Iranian Foreign Minister: New Round Of Talks To Begin On June 19

RFE
16 Jun 2026, 09:11 GMT+10

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11:30

Iranian Foreign Minister: New Round Of Talks To Begin On June 19

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said that, as of the morning of June 15, the war has officially ended on all fronts and that a new round of talks between Iran and the United States will begin in Switzerland on June 19.

The United States and Iran have electronically signed a framework deal to end the three-month-long war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement is expected to be formally signed during a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 19.

Speaking to a group of foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Tehran, Araqchi also warned Israel that any attack on Lebanon would constitute a "violation of the understanding" between Tehran and Washington.

He said that "one side of this memorandum is Iran and Hezbollah, and the other side is America and Israel."

Hezbollah is both a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.

Despite the declared cease-fire, there has been sporadic Israel-Hezbollah fighting in southern Lebanon, with Israeli air strikes and Hezbollah rocket attacks.

"The end of the war includes the end of the occupation, and the end of the war is not complete without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied in this war," Araqchi said.

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08:43

Protests Mark Irans 2026 World Cup Opener Against New Zealand

Opponents of the Iranian regime staged protests outside Irans first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against New Zealand, which ended in a 2-2 tie.

AFP and Reuters reported that between 300 and 500 anti-government protesters gathered outside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, before the match. Many carried Lion-and-Sun flags and chanted slogans against the Iranian government.

The Lion-and-Sun flag is Irans pre-1979 national flag and a powerful symbol of Persian/Iranian identity. It has become a major emblem of opposition to the Islamic republic, widely used by protesters inside Iran, the Iranian diaspora, and anti-regime movements.

Speaking to the media, protesters outside the stadium said the national team did not represent the Iranian people and that its participation indicated support for the regime. However, other Iranian-Americans attending the match called for political differences to be set aside during Irans World Cup campaign.

Despite FIFAs explicit warnings and ban on political symbols, a number of spectators managed to bring Lion-and-Sun flags or clothing featuring the emblem into the stadium. Video footage on X showed fans booing -- but also cheering -- the Iranian national anthem inside the venue.

Before the match, Iranian national team captain Mehdi Taremi criticized the impact of the recent war and logistical disruptions on the teams preparation. He highlighted visa problems faced by the team and delegation, what he said were cancelled fan tickets, and the last-minute relocation of Irans base camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico.

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07:43

Trump May Release US-Iran Agreement Before Signing, Vance Says

US Vice President JD Vance says President Donald Trump may decide to release a preliminary deal to end the war with Iran before June 19, after Trump stated that the agreement had been digitally signed.

The deal is expected to be formally signed during a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 19.

Speaking to Fox News,Vance stressed that the agreement is strictly performance-based, making clear that Iran will only gain access to any reconstruction funds if it fully complies with the deals conditions.

"The Iranians don't get a dime unless they behave and change their behavior," Vance told Sean Hannity.

Vance earlier told CNNthat the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the US and Iran was"about a page and a half" and a "very general" document.

The framework deal gives Washington and Tehran 60 days to negotiate a permanent settlement, including disputes over Iran's enriched uranium stockpile.

US officials said on June 15 that the deal could be released publicly within 24 to 48 hours.

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23:59

15.6.2026

We are now closing the live blog for the day. We'll be back at 7:30 a.m. Central European time to cover the latest events across the Middle East.

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19:39

15.6.2026

US, Iran Sign Framework Deal Electronically Ahead Of Official Ceremony

People wave flags near the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad on June 15 during celebrations following the announcement of a deal to end the war between Iran and the United States.

WASHINGTON -- The United States and Iran have electronically signed a framework deal to end the three-month-long war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, senior US administration officials said on June 15.

Speaking on background to reporters, the officials said US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance signed the agreement virtually, while Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, signed on behalf of Tehran.

The deal is expected to be formally signed during a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 19.

The full text of the memorandum is set to be released publicly within 24 to 48 hours, the officials said, insisting there would be "full transparency" and "no side deals."

The framework deal gives Washington and Tehran 60 days to negotiate a permanent settlement, including disputes over Iran's enriched uranium stockpile.

To read the full report, clickhere.

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16:51

15.6.2026

Ambiguity Persists Regarding Fees For Passage Through Strait Of Hormuz

As part of a deal to be signed this week, the United States expects Iran not to charge fees for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, US Vice President JD Vance said in an interview on June 15.

Vance's interview with CNBC coincided with a new message from US President Donald Trump, who wrote on June 15: "Ships are starting to move, many loaded up with Oil, out of the Strait of Hormuz. They are going along the Southern 'Highway,' which is totally safe, secure, and pristine."

Trump's claim could not be immediately verified.

A drone view shows vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on June 15.

In response to a CNBC question about whether an understanding had been reached with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for free for an initial 60 days or longer, Vance said: "Our expectation is that the strait is going to be opened in a toll-free way for the long-term. That's the sort of thing that we're going to figure out in these technical negotiations."

However, Esmail Baqaei, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference that "for a specific period of time, we are going to arrange safe traffic in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with the actions of the other side."

"We have always said that we are not looking to collect tolls, but we will design and collect the necessary fees for the services we will provide, navigation services, environmental protection, possibly ship insurance, and other services that will be provided by Iran and Oman," he said.

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16:48

15.6.2026

Prices Of Foreign Currencies, Gold Drop On News Of US-Iran Deal

Women walk past a currency exchange office in Tehran on June 15.

The prices of foreign currencies and gold dropped significantly following the announcement of a US-Iran framework agreement to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the conflict.

"The deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete," President Donald Trump said in a social media post on June 15. Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif -- a key mediator in the US-Iran deal along with the country's army chief -- announced that his country will host the signing ceremony between Iran and the United States in Geneva on June 19.

RFE/RL's Radio Farda, citing websites that track open-market exchange rates and gold prices, reported that the value of the US dollar remained below 162,000 tomans on June 15.

This represents a decline of roughly 10,000 tomans in a single day. Earlier, the US dollar had been trading at around 171,000 tomans. The values of other currencies have also declined on the open market, Radio Farda reported.

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15:36

15.6.2026

'Afraid To Talk': Iranians Say Climate Of Fear Worse Now Than Before The War

Iranian women walk past a police officer standing guard on on Tajrish Square in Tehran on April 15.

Over several months ofwar and then cease-firebetween the United States and Iran, hearing the voices of ordinary Iranians has become increasingly difficult amid a growing climate of fear.

Some brave individuals have continued to speak to journalists from foreign news organizations, including RFE/RL'sRadio Farda, though almost always insisting on anonymity. This was also the case as news broke that aframework dealhad been announced by Washington and Tehran.

But in many cases even sources who have previously been prepared to bear witness to events in their country have gone silent.

Some have recounted being warned by security officials not to speak in particular to US state-funded Persian-language media, such as Radio Farda, amid acrackdownin which the Iranian authorities say they have charged increasing numbers with espionage for "cooperation with the enemy."

To read the full report, clickhere.

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13:03

15.6.2026

Sharif Says Pakistan Will Host US-Iran Signing Ceremony In Geneva

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that his country will host the ceremony for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States.

Speaking in the lower house of the Pakistani parliament on June 15, Sharif said with the Grace of God, Pakistan will host the ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 19.

He added that Tehran and Washington had agreed an immediate and permanent end to the military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

US President Donald Trump said late on June 14 thata framework agreementhad been reached to halt fighting in the Middle East, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and end the US blockade of Iranian ports.

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12:08

15.6.2026

Iran Has Executed At Least 40 People Since Start Of Year, Says UN Rights Chief

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk (file photo)

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk says that Iran has executed at least 40 people on "national security grounds" since the start of 2026, including 18 protesters, amid an intensifying crackdown following anti-government demonstrations earlier this year.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council on June 15, Turk said he felt "deeply for the people in Iran, caught between war and cruel repression" and accused authorities of escalating restrictions on civic freedoms after the deadly suppression of protests in January.

He also welcomed the newly announced US-Iran peace agreement, saying all parties should work to implement it "quickly and in good faith."

Rights groups say Iran carries out more executions than any other country except China.

With reporting by AFPShare