An Iranian foreign policy analyst has suggested that Tehran could support Hezbollah in Lebanon by using tools such as Yemen’s Ansarallah and cutting Saudi Arabia’s oil exports, exerting pressure on Riyadh without “firing a single shot.”
Ali Samadzadeh claimed that Iran has “contained the US military machine” and described Saudi Arabia as “not significant” in comparison, in remarks reported by Iranian media.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the framework agreement with Lebanon as a “historic accomplishment,” saying it marks “a massive blow to Iran” and that Israel, Lebanon and the US are telling Tehran: “This is none of your business.”
Following direct negotiations mediated by the US, we have reached a framework of understanding that allows us to move forward towards ending the conflict, eventually reaching a peace agreement between the two countries,” Netanyahu said.
Under the understandings, the US and Lebanon have recognised Israel’s right to maintain the security zone inside Lebanon for as long as it is required for our security. We will continue to hold it until Hezbollah and the rest of the terrorist organizations are disarmed,” he said.
Lebanon’s Amal Movement on Saturday rejected indirect talks between Lebanon and Israel and condemned the government’s framework agreement with Israel, describing it as “unbalanced” and detrimental to Lebanon’s national interests.
In a statement, the movement said most provisions serve Israeli interests and warned against adopting the agreement, while calling for Israel’s full withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory and urging national unity.
Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has again slammed the framework agreement with Lebanon as a “historic mistake, a terrible missed opportunity, and a lament for generations,” saying the deal gives Hezbollah the “lifeline it has begged for in the form of a ceasefire.”
In a post on X, Ben-Gvir said Israel must “crush,” not “anaesthetise,” Hezbollah. He dismissed claims that the Lebanese army can dismantle the armed group as a “dangerous illusion,” saying: “The Lebanese army is weak and infiltrated. Hezbollah members and their supporters are an integral part of this army’s ranks.”
Ben-Gvir said he opposed the deal for weeks in the Israeli cabinet before it was signed, and that he would continue to do so.
The naval command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that US bases in the region “will experience hell in the days ahead” in retaliation for American strikes, while insisting that Iran retains control over the Strait of Hormuz.
“America’s blind strikes on Sirik will not undermine our control over the Strait. But our strikes against violators serve as a reminder to other vessels of the proper route for safe passage,” the IRGC Navy posted on X. “As for US bases in the region, that is a separate matter. They will experience hell in the days ahead.”
Iraqi special forces, including Humvees and tanks, have been deployed inside Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, which has been closed, according to Washington Post Baghdad Bureau reporter.
Reports are emerging of arrests targeting senior government officials on corruption-related charges.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched ballistic missiles and drones at US forces stationed at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters at Port Salman in Bahrain in response to recent American strikes on Iranian coastal sites.
In a statement carried by IRNA and Tasnim, the IRGC warned that “any possible enemy aggression, under any pretext, will be met with a crushing response,” adding that any further ceasefire violations would halt the implementation of the interim US-Iran memorandum of understanding.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that American aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, as well as coastal radar sites, blaming Tehran for repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement.
In a Truth Social post, Trump warned that the US could escalate its military response if Iran continued to breach the truce, saying, “There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”
Iran issued a fresh warning to the United States after US forces carried out another round of strikes on Iranian targets, while Bahrain accused Tehran of launching several drones into its territory amid rising tensions despite the ceasefire.
Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters spokesperson Ibrahim alFiqar, in a series of posts on X, warned the US of a strong response.
“You targeted sovereignty, so expect a practical response that will change the equations. You miscalculated, and our patience has run out… so prepare for a long, endless night. You have crossed all lines, and our decision is not just talk; the coming hours will speak for our strength,” he said.
The warning came hours after Bahrain alleged that several Iranian drones entered its territory, calling the incident a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty that threatened ongoing efforts to preserve regional peace.
According to Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry, the drone attack took place shortly after the United States and Iran exchanged military strikes following the implementation of a ceasefire aimed at ending the recent conflict in West Asia. Iran has not immediately commented on Bahrain’s allegations.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun spoke with US President Donald Trump and urged Washington to ensure Israel fulfils its commitments under the framework agreement, particularly by withdrawing from occupied areas in southern Lebanon. According to the Lebanese presidency, Aoun also said Lebanon would implement the agreement, while Trump indicated he would soon host the Lebanese leader in Washington.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticised the framework agreement with Lebanon, saying it “allows for the continuation of money transfers from Iran to Hezbollah” and “does not set a timetable for Hezbollah’s disarmament.”
In a post on X, Lapid also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of agreeing to an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory “without receiving anything in return.”
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces carried out additional strikes on multiple targets in Iran on June 27 “at the Commander in Chief’s direction” after accusing Tehran of violating the ceasefire.
According to CENTCOM, Iran was “given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to” after its forces launched a one-way attack drone that struck the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil near the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military said the latest operation targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities and minelayer capabilities. “Commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz continue,” CENTCOM said, adding that US forces remain “vigilant, lethal, and ready.”
A day after Israel signed a US-backed framework agreement with Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a press conference unveiled a map showing the two areas in southern Lebanon from which Israeli forces will withdraw.
Netanyahu described the deal as a “tremendous achievement” that sidelines Iran while maintaining Israel’s broader security zone in southern Lebanon. However, the agreement drew criticism from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who called it a “big mistake” and demanded a cabinet vote, arguing Lebanon could not be trusted to disarm Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the US-brokered framework agreement with Lebanon as “a historic achievement for Israel,” saying it paves the way for an eventual peace agreement between the two countries.
Netanyahu said Israel would continue to hold its security zone in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed, calling the deal “a major blow” to Iran and Hezbollah. He also confirmed Israel would withdraw from two small areas as part of a pilot project to transfer control to the Lebanese Army while retaining the territory it considers necessary for its security.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military has been instructed to prepare for an “extended stay” in the security zone in southern Lebanon. Katz said Israeli forces would not withdraw as long as Hezbollah remains armed, describing the group’s disarmament as a key principle of the US-brokered framework agreement.
Speaking after the signing of the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a historic achievement for Israel” and “a major blow” to Iran and Hezbollah.
He said the agreement opens the prospect of “an eventual peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon” and insisted Israel would retain its security zone in southern Lebanon until “there is no longer a threat to Israel from Lebanon.” Netanyahu also said the deal sends a message to Iran: “You have no status here, no involvement and no role.”
Hezbollah’s leader on Saturday criticised a framework agreement that Israel and Lebanon signed a day earlier to end months of conflict between the militant group and Israel, raising concerns about its effectiveness.
Lebanon and Israel signed the deal in Washington on Friday without Hezbollah. The agreement links Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon to the Iran-backed militant group’s disarmament, something Hezbollah rejects.
Several previous ceasefire agreements that Lebanon has negotiated with Israel since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war were never implemented on the ground.
In a statement Saturday, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said his group will keep fighting until Israel is forced to leave Lebanon. The group’s supporters protested in the streets of Beirut following the announcement of the agreement.
Despite the deal, the Lebanese state news agency reported an Israeli drone strike near the southern city of Nabatiyeh.
It also reported that the Israeli military released three Lebanese and three Syrian workers who were taken near the southern village of Ain Arab on Friday.
Inflation in Iran rose sharply in June, driven by the Middle East war, reaching a peak of 88.6 percent year-on-year according to official figures released on Saturday.
According to the Statistical Centre of Iran, during the Persian month of Khordad (May 22–June 21), food prices more than doubled year-on-year. Even before the war, Iran was plagued by high inflation.
The Israeli military said it carried out an airstrike on Saturday targeting suspected militants in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon, the first such attack since Washington announced a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
On Friday, Israel, Lebanon and the United States signed a trilateral agreement aimed at paving the way for a broader peace deal between the two Middle East nations.
An Israeli military spokeswoman told AFP that Saturday’s airstrike targeted “suspected terrorists who posted a threat to IDF soldiers” in the Nabatieh area.
“The results of the strike are still being assessed.”
Lebanon was drawn into the broader Middle East war on March 2 when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem condemned the US-Israel-Lebanon framework agreement on Saturday, saying it a major mistake by Beirut and that his group deemed it null and void.
“The framework agreement in Washington is humiliating, shameful, and a surrender of sovereignty. This agreement is null and void, and the provisions of the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding must be implemented,” Qassem said in a statement, accusing Lebanese authorities of “legitimising” Israeli occupation through this “grave blunder”
Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over phone after the US and Iran traded fresh strikes, threatening the fragile peace in the Gulf region, according to a statement on Saturday.
The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on June 18, aimed at restoring peace in West Asia. It was followed by technical-level talks in Switzerland on June 21, with Pakistan and Qatar as mediators.
However, the two sides again got involved in attacks against each other. The US launched its airstrikes on Friday in response to an Iranian drone attack on a ship trying to get out of the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.
Dar, who is also Pakistan’s foreign minister, spoke with Araghchi Friday night and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to play its “constructive role” for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region, the Foreign Office said.
Araghchi expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued support in advancing the peace process, according to the statement.
He also thanked Pakistan for facilitating the safe and smooth repatriation of Iranian crew members and fishermen to their homeland.
A tanker reported being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, Britain’s maritime security agency said, after the United States and Iran each launched strikes in the worst escalation since they signed their interim peace deal.
The warring sides each accused the other of violating the agreement they reached two weeks ago to end the four-month-old conflict. Washington said it hit Iranian targets overnight, while Iran said it had struck targets linked to US forces on Saturday in response.
Saturday’s attack on a tanker in the strait followed an attack on a cargo ship on Thursday that triggered the escalation. Iran has made a fresh bid to assert control over the world’s most important energy shipping route, which has begun to reopen over the past two weeks after months of disruption.
An Iranian state television correspondent on Saturday claimed that the number of vessels requesting permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz had increased since the morning, attributing the rise to what he described as the authority of the IRGC Navy.
“Since Saturday morning, the number of vessels seeking permission to enter and leave through the Strait of Hormuz has increased, and this is the result of the IRGC Navy’s authority,” the correspondent said during a broadcast.
Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, said violations of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding would be met with a “swift and crushing” response.
In a post on X, Rezaei said the United States had violated the first clause of the memorandum by supporting “the actions of its proxy force in the region” and had breached the fifth clause through what he described as continued provocations in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The response to the violation of any clause of the memorandum will be swift and crushing,” Rezaei wrote.
A maritime body overseen by the US Navy said Saturday that a route through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman’s shores is expanding to allow for both inbound and outbound traffic.
The announcement by the Joint Maritime Information Centre serves as another warning to Iran that the US is pushing to reopen the strait.
Iran has insisted ships must obey its orders and is warning it will start charging fees for transit through the strait, through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas once passed.
The US and Gulf Arab states have rejected Iran’s demands. The Strait is considered around the world as an international waterway, despite being the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.
Iran launched a drone assault targeting Bahrain while a ship in the Strait of Hormuz separately came under attack Saturday, likely Tehran’s response to overnight airstrikes by the United States.
The attacks across the Persian Gulf show the danger of the Iran war again spinning out of control, even after Iran and the US reached an interim deal to try and agree on a final accord to end the conflict.
The US had launched its airstrikes in response to an Iranian drone attack on a ship trying to get out of the strait on Thursday, continuing a string of attacks that have shaken the uneasy ceasefire in the war.
That Iran targeted Bahrain likely was not coincidental. The kingdom has been one of the strongest critics of Iran and is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. It just hosted US secretary of state Marco Rubio for a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s foreign ministers, which ended with a call for an end to Iran’s attacks and the strait to be completely open.
A statement from Bahrain’s foreign ministry said a “number of Iranian drones” targeted the country. It called the attack “a flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents.”
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard earlier on Saturday issued a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency saying it had targeted several locations “of the U.S. terrorist army in the region.”
A tanker has reported being struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Saturday.
The vessel sustained damage to its bridge, but all crew were reported safe and no environmental damage had been reported at the time of the report, UKMTO added.
Iran said it struck targets linked to US forces on Saturday in response to US airstrikes on its southern coast, as each side continued to accuse the other of violating last week’s agreement meant to end the four-month-old war.
Iran’s foreign ministry did not identify the locations of its “defensive” attacks, which it said were a response to “the barbaric air strikes” by the US on its coastal surveillance facilities, which it said also violated the UN Charter.
Bahrain’s foreign ministry said Saturday that it had been targeted by several Iranian drones, accusing Tehran of sabotaging peace efforts after the United States and Iran traded strikes for the first time since signing an agreement to end the Middle East war.
The ministry expressed Bahrain’s “strongest condemnation of the targeting of its territory at dawn this Saturday by several Iranian drones, in flagrant violation of its sovereignty”, saying Iran’s attacks were “sabotaging peace efforts”.
Iran on Saturday accused the US of violating the peace deal agreed to end the conflict, after Washington launched strikes on Iranian territory and Tehran said it had responded with attacks on US targets in the Gulf.
Iran’s foreign ministry accused the United States of violating the US-Iran memorandum of understanding by carrying out airstrikes on coastal surveillance facilities in southern Iran, and cautioned neighbouring Gulf countries against allowing their territory or infrastructure to be used for future attacks on the Islamic Republic.
The ministry said the US strikes late on Friday constituted a “clear violation” of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and a “direct breach” of the first clause of the June memorandum that ended the recent conflict between the two countries.
It also accused Israel of conducting strikes in Lebanon “in coordination with the United States,” describing them as another violation of the same provision of the agreement.
Calling on countries along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf to uphold the principle of good neighbourliness, the ministry urged them to ensure that their territory and facilities are not used by what it described as “aggressor parties” to launch attacks against Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday that it had begun a series of controlled explosions near Jahrom in the southern province of Fars to safely dispose of unexploded ordnance.
The IRGC’s Fajr Corps said the operation is being carried out near Mohammadabad, on the outskirts of Jahrom, and is expected to continue through the end of the week.
Bomb disposal units have been deployed to conduct the controlled detonations and clear the remaining unexploded munitions.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Friday night.
According to the ministry, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at promoting lasting peace, stability and constructive engagement across the region and beyond.
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