Last UpdateJune 16, 2026, 2:24 AM EDT

The U.S. and Iran came to an agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, launching further talks regarding Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. sanctions on Tehran.

Covered by: Anders Hagstrom, Emma Bussey and Landon Mion

WHAT TO KNOW

• The U.S. and Iran come to an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and cease hostilities as they launch further negotiations on Monday.
• Vice President JD Vance declared that the agreement will “change the Middle East” if Iran complies with the deal.
• Israeli leaders have criticized the deal, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuhas yet to comment on it.
• Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said IDF forces will not be withdrawing from Lebanon despite the deal.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his first statement on Israeli television nearly 21 hours after President Donald Trump announced the new deal with Iran.
• A proposed $300 billion fund being considered by the Trump administration for Iran would be financed by private companies looking to invest in the country.
• Clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollahmilitants erupted in southern Lebanon with the Israeli military saying it intercepted rockets and missiles.
• President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei played a direct role in shaping Iran’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S.

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8 hours ago

Pinned

Vance warns Trump would resume bombing Iran if regime breaks deal obligations

Vance / Bonnie Cash / UPI / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that President Donald Trump would not hesitate to resume military strikes against Iran if Tehran fails to uphold its commitments under a deal agreement with the United States.

Citing Tehran’s unpredictability, Vance told Sean Hannity that Gulf nations have grown wary of the Iranian regime despite opportunities for greater regional stability.

“They don’t believe anything either,” Vance said of U.S. allies in the Gulf. “They’re not certain. They’re not going to predict what the Iranians are going to do five years from now, but they see real opportunity.”

“So, we’re going to walk down this pathway. We’re going to see how serious the Iranians are.”

Asked what would happen if Tehran fails to meet its obligations under a deal, Vance said Iran would lose any benefits offered by the United States.

“If they don’t do what they promise they’re going to do, they don’t get any benefits of the bargain, and as the president would say, we have all the cards,” Vance said.

“Their economy will still be in very tough shape if they don’t get the relief that they need to get in order to make progress.”

“We have the cards, and if they don’t honor the commitment, we’ll figure out what to do when we get there.”

Vance suggested that could include renewed military action.

“I’ve known President Trump for a long time. I would say that means go back and resume bombing. It could. It could be, and he would. I don’t think he would hesitate,” Vance said. “It could mean the blockade goes back on, Sean.”

Vance said Trump’s ultimate goal is not regime change but a change in behavior from Tehran.

“He wants Iran to be a normal country,” Vance said. “They’ve got to act like it.”

Posted by Emma Bussey

3 hours ago

Senators reluctant to offer praise for Iran deal without seeing text: ‘How can I take it seriously?’

Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

Senators appeared cautious about praising the proposal announced by President Donald Trump to end the war in the Middle East until they could read the text, with even members of the president’s party reluctant to celebrate the framework deal.

“We do not have an agreement just yet, so we will see when there is text out there,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters at the Capitol, according to The New York Times. “I’m guessing there will be a high level of interest among our members.”

Republicans and Democrats were both questioning why the Trump administration had not provided details of the proposal to congressional lawmakers.

“If it is a secret deal, then how can I take it seriously?” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said on Monday.

Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are part of the so-called Gang of Eight in Congress that is supposed to be briefed on highly classified intelligence matters, according to the newspaper.

“It’s been nearly 24 hours since Trump announced there was a potential deal with Iran, and we still don’t know the details,” Schumer said from the Senate floor. “Trump must brief Congress and the public on the details of his understanding with Iran immediately and end this war once and for all.”

Posted by Landon Mion

4 hours ago

Vance says Iranians will ‘never get a dime’ of American taxpayer money

Vice President JD Vance said Iran will “never get a dime of American taxpayer money” after reports said the U.S.-Iran proposal would include the U.S. government giving money to Tehran.

“The American media literally picks up talking points and propaganda from the IRGC that has no support in the text of the agreement that we’ve actually negotiated and no basis in reality,” Vance said during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity.”

When asked if Iran would ever receive an American dime, the vice president said they would not.

“No … They never get a dime of American taxpayer money. Ever. Full stop. Not even close,” Vance said.

Posted by Landon Mion

6 hours ago

Sen Graham says Iran proposal would be ‘transformative for the region’: ‘Major achievement’

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the Iran proposalannounced by the Trump administration would be “transformative for the region” and lead to broader peace.

“The proposal as envisioned by the Vice President and the Trump Administration to end the Iranian conflict would be transformative for the region and a major achievement, leading to broader peace,” Graham wrote in a post on X.

“It is my understanding the terms of the [Memorandum of Understanding] will be released by the administration in the coming days. I look forward to reviewing the actual document rather than relying on Iranian propaganda reports. The sooner it is released, the better,” he continued.

Posted by Landon Mion

6 hours ago

Iranian Americans wave protest flags at World Cup as Iran’s team kicks off opener

REUTERS/Mike Blake

Iran kicked off its World Cup opener near Los Angeles on Monday against New Zealand, with the crowd including both supportive fans and Iranian Americans waving symbols of protest against the country’s government in Tehran.

The Iranian team played on U.S. soil around 24 hours after a framework peace deal was announced to end the war that began in late February with U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.

In Los Angeles, where many Iranians who fled the country after the Islamic Revolution now live, Iranian American soccer fans say they have felt torn between excitement about seeing the team on the international stage, frustration with Tehran’s crackdown on protesters and concern about the Trump administration’s war against the Middle Eastern nation.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the stadium, where they were seen waving anti-Iranian government signs and flags. They said they did not want to attend the match, saying they believe it would imply support for Tehran.

Others attended the game but brought in symbols of protest, including the pre-revolutionary Iran flag, which is the same colors as the current official flag but has a different lion-and-sun emblem.

Iranian officials had threatened to stop matches if unofficial flags were brought in or slogans were chanted, although Monday’s game went on as scheduled.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Posted by Landon Mion

8 hours ago

Vance vows Iran deal won’t mirror Obama’s nuclear pact, pushes for tough inspections

Obama / Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Vice President JD Vance on Monday outlined how the U.S. would verify Iran’s compliance under a potential nuclear agreement, arguing that a stringent inspection regime would distinguish it from the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“If you go back to the original Obama JCPOA, there were a couple of big problems with it,” Vance said during an appearance on “Hannity.”

“The Gulf Arabs hated the Obama deal. Why? Because they thought that it empowered the Iranians to be a malign actor,” Vance said. “It actually enriched the Iranians while they were misbehaving.”

By contrast, Vance said regional allies support the current framework because they believe it could help reshape the Middle East.

“This deal the Gulf Arabs love, because they know that this is the kind of deal that could fundamentally transform the Middle East,” he said.

Vance also criticized the JCPOA’s inspection provisions, arguing oversight of Iran’s nuclear program was insufficient.

“There was a little bit there, but it was basically nonexistent,” he said.

“This goes back to our fundamental principle here, that if they show verifiable commitment — and that means a real inspection regime — then they can get the benefits of the bargain,” he said.

Posted by Emma Bussey

8 hours ago

Iran has ‘optionality’ as Tehran weighs path forward amid US peace deal: Vance

Vance / Photo by Jonathan Ernst – Pool/Getty Images

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that the ball was in Tehran’s court ahead of signing a new Memorandum of Understanding set for Friday.

Speaking on “Hannity,” Vance said Iran would determine the next phase of relations between the two countries.

“It’s fundamentally the ball is in the Iranians’ court, Sean, because we’re better off regardless,” Vance said.

“Their nuclear program is destroyed, whatever route they choose. The Strait of Hormuz is open, whatever route they choose. Their conventional military is destroyed, whatever route they choose,” he added.

“This gives the Iranians optionality to either become a normal country or not, but the United States is in a much better position, regardless of what they choose.”

Vance also described what he said was an unprecedented level of communication between Washington and Tehran.

“We’ve never had this level of direct communication with the Iranian leadership,” he said.

“Of course, the previous generations of Iranian leadership are gone, thanks to what’s happened over the last few.”

“What’s fascinating to me about their system is that we’re seeing even people that I would have assumed are hardliners who are kind of saying, you know, what, maybe it was a mistake for us to do the things that we’ve done over the last 40 years,” he said.

“Maybe we should turn over a new leaf in the relationship with the United States of America,” he added before emphasizing that the administration remains cautious.

“We do verify, and we do extend this hand and say, ‘Look, if you guys are willing to change, we’re willing to change how we’ve dealt with you too,’” Vance added

Posted by Emma Bussey