Middle East conflict

June 21, 2026 6:42 AM

Iran negotiators, Vance head for Switzerland but Lebanon fighting continues

A high-level Iranian team arrived in Switzerland on Saturday for peace talks with the U.S., Iranian state media reported, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for meetings that Pakistan said will begin on Sunday. The Iranian delegation was led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and included Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as well as senior security, central bank and oil officials, Iranian media said. Although the U.S. and Iran had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire while negoti...

June 18, 2026 1:35 PM

The Lebanese Question After the US-Iran Ceasefire: What Next for Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon?

The United States-Iran memorandum of understanding that ended nearly four months of direct military conflict has the potential to reshape the strategic landscape of West Asia. While initial global attention focused on the immediate implications for Washington and Tehran, one of the most consequential developments concerns Lebanon. With the MoU explicitly demanding a permanent termination of hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon ,the future of Hezbollah, Israel's security calculations, and ...

June 18, 2026 1:26 PM

US-Iran Agreement Takes Effect, Opening New Diplomatic Chapter in West Asia

A landmark memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran has come into effect, bringing an immediate halt to nearly four months of direct conflict and opening a 60-day window for negotiations on a comprehensive peace settlement. The 14-point agreement, signed electronically ahead of a planned meeting in Switzerland, establishes an immediate ceasefire, commits both sides to refrain from hostile actions, and sets out a framework for addressing longstanding disputes over Iran's nuc...

June 18, 2026 9:34 AM

PM Modi meets US President Trump on sidelines of G7 Summit in Evian

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France. During the meeting, PM Modi commended President Trump for his efforts that had resulted in an understanding to end the ongoing conflict in West Asia and restore peace and stability across the broader region. He also underlined the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce in the Strait of Hormuz and the need to ensure the safety of seafarers. ...

June 17, 2026 3:07 PM

Trump criticises Israel’s Lebanon campaign as Iran warns of ‘harsh response’

US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying the conflict has gone on for too long and resulted in excessive civilian casualties. Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump said Israel was "fighting Hezbollah too long" and that "too many people are being killed", urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act more responsibly. Trump also suggested that Syria's leadership could be better positioned to...

June 16, 2026 10:39 AM

US and Iran agree on peace framework; formal signing set for Geneva

A major diplomatic breakthrough has raised hopes of a broader de-escalation in West Asia after the United States and Iran announced a framework agreement aimed at ending nearly four months of conflict. Officials from both countries confirmed that a memorandum of understanding has already been signed electronically, with a formal signing ceremony scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday. The agreement is expected to pave the way for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, restoring marit...

June 15, 2026 2:00 PM

PM Modi welcomes US-Iran peace understanding, hopes for stability in West Asia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed the understanding reached between the United States and Iran to end the ongoing conflict in West Asia, expressing hope that the agreement would help restore peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in the strategically important region. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "I welcome the understanding reached between the United States and Iran on ending the conflict in West Asia, which has caused serious economic disruption across the world and led to...

June 12, 2026 5:02 PM

Iran Says No Final Decision on U.S. Deal as Diplomatic Efforts Face Crucial Test

Diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting in West Asia remain on shaky ground today, after Iran announced that it has not made any final decision on a proposed agreement with the United States. That statement directly contradicts U.S. President Donald Trump, who earlier suggested a breakthrough was just days away. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said talk of a finalized deal or a signing ceremony is premature, though he did confirm that much of the negotiating text has been ...

June 10, 2026 10:19 AM

Fragile Israel-Iran pause persists as violence escalates in southern Lebanon

A fragile pause in direct hostilities between Israel and Iran appeared to hold on Tuesday, easing fears of an immediate return to large-scale cross-border exchanges that had raised concerns across West Asia. However, prospects for a broader and lasting ceasefire remained uncertain as fighting continued on other fronts, particularly in southern Lebanon. Iranian state media reported funeral ceremonies in Tehran for air defence personnel killed during the recent confrontation, while Iranian officia...

June 10, 2026 9:54 AM

Iran targets US bases in Jordan and the Gulf after Trump orders strikes near Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had carried out attacks against a U.S. base in Jordan and 21 other targets in the Gulf on Wednesday in retaliation for American strikes around the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported. The clashes mark one of the biggest exchanges in hostilities since the two countries agreed to a ceasefire in April. The Iranian strikes, which included attacks in Kuwait and Bahrain, came after the U.S. military said on X it had targeted Iranian air defence, ground cont...