US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that any violation of the American blockade and illicit transport of Iranian oil through the Straits of Hormuz will not be tolerated, an official statement said Saturday.

Rubio conveyed this to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who spoke with him on Friday to lodge a strong protest against the death of Indian nationals in US attacks on ships off the coast of Oman.

“The Secretary stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.

(PTI)

The exact timing of the signing of the Islamabad memorandum will not be on Sunday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, according to state media on Saturday.

Baghaei said the possibility of signing the Islamabad memorandum in the coming days could not be ruled out, but added that caution was needed regarding any comment on the signing date due to the hesitation of the other side.

(Reuters)

Weeks of negotiations on a peace agreement after an April 8 truce have so far not yielded success, with US President Donald Trump repeatedly insisting a deal is near.

We are closer to a peace deal than ever before. With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical level talks next week.
We would like to thank United States of…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 13, 2026

Iran's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei to be buried July 9: state TV

Lebanon reported Israeli strikes on the country's south on Saturday shortly after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for 20 locations including the city of Nabatieh ahead of raids there.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli airstrikes hit several areas covered by the warning, including the villages of Rihan and Sujud, located not far from Nabatieh.

The Israeli army warning urged residents to "evacuate your homes immediately and move to the north of the Zahrani River", around 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the southern border with Israel.

The Israeli army last month declared all areas south of the river "combat zones", and has since been striking the area.

The NNA late Friday reported explosions and artillery shelling near the Ali Taher hills overlooking Nabatieh.

On Friday Hezbollah, which has kept up attacks on Israeli troops who have invaded south Lebanon, said its fighters had confronted Israeli forces advancing towards the town of Majdal Zoun.

(AFP)

US forces have "downed" several Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the military said late Friday.

"Iran launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz," US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the region, posted on X. 

CENTCOM insisted that the strait "remains open for transit."

Iran launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded. The international trade corridor remains open for…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 13, 2026

U.S. forces continue to strictly enforce the blockade against Iran. CENTCOM has redirected 139 compliant commercial ships and disabled 9 non-compliant vessels since April 13. pic.twitter.com/Sl8x1fF2wM

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 12, 2026

A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet patrols the skies above the Middle East as American forces maintain regional presence and vigilance. pic.twitter.com/mdTwr1SRRO

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 13, 2026

Iran will receive no immediate sanctions relief, frozen assets or financial incentives when it signs a proposed nuclear agreement with the United States, a senior Trump administration official said, insisting that any economic benefits would be tied strictly to verified compliance with the deal.

Expressing a growing confidence that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tehran could be signed within days, potentially opening a path toward easing decades of economic restrictions on Iran, a senior administration official on Friday pushed back strongly against reports that Iran would receive billions of dollars upon signing the agreement.

"I've seen people say that they get $12 billion or $1 billion or $6 billion upon the signing of the MoU. That's all not true," the official said during a background briefing.

"The Iranians don't get anything upon the signing of the MoU, or upon the negotiation itself."

Instead, the administration said the proposed agreement is structured around a step-by-step process in which economic rewards are linked directly to Iranian actions.

"What they get is that they get rewarded economically for complying with their obligations under the deal," the official said.

(IANS)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that upon finalisation, a draft deal with the United States would be signed "remotely", which could happen "in the coming days."

"As soon as the final stages of our negotiations are completed, this agreement will be signed and announced. The signing will initially take place digitally. Each side will sign remotely. After that, it will be announced that this memorandum of understanding has been signed by both parties," said Araghchi in an interview with state television.

"This could happen in the coming days. I am very hopeful."

The EAM S Jaishankar while speaking to his US counterpart Rubio on Friday evening also added that "such lethal actions against commercial shipping are "not justified".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that a draft deal with the United States included ending a naval blockade of Iranian ports and arrangements on managing the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"The naval blockade must be completely lifted. That is the first point mentioned in the agreement," Araghchi said in an interview with state television.

"Iran has made a firm decision that the administration of Strait of Hormuz will no longer be the same as before," he noted, adding that discussions were ongoing with Oman on the matter.

The United States is "80 to 85 percent" confident of signing a peace deal with Iran in the coming days, a senior official in President Donald Trump's administration said Friday.

The deal would involve "significant" sanctions relief and the unfreezing of Iranian assets, in exchange for Iran agreeing to dismantle its nuclear program and hand over its nuclear material, the official said.

"I feel very good about the deal. I think the president has gotten to a very good spot," the senior official told reporters in a call, speaking on condition of anonymity.

(AFP)

Netanyahu's comments came a day after Trump touted an imminent deal with Tehran.

Evidence analysed through Open-Source Intelligence research by NDTV Datafy, along with inputs from maritime analysts and media reports, suggests that the US military and its regional allies operated a "dark fleet" of vessels to send oil to the international market.

The United States and Iran have "never been closer" to a deal on ending the war in the Middle East, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday.

US President Donald Trump's comment comes after three vessels with Indian crew came under attack off the Omani coast this week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that he and US President Donald Trump were in "full agreement" to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a day after Trump touted an imminent deal with Tehran.

"As long as I am prime minister of Israel, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. There is full agreement between me and President Trump on this issue," Netanyahu said in a statement.

כל עוד אני ראש ממשלת ישראל - לאיראן לא יהיה נשק גרעיני.
יש ביני לבין הנשיא טראמפ הסכמה מלאה בנושא.
כבר למעלה מ-30 שנה אני בחזית המאבק הבינלאומי נגד תכנית הגרעין של איראן.
אלמלא המאבק הזה לאיראן היו מזמן פצצות אטום להשמדת ישראל.
איראן פועלת להשמיד את מדינת היהודים, ואני…

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 12, 2026

(AFP)

External Affairs Minister(EAM) S Jaishankar has expressed hope that the US-Iran negotiations would yield an early breakthrough, noting that the continuing conflict is creating challenges and leaving much of the world in the position of a "frustrated observer."

India backs early breakthrough in US-Iran ties: EAM Jaishankar

Speaking during a panel discussion at the Kultaranta Talks with his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen and UAE's Assistant Foreign Minister Lana Nusseibeh on "Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition," in Helsinki, EAM Jaishankar said that many countries, including India, are attempting to contribute to de-escalation efforts amid the rising tensions.

When asked whether India is just stuck in the role of kind of a "frustrated observer" or could do more to help address the situation, EAM said, “I think at this time much of the world is stuck in the position of a frustrated observer. But a lot of countries are trying to do what they can in this situation. So it's not for want of trying. I'm talking about us alone, but I think certainly there are not that many countries that would have decent relations with all the parties involved. So, clearly, we have sort of reasoned with the countries. We have been in touch with them. We hope very much that, you know, the US-Iran negotiation leads to an early outcome. And the continuation of the fighting is creating problems,” he said.

(IANS)

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said he had called off planned strikes on Iran and claimed a deal to end the war could be signed in the coming days.

Despite Iranian officials maintaining that reports of a deal with the US to end the conflict in West Asia remain "merely speculation", a memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington is expected to be signed in Geneva, Switzerland, with the proposed agreement reportedly including an extension of the ceasefire, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a framework for further talks on the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme, as reported by CNN citing multiple diplomatic sources.

According to CNN, two sources familiar with the diplomatic negotiations said Geneva was being considered as the venue for the signing ceremony for the deal, with one source stating that the event would mark the beginning of "phase two" of diplomatic engagement, focused on implementing the memorandum of understanding.

The development comes after US President Donald Trump on Thursday spoke of a "great settlement" that could end the conflict with Iran, indicating that the agreement could be finalised in the coming days.

(ANI)

Iran's state media said on Friday that the Islamic republic would maintain the right to enrich uranium under any final agreement with the United States following 60 days of negotiations.

"Iran will negotiate on the nuclear programme solely within the framework of the Islamic Republic's fundamental principles, and issues such as Iran's right to enrich uranium and the retention of enriched material... will be emphasised with a view to their inclusion in the final agreement," according to the official IRNA news agency.

(AFP)

Iran state media says nuclear programme would be included in 60-day talks with US

(AFP)

Iran's state media said on Friday that under a draft agreement with the United States, Tehran would not give up control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"Iran makes no commitment in this text to cede the management of the strait or the restoration of conditions that existed prior to the American and Israeli military aggression," according to the official IRNA news agency, which referred to "the broad outlines of the current text" being finalised. 

(AFP)

An Iran-linked hacker group claims to have breached FBI drones and has threatened to target the World Cup that kicked off this week, a monitoring group said Friday.

The SITE Intelligence Group, an organization which monitors jihadist groups, published a statement from Handala saying they had had access "for months" to "every image and every suspect" captured by first-person view (FPV) drones used by the FBI.

The hackers said the drones featured facial recognition and license plate screening deployed for counterterrorism.

(AFP)

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has voiced optimism regarding a potential diplomatic breakthrough, urging both Washington and Tehran to capitalise on the current momentum to secure a definitive pact.

In an official communication shared via the social media platform X, the ministry noted that Egypt "followed with great satisfaction and commends what was announced by US President Donald Trump regarding the cancellation of the military strikes that were scheduled to be carried out against Iran".

Cairo further articulated its aspirations for the diplomatic corridor, noting that Egypt hopes "the available opportunity will be seized to reach an agreement on various outstanding issues and to foster an environment conducive to ending the war and launching a new phase of regional stability".

Highlighting its proactive role in navigating Middle Eastern geopolitics, the ministry asserted that Egypt "continues its tireless, serious, and sincere efforts, in coordination and cooperation with regional and international partners, to de-escalate tensions".

This diplomatic endorsement from Cairo came in the wake of a major declaration by US President Donald Trump, who announced that the United States has "ended war with Iran," asserting that Tehran authorities have "agreed never to have a nuclear weapon".

The American leader made these assertions while addressing a virtual tele-rally for Lt. Governor of Georgia Burt Jones on Thursday.

The reports of friction between 'friends' Trump and Netanyahu-- who started the war in lockstep -- come as the US and Israel's war interests diverge.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 'Bibi' Netanyahu was reportedly left "surprised" when US President Donald Trump called off his planned strikes on Iran, claiming leaders in Tehran have "approved" a draft agreement to cease the fighting in the Middle East. According to a report by American publication Axios, in recent days, the Israeli leader has found himself in the dark regarding negotiations between the US and Iran, and has been calling allies close to the Trump administration to try and gather information.

The reports of friction between 'friends'-- who started the war in lockstep -- come as the interests of the US and Israel diverge, with Trump wanting to settle the conflict under mounting pressure to tame petrol prices ahead of midterm elections in November, and Netanyahu, who also faces elections this year, is under pressure to achieve the goals he set at the start of the fighting.

Iran said that the brutal US attacks on Indian commercial vessels which have killed at least three Indian nationals, stand as clear evidence of America's ongoing policy of armed robbery and State piracy.

Trump said his understanding was that the Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had given his approval to the proposal.

The mayor of Tehran said Thursday that the state funeral of late supreme leader Ali Khamanei, killed by US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the Middle East war, would be postponed until the end of June or early July.

Iran had earlier said it planned to hold the three-day event in early Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, which would have put in early June. 

Khamenei's funeral would take place in the second 10 days of Muharram, between June 26 and July 5. Tehran officials have previously said they expect 20 million people to attend.

🔴#BREAKING | India-US in talks on Gulf ship attacks which killed 3 Indian sailors pic.twitter.com/PQjaBpspup

— NDTV (@ndtv) June 12, 2026

🔴#BREAKING | Iran condemns US on killing of 3 Indian sailors
NDTV's @deepduttajourno joins @reetksahni with more details pic.twitter.com/p8CZhDS1dX

— NDTV (@ndtv) June 12, 2026

Oil prices fell on Friday, extending losses from the previous session after US President Donald Trump canceled plans to strike Iran, reducing fears of an escalation of hostilities following tit-for-tat attacks earlier in the week.

Brent futures rose $1.21 or 1.3% to $89.17 a barrel at 0042 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed $1.23, or 1.4%, to $86.48. On a weekly basis, Brent was 4.2% lower, while WTI was down 4.4%.

Trump, who had threatened to hit Iran "very hard," called off planned strikes on Thursday, saying discussions with Iran had progressed. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that Tehran had not approved the text of any agreement.

"While this could, of course, be yet another false dawn, the market's reaction has been both swift and decisive," said IG market analyst Tony Sycamore.

(Reuters)

Iran on Friday said it had not reached a final decision on a deal with Washington after US President Donald Trump announced a "great settlement" to end the war.

"So far, Iran has not reached a final conclusion on the agreement," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, after Trump said he expected a deal to be signed in Europe in the coming days.

The Tasnim news agency noted that Trump had announced a deal was imminent 38 times in the previous two months. 

"Until Iran announces the matter of a potential understanding, any news from Trump on this subject should be regarded the same as his previous messaging," it warned.

(AFP)

The Prime Minister’s Office:
President Trump spoke this evening with Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding the emerging memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran to enter into negotiations.
Even though Israel is not a party to the memorandum of understanding, the Prime Minister…

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 11, 2026

The brutal U.S. attacks on Indian commercial vessels which have killed at least three Indian nationals, stand as clear evidence of America’s ongoing policy of armed robbery and State piracy.
We extend our sympathies to the families and friends of the slain Indian sailors and…

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) June 11, 2026