Trump, Pezeshkian sign US-Iran peace deal to end war

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday ⁠told ​reporters at the G7 ​meeting ​in France that ⁠the United States, ‌in a parallel effort to the ⁠U.S.-Iran deal, ⁠will discuss ⁠Iran's ‌ballistic missiles ​and ‌terrorist proxies with Gulf ‌nations. Reuters

Here’s a look at the purported 14-point memorandum of understanding which is yet to be officially released. A copy was reportedly obtained by CNN from a US official. Given the secrecy maintained by both Washington and Tehran over the language of the agreement, it remains unclear whether the draft shared with CNN reflects the exact wording of the final document expected to be signed in person on Friday in Switzerland.

1. End to hostilities: Iran and the US, along with their allies involved in the conflict, would declare an immediate and permanent end to the war across all fronts, including Lebanon, and commit to avoiding future attacks or threats against each other.

2. Respect for sovereignty: Both sides would agree to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and avoid interference in internal affairs.

3. 60-day negotiation window: Iran and the US would negotiate a final agreement within 60 days, with an extension possible through mutual consent.

4. Ending maritime restrictions: The US would lift the naval blockade, stop interference with Iranian shipping, restore maritime traffic within 30 days and withdraw forces from surrounding areas after the final agreement.

5. Strait of Hormuz traffic: Iran would take steps to restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within 30 days, including addressing technical issues and removing mines.

6. Economic development package: The US, with regional partners, would create a plan for Iran’s economic rehabilitation, including financing of at least $300 billion, with details to be finalized within 60 days.

7. Sanctions relief: The US would work towards ending sanctions on Iran, including US unilateral sanctions and restrictions linked to the UN Security Council and IAEA.

8. Nuclear commitments: Iran would reaffirm it will never develop nuclear weapons. A final agreement would address enriched material and other nuclear-related issues, including Iran’s nuclear needs.

9. Status quo during negotiations: Until a final deal is reached, Iran would maintain its nuclear status quo, while the US would avoid imposing new sanctions or expanding its regional military presence.

10.Oil export waivers: The US would immediately issue waivers allowing Iranian crude oil and petrochemical exports, along with related banking, insurance and transportation services, until sanctions are lifted.

11. Release of frozen assets: Iran’s frozen or restricted funds would be gradually released as negotiations progress, with the US providing necessary approvals for access.

12. Implementation mechanism: Both sides would establish a mechanism to oversee implementation of the final agreement and ensure continued compliance.

13. Final negotiations: After receiving assurances on Articles 4, 5, 10, and 11, both countries would begin talks focused only on unresolved issues in the final agreement.

14. UN backing: The final agreement would be submitted for approval through a binding United Nations Security Council resolution.

Israeli settlers have vandalised and burned a mosque in the occupied West Bank village of Jaljulia, north of Ramallah. Racist slogans were scrawled on the walls by the illegal settlers, the Al Jazeera reported.

Leaders at the Group of Seven summit on Wednesday threw their support behind US President Donald Trump's tentative agreement with Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and further extend a shaky ceasefire -- even though he's offered scant specificity about how that would be implemented.

In a declaration issued overnight, the leaders called the deal a "historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon and tackling the threats related to its regional and ballistic activities." The leaders said that they were "ready to contribute to its implementation," although neither the White House nor Iran has released the text of the agreement.

According to leaked copies of an interim agreement, Iran will immediately take steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once the deal is signed and will be allowed to sell its oil without restrictions. Officials say the leaked text broadly matches the document. PTI

U.S President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding on Iran was not final, and that he ⁠could ​resume a bombing campaign if he did not like it.

"It's a memorandum ​of ​understanding. And if ⁠I don't like it, we'll go back ‌to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head. If I don't like it, if they don't behave, ⁠we'll ⁠go right back to dropping bombs right smack ⁠in ‌the middle ​of their head, ‌OK?" said Trump, at the G7 summit in ‌France.

Trump ​said ​the ​Iran memorandum of understanding did not include ​immediate sanctions relief for ⁠Iran, while adding he would talk about this ‌matter ⁠later. Reuters

TotalEnergies CEO said it is urgent to restore Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies, warning that gas prices may not fall as significantly as oil prices ahead of the winter season.

The CEO stressed that restarting LNG flows from Qatar would be crucial to stabilising energy markets and preventing further pressure on gas prices. Reuters

Oil futures extended their decline, with US crude prices falling around 5% as markets reacted to hopes that a potential US-Iran agreement could end the conflict and allow energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters

Iran’s top negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Israel must withdraw from what he called “occupied areas” in Lebanon and allow residents of southern Lebanon to return to their homes.

In a call with Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Ghalibaf said the conflict must end across all fronts, including Lebanon, and stressed the need for an end to the ongoing hostilities.

Israel has launched three consecutive drone strikes targeting the Mayfadoun town square in Nabatieh district, Lebanon’s National News Agency reports.

US-Israel attacks on Iran killed at least 1,265 people and wounded 2,800 others in the Iranian capital, a top Tehran official says. - Al Jazeera

he Iran war has exposed major risks for Southeast Asia that could cost the region billions of dollars, if it doesn't diversify sources of energy more quickly, according to an International Energy Agency report released Tuesday.An overreliance on oil and gas transported through the Strait of Hormuz left the region particularly vulnerable to shocks from the Iran war, a “stark wake-up call” for its energy security, the report says.It notes that rising sales of electric vehicles, a renewed interest in nuclear power and a boom in rooftop solar and other renewable energy installations show that the war is spurring change. But more sweeping reforms are needed. Otherwise, Southeast Asia’s energy import bill could rise to $245 billion by 2035, tripling from $80 billion in 2024, the report warns. AP

The Swiss Foreign Ministry said the potential signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding is currently scheduled for Friday, 19 June, at Bürgenstock in central Switzerland. (Reuters)

Hezbollah has received assurances from its ally Iran that it will demand a withdrawal of Israeli ⁠troops from ​Lebanon in its next phase of talks with ​the ​United States, Hezbollah's ⁠media relations office told Reuters on ‌Tuesday.

A withdrawal would be the result of, and not a pre-condition for, continuing ⁠talks ⁠between Tehran and Washington following the ⁠signing of ‌a ​memorandum of ‌understanding between the two countries on ‌Friday, Hezbollah ​said.

The ​group ​told Reuters that there ​would be "no nuclear ⁠deal between Iran and the United States ‌unless ⁠the Israelis withdraw" from Lebanon. Reuters

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a strong warning to Iran, saying “all hell will rain down” if Tehran attempts to acquire a nuclear weapon, even as Washington and Tehran move closer to formalising a landmark agreement aimed at ending months of conflict in West Asia.

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President of the EU Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen said, "In a session on the Middle East with regional partners. First, we need to ensure the full restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, without restrictions. Second, the events in the Strait have highlighted vulnerabilities that we need to adress. We should work together to alternative supply routes and new corridors, such as the IMEC. With better connectivity, we can transform vulnerabilities into opportunities. We also discussed Lebanon. Because a stable and peaceful Middle East requires a stable and peaceful Lebanon."

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticised the Israeli military’s campaign against the Hezbollah militant group and said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must be “more responsible” on Lebanon.

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Three Iranian tankers and two vessels ⁠carrying ​essential goods are ​currently ​sailing toward Iranian ⁠southern ports from ‌the Indian Ocean, Iranian ⁠state ⁠TV said on ⁠Tuesday, ‌despite a ​U.S. ‌military advisory ‌note ​saying ​on Monday ​that a ​blockade of Iranian ⁠ports remains ‌in ⁠effect until Friday. Reuters

Iran's top diplomat said Tuesday that the deal ending the war with the United States would also require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. But with Israel insisting it will keep forces in Lebanon, questions are growing about the still-unpublished agreement and whether disagreement over its terms could prolong the conflict.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel's continued occupation of southern Lebanon would violate the memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran.

"The end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of the complete end of the war," Araghchi said in statements made to foreign diplomats in Tehran that were aired on Iranian state TV. "Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end." Araghchi said further Israeli attacks on Lebanon "will be considered by us a violation of the memorandum of understanding." The United States has not said whether Lebanon was part of the final agreement. But Araghchi's description clashes with statements made by Israeli officials about the deal to end the war that started with joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28. AP

President of the EU Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen on Tuesday congratulated US President Donald Trump for the US agreement with Iran. She added, “We both agree that it should mean a definitive end to Iran's nuclear programme. The Strait will reopen. Oil prices are falling. And that's how diplomacy delivers.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he has ⁠a ​great relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ​Netanyahu, ​but that ⁠he must be more responsible ‌with respect to Lebanon.

Trump, speaking at the G7 summit, said ⁠he ⁠told Israel that he ⁠did ‌not ​like its attack ‌on Beirut and suggested ‌that ​Syria should ​take ​care of Hezbollah ​instead of Israel. Reuters

US President Donald Trump said he views the war in Lebanon as a minor conflict and believes a potential deal with Iran can still move forward despite the ongoing tensions. Reuters

US President Donald Trump said Iran would never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon under the reported deal. Trump warned that “all hell will break out” if Tehran attempts to pursue nuclear arms in the future.