US, Iran appoint envoys to Lebanon deconfliction cell: Ghalibaf

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.

Catch up: Yesterday’s top developments

• Iran says will respond to any US violation of memorandum of understanding
• Iran’s IRGC says it targeted separatist cell, killing all 6 members
• Iran prioritizes diplomacy with US but remains ready for war: negotiator
• Iran says will respond to any US violation of memorandum of understanding

Vance says US will be in a ‘great position’ even if talks with Iran fail

Published: July 1, 2026 | 04:46 GMT | by Web Desk

The US vice president JD Vance said that the Trump administration was in a “great position” regardless of how the talks pan out, Al Jazeera reported. 

The US “obviously” wanted the talks to succeed, Vance said, but added that his country was “still in a much stronger position” than Iran even if they fail. He insisted that Tehran’s nuclear program and military had been “destroyed” and warned that Trump had made clear that any Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz would prompt a US military response.

Vance again said Iran would be “permanently transformed” if negotiations aimed at securing a lasting settlement are successful.

Vance says Iran’s denial of Doha talks ‘Persian negotiating tactic’

Published: July 1, 2026 | 04:46 GMT | by Web Desk

US Vice President JD Vance says Iran’s public denials of ongoing talks amount to a deliberate “Persian negotiating tactic,” claiming that technical talks between Washington and Tehran are under way, Al Jazeera reported.

“There were scheduled talks, really technical talks, building on the negotiation that we’ve already had. Those are definitely happening tomorrow,” Vance said during an interview on The Michael Knowles Show published on Tuesday.

He said he found Tehran’s public statements “fascinating and frustrating,” noting that Iranian officials deny peace talks while acknowledging technical discussions.

“They’ll say, ‘No, no, there aren’t peace talks ongoing, but there are technical talks between the United States and Iran about the peace deal’,” he added. “It’s a Persian negotiating tactic and a Persian rhetorical device that I don’t understand.”

UN chief urges nations to fund $100m UNRWA gap

Published: July 01, 2026 | 04:46 GMT | by Web Desk

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged countries to cover a $100m gap in funding for the UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, saying the body is nearing a breaking point after deep cost-cutting and austerity measures.

“They cannot keep going like this without urgent backing and financial support from member states,” Guterres told an ad hoc meeting of the General Assembly. He noted that the agency had taken decisive steps to implement reforms following Israel’s accusations, including that some UNRWA staff members were involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel.

“UNRWA is a stabilizing force in an age of ⁠instability,” he said, rejecting what he called continued efforts to undermine the agency through “disinformation, smear campaigns, legislative actions, operational restrictions, diplomatic roadblocks and more”.

UNRWA operates in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, providing aid, schooling, healthcare, social services and shelter to 2.6 million Palestinians.

Israel has repeatedly accused the agency of showing leniency towards or cooperating with Palestinian armed groups, though it has not presented publicly verifiable evidence to support those claims.

UNRWA has strongly rejected the allegations.

US, Iran appoint envoys to Lebanon ‘deconfliction’ cell: Ghalibaf

Published: July 01, 2026 | 04:30 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s top negotiator and parliament speaker said that Tehran and Washington have appointed representatives for the establishment of a “deconfliction cell,” adding that Beirut was expected to do the same, Al Jazeera reported.

He said that “Iran and Oman have already reached agreement on all legal and service-related matters” on the administration of maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz.

On negotiations, the parliament speaker said that talks with US would  not progress until five clauses of the Islamabad MoU were  implemented, including a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, securing Iranian oil exports and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

He also argued that the Iran-US MoU seeks to preserve Lebanon’s independence, while the separate US-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel seeks to guarantee Israeli security.

Hormuz Iran’s ‘greatest instrument of power’: Ghalibaf 

Published: July 01, 2026 | 04:14 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s top negotiator and Parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that Tehran would continue to assert sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the MoU only provided a temporary 60-day exemption from fees for maritime services in the waterway, Al Jazeera reported. 

“These are our territorial waters,” Ghalibaf said, according to the Press TV website. 

“We will not allow the United States to create controversy or sophistry by claiming that Iran has militarized the Strait of Hormuz.”

Iran “will never, under any circumstances, retreat from this position,” he said, describing the waterway as “a divine gift that God granted us during this war” and Tehran’s “greatest instrument of power.”

Naqvi travels to Saudi Arabia 

Published: July 01, 2026 | 03:45 GMT | by Web Desk

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi travelled to Saudi Arabia and was welcomed by his counterpart Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud who welcomed the minister at the King Khalid International Airport.

US lawmaker says to vote for amendment to block $3.3B in military funding for Israel

Published: July 01, 2026 | 04:09 GMT | by Web Desk

US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has announced that she will vote yes for an amendment to block $3.3 billion in military funding for Israel. 

In a post on X on Wednesday, she wrote, "This week, the House will vote on an amendment that would block $3.3 billion in military funding for the Israeli apartheid regime. I will vote yes."

Tlaib wrote, "We should not spend another cent arming a military that is committing genocide in Palestine, ethnically cleansing Lebanon, and committing war crimes in Iran."

"A majority of Americans and a supermajority of Democrats support ending military aid to Israel. It's time their representatives listened," she added.

For earlier developments, read our June 30 live blog here