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June 21, 2026e-Paper
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June 21, 2026e-Paper
Updated – June 22, 2026 04:30 am IST
A member of the Qatari delegation makes adjustments ahead of a quadrilateral meeting between the U.S., Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar at the Lake Lucerne Summit,, at Buergenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, near Stansstad, Switzerland, on REUTERS/Nathan Howard/Pool | Photo Credit: Reuters
Iran’s delegation on Sunday (June 21, 2026) walked out of the Swiss venue where it held talks with the United States towards permanently ending the West Asia war, after Donald Trump threatened to strike the Islamic republic over its support for Hezbollah.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had warned the United States on Sunday (June 21, 2026) against making threats against the Islamic Republic, vowing that “our armed forces are ready to respond”. “Don’t they think that if their threats had any effect, they would not have reached today’s state of desperation? We do not take American threats into account,” said Ghalibaf, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran over its support for Hezbollah.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday (June 21, 2026) threatened to strike Iran if it did not “immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” as peace talks started in Switzerland. Mr. Trump was referring to Hezbollah, which joined the West Asia war with attacks on Israel. Clashes in recent days between the two have threatened to derail the U.S.-Iran preliminary peace deal.
Also read: What does the U.S.-Iran agreement say? | Explained
“If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Brent crude futures rose more than $1 a barrel on Monday after a bumpy start to talks between U.S. and Iranian officials over the weekend in their first meeting under an interim peace deal.
Brent crude futures climbed $1.09, or 1.35%, to $81.66 a barrel by 2206 GMT, after touching a high of $82.30 at the start of trading.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials on Sunday for the first talks under an interim peace deal even as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to restart war with Iran and Tehran announced it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz.
– Reuters
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa denied on Sunday that his country sought to intervene militarily in Lebanon where Israel and Hezbollah are at war, after US President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested Damascus could get involved.
“We are looking for economic channels between Lebanon and Syria, not military ones,” Sharaa said in an interview broadcast on television channel Al Mashhad.
On Sunday, Trump told Fox News he was “disappointed Israel can’t put Hezbollah away”, adding in reference to the fight against the militant group: “I’m close to giving it over to Syria.”
– AFP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary”, while also vowing to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“We will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect the cherished residents of the north and all the citizens of Israel… Nothing will alter that commitment,” Netanyahu said.
“And with regard to Iran: whatever political developments may unfold, I will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. As long as I serve as prime minister of Israel, that will not happen.”
– AFP
Iran’s delegation on Sunday walked out of the Swiss venue where it held talks with the United States towards permanently ending the Middle East war, after Donald Trump threatened to strike the Islamic republic over its support for Hezbollah.
The negotiations to end a war that sowed chaos across the region and rattled the global economy are meant to trigger a 60-day period to settle broader issues that have dogged US-Iranian relations for decades.
But disagreement over key sticking points and the threat of renewed fighting in Lebanon weighed on the talks, with Washington and Tehran exchanging threats in parallel with the negotiations.
“The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, after meeting with the Qatari delegation as one of the mediating parties, left the building where the negotiations were being held,” Iran’s state news agency IRNA said.
– AFP
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday (June 21) threatened to strike Iran if it did not stop Hezbollah from “causing trouble,” as peace talks between senior U.S. and Iranian officials began in Switzerland.
The negotiations opened against a backdrop of clashes in recent days between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, a Tehran ally, in southern Lebanon, threatening to derail the preliminary peace deal between Tehran and Washington.
“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”
– AFP
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned the United States on Sunday against making threats against the Islamic Republic, vowing that “our armed forces are ready to respond”.
“Don’t they think that if their threats had any effect, they would not have reached today’s state of desperation? We do not take American threats into account,” said Ghalibaf, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran over its support for Hezbollah.
“They would do better to be careful with their statements; our armed forces are ready to respond to them differently. No matter what they say, we are the ones who act.”
– AFP
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Sunday (June 21) is meeting with top Iranian officials as the White House looks to build out the interim deal to end the war in Iran reached by the two sides last week.
Mr. Vance was expected to meet with Tehran’s negotiators, including Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, at a Swiss mountainside resort near Lake Lucerne. Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar were also in the room for the direct engagement.
Iranian officials appeared to avoid being seen during a brief appearance by Vance in front of reporters before the start of the talks. IRIB, the Iranian state broadcaster, announced the four-way talks had begun shortly after Mr. Vance delivered a statement to the media and took a couple of questions from reporters.
– AP
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said he hoped Washington and Tehran could reset their relationship at the start of what he called “historic” face-to-face talks in Switzerland on Sunday.
“This is a historic meeting,” Vance said at the Burgenstock resort, saying the goal was to “turn over a new leaf to transform our relationship with the people of Iran, and to extend an outstretched hand”.
– AFP
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Sunday (June 21) said that “the question before us now is how much more can we accomplish together? Can we turn over a new leaf?” He made these comments as the talks, dubbed the “Lake Lucerne Summit,” got underway.
“Can we change relations in West Asia permanently, or do we go back to doing things the old way, which is not our preference, but is certainly very much something that can happen.” J.D. Vance and senior Iranian officials arrived in Switzerland to formally launch negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme, build out the fragile interim deal to end the war in Iran and keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
– AP
The mediating country, Qatar, on Sunday (June 21, 2026) confirmed the start of talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland aimed at a permanent end to the West Asia war.
Qatar announces U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland, aiming for a lasting agreement to resolve the West Asia conflict.
The United States and Iran were set to hold talks in Switzerland on Sunday (June 21) after signing a preliminary agreement to end their war, with the conflict in Lebanon threatening to derail the deal.
The negotiations to end a war that sowed chaos across West Asia and rattled the global economy are meant to trigger 60 days to settle broader issues that have dogged U.S.-Iranian relations for decades, from Iran’s nuclear programme to crippling sanctions.
American and Iranian representatives gathered alongside delegations from mediators Pakistan and Qatar at the luxury Swiss resort of Burgenstock perched high above Lake Lucerne, with Tehran saying all four sides were expected to meet on Sunday (June 21) afternoon.
– AFP
Iranian state television said on Sunday (June 21) that delegations from Iran, Qatar and the United States were holding a meeting in Switzerland to discuss a ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s frozen assets.
“A tripartite meeting involving Iran, the United States and Qatar on the subjects of a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s blocked assets is currently being held at the negotiation venue,” state broadcaster IRIB said in a report.
– AFP
Australia will extend fuel excise relief for an additional month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said today, as the country continues to grapple with higher fuel costs during the Iran war.
The government would “extend fuel excise relief for another month, making petrol and diesel 16 cents per litre cheaper versus normal prices for July, saving Australians around $11 per tank”, Mr. Albanese said in a statement.
“This is more temporary support that will help take the sting out of petrol prices and help Australians with the cost of living,” he said.
The centre-left government had already halved the excise on fuel and diesel and removed a heavy road user charge for three months until the end of June to help households deal with higher prices at the fuel pump, sparked by the war in the West Asia.
Today’s announcement followed last month’s move to extend a measure that releases petrol and diesel from domestic reserves until September. It was due to expire in July.
-Reuters
Iran warned today that it would not enter into talks on a broader agreement with the United States unless the war in Lebanon comes to an end.
“Without the implementation of these provisions, especially paragraph 1 (termination of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon), entry into the negotiation phase for the final agreement is not possible,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X, referring to a provision in the initial deal between Tehran and Washington.
-AFP
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were among the top leaders who reached Switzerland on today for high-level talks aimed at restoring peace in West Asia.
Mr. Vance arrived this morning, while other U.S. negotiators – including envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner – were already there.
“My understanding, talking to Jared and Steve this (Saturday) morning, is things are going well,” Vance told Fox News before departing.
The Iranian delegation is being led by Mr. Ghalibaf, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
-PTI
Iran said on Sunday (June 21) that the ongoing conflict in Lebanon between Israel and militant group Hezbollah will top the agenda in talks with the United States in Switzerland, as well as issues such as frozen Iranian funds and the sale of the country’s oil.
“The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon, this issue will be the main topic of discussion in today’s talks,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a video shared by IRNA state news agency.
“The issue of making available Iran’s frozen or restricted assets, as well as the discussion related to issuing the necessary licenses for the sale of Iranian oil,” will also be on the agenda, he added. – AFP
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the head of the military, Asim Munir, arrived in Switzerland on Sunday (June 21) for talks over the war in West Asia, Mr. Sharif’s office said.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will participate in the High-Level Talks on the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” the Prime Minister’s Office wrote on X, referring to the U.S.-Iran deal to end the war.- AFP
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, wrote in X after arriving in Switzerland for talk with U.S. on Sunday (June 21), “I consider the innocent children of Minab and all the martyrs of dear Iran to be watching over my every action and behavior at every moment. They see us and expect things of us.”
The Israeli military said on Sunday (June 21) that they “eliminated” Hussein Qadra and Mohammed Farra, operatives in the military wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Qadra, who headed the network with Farra, acted under Hamas leadership and facilitated the transfer of more than half a billion shekels to Hamas, according to an Israeli military X post.- Reuters
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland on Sunday (June 21) for talks on implementing a deal to end the war in West Asia.
Mr. Vance arrived at Emmen Air Base at 5:59 a.m. (0359 GMT), according to his spokesperson.- AFP
After 40 days of war and more than 60 days of intense negotiations, the U.S. and Iran, on June 15, agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the war and start more substantive negotiations on contentious issues. The deal has kicked off a geopolitical storm, with Israel opposing it firmly, causing an unlikely rift between Washington and Tel Aviv.
What does the U.S.-Iran agreement say? | Explained
Explore the key provisions and implications of the U.S.-Iran agreement, including commitments, opposition from Israel, and unresolved issues.
Explore the key provisions and implications of the U.S.-Iran agreement, including commitments, opposition from Israel, and unresolved issues.
Pakistan will continue to support the implementation of the understanding between Iran and the U.S., said the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Sunday (June 21, 2026). Pakistan was the mediator between U.S. and Iran for a peace deal.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry further said that PM Shehbaz Sharif and field Marshal Asim Munir left for Burgenstock, Switzerland to participate in talks on implementation of an MoU.
“On the sidelines of the talks, PM Sharif is expected to hold bilateral interactions with the participating delegates,” said the Foreign Ministry. — Reuters
Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said on Friday (June 19, 2026) that “all of Lebanon must burn” after Israel’s military announced the deaths of four soldiers there.
The Israeli losses were the first to be announced since a U.S.-Iran deal was signed to end the West Asia war.
Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declares "all of Lebanon must burn" following the deaths of four soldiers, escalating tensions.
U.S. and Iranian negotiators headed to a Swiss venue on Saturday (June 20, 2026) for talks on adding key details to their interim agreement to halt the war, hours after Tehran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz because of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon and warned that little might be achieved if the fighting doesn’t stop.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in response, unleashed a new threat to impose American tolls in the crucial waterway if a final deal with Iran isn’t reached in 60 days, saying the money would be for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East.” The agreement calls for toll-free travel for 60 days.
U.S. and Iran engage in crucial talks in Switzerland amid escalating tensions and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Published – June 21, 2026 06:46 am IST
West Asia / war / Israel-US strikes on Iran / Iran / Israel / USA / Live news / Lebanon / unrest, conflicts and war / negotiation / Switzerland
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