Key facts
- The US and Iran have reached a memorandum of understanding to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- A signing ceremony for the US-Iran MOU is expected Friday in Switzerland.
- Pakistan mediated the US-Iran MOU, and Oman is seen as a key player in the new Middle East order.
- Iran's Foreign Minister announced that U.S.-Iran negotiations will start the same day the MOU is signed.
- The US-Iran negotiations will continue for 60 days to finalize an agreement on the nuclear issue and sanctions relief.
- Four people were killed in Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh governorate.
- Iran warned that Israeli actions would violate the interim agreement with the US.
- Iran demands Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanon as part of a broader regional ceasefire.
- President Trump announced plans to submit a new Iran deal to Congress for approval.
- President Trump criticized Israel's handling of the conflict.
- Pope Leo XIV welcomed the interim peace deal between the United States and Iran.
- China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi cautioned that future Iran-US negotiations will be more difficult.
A fragile quiet has settled over Lebanon following a US-Iran truce, with residents returning to damaged homes in Nabatiyeh expressing doubt about its longevity. The city has suffered intense airstrikes and shelling. The United States and Iran have reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, potentially ending months of conflict and an energy crisis. A signing ceremony is expected Friday in Switzerland, mediated by Pakistan, with Oman emerging as a key player in the new Middle East order due to its conciliatory stance towards Iran. Iran's top diplomat stated that Israel's continued troop presence in Lebanon would breach the US-Iran MOU. Iran's Foreign Minister announced that U.S.-Iran negotiations will start on the same day the MOU is signed, continuing for 60 days to finalize an agreement on the nuclear issue and sanctions relief. Hezbollah believes Iran will not sign a final nuclear deal with Washington unless Israel withdraws from Lebanon. Iran has warned that Israeli actions would violate an interim agreement with the US, emphasizing a ceasefire as a prerequisite for any deal. Four people were killed in Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh governorate. President Trump announced plans to submit a new Iran deal to Congress for approval, aiming to prevent nuclear weapons development, and has criticized Israel's handling of the conflict. Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has called for Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanon as part of a broader regional ceasefire. Iran's military spokesperson stated Tehran will maintain and increase its armed forces' readiness, warning of a strong response to any violations of the MOU. Brigadier General Esmail Qaani stated that the recent conflict has discredited the United States and accelerated the collapse of Israel. Pope Leo XIV welcomed the interim peace deal, expressing hope for a definitive end to the regional war. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi cautioned that future Iran-US negotiations will be more difficult, noting that even a peace deal would leave the Middle East fractured. The 2026 Iran war has caused the largest oil supply disruption in history, leading to price surges, currency volatility, and fears of stagflation. The conflict crippled the Gulf Cooperation Council's economic model and triggered a second energy crisis in Europe, impacting global growth and food prices. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi cautioned that future Iran-US negotiations will be more difficult, urging greater international support and a larger UN Security Council role. He noted that even a peace deal would leave the Middle East fractured.
President Trump announced plans to submit a new Iran deal to Congress for approval, aiming to prevent nuclear weapons development. The move comes as Lebanon faces significant casualties and destruction from the ongoing conflict, which has seen Israeli strikes and Hezbollah retaliatory actions.
Brigadier General Esmail Qaani stated that the recent conflict has discredited the United States and accelerated the collapse of Israel. He emphasized the resilience of regional allies and the independent actions of resistance groups in supporting Iran.