Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday (June 16, 2026) that the end of the Iran war included the end of Israel’s occupation of Lebanon, state TV reported.

Iranian state television quoted the top official making the comment to foreign diplomats in a briefing. It did not air the remarks, but put them in an on-screen graphic.

West Asia LIVE updates – June 16, 2026

“The important point I want to emphasise here is that in our view, there are two parties to this memorandum — one side is America and Israel, and the other side is Iran and Hezbollah. This is perhaps the most important issue in the memorandum — the declaration of an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” Mr. Araghchi said.

It also quoted Mr. Araghchi as saying that Israel’s continued occupation of southern Lebanon would violate the memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran.

It remains unclear what is in the interim agreement, as it has yet to be released publicly in full.

With inputs from AP, AFP

A day after U.S. President Donald Trump backed away from a threatened attack on Iran, claiming progress in talks, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (June 12, 2026) that Washington and Tehran have “never been closer” to reaching a preliminary agreement.

“The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer. Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content. In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course,” Mr. Araghchi wrote in a social media post. U.S. President Donald Trump reposted Mr. Araghchi’s statement in his Truth Social account.

West Asia War LIVE updates – June 12, 2026

Mr. Araghchi’s comments came after Iran’s Mehr news agency, citing a source close to the country’s negotiating team, claimed that the deal would see “the release of $24 billion of Iran’s blocked funds during the 60-day final negotiation period”. According to a draft of the agreement released by Mehr, there would be a permanent halt to fighting on all fronts, “including Lebanon”.

It also calls for lifting the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and reopening the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days. Sanctions on Iranian oil and petrochemical revenues would be suspended, and nuclear negotiations would be held during the 60-day period to reach a final agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who on Thursday (June 11, 2026) told reporters in Oval Office that “a great settlement” with Iran was reached, “subject to finalisation of documents”, on Friday (June 12) dismissed the reports about the content of the deal as “fake news”.

“The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing. What they said, including their weak statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth,” he wrote in a social media post. Mr. Trump also claimed that Iran carried out drone attacks at Indian ships in the Strait of Hormuz. “They better get their act together, and FAST!”

Vice-President J.D. Vance also slammed the spread of “fake information” about the terms of the proposed deal. “First, the Iranians are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting,” he wrote in a social post. “The deal is structured to ensure that the US and its allies concerns are prioritized, and that if the Islamic Republic of Iran meets its obligations, then economic benefits will flow to them and to the entire region.”

Earlier in the day, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in Tehran that a “potential understanding” was “close to completion”, but blamed the contradictory positions” of the U.S. for the delay in finalising the deal.

“The text has almost been finalised in its major parts. The problem is that the contradictory positions of the United States have always caused turbulence and disruption in this process,” Mr. Baghaei said at a press briefing.

He added that Iran would not compromise on its red lines. Iran has rejected U.S. pressure so far to export its highly enriched uranium out of the country and dismantle its enrichment infrastructure.

Qatar’s leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said mediation efforts had “led to progress in the proposals under discussion within the framework of ongoing negotiations”, but did not confirm Mr. Trump’s claim that a deal had been finalised.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday (May 24, 2026) praised Donald Trump for his diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in West Asia, underlining that the U.S. President held a “productive call” with different leaders, including Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Mr. Trump held a phone call on Saturday (May 23, 2026) with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan and Pakistan.

Iran-Israel war LIVE updates – May 24, 2026

Mr. Trump had a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who was in Tehran. Mr. Munir met with top Iranian leaders and discussed accelerating efforts to achieve a “conclusive agreement” between the United States and Iran.

As Mr. Munir wrapped up his trip, President Trump said in a statement that a ‌memorandum of understanding on a peace deal has been “largely negotiated” with Iran.

“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will ‌be announced shortly,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Mr. Trump posted the announcement after separate calls with the leaders of Muslim-majority nations and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

PM Sharif, in his statement, praised Mr. Trump while committing to continue efforts for peace in the region.

“I congratulate President Donald Trump on his extraordinary efforts to pursue peace and for holding a very useful and productive telephone call earlier today, with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and Pakistan,” he said on X.

He said that Mr. Munir represented Pakistan in the telephone call and “I greatly appreciate his tireless efforts during the entire process.”

“The discussions provided a useful opportunity to exchange views on the current regional situation and how to move the ongoing peace efforts forward to bring lasting peace in the region,” the prime minister stated.

He also said that “Pakistan will continue its peace efforts with utmost sincerity, and we hope to host the next round of talks very soon.”

Pakistan had hosted the first face-to-face intensive talks between the U.S. and Iran following the ceasefire announced on April 8.

Though the peace effort failed to clinch a deal, Islamabad carried forward its initiative in collaboration with several other Muslim countries.