This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.

Catch up: Yesterday’s top developments

IRGC says responded to US violating MoU, warns extensive response for repeated aggression 

Published: June 26, 2026 | 23:12 GMT | by Web Desk


The IRGC said that US sought to violate the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and was met with the necessary response, adding that if the aggression wa s repeated, our response would be more extensive.


“According to Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding, Islamabad has arrangements for controlling traffic in the Strait of Hormuz with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the IRGC said.


“However, the US, by inciting various parties, sought to violate this commitment, which was met with the necessary response,” it added.



Vance says will honor Islamabad MoU but will respond to violence with violence

Published: June 26, 2026 | 22:39 GMT | by Web Desk


US Vice President JD Vance said that the US will honor the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding but would respond to violence with violence. 


“Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it,” Vance said. 


“If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone,” he said, adding: “But violence will be met with violence.”



Hezbollah supporters take to Beirut streets to protest Israel deal: Report

Published: June 26, 2026 | 22:39 GMT | by AFP


Hezbollah supporters took to the streets of Beirut late Friday in protest at an agreement announced between Israel and Lebanon hours earlier, state media and an AFP correspondent said.


The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that "Hezbollah supporters rode motorbikes through the streets of Beirut" including a central area near the parliament and along a road leading to the airport "in protest at the framework agreement announced between Lebanon and Israel", adding that they blocked at least one road with burning tyres.


An AFP correspondent saw people on motorbikes riding and chanting slogans along one road as well as Lebanese army temporary checkpoints set up along several streets of the capital.



US says it struck Iran targets after attack on cargo ship

Published: June 26, 2026 | 21:30 GMT | by AFP


US forces struck Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar locations on Friday in response to an Iranian attack on a cargo ship, the US military said.


"The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire," US Central Command said on X, describing the strikes as "a powerful response to yesterday's attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz."



Rubio says trilateral framework between US, Lebanon, Israel the ‘beginning of the beginning’

Published: June 26, 2026 | 21:18 GMT | by Web Desk


US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the signing ceremony of the trilateral framework between Lebanon, Israel and the United States was the “beginning of the beginning,” adding that there was a “lot of work ahead."


Lebanon's ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, said the accord "is a first step on the road to restoring Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing a permanent and final cessation of hostilities (and) enabling our people to go back to their land."


Rubio meanwhile said in a statement that the agreement establishes a "clear and structured process" to disarm Hezbollah and its infrastructure, as well as a US-facilitated military working group to help implement the deal.



Trump slams Iran drone attack as 'foolish' ceasefire violation

Published: June 26, 2026 | 15:45 GMT | by Web Desk


US President Donald Trump on Friday slammed Iran for carrying out a drone attack in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish" violation of the ceasefire in the Middle East war.


"One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship" while three others were shot down, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, in an apparent reference to an attack on a vessel the day before.


"Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement," Trump added.



Pakistan releases Iranian crew members seized by US

Published: June 26, 2026 | 13:45 GMT | by Web Desk


Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that 22 Iranian crew members from the vessel Lenore/Davina, who were seized by US authorities amid a blockade on Iran’s sea trade, have arrived in the southern coastal city of Karachi.


“Arrangements are now being finalised in close collaboration with the Iranian Missions in Pakistan to facilitate their earliest and safe return to their homeland,” Dar said in a post on X.


“This marks the fourth group of Iranian crew members in the last two months whose repatriation has been facilitated by Pakistan," Dar added that he was "grateful to the Iranian leadership for the trust they have reposed in Pakistan."



Israeli Minister says if Iran attacks Israel, it will 'commit its biggest mistake'

Published: June 26, 2026 | 12:33 GMT | by Web Desk


Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that if Iran attacked Israel, it would “commit its biggest mistake.”


In a post on X, he said that the IRGC’s "commander of has recently been issuing numerous threats toward Israel."


“Neither Hormuz nor attacks on civilians will help them; nothing will stop us. Our forces are ready to finish the job,” he said.



Two people killed in Israeli drone attack in Gaza

Published: June 26, 2026 | 10:33 GMT | by Web Desk


An Israeli drone strike in Jabalia al-Balad, located in the northern Gaza Strip, killed two people, according to Al Jazeera.



Pope begins cardinals' gathering with anti-war message

Published: June 26, 2026 | 09:13 GMT | by AFP


Pope Leo XIV said people should "resolve conflicts as human beings and not as beasts" as he hosted a gathering of cardinals from around the world in the Vatican on Friday.


The closed-door assembly -- known as a "consistory" -- ends on Saturday and is intended to discuss a variety of global challenges facing the Catholic Church.


It started with a mass in St Peter's Basilica presided by US-born Pope Leo.


"International tensions and conflicts seriously wound the human family," the pope said in his homily.


"War is never worthy of humanity, and it is never blessed by God," he said.


"Even if we are equipped with high-tech weapons, the Creator has endowed us with intelligence and free will to resolve conflicts as human beings and not as beasts."


This is the second time the pope has convened all 241 of the world's cardinals since his election in May 2025.



Lebanon president welcomes French, Italian efforts to form coalition to succeed UNIFIL

Published: June 26, 2026 | 08:57 GMT | by AFP


Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed on Friday France and Italy's efforts to set up a multinational coalition to succeed the UN peacekeeping force in his country, whose mandate expires at the end of the year.


The peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, is made up of roughly 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 countries, and has been in place since 1978, although its presence has not prevented repeated outbreaks of conflict.


Last August, the UN Security Council, under US pressure, decided to end UNIFIL's mandate on Dec. 31, 2026.


In a statement, Aoun called the initiative "a sincere expression of the international commitment to supporting Lebanon's sovereignty and stability".



Two persons killed in Israeli raid in Lebanon 

Published: June 26, 2026 | 07:21 GMT | by Web Desk


Lebanon's Health Emergency Operations Center stated in a statement that the Israeli raid on a car in the town of Mefdoun, Nabatieh district, resulted in the death of two persons and injuries to one, according to Lebanese state-run National News Agency.


'Very strong' nuclear verification needed in Iran after war: IAEA head

Published: June 26, 2026 | 04:57 GMT | by AFP


"Very strong" verification is needed in Iran following the Middle East conflict to ensure that it does not develop nuclear weapons, the UN atomic watchdog chief said on Friday.


International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi's remarks come as the United States and Iran negotiate a broader agreement to end the war, with Tehran's nuclear program a key sticking point.


"I think the objective of this (recent US-Iran preliminary) agreement is to ensure that there is no development of nuclear weapons in Iran. The government of Iran has declared quite clearly that this is not their intention," Grossi told reporters in Japan.


"But of course intentions are not enough. We have to have a very strong verification system in place... as soon as is practicable," the IAEA chief said.



State Department official says Israel-Lebanon talks to continue on Friday

Published: June 26, 2026 | 02:35 GMT | by Web Desk


A US State Department official has said that Israeli and Lebanese delegations will resume their meetings on Friday, Al Jazeera reported.


Officials from the two countries have been meeting for US-brokered talks in Washington, DC, aimed at reaching a deal to end fighting in Lebanon.


The discussions were set to conclude on Thursday.



Trump says unfrozen Iranian assets will be used to buy American wheat, soy beans, corn

Published: June 26, 2026 | 00:00 GMT | by Web Desk


US President Donald Trump has said that the Iranian assets that will be unfrozen as per the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding would be used to buy American wheat, soy beans and corn.


While referring to unfrozen Iranian assets, Trump said, “We’re going to be taking some of their money.”


“And we’ll spend it, and we’re going to be buying wheat, soy beans and corn – a lot of it. And that process is going to be starting pretty soon,” he said. 


“It’s going to be pretty big, too,” he added. 


Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that no part of the US-Iran deal undermined the security and stability of US allies in the Gulf, stating that Washington was open for peace. He also said that Iran would not be allowed to charge a toll or fee for using the Strait of Hormuz.


Additionally, US Senate rejected a resolution to rein in President Donald Trump's handling of the Iran war — an apparent U-turn following pressure from the Republican leader.


The move came just one day after the Senate voted 50-48 to pass a resolution calling for an end to the Iran war, delivering a rebuke to the White House as it seeks to negotiate a lasting deal with Tehran.



For earlier developments, read our June 25 live blog here.