The Iranian deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed in the early hours of Monday an agreement for an “immediate end” to the US-Iranian war, and said Lebanon was included in a peace deal due to be signed on Friday. Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, announced the agreement on Sunday afternoon, saying both sides would be declaring “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts”.
Regional officials said Qatari mediators had travelled to Tehran on Sunday to finalise terms of a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Uncertainty swirled, though, including around whether Israel would end its attacks aimed at Hezbollah in Lebanon, while Iranian hardliners registered their opposition to what they see as capitulation to the US. Lindsay Graham, a Republican senator, said he was pleased to hear about the MOU but added: “I am somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming.”
‘Let the oil flow!’ – but Iran to dictate the terms?
Iran said the strait of Hormuz could reopen on Friday, but under its terms, after Donald Trump claimed a deal between Tehran and Washington was “complete”. “I hereby fully authorize the toll-free opening of the strait of Hormuz,” said the US president, adopting his usual sweeping if inaccurate framing, “and, simultaneously herewith authorize the immediate removal of the United States naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!”
But on Iran’s Mehr state news, it was reported that a memorandum of understanding between the governments calls for the reopening of the strait within 30 days under “Iranian arrangements”. Iranian hardliners also railed against the deal, which is supposed to be signed in Switzerland on Friday.
Trump reportedly tells Putin he is prepared to help end war in Ukraine
Trump told Vladimir Putin that ending Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine was critical and that he was prepared to help, reported Russia’s TASS news agency.
During a phone call on Sunday, Trump also informed the Russian president that the US was nearing a peace deal with Iran as the US-Israel war against the country continues, according to Yuri Ushakov, a Putin adviser. The call between Trump and Putin, which lasted about an hour, was described as “friendly and frank” by Ushakov.
UFC to pay White House fighters in crypto issued by Trump company
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced on Friday that it will pay bonuses to fighters in a form of cryptocurrency issued by Trump family business World Liberty Financial at the heavily publicized White House mixed martial arts event on Sunday.
The development connects the Trump family’s financial interests to the high-profile UFC competition being promoted on government property, namely the south White House lawn.
Vance on 2028 presidential run
JD Vance said he would discuss a 2028 US presidential run with his wife, Usha, after the 2026 midterms. “Usha and I will absolutely sit down and talk about what comes next for our family,” said Vance.
The US vice-president gave insight into his ongoing decision on whether to run during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning where he spoke on his new memoir, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, which details his conversion to Catholicism. “People sort of assume that I’m sitting around, figuring out, whether I’m gonna run for president … the way that I make decisions is that I try not to make them until I absolutely must.”
Catching up? Here’s what happened on 13 June 2026