issue in the memorandum of understanding with the United States.

Iran's top negotiator Ghalibaf to attend signing of US deal: deputy foreign minister Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will attend the signing in Switzerland of the deal ending the war with the United States, an Iranian deputy foreign minister said on Tuesday