In the spring, U.S. officials suspected that Israel intended to kill Iranâs top negotiators and sent a warning to Tehran to take precautions.
Archiv: 14-06-2026 Iran and USA agree on memorandum for negotiations on peace treaty / memo signed by presidents on 17-06-2026
U.S. Officials Believed Israel Was Plotting to Kill Iranian Negotiators
Fearful that an Israeli assassination effort would doom the negotiations, the United States, according to some of the officials, went so far as to ask other countries in the region to warn Iran about the possibility Israel could target the two officials.
U.S. officials acknowledged that during the intense phase of the war, Mr. Araghchi and Mr. Ghalibaf, as senior government officials, could have been legitimate targets for Israel, which was intent on toppling Iranâs hard-line government. But after the negotiations started in earnest in April, American officials believed that any attempt to kill the Iranian leaders would end the talks and reignite the fighting.
Caving to Trump âTemper Tantrum,â Two Republicans Flip to Block Iran War Powers Resolution
Two Senate Republicans who supported a previous resolution calling for an end to the US war on Iran changed their votes late Wednesday after President Donald Trump publicly and privately berated GOP lawmakers, calling them âlosersâ who provided âaid and comfort to the enemy.â
In Wednesdayâs procedural vote, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)âwho reportedly got into a shouting match with Trump over the Iran war during a closed-door lunch hours earlierâsided with virtually every other Republican in opposing the war powers resolution, just a day after he supported a separate, symbolic resolution calling for the removal of US forces from the conflict. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) also switched, changing his vote to âpresentâ at the urging of the president.
Senate rejects measure to restrict Trump‘s Iran war powers as key Republicans shift votes
Updated on: June 24, 2026 / 11:37 PM EDT / CBS News
Later in the day, however, signs emerged that some of the Senate Republicans who had previously voted to constrain Mr. Trump‘s war powers were reconsidering.
Cassidy was briefed on Iran at the White House by Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff, the senator confirmed on X, writing that the conversation „address[ed] many of my concerns.“ Cassidy voted against advancing the resolution Wednesday night.
And Paul voted present on Wednesday, despite voting in favor of the last several Iran war powers resolutions. He said on X his goal was to „give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace.“
Oman reaffirms support for toll-free passage through Hormuz
Oman‘s foreign minister Badr Albusaidi has said Muscat remains committed to ensuring toll-free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz following discussions with senior Iranian officials.
In a post on X, Albusaidi said there had been „constructive discussions on the recent Iran-US MOU, especially the Strait of Hormuz paragraph“. He added: „We affirmed commitment to international law and toll-free safe passage.“
The comments came after Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf visited Oman for talks on bilateral cooperation and regional developments.
US-Iran Negotiators back 60-Day Roadmap after âEncouraging Progressâ at Switzerland Talks
A communication line has also been established between the parties for the period specified in the Memorandum of Understanding to help prevent incidents and misunderstandings. The mechanism is intended to facilitate the safe passage of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington and Tehran agreed to establish de-confliction cell involving Lebanon and facilitated by the mediators. The mechanism is intended to support implementation of the cessation of military operations in Lebanon and help prevent future confrontations.
Everybody is fully aware that Iran will agree to have Major Weapons Inspections in order to ensure âNuclear Honestyâ long into the future. President DONALD J. TRUMP
(…)
US suspending sanctions on Iranian oil until 21 August
The US government has said it is suspending sanctions on Iran until 21 August.
The Treasury said in a statement that it was waiving all existing US sanctions on „the Production, Delivery and Sale of Crude Oil, Petrochemical Products, and Petroleum Products of Iranian-Origin through August 21, 2026.“
The waiver will also allow the US to import „petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian origin“ for domestic use.
For the MOU to hold and result in a lasting peace, we must restrict aid to Israel immediately & make it clear that we will not defend them should Iran opt to strike in response to Israelâs attacks in Lebanon.
Israel has not responded to our verbal & written demandsâthat is not going to change, unless we change it by taking action.
Israel claims sovereignty & continues to threaten our peace deal, yet they rely on us to bail them out. This is calculated.
We have to respond accordingly and stop this cycle once and for all.
Lead with action: remove their leverage, otherwise they will not take us seriously.
An open SOH & peace in the region have to be our focus. Israel is playing spoilerâwe must limit their ability to do so.
Pakistan leader and army chief depart for Switzerland to attend US-Iran talks
(45 min ago)
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Syed Asim Munir have departed Islamabad and are on their way to Switzerland where diplomatic discussions between the US and Iran are unfolding, a statement from the prime ministerâs office said Sunday.
Iranian delegation lands in Switzerland for talks with US
(4 hr 30 min ago)
The talks are set to be held in the Swiss mountain resort of BĂŒrgenstock.
The delegation is led by Iranâs head negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
US-Iran Technical Talks set to begin in Switzerland under Pakistan-Qatar mediation, FO says
Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that representatives from Washington and Tehran will participate in the discussions, while Pakistani and Qatari officials will facilitate the process. Islamabad says it remains committed to advancing the understandings reached under the MoU and promoting peace and stability through dialogue.
Vance Heads to Peace Talks, After Iran Says It Closed Strait of Hormuz
Vice President JD Vance on Saturday headed to peace talks in Switzerland, signaling renewed efforts to keep an agreement signed earlier this week by President Trump on track after Iranian security officials said they had closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli violations of MoU
The statement added that the Israeli attacks have led to âbrutal killings and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of oppressed peopleâ in southern Lebanon, adding that the Israeli regime has also failed to withdraw its forces from those territories.
The military command said that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is the first step in response to the breach of commitments under the MoU by the US and its allies, adding that Iran will adopt further measures to compel the enemy to fulfill its obligations.
Iran says it‘s closing vital Strait of Hormuz, blaming Israeli attacks in Lebanon
Iranâs military command said it will close the Strait of Hormuz due to Israelâs âongoingâ violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon and the United States âfailing to implementâ the first clause of the tentative agreement to end the war, Iranian state media reported on Saturday.
âIn view of the United Statesâ bad faith and its clear breach of its commitments by failing to implement the first article of the memorandum ending the war, and in response to the continuous and ongoing violation of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon⊠It hereby announces that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to the passage of vessels,â Iranâs top joint military command, âKhatam al-Anbiya Central âHeadquarters, said in a statement that was reported by state broadcaster IRIB.
Ambassador to the US says Israel âfirmly committed to immediate ceasefireâ with Hezbollah
Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter says Israel âremains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefireâ with Hezbollah, after a new truce was declared this afternoon.
âAt 11:30 this morning, Israel halted all offensive operations; Hezbollah and Iranian claims to the contrary are bold lies,â Leiter writes on X. âIf Hezbollah honors the agreement and ceases its hostilities, they will be met with quiet.â
Iran says it is working with mediators to reorganize technical talks with US
Talks with mediators are underway to reorganize the first round of technical negotiations between Washington and Tehran, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.
Persian Gulf Strait Authority says vessels allowed to cross Hormuz without fees
Iranâs Persian Gulf Strait Authority has announced that vessels seeking to cross the Strait of Hormuz will be granted access under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding for 60 days.
In a statement on X, the authority explained that vessels will need to submit their requests to cross at least 48 hours before wanting to depart.
The authority said that during the 60 days, no fees will be charged to vessels.
JD Vance Unloads On Israel For Not Backing ‚Only Powerful Ally‘ It Has Left
At times, he said, âWe seem to be right on the cusp of a major breakthrough in the agreement, and then all of a sudden thereâs a major explosion that goes off in a major population center in Beirut, and a lot of people who have nothing to do with Hezbollah lose their lives, and thatâs not acceptable.â
Vance said Trump has become frustrated with Israel for attacking Lebanon.
‚Wake Up and Smell the Reality‘: JD Vance Warns Israel to Abide by Trumpâs Iran Deal
(June 18, 2026)
In response to those attacks, Vance pointed out that two-thirds of Israelâs defense weapons have been built and paid for by Americans and that the problem for Israel âis not Donald Trump.â
âAnybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the President of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation in that country,â he added.
Vance Issues Blunt Warning to Israel as He Defends Trumpâs Deal
Vice President JD Vance on Thursday delivered an extraordinarily direct rebuke to Israeli critics of the U.S.-Iran peace agreement, as he sought to defend the preliminary deal with repeated misrepresentations of some of its terms.
âDonald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time,â Mr. Vance said. He added, âIf I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.â
World reacts to US-Iran deal to extend ceasefire, reopen Strait of Hormuz
Hereâs how the world has reacted to the news:
White House delivers Iran agreement to Congress
A swath of GOP senators and some House Republicans were livid Wednesday when a Trump administration official read the memorandum to reporters before sharing the document with lawmakers.
Senior White House officials have held small-group and individual calls with select GOP lawmakers, but an all-member briefing from Trump administration officials on the agreement is not expected until next week.
FrĂŒher als geplant: USA und Iran haben Rahmenabkommen bereits unterzeichnet
Die USA und Iran haben die AbsichtserklĂ€rung zwischen den beiden kriegfĂŒhrenden Staaten unterzeichnet – frĂŒher als geplant. US-PrĂ€sident Trump unterschrieb am Abend im Schoss Versailles in Frankreich, der Iran digital. Die Zeremonie in der Schweiz wird wohl ausfallen.