Iran–US talks on Friday in Switzerland are not confirmed for now, Baghaei says Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said early on Thursday that talks between Iran and the United States on Friday in Switzerland are not confirmed for now. "The Friday meeting was confirmed until a few hours ago, but when it was decided that the presidents of the two sides (Iran and the US) would sign the agreement, it was decided to pause consideration of the Friday meeting for now," Baghaei said.
UN warns Israeli settlers could join blacklist for violations against children UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that Israeli settler groups could be added to a global blacklist for violations against children as he voiced alarm at a "staggering" rise in violations against Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank. The world body's annual report on Children and Armed Conflict recorded 38,558 "grave violations" globally in 2025, affecting 24,174 children, the latter figure a record since CAAC's mandate began in 1996. The data showed 14,224 children killed or maimed, with a 34 percent rise over 2024 in the number killed to 6,266.
Iran's Baghaei says text of Memorandum of Understanding has officially been signed by Iran and US The text of the agreement between the United States and Iran has been officially signed by the presidents of both sides, Iran state media reported early on Thursday, citing foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.
Israeli settlers torch two West Bank mosques, Palestinian officials say Israeli settlers set fire to mosques in two villages in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, their mayors said, with AFP journalists at one site seeing scorched walls and graffiti. The incidents come during a period of increased attacks against Palestinian communities by settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank since the start of the Gaza war in 2023. Osama Abdullah, head of the village council in Jiljiliya, north of Ramallah, told AFP that "settlers set fire to the ablution room, caused damage to the village's main mosque, and scrawled hostile slogans on the outer walls".
US used Musk’s Grok AI to deploy 2,000 munitions during Iran war Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 06/17/2026 - 21:33 A Trump administration official reveals in written testimony the US used the trillionaire's AI during the Iran war to strike 2,000 targets Photograph shows screens displaying the logo of Grok, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by xAI, an American company specialising in artificial intelligence, and its founder, South African businessman Elon Musk, on 13 January 2025 in Toulouse, France (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP) Off US forces employed Elon Musk’s Grok AI to strike over 2,000 targets in 96 hours during the joint US - Israel war on Iran , according to a written declaration from the US Department of Defense’s digital and artificial intelligence chief, Cameron Stanley. The details of the department’s use of AI were revealed in the submission to the United States District Court, Northern District of Mississippi, where Musk’s xAI is facing a lawsuit from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP), which contends the company is illegally running natural gas turbines. Grok was developed by xAI.
Trump thanks China's Xi, Russia's Putin for being 'neutral' in Iran war US President Donald Trump on Wednesday described Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as "neutral" during the war with Iran, saying they had not thwarted his efforts to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions. "I just want to thank them because they made it a lot better," Trump said following the adoption of a ceasefire agreement. Speaking at a press conference at the Group of Seven conference in Evian-les-Bains, France, Trump told reporters he was grateful to the leaders for staying out of the conflict.
Tehran says considering plan for Iran, US presidents to sign deal Tehran's foreign ministry on Wednesday said it was considering a plan for the presidents of the US and Iran to sign the deal ending the war, ahead of an expected ceremony in Switzerland. "So far, our plans for the Geneva meeting have not changed," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said. "Regarding the signing of the memorandum of understanding, one idea is that it be done by the presidents of the two countries, which is currently under review.
Iran and US to end fighting and maritime blockades in the Gulf area, report says Iran and the United States will end fighting on all fronts, per MoU details published by Iran's official IRNA news agency on Wednesday, adding both countries to end naval blockades in the region. Iran's official news agency released details of the deal planned to be signed on Friday, shortly after a US official released a copy of the text. Details published by IRNA included US commitments to grant Iran access to its frozen funds and end the blockade on its ships and ports while Iran commits to facilitate the return of marine traffic in the Gulf and Gulf of Oman to prewar levels and not to produce or acquire nuclear weapons.
MEE correspondent Mohammed Amin, refused UK visa, wins One World Media Award Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 06/17/2026 - 21:00 Reporter named as Journalist of the Year for his reports on the war in Sudan, including the bloody siege of el-Fasher Middle East Eye correspondent Mohammed Amin delivers his speech after winning the Journalist of the Year category at the One World Media Awards (MEE) Off Mohammed Amin has won One World Media’s prestigious Journalist of the Year award for his reporting as a freelance correspondent for Middle East Eye from Sudan . Amin was unable to attend the London awards ceremony in person on Wednesday night after the Home Office refused to grant him a visa to travel to the UK . Accepting the award by video, the Sudanese journalist said: “One of the discriminatory things the Home Office told me was that I might not leave the country, meaning that I might seek asylum here.
Trump justifies Iran deal as a way to prevent 'economic catastrophe' President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to “bomb the hell” out of Iran if it does not abide by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the US , adding he was concerned the war could spark an “economic catastrophe” dooming his presidency. "The one president I did not want to be was the late, great, Herbert Hoover,” Trump said, noting that the stock market rose when he said he was considering ending the war and went down “very big” when he mulled continuing the conflict. "The stock market is more brilliant than anybody there is, including the people on this stage, other than me, of course,” Trump said, flanked by senior US officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Trump justifies Iran deal as a way to prevent 'economic catastrophe' Submitted by Sean Mathews on Wed, 06/17/2026 - 19:26 US president suggests Iran will need to keep its ballistic missiles to match its neighbour's arsenals and says US will have to return frozen funds sooner or later US President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Geneva Airport after attending the G7 Summit in France, on 17 June 2026 (Martial Trezzini/Pool/AFP) Off President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to “bomb the hell” out of Iran if it does not abide by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the US , adding he was concerned the war could spark an “economic catastrophe” dooming his presidency. "The one president I did not want to be was the late, great, Herbert Hoover,” Trump said, noting that the stock market rose when he said he was considering ending the war and went down “very big” when he mulled continuing the conflict. "The stock market is more brilliant than anybody there is, including the people on this stage, other than me, of course,” Trump said, flanked by senior US officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
US military to stay in Gulf region 'for a while', Trump says US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States will leave its military in the Gulf "for a while" after Washington struck a deal with Tehran to end the nearly four-month war in the region. While speaking to reporters in Paris, Trump added that if other countries have ballistic missiles, it is "a little bit unfair" for Iran to have none.
Analysis: Turkey emerges unscathed from the Iran war When US President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran in late February, Turkish officials found themselves sidelined. Their repeated attempts to prevent the war proved unsuccessful, and the mood in Ankara was that Trump preferred the counsel of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over that of Turkish leaders. Three months later, however, Trump once again counted Turkey, alongside Pakistan and Qatar , among the countries that had significantly helped secure a memorandum of understanding with Iran.
Trump suggests sanctions on Iran could be removed once 'they behave' US President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that sanctions on Iran would be removed once "they behave. " "As far as sanctions are concerned, at some point, you know, we have sanctions which will never let them rebuild. They would have no money, they would be in poverty, the 91 million people would starve, so something will happen as soon as they behave.
Hezbollah chief hails Iran's 'great victory' after deal with US Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Wednesday hailed an understanding reached between Tehran and Washington as a "great victory", calling it a "pivotal point" for Lebanon. Although the US-Iran deal has not been officially released, American and Iranian officials, as well as mediator Pakistan, have said it includes Lebanon. "We congratulate the Iranian people, the resistance and the countries and peoples of the region and the world who yearn for independence and freedom on this great victory," Qassem said in a televised address.
Recovery of ship traffic in Hormuz limited, but signs emerge Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains at levels before the Iran-US agreement, says the Kpler maritime tracking platform, but there are signs of recovery ahead of Friday's official reopening. Eight ships carrying raw materials transited the strait on Monday, and six on Tuesday, according to Kpler data updated on Wednesday. The agreement was reached overnight Sunday.
Trump says Netanyahu could use 'softer touch' in Lebanon US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could use a "softer touch" in Lebanon, in comments made at the close of a G7 Summit in France. "Netanyahu happens to be a good man, gets a little excited sometimes," Trump told reporters on Wednesday. "We have a little dispute over Lebanon.
Trump says will discuss with Gulf nations Iran's ballistic missiles US President Donald Trump on Wednesday told reporters at the G7 meeting in France that the US, in a parallel effort to the US-Iran deal, will discuss Iran's ballistic missiles and proxies with Gulf nations. At a press conference, Trump said that Syria's leader would like to target Hezbollah with "precision" inside Lebanon. The president also said that Lebanon's leader is expected to visit Washington in the coming weeks.
Analysis: Turkey emerges unscathed from the Iran war Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Wed, 06/17/2026 - 15:30 Despite missile threats and rising energy costs, Ankara emerged with stronger Nato ties, new Gulf defence deals and a role in US-Iran diplomacy "Turks are now experts on turning regional crisis into opportunities for themselves," a European diplomat said (AFP) Off When US President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran in late February, Turkish officials found themselves sidelined. Their repeated attempts to prevent the war proved unsuccessful, and the mood in Ankara was that Trump preferred the counsel of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over that of Turkish leaders. Three months later, however, Trump once again counted Turkey, alongside Pakistan and Qatar , among the countries that had significantly helped secure a memorandum of understanding with Iran.
Italy urges Israel to be 'positive player' for peace Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday urged Israel to be a "positive player" for peace in the Middle East following a deal between Iran and the US. "Our goal must be to promote lasting, structural solutions that go beyond the logic of short-term truces," Meloni said as the G7 summit in France came to a close. "We expect Israel to now act as a positive player in the peace process, and that the inevitable internal debate, also driven by the election campaign, will not jeopardise the difficult path that the US has begun," she said.
