US-Iran War Highlights: US, Iran to stand down on strikes as technical talks set to continue

Lebanon's Health Ministry says at least 4,247 people have been killed and more than 12,000 wounded since fighting with Israel resumed on March 2.

(Al Jazeera)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the killing of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is among "thousands of major legal cases" that Iranian authorities are pursuing following the conflict.

Khamenei said statements and public remarks by US and Israeli leaders amounted to admissions of wrongdoing and insisted those responsible "must be seized by the collar and brought to justice". He added that investigations have been entrusted to the relevant authorities and said holding those responsible accountable would help prevent similar crimes in the future.

Iran has demanded that any final agreement with the United States include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, linking the issue directly to broader efforts to secure lasting regional stability, CNN reported citing Iran's official IRNA news agency.

According to IRNA, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all occupied Lebanese territory is essential for a final and durable agreement. He also called for the full implementation of the first clause of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, which requires an end to Israel's military operations in Lebanon.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged all parties to abide by the ceasefire agreement during a phone call with Kaja Kallas.

According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, the two diplomats reviewed the rapidly evolving regional situation, with Kallas expressing serious concern over recent ceasefire violations despite welcoming Pakistan's efforts that led to the signing of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.

Dar stressed the need for all sides to honour the ceasefire agreement to help preserve regional peace and stability.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

The UAE has condemned Iran's reported missile and drone attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait, calling them a violation of sovereignty and a threat to regional security.

(Al Jazeera)

Iranian state television said commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz must continue coordinating with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps despite the US-Iran ceasefire agreement.

According to the report, the safest route for vessels entering the Gulf is south of Iran's Hormuz Island, while ships exiting the Gulf should transit south of Iran's Larak Island.

The remarks indicate Tehran continues to assert operational control over navigation through the strategic waterway, even as efforts continue to restore normal commercial shipping under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Lebanon's culture minister Ghassan Salame said Israel's nearly four-month air and ground campaign has damaged or destroyed numerous heritage sites across southern Lebanon, including ancient towns, historic villages and places of worship.

Salame said authorities have not been able to fully assess the damage because Israeli forces continue to occupy a zone about 10 kilometres inside southern Lebanon. "We cannot work under the shadow of occupation. There are villages that have been completely bulldozed," he said.

According to the minister, the affected areas include the medieval Beaufort Castle as well as the historic cities of Tyre and Nabatieh. He also raised concerns about possible damage to the Crusader fortress in Tebnin, stressing that Lebanon's heritage includes not only ancient archaeological sites but also historic buildings and culturally significant landmarks.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Iran has announced funeral arrangements for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with mourning ceremonies set to begin on July 4 in Tehran and the holy city of Qom.

Khamenei will be buried on July 9 in his birthplace of Mashhad. Al Jazeera reported citing Iran's Mehr news agency. Authorities are preparing for crowds of up to 20 million people and are coordinating security arrangements with police and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

A memorial ceremony is also reportedly being planned at a Shia shrine in Karbala, Iraq, although Iraqi authorities have not yet confirmed the event. Khamenei's funeral had been postponed several times following his death in a US-Israeli airstrike in late February.

US President Donald Trump has suggested that Syria's new leadership would do a better job than Israel in confronting Hezbollah, a proposal that has triggered concern in both Lebanon and Israel.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa rejected suggestions that Damascus plans to intervene in Lebanon, saying Trump's remarks had been misunderstood and stressing that Syria's priority is ending the war, rebuilding the country and supporting regional stability rather than engaging in a new conflict.

The proposal has also raised concerns in Israel, where officials remain wary of Syria's Islamist-led government, and in Lebanon, where memories of decades of Syrian military presence remain sensitive. Analysts say Damascus is focused on reconstruction and faces significant domestic challenges, making any military intervention against Hezbollah unlikely.

(With inputs from AP)

President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait, describing them as a "flagrant violation" of state sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security and stability.

In a statement, Aoun said the continued escalation undermines regional and international efforts to end the conflict and contain tensions, adding that the situation requires urgent action by the sponsors of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding and the wider international community.

The Lebanese president also reaffirmed Lebanon's "full solidarity" with Bahrain and Kuwait amid the latest regional tensions.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains fragile despite the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, with fresh attacks on merchant vessels, retaliatory US and Iranian strikes, and disputes over navigation continuing to fuel uncertainty.

Iran insists ships must seek its approval before transiting the Strait and has introduced new navigation procedures, while the US and its allies maintain the waterway must remain open under international law. Maritime authorities have raised threat levels, shipping companies continue to face elevated war-risk insurance costs, and operators remain divided over which shipping route is safest.

The latest escalation has also spilled beyond the Strait, with Iran and the US accusing each other of violating the ceasefire, renewed tensions in Lebanon, and continued concerns over the durability of the agreement. Maritime experts say the world's busiest energy corridor remains vulnerable despite the diplomatic breakthrough.

Read the full analysis here.

European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement between Israel and Lebanon, describing it as "a critical step away from escalation" and saying peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved "with Lebanon in flames."

In a post on X, von der Leyen thanked the United States for mediating the agreement and said the next priorities should be the disarmament of non-state armed groups and the preservation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

She added that the European Union stands ready to support the implementation of the agreement and regional stability, including through continued humanitarian assistance, noting that the bloc has mobilised €100 million to support displaced people.

Vice President of the Council of Ministers of Italy Antonio Tajani said Italy is ready to provide diplomatic support for the newly signed Israel-Lebanon agreement and could contribute to a future international mission after the mandate of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) ends.

Speaking in Dubrovnik, Croatia, Tajani described the agreement as "certainly a step forward" while cautioning that stabilising the situation would take time. He said Italy, alongside France, could also play a significant role in rebuilding Lebanon and strengthening its institutions.

Tajani added that any post-UNIFIL international mission would require a multilateral agreement and said participation by Arab and Gulf countries should also be considered.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Hezbollah Chief Naim Qassem praised Iran's role in securing the ceasefire in Lebanon, describing it as "a gift of honour, dignity and strength."

The Iran-US memorandum of understanding had given Lebanon "a powerful card" by guaranteeing the country's "territorial integrity and sovereignty", Qassem said.

(Al Jazeera)

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem rejected the framework agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, saying it should be replaced by the Iran-US memorandum of understanding.

In a televised statement, Qassem described the deal as "humiliating, shameful, and a surrender of sovereignty," adding, "This agreement is null and void, and the provisions of the Iranian-American Memorandum of Understanding must be implemented."

(Al Jazeera)

The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the alleged Iranian drone attacks on Bahrain, describing them as a "flagrant violation" of the kingdom's sovereignty.

In a statement, the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the reported attacks threaten Bahrain's security and stability and reaffirmed Abu Dhabi's solidarity with Manama.

Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi after renewed US-Iran strikes raised concerns over the fragile peace process.

According to Pakistan's Foreign Office, Dar reaffirmed Islamabad's commitment to playing a "constructive role" in achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. Araghchi thanked Pakistan for its continued support for the peace process and for facilitating the repatriation of Iranian crew members and fishermen.

The two leaders also agreed to remain in close contact. Pakistan said it recently helped repatriate another group of 22 Iranian crew members from a tanker seized by US authorities, marking the fourth such operation in the past two months.

(With inputs from PTI)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed the situation in Lebanon and the recently signed framework agreement with Israel during a phone call with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

According to the Lebanese presidency, Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE's support for Aoun and the Lebanese government, saying Abu Dhabi was ready to assist Lebanon politically, economically and socially until it overcomes its current challenges.

Aoun thanked the UAE leader for his continued support. The call came after Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement following the fifth round of US-mediated negotiations in Washington.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Iranian state television said more commercial vessels are requesting transit permits from Tehran before passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the report, the increase follows warning shots fired at vessels that attempted to transit the strategic waterway without authorisation from Iranian authorities.

(Reuters)

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned US airstrikes on coastal monitoring facilities in southern Iran, calling them a "flagrant violation" of both the UN Charter and the memorandum of understanding signed on June 18 to end the conflict, Tehran Times reported.

The ministry also accused Israel of violating the agreement through attacks in Lebanon, saying the strikes were carried out in coordination with the United States. Tehran said its retaliatory strikes against US targets were conducted under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognises the right to self-defence.

Iran warned that the United States and any parties assisting it would bear full responsibility for the consequences, urged Gulf states to prevent their territory from being used for attacks against Iran, and called on the UN Secretary-General and the United Nations Security Council to respond to the alleged violations.

Iran says cargo clearance from the UAE's Jebel Ali Port has resumed following disruptions caused by the recent conflict and attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, reported Al Jazeera citing Iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

According to IRNA, an Iranian trade official said containers delayed because of "wartime conditions" are now being processed and shipped to Iran, with trade expected to gradually return to pre-war levels.

Jebel Ali, a key regional transshipment hub for Iranian imports and exports, had seen trade affected by the conflict and existing Western sanctions on Iran.

Iran launched a drone attack targeting Bahrain on Saturday, while a commercial tanker came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of renewed escalation despite ongoing US-Iran diplomatic efforts.

Bahrain's Foreign Ministry said a "number of Iranian drones" targeted the country, describing the assault as "a flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents". Separately, the UK's maritime security agency, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, said a tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. The crew was reported safe and no environmental damage was recorded.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted several locations belonging to the "US terrorist army in the region", without identifying specific sites. The incidents followed US airstrikes carried out overnight in response to an earlier Iranian drone attack on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, further straining the fragile ceasefire and ongoing negotiations.

(With inputs from AP)

Flights between Tehran and Dubai will resume from July 1, Iran's civil aviation authority announced, as the country continues to reopen international air links following the recent conflict.

(Reuters)