• Asian stock markets rose, driven primarily by gains in the artificial intelligence sector.
• Conversely, Asian currencies declined as a stronger U.S. dollar and uncertainty surrounding U.S.-Iran peace talks discouraged investment in emerging market assets.
• The MSCI EM currencies gauge fell 0.3% for the third straight session, with the Indonesian rupiah weakening to 17,818 per dollar and the Indian rupee dropping to 94.405.
Objections comes as Trump threatens to renew attacks on Iran if it doesn’t rein in its proxy in LebanonUS political figures from left and right voiced fresh objections on Sunday to Donald Trump’s provisional deal with Iran – even as the US president made fresh threats while Vice-President JD Vance hailed progress during the first round of direct peace talks in Switzerland.Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who recently lost his primary battle for re-election, posted a line on X from a Wall Street Journal article on how rogue regimes evade US economic warfare. It said: “Iran’s ability to withstand sanctions so far exposes a hard fact for Washington: economic pressure has largely failed to cow rogue regimes, as they game out more ways to sidestep US restrictions.” Continue reading...
In ‘middle Israel’ there are fears Iran could rebuild stronger – and there is particular ire for Donald TrumpIn the Tree brasserie off Herzl Street in Rehovot, there was much that almost everyone agreed on. Few contested that the ceasefire deal concluded by Iran and the US a few days earlier was very bad for Israel. “We were betrayed by President Trump,” said Avi Perez, 55.They believed, too, that Israel, more than ever, was surrounded by danger that it would have to confront alone. “It is strange. One day we were in the [bomb] shelters with our children … The next day, everything is supposed to be normal. But nothing has been resolved,” said Shaham Nowick, 35, as he studied the menu. Continue reading...
• On June 19, 2026, President Trump signed a new peace deal between the United States and Iran to stabilize international relations.
• Tehran responded to the agreement by warning that the cost of violating the deal will be significantly higher now than in previous iterations.
• This development is critical as it attempts to resolve long-standing geopolitical tensions and economic sanctions between the two nations.
Plan is admission US could not achieve what it sought through war as red line after red line has been erasedOnly a man with an unparalleled ignorance of history such as Donald Trump would have signed America’s peace treaty with Iran at Versailles, the byword for national humiliation. And only a man with an impish sense of humour such as Emmanuel Macron would have suggested it.It is easy to cast Trump in the role of the humiliated and hurt German Count Ulrich von Brockdorff-Rantzau. The treaty of Versailles after all was based on 14 points, just as the memorandum of understanding has 14 clauses. Continue reading...
Chief Iranian negotiator says key waterway will ‘not return to prewar conditions’ after 60-day window; both sides sign memorandum of understanding extending truceReaction: Donald Trump’s Iran deal met with anger, relief and incredulityAnalysis: Trump’s Iran deal is result of unrealistic ambitions for an untenable warPakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said earlier in the day that the agreement between the US and Iran agreement was taking “immediate effect” after being signed by both sides.He said on social media that “as a first step, Islamic Republic of Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the United States of America will immediately lift the naval blockade”. Continue reading...
Details of 14-point MOU revealed as senior US officials claim ‘major win’ despite significant concessions to TehranMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe Trump administration has released the text of its 14-point agreement with Iran, claiming it delivered a “major win” for the United States – even as it made significant political and financial concessions to Iran to reopen the strait of Hormuz and prevent a “worldwide depression”.In extraordinary remarks on Wednesday, Donald Trump went from threatening Iran with a new wave of attacks to suggesting that Iran had basic rights to enrich uranium for civilian use, that he would not pressure Tehran to abandon its ballistic missiles program and that the US was “going to have to give back” billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets. Continue reading...
Abbas Araghchi says ‘war has not fully come to an end’ without Israeli forces leaving territories occupied during present conflictMiddle East crisis – live updatesIran’s top diplomat has said a peace deal with the US would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, as concern grows that Israel could undermine diplomatic efforts to finally end the Middle East war, with Donald Trump even criticising his ally and war partner as irresponsible.“Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end,” said the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. Continue reading...
Any sense of relief offset by doubts over durability of agreement and feelings of betrayal by Trump administrationMiddle East crisis – live updatesIn the rural town of Sirik, in southern Iran, temperatures over the past week have climbed to 45C (113F), and residents were still queueing to fill buckets of water days after US strikes reportedly damaged two drinking water facilities serving nearby villages.Amid water shortages and the looming fear of war came news of a possible deal between the US and Tehran. But for those struggling to pick up the pieces in the aftermath, the announcement brought little relief. Continue reading...
• The U.S. and Iran have reached a peace deal, with the official signing ceremony scheduled for June 19.
• India and France have adopted the "Innovation Roadmap 2030," a strategic framework aimed at enhancing technological collaboration between the two nations.
• In sports, Indian cricketer Richa is highlighted as a critical asset for the team's success in the T20 World Cup following a high-pressure appearance at Edgbaston.
• The U.S. and Iran are reportedly nearing a peace deal that would effectively end their current conflict.
• Key terms of the agreement include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade.
• This diplomatic breakthrough occurs as French President Emmanuel Macron leads the G7, focusing on reducing global inequality and easing geopolitical tensions.
• A peace deal is expected to be signed this Friday to end military operations across all fronts, including conflicts in Lebanon.
• Donald Trump has announced that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will be re-opened as part of the resolution.
• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that both sides have agreed to an immediate and permanent termination of hostilities.
US president says strait of Hormuz will be open from Friday but questions remain over waterway fees and Israeli breaches of ceasefire in LebanonTallying the global cost of the US-Israel war against IranMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has declared that the strait of Hormuz will be “completely open” from Friday, as western leaders gathering at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains battled to prevent the fragile US deal with Iran from almost immediately unravelling.“The deal’s all signed. And the strait is already partially opened,” Trump said as he arrived at the summit in France, but Israeli breaches of the ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s claims about its right to charge fees in the crucial waterway revealed the agreement’s many loose ends. Continue reading...
Inherent ambiguities could yet derail signing, with Trump so far achieving none of his stated goals of the warTallying the global cost of the US-Israel war against IranMiddle East crisis – live updatesIf we get to a Friday signing ceremony without this uncertain new US-Iran deal being derailed by any of its inherent ambiguities, then nuclear talks can finally restart in the same place – and at almost exactly the same point they were before this conflict started.The world will have irrevocably been changed in other ways. There is no going back for the 120 Iranian children in Minab killed in their primary school in the war’s first hours, nor for their bereaved parents, or any of the thousands in Iran, Lebanon and around the region whose lives were erased or blighted by a feckless war of choice. Continue reading...
The US and Iran have reached a tentative deal to end the conflict in the Middle East, but competing claims from Donald Trump and Tehran have left the details shrouded in uncertainty. Questions remain over the reopening of the strait of Hormuz, Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, and the future of Iran’s nuclear programme. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s senior international correspondent Julian Borger Continue reading...
• Expatriates living in the UAE have expressed relief and cautious optimism following a peace deal between the US and Iran.
• Residents highlighted that the agreement reduces regional geopolitical uncertainty, which directly impacts their job security, business operations, and travel plans.
• The reaction underscores a strong trust in the UAE leadership's ability to maintain national safety and long-term stability.
Agreement contains no restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missiles, nor does it call for regime change or surrenderMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe basic structure of the US-Iran deal reached late on Sunday – a return to the prewar status quo – has been on offer from Iran for more than a month. So has the specific architecture: an immediate unwinding of the consequences of the US-Israeli war through the reopening of the strait of Hormuz and a deferral of the actual negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme, the ostensible cause of the war. The concept of a 60-day ceasefire to resolve these issues has also been a fixture for more than a month.But it has taken the mounting pressure on the US and Iranian economies for both sides to recognise politically that a return to all-out war was unlikely to resolve the impasse, and if so, compromises would have to be struck. Continue reading...
Federal Reserve to make first decision under Kevin Warsh as Middle East hopes ease inflation pressuresBusiness live – latest updatesCentral banks in the US and UK are expected to leave interest rates on hold this week as the peace deal in the Middle East is expected to ease inflationary pressures.The US Federal Reserve is expected to hold its benchmark interest rate at a range of 3.5% to 3.75% on Thursday, in what will be the first policy decision under new Fed chair – and Donald Trump’s pick – Kevin Warsh. Continue reading...
Trump says strait of Hormuz to reopen as part of imminent agreement. Plus, best pictures from historic NBA night for New YorkGood morning.The US and Iran have announced a framework peace deal, expected to be signed later this week, that would bring their 15-week conflict to a tentative end, offering hope of relief for the Middle East and the world economy.What do we know about the deal? Leaked drafts suggest an immediate 60-day period of intensive technical talks, during which the most contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program, will be discussed. Iran’s deputy foreign minister said negotiators would seek to reach a broader agreement including sanctions relief.What has been the reaction in Iran? The Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour, reports anger among the country’s hardliners, who say the proposed deal does not guarantee an end to sanctions, compensation or control of the strait of Hormuz.And in Israel? Israel’s defense minister has said its forces “will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza – indefinitely – to defend the border and Israeli communities against jihadist elements”. Israel was frozen out of talks, despite having jointly launched the assault on Iran with the US.Will he have Trump’s blessing? “I have no doubt that the president of the US is going to be very supportive of anything that I ultimately decide to do,” Vance said. “I never bring it up. But sure, the president brings it up a lot, sometimes publicly, sometimes privately. You know, the president’s a political animal. He loves this stuff. He’s very fascinated by it.” Continue reading...
• The United States and Iran have confirmed a peace deal to end the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel, as reported on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
• The formal signing of the agreement is scheduled to take place this coming Friday.
• This deal represents a critical diplomatic breakthrough aimed at halting hostilities and stabilizing the region after a period of intense warfare.
• On Monday, June 15, RTL Today reported on a potential US-Iran peace deal and significant EU membership milestones for Ukraine and Moldova.
• The news roundup highlighted global economic outlooks, AI developments, and anti-G7 protests that took place in Geneva.
• In sports, Germany dominated Curaçao 7-1 in the World Cup, while other notable results included Australia beating Turkey 2-0 and a 1-1 draw between Brazil and Morocco.
• The Sensex surged over 1,100 points and the Nifty approached the 24,000 mark following an announcement by Donald Trump regarding a peace deal between the US and Iran.
• Market optimism was driven by the agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, alongside RBI measures designed to attract foreign currency inflows.
• This rally continues a positive trend from the previous week, during which the Sensex rose by 1,284.61 points (1.73%) and the Nifty climbed 256.2 points (1%).
• Asia Pacific stock markets rallied significantly following a peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, which reduced global geopolitical risks.
• South Korea's KOSPI led the surge with a 5.38% increase to 8,561.07, while other indices including Australia's ASX 200, China's SSEC, SZI, and Hong Kong's HSI also saw gains.
• This market optimism reflects investor confidence that the diplomatic resolution will stabilize international trade and economic security.
• The BSE Sensex and Nifty50 are expected to open higher on Monday following news of a preliminary peace deal between the US and Iran.
• This geopolitical development has caused global crude oil prices to plunge, leading to a rally in Asian equities and hopes for reduced global inflationary pressures.
• Market analysts from Bajaj Broking Research note that the Nifty50 previously closed the week up 1.1%, ending above the 23,600 level.
Those in favour forced to defend themselves against claims the terms of the proposal amount to capitulationMiddle East crisis – live updatesIranian hardliners have mounted a rearguard rejection of a proposed deal with the US as backers in the regime defend themselves against charges it does not guarantee sanctions relief, compensation or control of the strait of Hormuz.“The fact that they say we won and America has retreated is a blatant lie,” the Iranian MP Kamran Ghazanfari said. Meysam Nili, the managing director of Rajanews and brother-in-law of the hardline former president Ebrahim Raisi, called the deal on the table a catastrophic capitulation. He urged Iranians not to sit quietly. Continue reading...
Pakistani PM claims Islamabad preparing for electronic signing, while Trump and Tehran trade conflicting claimsIran, the US and mediators suggested on Saturday that a preliminary peace deal could be signed within days to end the three-month war in the Middle East, though they gave differing timelines and versions of its text.Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s prime minister, said on Saturday that Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing within 24 hours to be followed by technical-level talks next week. Continue reading...
US president dismissed Iranian media reports agreement was close, despite earlier suggesting a deal could be signed this weekendMiddle East crisis – live updatesProspects for an immediate end to the war between Iran and the US remained uncertain on Friday amid a chaotic series of conflicting claims and counter-claims by US and Iranian officials about ongoing negotiationsDonald Trump seemed to distance himself from his earlier comments that suggested a preliminary agreement could be signed as soon as this weekend, with a series of angry social media posts describing the Iranians as “very dishonorable people to deal with”. Continue reading...
Trump claims strikes called off as deal is close, but Tehran denies agreement near, while legal experts question if US targets may be a war crime. Plus 20 years of Taylor Swift’s incredible influence on pop cultureGood morning. Yesterday, Donald Trump spent the day promising he was going to hit Iran harder than ever before, then announced – again – that the US and Iran were close to signing a deal. Iran’s foreign ministry dismissed the claim, and Tasnim, the semi-official Iranian news agency, wrote that “until a potential understanding is announced by Iran, any news from Trump on this matter should be dismissed”.The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said large parts of the text under negotiation had been finalised but Iran would not compromise on its red lines. Two days of escalating attacks between the warring nations had threatened to collapse the fragile ceasefire.What is the issue around the US choice of targets in Iran? Military strikes on 10 June that damaged two water storage facilities in southern Iran may constitute a war crime, legal and military experts say. The attack on the Bemani district destroyed a key reservoir serving about 20,000 people, raising critical legal questions over whether the strike hit a valid military objective or unlawfully targeted a civilian object.Why is there a legal challenge to the method? The method has raised concerns for its apparent brutality. Eugene Smith, the first person to die by nitrogen hypoxia, thrashed and writhed on the gurney, according to witnesses. The last nitrogen execution, of Anthony Boyd, appeared to take more than 30 minutes as Boyd shuddered and gasped. Continue reading...
US president says ‘great settlement’ reached but Iranian spokesman says there has been no final conclusionFull report: Trump claims US and Iran on verge of signing peace agreementHello and welcome to the Guardian’s continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.Iran’s foreign ministry has contradicted claims from Donald Trump that a peace deal between Washington and Tehran could be signed as soon as this weekend.Trump said he was cancelling a third day of US airstrikes and bombings that he had earlier said would happen because “discussions” with Iran “have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved”. He also said on social media: “Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others.”Israel, however, said it was “not a party to” what prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described as an emerging memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. But the office said Netanyahu had spoken with Trump and that the final agreement at the conclusion of negotiations would include the removal of enriched material, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, limits on missile production, and the cessation of Iran’s support for its terrorist proxies in the region – measures that have been red lines for Iran in the past.The strait of Hormuz would open “as soon as we sign” the documents of the “great settlement” reached with Iran, Trump said. “The whole Middle East is happy.”Iranian media said the country’s forces had stopped a “violating tanker” from entering the strait of Hormuz. The report from the Fars news agency – closely linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards – came shortly after the sound of explosions were reportedly heard near the port city of Bandar Abbas.Trump had earlier posted on social media that the US would seize Iran’s Kharg Island “in the not too distant future”, but later said the seizure would be off the table “if we sign this agreement”.The price of oil rose after Trump threatened a “very hard” attack on Iran, but plunged hours later after he said he was cancelling the strikes. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 1.9% to $86.08 a barrel, on top of a 2.6% drop overnight, and Brent dropped 1.5% to $89.08 a barrel, having fallen nearly 3% overnight. Asian stocks joined a global rally, with South Korea’s Kospi surging 7.4% and Japan’s Nikkei up 2.7%.A strike wounded 10 staff members of a hospital in the Lebanese city of Tyre on Thursday, the facility’s director told the AFP news agency, as Israeli raids continued in the country’s south. All three of the historic city’s hospitals have been hit since the start of the latest war between Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel in early March.India’s government voiced a “strong protest” after three Indian seafarers were killed in US military strikes against oil tankers travelling through the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...
Vice-president says deal could ‘absolutely’ come before midterms, as US strikes Iran after downing of helicopterMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe US-Israel war on Iran could conclude in a week or a few months, vice-president JD Vance has said, as the downing of a US army helicopter sparked the latest flare-up in the conflict.In the latest vague assessment from the Trump administration on the future of its controversial war, Vance claimed the US is “very close to achieving” a peace deal with Iran, adding that it could “absolutely” come before the midterm elections. Continue reading...
