War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

US President Donald Trump has announced that ships in the Strait of Hormuz are “starting to move, many loaded up with oil”.

“They are going along the Southern ‘Highway’, which is totally safe, secure, and pristine,” he writes on Truth Social, adding that there are “other areas of travel, also”.

Hezbollah has welcomed the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, saying it had resulted in a comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon, Reuters reports.

In a written statement, the group warns Israel that it will not accept any attacks that violate Lebanon’s sovereignty or target its people.

It adds that Lebanon’s inclusion in the agreement reflects Iran’s commitment to ending the war.

Hezbollah has thanked Iran for insisting that Lebanon, where Israel and the group have been at war, be included in the deal to end the Middle East conflict, AFP reports.

“Hezbollah expresses its profound gratitude” to Iran’s leaders, forces and people “for their steadfast support of Lebanon, its people and its resistance, and for their insistence that Lebanon be included in any understanding leading to the cessation of war”, the group says in a statement.

Iran’s foreign ministry says it will seek ratification from the UN Security Council after it negotiates a final agreement covering its nuclear programme with the United States, AFP reports.

“The final agreement is expected to be endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution after a period of 60 days,” says foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing, adding that Tehran “will learn from past experience”.

Benny Gantz, the head of Israel’s Blue and White party, has described the Iran-US agreement as a “strategic failure” that will have long-term consequences for the country, Al Jazeera reports.

“The emerging agreement with Iran appears to be a strategic failure that will require Israel to engage in diplomatic, military, and legal struggles in the coming years,” Gantz, a former defence minister, says in a social media post.

“Under no circumstances — it is forbidden to agree to restrict Israel’s freedom of action in Lebanon or to a withdrawal that endangers the residents of the north,” he adds.

The United States expects the Strait of Hormuz to be open toll-free in the long term, Reuters reports citing Vice President JD Vance.

In an interview on CNBC, Vance also says Iran’s foreign minister and parliamentary speaker will represent Iran at the signing in Switzerland on Friday, with many details of the deal still to be sorted out.

Iran’s foreign ministry says the country will charge maritime service fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, rather than imposing tolls, under a framework deal with the US, AFP reports.

“We have always maintained that we do not seek to collect transit tolls, but fees for navigation services, environmental protection, ship insurance and other necessary services will be charged,” says foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a press briefing.

Iran’s foreign ministry says the United States has committed to releasing Iran’s frozen funds abroad and compensating it for damages during the war under a framework deal, AFP reports.

“The release of the frozen Iranian assets, as well as the reparations for damages, are two essential points,” says foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a press briefing. “The American side has committed to taking measures in both areas.”

British Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan Hamish Falconer has met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, conveying his “deep appreciation” for Islamabad’s role in facilitating the US-Iran deal, the Foreign Office (FO) says.

“The two sides reviewed Pakistan–UK relations and exchanged views on regional and international developments,” the FO says in a post on X, adding that both sides reiterated their commitment to further bolstering bilateral relations.

“DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy for durable regional peace and stability,” the FO adds.

Iran’s stocks of enriched uranium need to be neutralised and placed under the supervision of the UN atomic agency, French President Emmanuel Macron has said, AFP reports.

“We will ensure that the enriched uranium capabilities that remain are properly neutralised,” Macron has said after US President Donald Trump announced a deal with Iran.

The sensitive stocks should be “either taken out, or diluted” and then looked after by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Macron says.

Iran’s foreign ministry says Tehran still holds “deep mistrust” of the United States despite an agreed framework aimed at ending the war, AFP reports.

“Unfortunately, it must be acknowledged that Iran’s deep mistrust of the United States stems from [a] long history of wrongdoing by American leaders,” says foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.

“The United States still has a long way to go before it can earn the trust of the Iranian people,” he noted, adding that the framework was “merely a step toward reducing tensions and ending a war” which broke out in late February.

Asked how the foreign ministry will follow up on the activities of Israel and the US, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says that Tehran will continue to bring up the assassination of commanders, scientists and other leadership figures as much as it can.

“The foreign ministry will follow everything and we will ask for the heavy price of attacking our commanders and our scientists,” he replies. “This is a big crime committed against the Iranian regime and we would never forgive this.

“This is the ongoing request of the Iranian people. We at the foreign ministry will make use of any tool and any means to get that and to clarify the crimes committed against the Iranian people.”

Baghaei adds that Tehran will speak up about these actions at international fora and that it is an “ongoing matter”.

Austria has thanked Pakistan and the Gulf states for “months of patient work” in reaching the US-Iran deal.

In a post on X, the Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger added, “Now it matters that the agreement is actually signed. That the Strait of Hormuz is opened and free shipping is ensured. And that the nuclear negotiations proceed constructively in depth.”

She affirmed that Austria and Vienna are ready to support the process.

“What weapons could not achieve, the negotiating table can.”

Responding to a question about potential talks in Doha ahead of the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says that there will be “some visits” to regional countries.

“This is part of the agenda. When everything is ok, we will announce and declare visiting some countries in the region,” he responds.

Baghaei says these visits are important to discuss the “way of signing” the MoU, adding that further details will be released within the next two days.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says that ending the war in Lebanon is “part and parcel” of the memorandum of understanding with the US.

“I’m telling you, and I’m telling the people of Lebanon that putting an end to the war in Lebanon is part and parcel of this memorandum of understanding,” he states during a press briefing.

Baghaei says that Iran has demonstrated its keenness on the matter of reaching a ceasefire in Lebanon, and Tehran has “proved that practically, we’ve proved that we’re serious, according to the goals of the future”.

“At any moment, when there is a need, we will use our tools to force the other parties to be up to the responsibilities,” he notes.

During his press briefing, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has lamented that the International Atomic Energy Agency ignored US-Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and accused them of failing to do their job.

“The international community and the [International Atomic] Energy Agency and the governing body have not passed the test and did not do their job, and they cannot face dishonest American attacks on the nuclear facilities in Iran,” he says at a press briefing.

“We will never forget also that we have lost a big number of leaders and citizens,” he adds.

A Hezbollah official has told Reuters that the group has not carried out any operations since the Iran-US deal was announced and that its position on the ceasefire was linked to Israel’s adherence to it.

The official, who declined to be named, added that Hezbollah rejects Israeli “freedom of movement” in Lebanon and said Iran delayed signing the deal with the US to monitor Israel’s adherence to the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has not officially commented on the US agreement.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has deemed the overnight developments to reach an agreement between Tehran and Washington “quite important”.

“During the last 24 hours, there were important developments to reach a final shape of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and America, to put an end to the war launched by the Zionist regime (Israel) and America on Iran, and this will include Lebanon,” he tells a press briefing.

US Central Command (Centcom) says it redirected 142 commercial vessels and disabled nine others as part of the naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu has welcomed the US-Iran peace agreement, commending “the complex diplomatic efforts that contributed to this outcome.”

In a post on X, the FM said that if all parties cooperate, “the agreement may contribute to a more stable Middle East and create the conditions for a comprehensive, verifiable and lasting resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue.”

She termed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a “key priority”.

“We remain committed to supporting efforts aimed at creating a stable environment in the Middle East in lockstep with our US and European partners,” Oana said.

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand has called for a “swift, lasting, and definitive resolution” of conflicts in the region, including Lebanon, adding that the US-Iran agreement is an important step toward reducing tensions.

She commended the “instrumental” efforts of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Qatari President Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in achieving the agreement.

“Canada will continue to work closely with its partners to support regional security and preserve freedom of navigation,” she added. “We also welcome the commitment to pursue further discussions on nuclear non-proliferation.”

Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moqadam has praised Pakistan’s political, parliamentary and military leadership for their role in facilitating the US-Iran peace agreement.

He expressed the appreciation during a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who welcomed the agreement as a “positive and encouraging step” toward regional peace, stability and mutual trust.

According to NA’s statement on X, the ambassador said Iran would always remember Pakistan’s “sincere role” in achieving the ceasefire and peace understanding between Tehran and Washington, and also congratulated Pakistan’s leadership on successful diplomacy.

Sadiq said the agreement would contribute to both regional and global peace.

Both sides also discussed Pakistan-Iran relations, parliamentary cooperation and the regional situation. The Iranian envoy and his delegation also attended a National Assembly session.

Iraq has welcomed the planned reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under a deal announced by the United States and Iran to end the Middle East war, according to AFP.

The country’s foreign ministry expressed its “satisfaction with the announcement on the imminent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to normal navigation, given its crucial importance in ensuring the flow of oil and gas to global markets”.

Iraq relies on the vital waterway to export most of its crude oil, which accounts for nearly 90 per cent of its revenues.

Lebanon’s army has urged displaced residents to delay their return to southern border villages, hours after an agreement was announced between Washington and Tehran to end the Middle East war, including in Lebanon, AFP reports.

“The army command emphasises the need for residents to delay returning to southern border villages and towns, and to adhere to instructions of the deployed army units, in order to safeguard their safety from the risk of Israeli violations and attacks,” a statement said.