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US, Iran reach preliminary deal to end war, signing for Friday
— US and Iranian officials claimed they had agreed on a framework for ending their war, lifting the US blockade of Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The preliminary accord sent oil prices tumbling but left the fate of Iran’s nuclear program up for further negotiations.“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now final,” US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform about 5:30 p.m. ET local time in Washington (2130 GMT) on Sunday. His post came just after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has acted as a mediator, said a settlement had been reached early Monday local time.
The agreement of understanding will be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.
Exact terms were not disclosed immediately. Sharif wrote on X that the deal included “the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.”
Lebanon has been a sticking point in negotiations, with Israel and Hezbollah defying appeals from Trump and others to stop their attacks on one another in recent weeks.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretariat announced in a statement that war and military operations would be halted permanently on all fronts including Lebanon as of Monday night.
A 60-day truce period will be used to discuss a broader deal including removal of sanctions on Iran, said Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi.
The destiny of Iran’s nuclear program is another tough issue that would be discussed in those later discussions, sources previously told Reuters.
Israel, which has stated it was not involved in the US-Iran discussions, did not immediately react to the announcement.
STRAIT TO BE RE-OPENED
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for global oil and gas supplies Iran has essentially locked down for months, would open on Friday, Trump announced, and he had ordered the termination of the US blockade of Iranian ports.Ships of the World, rev up your engines. “Let the oil flow!” Trump wrote.
The announcement weighed on oil prices. Brent oil futures sank 4% in early trading on Monday, with US West Texas Intermediate down more than 4.6%. Asian stock markets surged.
Matt Miller, a former State Department spokesman in the Biden administration, said Trump had made significant concessions to Iran to get the status quo before his war.”We have no guarantees that the nuclear program will ever be addressed, but Iran has shown the world that it can hold the global economy hostage and get something out of the U.S. in return,” Miller said.
Since the US and Israeli forces initially assaulted Iran on February 28, thousands have died, mainly in Iran and Lebanon. Iran has attacked Israel and Gulf states with US bases and essentially blockaded the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up global energy costs. In retaliation, US soldiers have closed Iranian ports.
The Iran war is becoming a political problem at home for Trump and fellow Republicans in Congress, with opinion polls showing Americans increasingly dissatisfied by rising petrol costs ahead of the midterm elections in November. But Trump has also under pressure from members of his own party who say Iran’s nuclear program must be entirely shut down.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a major Iran hawk, applauded the deal but said he would be “watching closely” upcoming negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.”Under our law, any nuclear deal with Iran will be subject to review and a vote by Congress,” he said. “Congratulations to everyone for getting us to this point.
In his first term, Trump withdrew the US from a multilateral Iran deal reached in 2015 by Democratic President Barack Obama, which lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program, including international inspections.
Iran retaliated by stepping up its uranium enrichment, producing more than 400 kg (about 900 pounds) of material at near bomb-grade purity. That eventual fate of the uranium is anticipated to be a crucial negotiating point in the next talks.‘A VERY HARD GUY’
The deal was struck even as an Israeli strike on Sunday on Lebanon was condemned by both Iran and Trump.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clashed with Trump over requests from the US that Israel curtail its military action in Lebanon to help the US to negotiate a deal with Iran.
Israel has indicated it will maintain its freedom of operations in Lebanon while Iran has made a full ceasefire there a key part of its objectives.
During a phone chat Sunday, Trump briefed Netanyahu on progress toward a peace deal, Israel’s N12 said, citing a senior official.
In an interview with the New York Times, Trump labelled Netanyahu “a very difficult guy” and said the Israeli leader should thank him for rescuing Israel from a nuclear-armed Iran.
The declaration was welcomed by leaders beyond the Middle East, who have been watching the situation with some wariness.
The United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy said in a joint statement they were ready to relax sanctions on Iran in return for “clear, verifiable steps” to curb its nuclear program.“We are clear that toll-free freedom of navigation must now be restored in the Strait of Hormuz,” stated British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.
Before the deal was announced, a senior Iranian source told Reuters the draft would require the United States to agree to unfreeze $25 billion in Iranian assets. The Trump administration has previously suggested any release of Iranian money would be contingent on Iran meeting specific requirements in a peace accord.
A US official indicated before of the announcement that the agreement would lead to the eventual elimination of Iran’s nuclear program, with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium destroyed and removed. The senior Iranian source said the proposed accord would allow Iran, which denies wanting a nuclear bomb, to dilute its enriched uranium on its territory.
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Pakistan test-fires upgraded Fatah-4 with enhanced precision and survivability
Pakistan has successfully conducted a test launch of the extended version of its indigenously developed Fatah-4 Ground-Launched Cruise Missile, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The latest test focused on an extended-range variant of the weapon system and was aimed at validating additional technical parameters incorporated into its various sub-systems. The missile is equipped with advanced avionics and state-of-the-art navigational aids, enabling it to engage targets at extended ranges with high precision and lethality.
The development marks another test of Pakistan’s domestically developed Fatah-4 system, which was previously reported with a range of 750 kilometres.
According to the military’s statement, the extended version successfully demonstrated the performance of its upgraded systems during the launch.
The test validated additional technical parameters of various sub-systems designed to improve accuracy and enhance the weapon system’s survivability. The latest configuration is also intended to provide the capability to engage targets at greater distances while maintaining precision.
The Fatah-4 is a Ground-Launched Cruise Missile equipped with advanced avionics and modern navigation technology. Pakistan previously conducted a successful training fire of the system in May 2026, with ISPR saying the exercise was intended to enhance operational efficiency and validate technical parameters linked to accuracy and survivability.
The missile had earlier been publicly reported with a range of 750 kilometres. The extended version tested on Tuesday has been described by ISPR as capable of engaging targets at extended ranges, although the military statement did not specify a new maximum range.
The launch was witnessed by senior officers from the Pakistan Army, alongside scientists and engineers from the developing agency.
The Fatah-4 was first publicly confirmed by Pakistan in 2025, when the Army conducted a successful training launch of the newly inducted Ground-Launched Cruise Missile. At that time, ISPR said the system featured advanced avionics and state-of-the-art navigational aids and was capable of engaging targets with high precision.
A further training fire was conducted in May 2026 by the Army Rocket Force Command. ISPR said the exercise validated technical parameters of various sub-systems while focusing on improved accuracy and enhanced survivability.
The President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, along with the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces and the Services Chiefs, commended the successful test launch of the Fatah-4 extended version.
They also appreciated the technical expertise, dedication and commitment of the scientists, engineers and other personnel involved in achieving the latest milestone.
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Syria, Saudi Arabia discuss reconstruction, investment
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday.They talked about Syria’s rebuilding efforts and ways to bring in Saudi investments.
Al-Sharaa officially invited the crown prince to visit Syria.
The Saudi official news agency, SPA, posted pictures of the meeting on X, but didn’t give more details.
The Syrian presidency said that Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani was also at the meeting.
They discussed the relationship between Syria and Saudi Arabia and how to improve it to benefit both countries.
The Syrian presidency’s media office later said the talks were about improving relations in many areas and boosting political, diplomatic, and economic cooperation in a way that works for both nations.
They also reviewed plans for Syria’s reconstruction, including repairing damaged infrastructure and important facilities from the war, as reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA.
The discussions also covered bringing in high-quality investments to Syria and increasing the role of Syrian and Saudi businesses in energy, construction, industry, agriculture, and trade.
Al-Sharaa invited Mohammed bin Salman to visit Syria, with the presidency saying the visit would help build closer ties and start a new stage of Arab cooperation on regional and international matters.
They also talked about recent events in the region and shared views on issues that affect both countries, aiming to support security and stability in the area.
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Vance says Iran must cut enrichment to end war
US Vice President JD Vance told Reuters in an exclusive interview that Iran must make a “meaningful” cut in its nuclear enrichment programs to meet US demands and stop the seven-month war between the two countries.At the same time, Washington is unsure how Tehran makes decisions during negotiations.
Vance, who has long doubted US involvement in foreign conflicts, is leading efforts to reach a peace deal.
In June, he helped broker a temporary agreement, but it collapsed quickly.The war has affected global energy prices and has made President Donald Trump and other Republicans look weak ahead of the November midterm elections.
After a campaign trip in Alaska, Vance said any deal would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment, not just promise to do so later.
“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel?
And if you want to show you’re not going to build a nuclear weapon, don’t build highly enriched fuel.That’s a basic issue,” Vance said.
He added, “If they want to show they’re not going to build a nuclear weapon, they should take meaningful steps on their enrichment programs.”
In recent weeks, Iran and the US have been discussing ways to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global energy shipping.
Trump rejected Tehran’s latest offer and warned that military action could get worse after the midterms.
Vance said the US is still open to a deal but wants real nuclear concessions from Iran.
“We won’t trade words for actions,” he said.
UNCERTAIN ABOUT IRAN’S DECISION-MAKING: VANCE
Vance also said Washington isn’t sure who makes decisions in Iran.
He has talked with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, but it’s unclear how much power they have in Iran’s leadership structure.This became even more complicated after joint US-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the start of the war.
“One of the things we noticed is it’s not totally clear how decisions are made in Iran,” Vance said.
Trump also said on Tuesday that his biggest problem is not knowing who is in charge of Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that US officials know who the Iranian representatives are and how the decision-making process works.
“The real problem is the contradictory statements and mixed messages from US officials,” Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference.
Vance told Reuters he has spoken with field commanders to understand the battlefield.
He said there are no serious shortages of weapons and that while Iranian forces can hit commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, they can’t stop energy shipments through the waterway.
Vance did not say whether he is leading peace talks, even though he is often seen as the White House’s main negotiator.
“We are certainly involved,” he said.”Ultimately, the president of the United States is driving things.”
The war — costing about $3 billion a month — has become a big issue in the campaign.
Rising energy prices have hurt Trump and Republicans in key states that could influence the outcome of Congress.
Vance has tried to downplay criticism of Trump’s handling of the conflict, telling voters not to let this issue stop them from supporting Republicans in the coming election.
In Alaska, Vance supported Senator Dan Sullivan, who is in a close race against Democratic challenger Mary Peltola.
Trump won Alaska by 13 points in 2024, but higher living costs have put the state in question.
Before talking to Reuters, Vance focused much of his speech on affordability, especially energy prices.
In Alaska, remote location makes everyday items more expensive, and energy production is a big part of the economy.
Rallygoers cheered when Sullivan almost introduced Vance as the US president instead of the vice president.
Vance is seen as a top Republican candidate for the presidency in 2028.
Vance told Reuters he hasn’t decided yet whether he will run for president in 2028.
“He said, ‘I’m naturally someone who puts things off.
I haven’t really thought about it much.'”
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