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June 12, 2026e-Paper
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June 12, 2026e-Paper
Updated – June 13, 2026 01:39 am IST
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. File | Photo Credit: PTI
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (June 12, 2026) that an “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)” for addressing the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran had “never been closer”, but urged media outlets to refrain from speculating about its contents until it was finalised. He said Iran would share all details with the public in due course, in what he called Tehran’s responsible and transparent approach.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (June 12, 2026) accused Iran of carrying out a drone attack against Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was “totally unacceptable.” Three vessels with an Indian crew came under attack off the Oman coast this week. One of them resulted in the death of three Indian seafarers on Wednesday (June 11).
Also Read: Iran says it hasn’t reached a final decision on deal with U.S.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday (June 12) that he and the U.S. President were in “full agreement” to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a day after Mr. Trump touted an imminent deal with Tehran.
Iran’s state media said on Friday (June 12, 2026) that under a draft agreement with the United States, Tehran would not give up control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. A possible U.S. accord will set a 60-day negotiation for a nuclear deal, the Iranian media said on Friday (June 12, 2026). Iran’s Mehr news agency published what it said was a draft deal with the United States to provide a framework for an end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (June 12) that a draft deal with the United States included ending a naval blockade of Iranian ports and arrangements on managing the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
“The naval blockade must be completely lifted. That is the first point mentioned in the agreement,” Mr. Araghchi said in an interview with state television.
“Iran has made a firm decision that the administration of Strait of Hormuz will no longer be the same as before,” he noted, adding that discussions were ongoing with Oman on the matter.- AFP
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (June 12) that Israel was looking to derail a potential deal with the United States currently being finalised.
“I must frankly say that this agreement has enemies, the foremost of which is the Zionist regime, who are looking for pretexts to derail it,” said Mr. Araghchi in an interview on state television.- AFP
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed on Friday (June 12) that the U.S. and Iran have agreed on the text of a peace deal, kindling hope of peace in the region.
“Amid ongoing intense mediation efforts by Pakistan, we are fully aware of an incessant misinformation campaign being waged by those who want to sabotage the peace deal,” Mr. Shehbaz said in a social media post.
“Setting aside the noise, we can confirm that a final, agreed-upon text of the peace deal has been reached and Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to finalise the next steps,” he said.
– PTI
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (June 12) reposted a social media post by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in which he said a memorandum of understanding to end the Iran war had never been closer.
– Reuters
Iran has agreed to dismantle its nuclear program and destroy nuclear material under a deal with the United States, a White House official told AFP on Friday (June 12), as the two sides gave clashing accounts of the agreement.
Tehran also agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz and will not receive any frozen funds until they honour their commitments under the “performance-based deal,” the senior administration official said.
– AFP
Vice President J.D. Vance said on Friday (June 12) that funds would not be released to Iran for signing a deal with the U.S. or attending a meeting, adding that the potential deal is structured to ensure that economic benefits would flow to Tehran if it meets its obligations.
– Reuters
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday (June 12) that an “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” for addressing the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran had “never been closer”, but urged media outlets to refrain from speculating about its contents until it was finalised.
Mr. Araqchi said Iran would share all details with the public in due course, in what he called Tehran’s responsible and transparent approach.
-Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (June 12) accused Iran of carrying out a drone attack against Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was “totally unacceptable.”
Three vessels with an Indian crew came under attack off the Oman coast this week. One of them resulted in the death of three Indian seafarers on Wednesday (June 11).
“Their [Iran’s] totally rebuffed Drone attack last night against Indian Ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” Mr. Trump claimed in a post on Truth Social.
-PTI
Screenshot 2026-06-12 195007.png
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei on Friday (June 12) criticised the U.S. attacks on merchant ships with Indian crew, saying such actions “threaten global peace and security”.
Three vessels with an Indian crew came under attack off the Oman coast this week. One of them led to the death of three Indian seafarers.
Mr. Baqaei also extended condolences to the bereaved families and the Indian government in a post on X. “We extend our sympathies to the families and friends of the slain Indian sailors and offer our sincere condolences to the Indian people and government.”
– PTI
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday (June 12) that he and U.S. President Donald Trump were in “full agreement” to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a day after Mr. Trump touted an imminent deal with Tehran.
“As long as I am Prime Minister of Israel, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. There is full agreement between President Trump and me on this issue,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement.
– AFP
Benchmark indices ended sharply higher on Friday (June 12, 2026), with the Sensex climbing 1,695.40 points and the Nifty surging nearly 2%, in tandem with a rally in global markets and a decline in crude oil prices after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that his country has ended the war with Iran.
The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 1,695.40 points, or 2.30%, to settle at 75,527.95. During the day, it surged 1,775.47 points, or 2.40%, to 75,608.02.
Sensex rises 1,695 points and Nifty gains 2% as global markets rally after U.S. ends war with Iran.
Iran’s state media said on Friday (June 12, 2026) that the Islamic republic would maintain the right to enrich uranium under any final agreement with the United States following 60 days of negotiations.
“Iran will negotiate on the nuclear programme solely within the framework of the Islamic Republic’s fundamental principles, and issues such as Iran’s right to enrich uranium and the retention of enriched material… will be emphasised with a view to their inclusion in the final agreement,” according to the official IRNA news agency. — AFP
Iran’s state media said on Friday (June 12, 2026) that under a draft agreement with the United States, Tehran would not give up control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran makes no commitment in this text to cede the management of the strait or the restoration of conditions that existed prior to the American and Israeli military aggression,” according to the official IRNA news agency, which referred to “the broad outlines of the current text” being finalised. — AFP
A possible U.S. accord will set a 60-day negotiation for nuclear deal, the Iran media said on Friday (June 12, 2026).
Iran’s Mehr news agency published what it said was a draft deal with the United States to provide a framework for an end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
The agency said the memorandum of understanding would include a “permanent and immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.
The media also added that the potential U.S. deal sees release of $24 bn frozen assets.
Iran state media said Tehran would not cede control of Hormuz under draft U.S. deal. — AFP
Iran's draft accord with the U.S. proposes 60 days of negotiations for a nuclear deal and release of $24 billion in assets.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday (June 11, 2026) he had called off new military strikes on Iran, claiming a breakthrough in negotiations to end the war just hours after the American leader threatened to escalate the conflict by seizing control of Iran’s oil industry.
Mr. Trump has said multiple times in recent weeks that the warring parties have been on the cusp of a deal without anything coming to fruition. A spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a live phone call on state television that mediators were active and nothing had been finalised to end the conflict that began February 28 when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran.
Mr. Trump opened an Oval Office event Thursday afternoon saying: “We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran.” He offered scant details, other than to say he expects an agreement to extend a fragile ceasefire that started in April to be finalised “over the next few days.”
Extending the terms of the ceasefire gives U.S. leaders more time to negotiate over Iran’s nuclear programme, the main reason Mr. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used to justify launching the war. — AP
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has voiced optimism regarding a potential diplomatic breakthrough, urging both Washington and Tehran to capitalise on the current momentum to secure a definitive pact.
In an official communication shared via the social media platform X, the ministry noted that Egypt “followed with great satisfaction and commends what was announced by US President Donald Trump regarding the cancellation of the military strikes that were scheduled to be carried out against Iran”.
Cairo further articulated its aspirations for the diplomatic corridor, noting that Egypt hopes “the available opportunity will be seized to reach an agreement on various outstanding issues and to foster an environment conducive to ending the war and launching a new phase of regional stability”.
Highlighting its proactive role in navigating Middle Eastern geopolitics, the ministry asserted that Egypt “continues its tireless, serious, and sincere efforts, in coordination and cooperation with regional and international partners, to de-escalate tensions”. — ANI
U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly halted scheduled military strikes against Iran and declared that a diplomatic accord with Tehran could be finalised within days, a move that reportedly left Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entirely blindsided.
According to Axios, Mr. Netanyahu received no prior warning before Trump publicly disclosed that he had paused the military action, claiming that the Iranian leadership had cleared a draft framework agreement.
“Netanyahu was not warned in advance, and he was caught off guard when Trump released his initial statement on the deal,” the report stated.
The unpredicted declaration introduced another twist in the increasingly complicated relationship between the two leaders, underscoring widening rifts regarding the strategy to handle Tehran.
This development unfolded as Washington maintains its push for a negotiated settlement. Conversely, Israel maintains that relentless military pressure remains vital to stop Iran from fortifying its regional footprint. — ANI
Hopes grew on Friday for peace between Iran and the United States after President Donald Trump said a deal could be signed as soon as this weekend, even as Tehran said it had not made a final decision on a pact.
The deal, if confirmed, would be the most significant diplomatic breakthrough yet to end the three-month-old war, which has killed thousands and sent global energy prices sharply higher after Iran all but closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.
“We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
“The strait will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe,” he said, adding that Vice-President J.D. Vance would attend the deal signing.
Trump announces a potential Iran war deal as tensions persist, with significant diplomatic progress and market reactions amid ongoing conflicts.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack on a Palau-flagged tanker off the coast of Oman in which three Indian seafarers have been killed, his spokesperson said.
On Wednesday (June 10), the U.S. struck another Palau-flagged tanker, MT Settebello, killing three out of the 24 Indian sailors on board.
“…Notably, the Settebello tanker was hit and a number of Indian seafarers were killed. And that is an attack that was clearly condemned by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). And we fully support and second that language,” Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said at the daily press briefing on Thursday.
Mr. Dujarric was referring to a statement issued by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, in which he had expressed his “deep sadness” and “strong condemnation” of the attack on the tanker MT Settebello, sailing under the flag of Palau, off the coast of Oman.
-PTI
U.S. President Donald said that a deal to end the war with Iran is nearly complete and is expected to be signed over the weekend in Europe, as he called off military strikes on the gulf nation hours after threatening to take control of its oil industry.
Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters at the Oval office on Thursday (June 11) afternoon, said Vice-President J.D. Vance is expected to attend the signing ceremony which could take place in Europe as soon as this weekend.
The U.S. President said he has spoken to leaders of the West Asian countries, including Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Pakistan, regarding the latest round of negotiations.
Later, addressing a tele-rally in favour of Georgia Lt Governor Burt Jones, who is running for the post of Governor, Mr. Trump declared that the U.S. has ended the war with Iran.
-PTI
At a cemetery in southern Lebanon, Ghada Hussein clutched images of her son, a Hezbollah fighter killed in an Israeli strike and buried in a temporary grave because the family cannot return to her border village.
In a section just above the regular cemetery in Haret Saida, dozens of graves have been dug into the gravelly earth, many lined with cement blocks and holding coffins made with construction board.
Not all the dead were combatants, but a poster of Hussein’s son Mohammed Tufayli, who was killed last month, showed a man in his early thirties in Hezbollah fighter’s garb. Another pictured him in civilian clothes, under the title of engineer.
“My dearest person has gone… I did everything to raise him,” said Hussein, 60, sitting on plastic artificial turf placed carefully over the grave in Haret Saida, a suburb of the coastal city of Sidon.
-AFP
Asian stocks joined a global rally on Friday (June 12) on hopes a West Asian peace deal may finally materialise, while the dollar and bond yields dropped and oil prices fell to two-month lows, tempering inflation fears.
All eyes are on the hotly-awaited market debut of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which has made history with the biggest-ever initial public offering. The IPO raised a record $75 billion, valuing the rocket and spacecraft manufacturer at $1.77 trillion and making Musk the world’s first trillionaire.
Oil prices slumped to two-month lows on the news of an agreement. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 1.9% to $86.08 a barrel, on top of a 2.6% drop overnight. Brent dropped 1.5% at $89.08 per barrel, having fallen nearly 3% overnight.
Japan’s Nikkei rose 4.3%, while Australia’s resources-heavy shares climbed 1.8%. South Korea’s KOSPI surged 8.3%.
-Reuters
Iran on Friday (June 12) said it had not reached a final decision on a deal with Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “great settlement” to end the war.
“So far, Iran has not reached a final conclusion on the agreement,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, after Mr. Trump said he expected a deal to be signed in Europe in the coming days.
The Tasnim news agency noted that Mr. Trump had announced a deal was imminent 38 times in the previous two months.
“Until Iran announces the matter of a potential understanding, any news from Trump on this subject should be regarded the same as his previous messaging,” it warned.
-AFP
U.S. forces shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones as Tehran appeared to attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official told Reuters on Thursday (June 11), in the latest clashes between the two nations.
“Traffic flow through the strait continues,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
-Reuters
India on Thursday (June 11, 2026) said three merchant ships with Indian crew members came under attack from American military off the coast of Oman in the last four days, resulting in the death of three nationals, and it has lodged a strong protest with the U.S. over the strikes.
It was New Delhi’s first public acknowledgement that the U.S. Navy targeted the three ships with Indian crew members. New Delhi asserted that these attacks must stop.
“We attach high importance to the welfare and well-being of our seafaring community. When this particular attack on the ship Settebello occurred, we lodged a strong protest with the American side,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at an inter-ministerial media briefing.
“We summoned the U.S. Charge d’Affaires and he was conveyed our deepest concern over the ongoing incidents of attacks. We also registered our strong protest,” he said.
Read the story here
India protests U.S. Navy attacks on merchant vessels with Indian crew, emphasizing the need for immediate cessation of strikes.
Iranian forces prevented a tanker from transiting the Strait of Hormuz without coordination, state media reported early on Friday (June 12, 2026).
Iranian media earlier reported sounds of explosions near Bandar Abbas, but state news agency IRNA later said no explosions had been reported in the port city and that any sounds could have been related to military activity in maritime areas. Iran’s top joint military command announced on Thursday the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, including oil tankers and commercial ships, saying any vessel that will attempt passage will be shot at.
Iranian media also reported explosion sounds off the coast of Sirik.
-Reuters
Iran on Friday condemned an attack by the U.S. Navy on three merchant ships with Indian crew members off the coast of Oman in the last four days, resulting in the death of three nationals.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei extended ‘our sympathies to the families and friends of the slain Indian sailors and offer our sincere condolences to the Indian people and government’.
“The brutal U.S. attacks on Indian commercial vessels which have killed at least three Indian nationals, stand as clear evidence of America’s ongoing policy of armed robbery and State piracy,” Mr. Baqaei said in a post on X.
The spokesperson also called for the international community to hold the U.S. accountable for its ‘lawless conduct’.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 Summit, France has proposed a broader maritime security partnership with India, including participation in a multinational initiative aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
French diplomatic sources said in New Delhi on Thursday (June 11, 2026) discussions between the two leaders are expected to cover a wide range of issues, including defence cooperation, maritime security, military hardware and developments in West Asia.
Read the story here
India may join a French-led maritime security initiative for the Strait of Hormuz, discussed during Modi's G7 talks with Macron.
OPEC on Thursday (June 11, 2026) lowered its forecast for world oil demand growth in 2026 to 970,000 barrels per day, the producer group said in its monthly report, marking the second straight downward revision.
The group continues to see a smaller impact on consumption since the Iran war started than other forecasters such as the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the International Energy Agency.
OPEC said consumption would rebound later and raised its demand growth forecast for 2027. The war has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil routes, curbing millions of barrels of West Asia output. The resulting surge in fuel prices is hitting consumers and businesses around the world.
Read the story here
OPEC revises 2026 global oil demand growth forecast down to 970,000 bpd amid geopolitical tensions and production challenges.
After two days of tit-for-tat strikes with Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (June 11, 2026) said he would pause further attacks, claiming that Tehran has “approved” talks, just hours after threatening to hit the country “very hard” and seize its Kharg Island and other energy infrastructure.
“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Mr. Trump wrote in a social media post on Thursday night.
Read the story here
Trump announces imminent U.S. military strikes on Iran and plans to seize key oil terminals amid escalating conflict.
Published – June 12, 2026 06:52 am IST
Iran / USA / Israel-US strikes on Iran / West Asia / war / Israel / Lebanon / unrest, conflicts and war / Live news
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