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U.S. lifts blockade on Iranian ports as 60-day clock for a final deal starts ticking

news agency, residents fish from the shore as cargo and commercial vessels lie at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas on June 8.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3915x3915+979+0/resize/100/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9a%2F42%2F21942f7c4fac9d78755e87778774%2Fgettyimages-2279879749.jpg)](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/17/nx-s1-5860909/iran-ships-strait-of-hormuz-trump) ### [Politics](https://www.npr.org/sections/politics/) ### [With Iran

Iranian tankers exit US blockade zone before talks to end war

news that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen sent world oil prices tumbling. According to TankerTrackers, two National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) tankers – the Diona and Hero 2 – carrying a total of 3.8 million barrels

Khamenei’s MoU stance stirs debate as Iran and US meet in Switzerland

memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the war launched by the US and Israel in late February. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian delegation in Sunday’s [high

US partially lifts Iran oil sanctions amid ‘encouraging’ talks

memorandum](/news/2026/5/29/us-iran-60-day-proposal-what-we-know) of understanding (MoU) signed by Tehran and Washington on June 17. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the [US-Iran talks](/news/2026/6/22/what-are-the-key-outcomes-of-the-iran-us-talks-in-switzerland-what-next) have been “productive”, and that several

Macron frames Évian G7 agenda in hope Trump will stay for whole summit

memorandum of understanding, moves quickly. De-mining is also urgently needed if the hundreds of tankers backed up in the strait are to reach the arteries of the world economy in time. ![Emmanuel Macron speaks

US strikes Iran missile sites and mine laying vessels as Trump’s promised peace deal remains elusive

news agency Mehr later said the situation was “completely under control” and there was no reason for residents to worry. The strikes – the second major attacks to take place during the seven-week ceasefire – came

Iran sends response to US proposals to end war

memorandum of understanding, which could lead to negotiations on Iran's nuclear ambitions. A ceasefire meant to facilitate talks to end the war launched by the US and Israel in February has been largely observed

Trump says ships ‘starting to move’ through Strait of Hormuz

Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the US-Israeli war with Iran on Friday. While no official text of that agreement has been released, both sides have said the initial deal would see the Strait

Trump says deal to end Iran war will be signed Sunday, as Iran disagrees on timing

news agency on June 8, 2026, residents fish from the shore as cargo and commercial vessels lie at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas on June 8, 2026.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/683x683+171+0/resize/100/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb1%2Fdc%2Facd91557431abc61989223fc8507%2Fgettyimages-2279879749.jpg)](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/11/nx-s1-5854970/trump-iran-peace-deal-cancel-strikes) ### [Middle

Iran hails ‘progress’ as first day of talks with US conclude after shaky start

understanding (MOU). The memorandum calls for a ceasefire on all fronts, but Israel killed more than 30 people in attacks on Saturday in central and southern Lebanon. ![JD Vance looks on as Pakistani prime minister

Iran’s IRGC launches retaliatory strike after US attacks

news agency KUNA reported. In a statement, Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Iranian attacks on its territory. “The Ministry affirms that the continuation and repetition of these aggressions undermine efforts aimed

Israel and Hezbollah agree ceasefire, US says, as more Lebanon strikes reported

memorandum of understanding "will be attributed to the US". Trump's deal relies on each side reining in hardliners and showing restraint - and there are few signs of that. Netanyahu has been under domestic pressure

Israel continues attacks on Lebanon despite agreeing to ceasefire

understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire,” the official told the Reuters news agency. A Hezbollah official told Al Jazeera the ceasefire would hold

Middle East crisis live: Tehran says it will charge ships in strait of Hormuz after 60 days; US-Iran presidents sign peace deal

memorandum of understanding in English and Farsi**, ‌US and Iranian officials said. Iran’s foreign ministry said the agreement was already in effect as of Wednesday, as did mediator Pakistan. - **Under the agreement Iran also

Prospects fade for imminent end to Iran war as attacks restart

memorandum of understanding that would halt the war. But Iranian officials have said there are still serious disagreements over some key issues. Those disagreements include Iran's demand to lift sanctions and unfreeze its assets

Can US-Iran peace ‘deal’ survive Israeli bombing of Lebanon?

news agency reported that there was no confirmation that Iranian negotiators would travel for talks, because they first wanted ⁠to see signs that the interim agreement, which includes Lebanon in the US-Iran ceasefire

Preliminary peace deal could be signed within days, says US, Iran and mediators

memorandum of understanding, although it will not be tomorrow,” Baghaei was quoted as saying. “The possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out.” Recent days have seen the [most intense clashes

Trump condemns Israel attack on Beirut, says Iran deal still close

memorandum of understanding to end fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon, was [closer than ever](/news/2026/6/14/anticipation-pushback-in-iran-as-mediators-work-to-finalise-deal-with-us). While no official terms of that initial agreement have been released, both sides have indicated that the Strait

Trump threatens to seize control of Iranian oil and gas facilities as tensions escalate

News that he would rather avoid hitting Iranian bridges and power plants, despite having threatened to do so earlier in the week. The latest comments came after Iran and the US traded strikes

US-Iran to sign a ‘peace deal’ on Friday: What we know so far

news agency Mehr, the draft agreement contains 14 points. It includes: a permanent and immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon; the complete lifting of the naval blockade within 30 days