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June 13, 2026e-Paper
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June 13, 2026e-Paper
Updated – June 13, 2026 10:59 pm IST
President Donald Trump. | Photo Credit: AP
The United States said it downed multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz on early Saturday (June 13, 2026), hours after both sides said a deal to end West Asia war was closer than ever.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the region, posted on X that Iran had “launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz”. It also said, “U.S. forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded.”
Also read | Jaishankar speaks to Rubio, lodges strong protest over U.S. Navy attacks that killed three Indians
Lebanon reported Israeli strikes on the country’s south on Saturday (June 13, 2026) shortly after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for 20 locations including the city of Nabatieh ahead of raids there. The state-run National News Agency said Israeli airstrikes hit several areas covered by the warning, including the villages of Rihan and Sujud, located not far from Nabatieh.
Editorial | Strategic stalemate: On the U.S.-Iran conflict
U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of carrying out drone attacks against Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz, describing the alleged action as “totally unacceptable”, while Tehran rejected the charge as “baseless”. Three vessels with Indian crew came under attack off the Oman coast this week.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed efforts to end the Iran conflict during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Downing Street said on Saturday (June 13).
Mr. Starmer welcomed progress made so far and reiterated that Britain stands ready to support the implementation of any peace agreement and work with international partners to ensure its success.
The two leaders also agreed on the need to restore freedom of navigation to ease global economic impact.
-Reuters
President Donald Trump said the United States would find and destroy Iran’s enriched uranium when the region is calmer, as he announced that a deal to end the war would be signed on Sunday (June 14).
“When all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust, buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains, thanks to our beautiful B-2 Bombers and their brilliant pilots, and downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran, or the United States,” he said on social media on Saturday.
-AFP
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday (June 13) announced what he described as a new agreement with Iran, claiming it would permanently prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
In a statement, Mr. Trump criticised former President Barack Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), calling it a pathway for Iran to eventually obtain a nuclear weapon. He said his proposed deal was “the exact opposite” and would act as “a wall to no nuclear weapon”.
Mr. Trump said the agreement was scheduled to be signed on Sunday (June 14) and claimed it would result in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping. He also asserted that no U.S. funds would be provided to Iran under the arrangement.
The U.S. President further said that nuclear material buried at Iranian facilities would eventually be secured and destroyed, adding that the United States was prepared to use “the ultimate alternative” if the diplomatic process failed.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday (June 13) said there is no shortage of energy in the country and the supply situation of crude oil, LPG and natural gas is quite comfortable.
Speaking with reporters in Ludhiana, Mr. Puri further asserted that, while fuel prices rose considerably in many countries, rates in India dropped by 3.1% from May 2022 to May 2026.
The petroleum and natural gas minister said oil prices rose across the world in the wake of the Iran conflict.
-PTI
BJP leaders on Saturday (June 13) met the family of a Deoria man who was among three Indian crew members killed during an attack on merchant ships off the Oman coast amid the U.S.-Iran conflict, and assured them of all possible assistance.
Following directions from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Ramdhar Chaurasia, MLA from Rampur Karkhana, visited Surauli village and met the family of 35-year-old Shivanand Chaurasia to offer condolences and support.
Earlier, BJP Gorakhpur regional president Sahajanand Rai and district president Kali Prasad had also met the bereaved family and expressed their condolences. Former MLA and Samajwadi Party leader Anugrah Narayan Singh also visited the family.
-PTI
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to discuss plans to demine the Strait of Hormuz with allies during next week’s Group of Seven summit in France, a senior U.S. administration official said on Saturday (June 13), as confidence grows for an Iran war deal.
Britain and France, who are both members of the G7, have expressed interest in assisting with demining the critical waterway once the conflict is paused.
The official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity on ground rules set by the White House, said Mr. Trump also plans to meet on the sideline of the summit with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates to discuss efforts to wind down the Iran war.
The summit begins on Monday.
-AP
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that any violation of the American blockade and illicit transport of Iranian oil through the Strait of Hormuz will not be tolerated. The statement came following his discussion on “recent events” in the critical strait with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday (June 12, 2026),
“The Secretary stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from U.S. forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in an official statement said on Saturday (June 13, 2026).
In his talk with Mr. Rubio, EAM Jaishankar lodged strong protest against the death of Indian nationals in U.S. attacks on ships off the coast of Oman. “Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified,” Mr. Jaishankar said in a post on X after the conversation.
Read the story here
Rubio warns against U.S. blockade violations in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing compliance for peace and security.
The exact timing of the signing of the Islamabad memorandum will not be on Sunday (June 14), Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, according to state media on Saturday.
Mr. Baghaei said the possibility of signing the Islamabad memorandum in the coming days could not be ruled out, but added that caution was needed regarding any comment on the signing date due to the hesitation of the other side.
-Reuters
The Lebanese Army on Saturday (June 13) withdrew its troops from a base in a southern Lebanese village after Israeli troops advanced in an area nearby, a military official said.
The departure from the army barracks in Kfar Tebnit came as the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for about 20 locations, including the southern city of Nabatiyeh and nearby villages.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported airstrikes on Saturday on different villages near Nabatiyeh, including one that killed two people in Deir al-Zahrani. It added that Nabatiyeh was subjected to artillery shelling on Saturday.
A senior Lebanese military official told The Associated Press that the Lebanese army moved its forces from the Kfar Tebnit barracks following an incursion by Israeli forces into the area. The official, who did not elaborate, spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
-AP
The United States said it downed multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday (June 13), hours after both sides said a deal to end the West Asian war was closer than ever.
The interception came after weeks of halting talks between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Pakistan, that have been marked by threats and exchanges of fire despite a fragile truce agreed in April.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the region, posted on X that Iran had “launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz”.
“U.S. forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded,” it said.
-AFP
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday (June 13) that the United States and Iran have agreed to a framework for a peace deal that would end the months-long conflict in West Asia, with a final text of the deal reached.
Pakistan is now preparing for an electronic signing expected within the next 24 hours followed by technical-level talks next week, Mr. Sharif added.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran carried out a drone attack on Indian ships in the Strait of Hormuz is “simply baseless”, the Iranian embassy has said.
The mission also described Mr. Trump’s comments as an attempt to divert attention from the American military’s strikes on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Oman this week that killed three Indian mariners.
“The U.S. President’s accusation against Iran regarding an Indian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is simply baseless,” it said on social media.
“It is an attempt to divert public attention from the brutal fact that the US has attacked three Indian vessels in less than a week and killed three innocent Indian sailors. That’s pathetic,” the embassy added.
-PTI
Funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will begin in Tehran on July 4 and conclude with his burial in the northeastern city of Mashhad on July 9, state media reported on Saturday (June 13).
Khamenei, was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran in February. His death marked the end of more than three decades at the helm of the Islamic Republic.
Read the story here
Iran announces funeral dates for late Supreme Leader Khamenei, starting July 4 in Tehran and burial on July 9.
Lebanon reported Israeli strikes on the country’s south on Saturday (June 13, 2026) shortly after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for 20 locations, including the city of Nabatieh, ahead of raids there.
The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli airstrikes hit several areas covered by the warning, including the villages of Rihan and Sujud, located not far from Nabatieh.
Lebanon reports Israeli airstrikes in the south, following evacuation warnings for multiple locations amid ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
Lebanese state media reported Israeli strikes on the country’s south on Saturday (June 13, 2026) shortly after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for 20 locations, including the city of Nabatieh, ahead of raids there.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli airstrikes in several areas covered by the evacuation warning, including the villages of Rihan and Sujud, located not far from Nabatieh.
– AFP
The Israeli military on Saturday (June 13, 2026) warned of imminent strikes on south Lebanon, telling residents of 20 towns and villages, including many near Nabatieh city, to evacuate despite a ceasefire in its war with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
“For your safety, you should evacuate your homes immediately and move to the north of the Zahrani River,” the military’s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X.
“Anyone who is in the vicinity of Hezbollah installations or means of warfare is endangering their lives,” he added, accusing the movement of violating the truce.
– AFP
U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran carried out a drone attack on Indian ships in the Strait of Hormuz is “simply baseless”, the Iranian embassy has said.
The mission also described Mr. Trump’s comments as an attempt to divert attention from the American military’s strikes on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Oman this week that killed three Indian mariners.
“The U.S. President’s accusation against Iran regarding an Indian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is simply baseless,” it said on social media.
“It is an attempt to divert public attention from the brutal fact that the U.S. has attacked three Indian vessels in less than a week and killed three innocent Indian sailors. That’s pathetic,” the embassy added.
– PTI
The United States said it downed multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz on early Saturday (June 13, 2026), hours after both sides said a deal to end the war in West Asia was closer than ever.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the region, posted on X that Iran had “launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz”.
“U.S. forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded,” it said.
– AFP
India on Saturday (June 13, 2026) denied reports that a fourth vessel was attacked near Oman on Friday (June 12, 2026) night.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs denied reports that MT Liaki Freedom, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, was attacked near Oman. He said that the Ministry had contacted the vessel and confirmed that all crew members were safe. MV Jalveer and MT Sentebello were attacked in that region earlier this week.
India denies reports of MT Liaki Freedom attack near Oman, confirming all crew members are safe.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister said that the United States and Iran have agreed to wording of an agreement aimed at ending their war in West Asia and that mediators were working with both sides to finalise a deal.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the U.S. and Iran have reached a “final, agreed upon text”. He said Pakistan, which has taken the lead in mediation efforts, was working with the warring countries on next steps.
“Peace has never been this close as it is now,” Mr. Sharif said in a post on X.
– AP
Hezbollah said on Friday (June 13, 2026) its fighters had confronted Israeli forces advancing towards a southern Lebanese town, as Israel pressed on with its strikes in Lebanon.
In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters first targeted Israeli troops advancing towards Majdal Zoun, around 5 km from the western side of the border, on Thursday (June 11, 2026) evening “with repeated rocket barrages, forcing them to retreat”.
It then said it engaged with an advancing force there on Friday (June 12, 2026) “engaging them with light and medium weapons and rockets”.
The group also claimed other attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military meanwhile issued an evacuation warning for three southern Lebanese villages.
– 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.
Iran's draft accord with the U.S. proposes 60 days of negotiations for a nuclear deal and release of $24 billion in assets.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and lodged a strong protest over the attacks by the U.S. Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners.
“Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified,” Mr. Jaishankar said in a post on X about his talks with Mr. Rubio.
Jaishankar protests to Rubio over U.S. Navy attacks in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners, condemning unjustified actions.
President Donald Trump’s decision to back off from striking Iran, just hours after threatening to seize the country’s Kharg Island, underscores the dilemma he faces in dealing with Tehran.
Mr. Trump, who launched the conflict with his ally Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on February 28, now wants to end it through talks.
But Iran, which survived 40 days of U.S.-Israeli bombing and now controls the Strait of Hormuz, appears unwilling to hand him a diplomatic victory.
Caught between an uncontrollable Israel, whose bombing of Lebanon threatens the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and an emboldened Iran that has become increasingly defiant and intransigent, Mr. Trump reverted to his familiar playbook of using military pressure to alter Tehran’s negotiating position.
A day after U.S. President Donald Trump backed away from a threatened attack on Iran, claiming progress in talks, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (June 12, 2026) that Washington and Tehran have “never been closer” to reaching a preliminary agreement.
“The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer. Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content. In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course,” Mr. Araghchi wrote in a social media post. U.S. President Donald Trump reposted Mr. Araghchi’s statement in his Truth Social account.
U.S. forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday (June 12, 2026), in the latest military flare-up even as Washington and Tehran cite progress in peace talks.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the drones had posed a threat to commercial traffic.
– Reuters
Follow The Hindu for more updates on the Iran-Israel war and U.S. military action, including strikes on Iran, Tehran's response, and growing security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.
Published – June 13, 2026 07:06 am IST
Live news / Iran / Israel-US strikes on Iran / war / negotiation / Israel / USA / Lebanon / unrest, conflicts and war
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