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

Oman’s FM reaffirms commitment to ‘international law, toll-free safe passage’ through Hormuz

Published: June 22, 2026 | 23:18 GMT | by Web Desk


Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi affirmed commitment to international law and toll-free safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. 


“Welcomed Iran’s Speaker of Parliament HE Dr. Ghalibaf and FM Dr. Araghchi in Muscat this evening. Constructive discussions on the recent Iran-US MOU, especially the Strait of Hormuz paragraph,” Albusaidi said in a post on X.



Oman’s foreign minister meets Iran’s Ghalibaf and Araghchi

Published: June 22, 2026 | 22:35 GMT | by Web Desk


Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi has met his Iranian counterpart and the speaker of the Iranian parliament to discuss cooperation between the two countries and how to serve their common interests, Al Jazeera reported. 


“Both sides affirmed the importance of utilising the current diplomatic moment to support peace efforts, enhance de-escalation and stability, in accordance with the principles of international law and good neighbourliness, in a way that bolsters opportunities for de-escalation,” Oman’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.


It added that the top officials discussed preserving the region’s security and “the safety of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and international waterways.”


Trump says any unfrozen Iranian funds will be used to buy food from US

Published: June 22, 2026 | 21:49 GMT | by Web Desk


The US president says that any Iranian ⁠money that is unfrozen will be used by Tehran to buy food exclusively from the US, Al Jazeera reported.


“All that money’s coming back in the form of ⁠purchases of food, which they desperately need. They have 91 million ⁠people; they can’t feed them,” he told reporters. “So, ⁠the money that we lift is going to go to our farmers.”



Trump says Vance, negotiating team doing a ‘great job’ in Switzerland

Published: June 22, 2026 | 21:17 GMT | by Web Desk


US President Donald Trump said that Washington’s negotiators in Switzerland were doing “a fantastic job,” stating that Vice President JD Vance was a “smart guy” doing a “great job.”


“We are doing very well with respect to the Hormuz strait. “We took in more oil yesterday than that has ever gone through the strait. The strait is totally open,” Trump said while speaking to the reporters in Washington. 


 “We have two things; we have an open strait and a country that will never have a nuclear weapon,” he added. 


He also warned Tehran that if they were not going to live up to their agreement, “I will do what I have to do.” 


“I think they are doing a fantastic job […] And I thought JD Vance this morning was fantastic, I watched his news conference, he is a smart guy, did a great job,” he said. 


The US President also said that as long as Iran respected the US, they would not have any troubles. 


“I don’t want to use the word fear, because that is an inappropriate word, but as long as they respect us, we are not gonna have any trouble,” he said. 


“As long as they respect us, we are going to be fine, they don’t respect us, things won’t be good,” he added.



US President says Iran will agree to weapons inspections for future ‘nuclear honesty’ 

Published: June 22, 2026 | 19:51 GMT | by Web Desk


US President Donald Trump, in a social media post on his Truth Social account, said that Iran will agree to have major weapons inspections in order to ensure “Nuclear Honesty” for the future.



Oil falls as US waives Iranian crude sanctions

Published: June 22, 2026 | 15:59 GMT | by AFP

Crude prices fell on Monday after the US said it is temporarily lifting sanctions on Iran to allow it to export oil, and optimism on talks towards a final peace deal.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it was temporarily lifting sanctions on Iran to allow the Islamic Republic to produce, sell and deliver crude oil and related products through August 21.

"Iran has committed to free and open transit in the Strait of Hormuz and to permit the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) into their country."

Internationally, the main focus remained firmly on the Middle East and the prospects for a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to tanker and cargo traffic.


 Iranian president to visit Pakistan on Tuesday

Published: June 22, 2026 | 14:01 GMT | by Web Desk


Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian will undertake a state visit to Pakistan with a high-level delegation on Tuesday, said a statement from Pakistan’s foreign office.


According to the statement, the meeting will provide an “important opportunity” to discuss “ongoing diplomatic engagements following the signing of the Islamabad MoU.”



PM Sharif concludes high-level talks

Published: June 22, 2026 | 12:21 GMT | by Web Desk


Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, departed for Islamabad after completing their visit to Switzerland for high-level talks on the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in Burgenstock, Switzerland, the Prime Minister's Office said.


“Senior Swiss officials and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Switzerland Marghoub Saleem Butt bid farewell to the Prime Minister at the Zurich airport,” the statement added.


Pakistan emerged as a key mediator during the crisis, maintaining diplomatic channels with both sides and helping facilitate negotiations that ultimately produced the agreement.



Iran has agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into country: Vance

Published: June 22, 2026 | 11:50 GMT | by Web Desk


Tehran has agreed to invite International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back into the country, US Vice President JD Vance said Monday, after the first round of US-Iran talks toward ending the war in the Middle East.


“The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country," Vance told reporters at Switzerland's Burgenstock resort, adding that this "is a major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently denuclearising or permanently ending a nuclear weapons programme in Iran.”



US-Iran talks laid 'very good foundation for a successful final deal': Vance

Published: June 22, 2026 | 11:45 GMT | by Web Desk


US Vice President JD Vance said Monday that a first round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland had laid a good foundation for reaching a final deal on ending the Middle East war.


"We laid a very good foundation for a successful final deal," Vance told reporters at Switzerland's Burgenstock resort, adding that "the final deal is the house... We haven't built the house, but we've laid a successful foundation to get to a good place for the American people".



Pakistan FM welcomes 'substantial progress' at talks in Switzerland 

Published: June 22, 2026 | 10:55 GMT | by Web Desk


Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar "warmly welcomed the substantial progress" achieved in talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, according to a post shared by the minister on X on Monday.  


In his post, Dar wrote, "I warmly welcome the substantial progress achieved  at the High-Level Technical Talks held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, and congratulate Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz as well as COAS & CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their visionary leadership and tireless efforts in achieving this milestone."

"I would also like to express my deep appreciation for the constructive spirit shown by the United States of America as well as the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the implementation of Islamabad MoU and commend their continued commitment to dialogue and diplomacy."


Dar also expressed his "deep gratitude also to the State of Qatar for its important role in the mediation process along with Pakistan." 


"A team from the our Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to remain engaged with the parties for technical-level talks for the remainder of the week at Burgenstock, Switzerland," he added.

"Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role for achieving the goal of lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond," Dar said.



Lebanese president discusses Israel truce with senior US, Qatari officials

Published: June 22, 2026 | 10:07 GMT | by AFP


Lebanese President Joseph Aoun spoke with senior US and Qatari officials on Monday about consolidating a ceasefire in Lebanon and forming a "de-confliction cell", his office said, after US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland.


Aoun received "a telephone call from US Vice President JD Vance, senior adviser to the US president Jared Kushner, and the Qatari Prime Minister" Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a statement from the Lebanese presidency said.


They discussed "the issue of consolidating the ceasefire in Lebanon, stopping the Israeli military escalation, and steps that should be taken in this regard, including the possibility of forming a cell for this purpose", the statement added.


After the talks in Switzerland, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X: "1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell."



Palestinians say Israel holding bodies of two teens killed in West Bank

Published: June 22, 2026 | 10:05 GMT | by AFP


Israeli forces are holding the bodies of two Palestinian teenagers shot dead near a West Bank settlement, Palestinian authorities said Monday, while the military said the pair were killed after throwing Molotov cocktails.


The Ramallah-based General Authority of Civil Affairs, which is affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, said the bodies were with Israeli authorities.

It said the shooting took place north of the city of Hebron.


Official Palestinian news agency Wafa identified the two killed as Reda Sami Awad, 15, and Arafat Ismail Awad, 19.


"Israeli forces are holding their bodies," Wafa said. According to Israel's military, soldiers opened fire late Sunday on a group of people burning tyres and hurling petrol bombs toward the settlement.


Two were killed and a third was "neutralized," the military said. It said the incident occurred during a "counter-terrorism operation" in the area.



Pakistan PM hails agreement on final US-Iran deal in 60 days

Published: June 22, 2026 | 08:35 GMT | by Web Desk


Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the country would “continue to play its honest and sincere role in advancing dialogue and diplomacy towards a peaceful and lasting resolution,” according to a post shared by the premier on X on Monday.

He said that the “discussions were held in a positive and constructive atmosphere and yielded encouraging progress, including agreement on a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days, the establishment of a High-Level Committee to provide political oversight, and the commencement of further technical talks.”


“Alhamdulillah, the First High-Level Committee Meeting under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has concluded successfully in Bürgenstock, Switzerland.”


Sharif commended “the leadership of both the United States as well as Iran for their continued commitment to constructive engagement, and thank all brotherly and friendly countries for their valuable support in advancing this historic process.”


“In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to our brotherly country Qatar, for its critical support in creating the conditions necessary for these negotiations to move forward,” he added.


He also thanked the Swiss Government for its facilitation in hosting the talks.


“I would like to pay special tribute to Field Marshal Asim Munir whose untiring efforts made these talks a success. His dedication, commitment and perseverance are indeed commendable without which there would have been no progress,” Sharif said.


“Pakistan will continue to play its honest and sincere role in advancing dialogue and diplomacy towards a peaceful and lasting resolution,” he said.



Iran says held 'brief discussion' with US on nuclear issue

Published: June 22, 2026 | 08:35 GMT | by AFP


Iran said Monday it held a "brief discussion" with the United States on its nuclear program during talks in Switzerland, but insisted negotiations on the issue had not begun.


"One of the points raised by the American delegation was the presentation of its positions regarding the nuclear issue," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.


"A very brief discussion took place regarding the nuclear issue, but there was no discussion of details, and it cannot be said that negotiations on the nuclear issue have begun," he added.



After Iran-US talks, Swiss eye 'immediate resumption' of technical discussions

Published: June 22, 2026 | 08:13 GMT | by AFP


Following a first round of talks in Switzerland between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, Bern said Monday that conditions were in place for technical discussions to follow immediately.


"The Swiss facilitator welcomes the constructive progress made during the intensive diplomatic talks that continued throughout the night of 21-22 June at the Burgenstock between the mediators, Iran and the United States," the Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the roadmap agreed "creates the conditions for the immediate resumption of new technical discussions".



Iran delegation leaves for Tehran after 18 hours of talks: State media

Published: June 22, 2026 | 07:56 GMT | by AFP


The Iranian delegation in talks with the United States has left the Swiss venue to return to Tehran after 18 hours of "intensive" negotiations, state media reported Monday.


The group, headed by chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, "left the building where the talks were held after about 18 hours of intensive talks and consultations", the IRNA state news agency reported, saying they were en route to Tehran.


Air Asia X to lower fares as jet fuel prices drop

Published: June 22, 2026 | 05:25 GMT | by Web Desk


AirAsia X Chief Executive Officer Bo Lingam stated that the Malaysian low-cost airline has reduced ticket prices by 5% since June 15 and plans to continue reviewing and adjusting fares weekly as jet fuel prices decline, according to Al Jazeera.


Lingam noted that the signing of the Islamabad MoU between the United States and Iran provided significant relief to the aviation sector, as fuel prices have fallen considerably from the peak levels recorded in March.



Iranian FM says officials, footballers ‘defending honor and dignity’ of citizens

Published: June 22, 2026 | 04:43 GMT | by Web Desk


Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while sharing an image of schoolgirls killed in a US-Israeli strike on Iran, posted on X on Sunday, "From the football pitch to the negotiating table to the battlefield, every step we take as Iranians is part of a larger struggle: defending the honor and dignity of our dear people.”


Pakistan FM returns from Cairo to Islamabad after 'productive visit'

Published: June 22, 2026 | 04:25 GMT | by Web Desk


Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar returned to Islamabad from Cairo after a "productive visit," said a post shared by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Monday.

"After concluding a productive visit to Cairo, Egypt, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 arrived back in Islamabad early this morning," the post said.



Iran says ‘mechanism set up’ on transit through Strait of Hormuz

Published: June 22, 2026 | 01:55 GMT | by Web Desk


Iranian Parliament Speaker and head of the Iranian delegation in Bürgenstock, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said that discussions were held on the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and “a mechanism was set up, which is important.”



Iran says ‘good progress’ made on release of Iranian assets, relief from oil sanctions

Published: June 22, 2026 | 01:57 GMT | by Web Desk


Iranian Parliament Speaker and head of the Iranian delegation in Bürgenstock, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said the Iranian delegation insisted that the war must end on all fronts, including Lebanon.


Discussions were also held on the “issuance of necessary licences for oil sales, and the release of Iranian assets”, and “good progress was made”.



Iran says first day of talks focused on ‘clauses necessary to begin final negotiations’

Published: June 22, 2026 | 01:46 GMT | by Web Desk


Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, has spoken to Iranian media on the first day of talks with the US, Al Jazeera reported.


According to the IRIB broadcaster, “discussions were held on the remaining clauses [of the MoU] that are necessary to begin final negotiations.”



Araghchi says ‘tireless’ Pakistani, Qatari mediation delivers major progress

Published: June 22, 2026 | 01:46 GMT | by Web Desk


Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that “tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War.” 


“Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran,” Araghchi said in a post on X, adding that the first real test was the Lebanon “deconfliction cell.”



Parties agree roadmap toward final agreement within 60 days

Published: June 22, 2026 | 01:22 GMT | by Web Desk


The first session of high-level talks between the United States and Iran under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding concluded on Sunday in Bürgenstock, with both sides agreeing on a roadmap to reach a final agreement within the 60-day framework set out in the accord, according to a joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar.


The talks mark the first formal high-level engagement since the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which halted a conflict that had threatened regional stability, disrupted energy markets and international shipping routes, and raised fears of a wider war across the Middle East.


"The Lake Lucerne Summit was conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere," the joint statement said, adding that encouraging progress had been achieved, including the establishment of a mechanism for further technical-level negotiations.


"In addition, a communication line between the parties has been formed for the period mentioned in paragraph 5 of the MoU to avoid incidents and miscommunication with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz," the statement said.


The parties also agreed to establish a "de-confliction cell," facilitated by the mediators, to help ensure adherence to the cessation of military operations in Lebanon in line with the provisions of the memorandum.


"Technical talks will continue for the remainder of the week at the Burgenstock resort on all issues," the statement said.


It added that the mediators would continue to do their "utmost to ensure that the negotiations continue to be conducted in a constructive atmosphere with the aim of reaching a final deal."


Pakistan and Qatar expressed "sincere appreciation" to the United States and Iran for their commitment to diplomacy and a peaceful resolution, and commended the friendly and brotherly countries for their continued support and valuable contributions to the ongoing negotiations.



Delegations remain engaged as implementation talks enter crucial phase

Published: June 22, 2026 | 00:00 GMT | by Web Desk


Negotiations between Pakistan, Qatar, the United States and Iran under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding continued into the night on Sunday, with delegations remaining engaged in discussions aimed at advancing implementation of the agreement reached earlier this month.


A senior US diplomat quoted by AFP said the Iranian delegation remained at the Swiss venue and that the American side expected discussions to continue through the night.


The talks mark the first high-level implementation meeting since the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The agreement, reached after months of mediation led by Pakistan and supported by Qatar, helped halt a conflict that had threatened regional stability, disrupted energy markets and raised fears of a wider war across the Middle East.


According to the US diplomat, discussions included efforts to address maritime security concerns and maintain freedom of navigation through one of the world's most critical energy corridors.


The talks included "clarifying some of the confusing messaging from Iran on the Strait and building deconfliction mechanisms to ensure the Strait will remain fully open," the diplomat said.


Separately, a diplomat familiar with the negotiations told AFP that the Iranian delegation was still engaged in talks with the United States in Switzerland, indicating that discussions were continuing beyond the formal opening session.


Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Sunday praised Pakistan's role in the diplomatic effort that led to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, describing the agreement as "an achievement that mediators have worked to accomplish over several months."


The negotiations come as international support grows for the diplomatic process launched under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Countries including Qatar, Switzerland and Türkiye have welcomed the initiative and highlighted its contribution to regional peace efforts.


Speaking at the opening of the talks, US Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism that the negotiations could help reshape relations across the Middle East and praised the role played by mediators.


"We've found great partners in working with the Qataris and Pakistan," Vance said.


Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who participated in the talks alongside Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, described the discussions as "a great day" and expressed hope that the process would contribute to peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region and beyond.


The talks are expected to continue as negotiators work to translate commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding into practical arrangements and maintain momentum behind the broader diplomatic process.



For earlier developments, read our June 21 live blog here