Hezbollah chief says would respond to any violation from Israel Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on Sunday that Israel will not stay in Lebanon, adding that the group would respond to any violation from the Israeli side. His statements came as Israeli officials say that troops are free to act without restriction to eliminate threats in Lebanon, despite an agreed ceasefire that took effect on Friday.
US hopes to turn over 'new leaf' with Iran, but Trump threatens to resume bombing US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that President Donald Trump had asked him to turn over "a new leaf" in American ties with the Iranian people. But at the same time as the talks were occurring, Trump threatened to continue bombing Iran if it did not contain Hezbollah. Vance arrived at the Burgenstock mountain resort in Switzerland on Sunday morning to join Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for technical talks with Iranian officials following last week's signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.
Iran state media says nuclear programme not discussed in US talks Iranian state television reported on Sunday that US-Iran talks in Switzerland, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, had been paused, adding that Tehran's nuclear programme had not been discussed. "No negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear programme took place during the 80-minute first round of talks," the broadcaster said, adding that discussions focused on implementing the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington, as well as the situation in Lebanon.
US hopes to turn 'new leaf' with Iran, but Trump threatens to resume bombing Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 06/21/2026 - 14:27 As Vice President JD Vance takes part in talks in Switzerland, Trump says Iran will be hit 'very hard' if it does not contain Hezbollah US Vice President JD Vance attends the Lake Lucerne Summit at the Burgenstock resort in Obburgen, Switzerland, on 21 June 2026 (Reuters) Off US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that President Donald Trump had asked him to turn over "a new leaf" in American ties with the Iranian people. However, at the same time as the talks were occurring, Trump threatened to continue bombing Iran if it did not contain Hezbollah. Vance arrived at the Burgenstock mountain resort in Switzerland on Sunday morning to join Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for technical talks with Iranian officials following last week's signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.
First round of Iran-US talks concludes in Switzerland, report says The first round of Iran-US talks in Switzerland has concluded, according to Reuters. The talks in the Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock were the first to be held under the terms of a memorandum of understanding agreed a week ago.
Lebanon death toll rises At least 4,106 have been killed and 12,153 wounded since 2 March, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health. Among those killed were 383 women, 251 children, and 135 medical workers, it added. A man inspects the damage at the site of an Israeli strike that targeted an area in in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on 21 June 2026.
Trump threatens to strike Iran over support for Hezbollah President Donald Trump on Sunday said that the US would resume attacks on Iran unless Tehran can keep allies Hezbollah in Lebanon from causing violence. "Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!
Vance: Trump asked us to turn over 'a new leaf' in ties with Iran US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said President Donald Trump has asked to turn over "a new leaf" to transform the US relationship with Iran and that the technical talks that are starting in Switzerland would allow for both sides to sit together and work to resolve issues. "This is a historic meeting," Vance said at the Burgenstock resort, saying the goal was to "turn over a new leaf to transform our relationship with the people of Iran, and to extend an outstretched hand".
There is 'no restriction on Israeli soldiers to act on threats' in Lebanon, says Katz Israel's defence minister said on Sunday that there was and is no restriction on Israeli soldiers to act against any threat encountered inside Lebanon. "There has never been, and there is currently no restriction on [Israeli] soldiers in Lebanon from acting to eliminate threats... As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have made clear: Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon," Israel Katz said in a statement, referring to an area extending roughly 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory where Israeli forces remain.
I am a doctor in the occupied West Bank. Our hospitals are dying Submitted by Hazim Faisal Abusondos on Sun, 06/21/2026 - 13:01 Cancer patients are being turned away and surgeries postponed as Israel's financial squeeze leaves hospitals without supplies A man transports boxes of medication past an ambulance blocked at the entrance to Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on 6 May 2026 (AFP) Off I am a physician working in the emergency room and oncology ward at Dura Hospital in the occupied West Bank . For the past four years, I have witnessed the slow deterioration of our healthcare system .
Ninety-two percent of Israelis think Iran has won war, new poll finds Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 06/21/2026 - 12:48 Survey from Hebrew University of Jerusalem finds that vast majority of Israelis view war on Iran and deal with US negatively Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a news conference, following a US-Iran deal, in Jerusalem, 15 June 2026 (Reuters) Off When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated the US -Israeli war on Iran at the end of February, Israel's objectives appeared clear: dismantling Iran 's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and bringing about the collapse of the Iranian government. Now, following the signing of an agreement between Iran and the US, with negotiations between the two countries continuing in Switzerland, a new poll has found that 92 percent of Israelis believe Iran has won the war. The survey, conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, found that Israelis overwhelmingly view the war and subsequent deal with the US in a negative way, with 83 percent of those polled saying the campaign has weakened Israel's long-term security and 86 percent feeling negatively about the outcome.
Qatar confirms launch of US-Iran talks in Switzerland Mediator Qatar has confirmed that talks between the US and Iran have started in Switzerland. Iranian state television also confirmed on Sunday that delegations from Iran, Qatar and the US were holding a meeting in Switzerland to discuss a ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran's frozen assets. "A tripartite meeting involving Iran, the United States and Qatar on the subjects of a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran's blocked assets is currently being held at the negotiation venue," state broadcaster Irib said in a report.
Strait of Hormuz won't reopen 'until Lebanon ceasefire holds and oil waivers issued' Iran's Tasnim news agency, citing a source close to Tehran's negotiating team, reported on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz would not be reopened as long as a ceasefire in Lebanon was not respected. The source said the waterway would also remain closed until waivers allowing the sale of Iranian oil were issued. Iran announced that it had once again closed the strait a day earlier over Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon.
Where is the outrage over US-Israeli destruction of historic sites? In early 2001, the Taliban blew up two giant Buddha statues in the Bamiyan Valley of Afghanistan , which dated from the sixth century . The world erupted in outrage at the destruction of cultural heritage , and western media engaged in handwringing over the loss of statues that most people presumably had not known existed in the first place but were nonetheless symbolic of our "collective humanity".
Vast majority of Israelis believe Iran has won war, poll finds A vast majority of Israelis believe Iran has won its war with the US and Israel, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, found that 92 percent of respondents believe Iran has won the US-Israeli war on Iran. Israelis overwhelmingly view the war and subsequent deal with the US in a negative way, with 83 percent of those polled saying the campaign has weakened Israel's long-term security and 86 percent having a negative attitude toward the outcome.
‘Systemic discrimination’: Veiled women in France face mounting barriers to employment Submitted by Tassa Adidi on Sun, 06/21/2026 - 11:01 From classrooms to hospital wards and independent practice, the hijab ban is curbing Muslim women’s professional paths Nurse Majdouline, dismissed for wearing a scrubcap at work, speaks to journalists in front of the administrative court in Paris on 23 December 2025 (Bertrand Guay/AFP) Off Are you better protected against Islamophobia in France when, along with your veil, you wear a lawyer's robe, a nurse's coat or have the status of a journalist or a teacher? For Slim Ben Achour, a lawyer at the Paris Court of Appeal, the answer is no. “Women with higher levels of education are more visible and therefore more victims of racism,” he told Middle East Eye.
Iran, US, Qatar and Pakistan to hold meeting in Switzerland A quadrilateral meeting between Iran, the United States, Qatar and Pakistan will be held at the Burgenstock mountaintop resort in Switzerland on Sunday afternoon, according to Iran's foreign ministry spokesman. Esmaeil Baghaei said that Iran would hold meetings with intermediaries Qatar and Pakistan earlier in the day, adding that the gathering in Switzerland is a follow up on the implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed with the US this week.
JD Vance in Switzerland for Iran talks US Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Switzerland for talks with Iran. Vance said he expected to conduct a couple of days of peace talks with Iranian officials. Video footage showed him and his wife arriving in a convoy at Burgenstock in Switzerland early on Sunday morning.
Israel and the US are erasing Iran and Lebanon's ancient heritage Submitted by Belen Fernandez on Sun, 06/21/2026 - 09:00 The Taliban's 2001 bombing of the Bamiyan Buddhas was condemned worldwide, but the US and Israel's destruction of Tyre's ruins and other ancient sites barely registers Debris covers ancient stone pillar bases near the archaeological site of the Roman Baths in Tyre, south Lebanon, a day after Israeli air strikes on the city, on 8 June 2026 (AFP/Kawnat Haju) Off In early 2001, the Taliban blew up two giant Buddha statues in the Bamiyan Valley of Afghanistan , which dated from the sixth century . The world erupted in outrage at the destruction of cultural heritage , and western media engaged in handwringing over the loss of statues that most people presumably had not known existed in the first place but were nonetheless symbolic of our "collective humanity". Philip T Reeker, deputy spokesman for the State Department of the United States , issued a press statement declaring the US to be "distressed and baffled" by the Taliban's decision to demolish the Buddhas and other ancient artefacts: "Deliberate destruction of statues and sculpture held as sacred by peoples of different faiths is incomprehensible.
Oil sector could become early test of US-Iran accord, minister says Iran's oil industry will serve as a major test of any future agreement between Tehran and Washington, Iraninan oil minister Mohsen Paknejad has said. According to the ministry's Shana news agency, Paknejad said that the sector would demonstrate whether Western countries remain committed to the spirit of a final peace agreement should one be reached. Paknejad said Iran's oil industry could offer significant investment opportunities to the global economy in a post-agreement environment.
