UN says it will evacuate sailors stranded in Strait of Hormuz, as Rubio warns against tolls
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran that no country can charge fees for ships to travel through the strait.
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Iran's ballistic missiles were 'never on the table' in US talks
Iran's ballistic missiles were 'never on the table' in US talks Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 06/23/2026 - 16:53 Pakistan says one of the main objectives of the US-Israel war on Iran was not even a topic of discussion during negotiations Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian shaking hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his ceremonial reception at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad on 23 June 2026 (Pakistan's Prime Minister Office/AFP) Off Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that Iran's ballistic missiles were "never on the table" during US -Iran talks, despite the US and Israel citing it as one of the primary reasons for going to war with the Islamic Republic. "This MOU does not mention ballistic missiles. It was never on the table, it was never on the agenda and the Iranian side never even wanted to discuss it.
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In Middle East, Rubio Says ‘No Country’ Can Charge for Hormuz Traffic
The secretary of state dismissed Iran’s talk of charging ships to pass through the vital Persian Gulf portal as prohibited under international law.
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Update: Pakistani PM says he will visit Iran next week
ISLAMABAD, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at a joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday that he will visit Iran next week to pay respects to late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and reaffirm Pakistan's solidarity with Iran.
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Final resolution of US-Iran talks may take more than 60 days: S&P Global Energy's Tang
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): The final resolution of ongoing US-Iran discussions may take longer than the current 60-day timeline as several geopolitical issues remain unresolved despite signs of recovery in shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz, Benjamin Tang, Director and Global Head of Liquid Bulk, Commodities at Sea, S&P Global Energy, told ANI on Tuesday.
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Rubio Kicks Off Gulf Tour in Abu Dhabi to Shore Up Alliances
ABU DHABI -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Abu Dhabi on June 23, opening a high-stakes Gulf tour aimed at reassuring Washington's closest Arab allies after a fragile cease-fire framework between the United States and Iran raised fresh questions over regional security and Tehran's future ambitions.
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Trump: Iran is wrong about no plans for IAEA to inspect nuclear sites
Trump: Iran is wrong about no plans for IAEA to inspect nuclear sites US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran was wrong about there not being any plans for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials arriving to inspect Iran’s damaged nuclear sites. Trump added that the UN nuclear watchdog inspectors would be on the ground in Iran to carry out this mission at the “appropriate time”. This comes after Iran’s president said that the country will never negotiate their defensive capabilities during a joint press conference with Pakistan in Islamabad.
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Lebanon-Israel talks overshadowed by new US-Iran diplomatic track
Lebanon-Israel talks overshadowed by new US-Iran diplomatic track Lebanon and Israel began a fifth round of direct negotiations in Washington on Tuesday, with Beirut seeking to revive proposals for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon even as a new US-Iran diplomatic channel threatens to overshadow the talks. The three-day negotiations come after four previous rounds failed to produce a lasting ceasefire or bridge the wide gap between the two sides. Lebanon is expected to press for a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal, the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced people, the release of Lebanese prisoners and the beginning of reconstruction.
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Sharif warns of ‘spoilers’ attempting to sabotage US-Iran deal
Sharif warns of ‘spoilers’ attempting to sabotage US-Iran deal Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that some actors are trying to derail the process towards achieving a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran. “There are spoilers all over the world who want to scuttle this peace deal,” Sharif said, without mentioning any specific countries or parties involved. “They don’t want the Iranian nation, a great nation, to come out of the ashes of war and touch the zenith of glory,” he added.
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Iran will never negotiate defensive ability, president says
Iran will never negotiate defensive ability, president says Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran will never negotiate their defensive ability with any country. Iran’s missiles were not in the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the US and “will never be”, Pezeshkian told reporters in a press conference in Islamabad after meeting with Pakistan’s prime minister on Tuesday. He added that he believes regional peace and stability will only be achieved through honest discussions and intraregional cooperation.
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Rubio on US-Iran deal: Iran will not be able to charge tolls on Hormuz, Lebanon ceasefire kept separate
Rubio on US-Iran deal: Iran will not be able to charge tolls on Hormuz, Lebanon ceasefire kept separate US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Iran would not be allowed to charge a toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as part of any final agreement with the US. “It’s an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge toll or fees on an international waterway.
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Lebanon-Israel talks overshadowed by new US-Iran diplomatic track
Lebanon-Israel talks overshadowed by new US-Iran diplomatic track Submitted by Adam Chamseddine on Tue, 06/23/2026 - 14:08 New round of direct negotiations opens amid uncertainty over how it will intersect with deconfliction mechanism negotiated in Switzerland Mourners carry the casket of a slain Hezbollah fighter during his funeral in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon on 23 June 2026 (Abbas Fakih/AFP) Off Lebanon and Israel began a fifth round of direct negotiations in Washington on Tuesday, with Beirut seeking to revive proposals for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon even as a new US - Iran diplomatic channel threatens to overshadow the talks. The three-day negotiations come after four previous rounds failed to produce a lasting ceasefire or bridge the wide gap between the two sides. Lebanon is expected to press for a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal, the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced people, the release of Lebanese prisoners and the beginning of reconstruction.
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Pakistan PM says there should not be double standards over Iran having ballistic missiles
Pakistan PM says there should not be double standards over Iran having ballistic missiles Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that there should be no double standards where some countries are permitted to have ballistic missiles while Iran is not. Sharif told reporters that there was no mention of ballistic missiles in the memorandum of understanding agreed between the US and Iran because it was “never on the table”. He added that Pakistan would like to continue its role in mediating negotiations until a lasting peace is achieved.
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"Affordable rates, diverse sources": India defends energy sovereignty, reaffirms commitment to Palestine
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated on Tuesday that India's pursuit of energy security for its 1. 4 billion citizens remains guided strictly by 'national interest. ' Addressing a press briefing in the national capital, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that New Delhi's strategy involves diversifying energy sources to ensure affordability.
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Vance, Rubio call Aoun to discuss Lebanon ceasefire implementation
Vance, Rubio call Aoun to discuss Lebanon ceasefire implementation Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received a phone call from US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire after holding talks with Iran in Switzerland. According to a statement released by the Lebanese presidency on X, Vance and Rubio affirmed the US’s support for Lebanon’s security and sovereignty and emphasised their intention to follow-up on the implementation of a ceasefire with Israel as per their agreement with Iran. “President Aoun thanked the U.
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Inside the surreal UK parliament debate on pro-Israel influence dominated by lobby group members
Inside the surreal UK parliament debate on pro-Israel influence dominated by lobby group members Submitted by Imran Mulla on Tue, 06/23/2026 - 13:45 MPs posed detailed questions about lobbying and transparency while others who were members of pro-Israel groups made accusations of antisemitism Westminster Hall debate on pro-Israel influence on Monday 22 June (UK Parliament) Off The UK parliament's Westminster Hall saw a highly unusual debate on Monday evening on a petition to "call a public inquiry into pro-Israel influence on politics & democracy". The petition, which received more than 118,000 signatures from members of the public, said : "We are concerned about reported Israeli state-linked and pro-Israel lobbying activity in UK politics. We believe it is important to determine the scope and impact of any such influence campaigns.
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PAKISTAN-RAWALPINDI-IRAN-PRESIDENT-ARRIVAL
(260623) -- ISLAMABAD, June 23, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari welcome Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, June 23, 2026.
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Trump claims Iran agreed to "highest level" nuclear inspections, says "no further" Hormuz blockade
Washington, DC [US], June 23 (ANI): US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that Tehran has consented to long-term, comprehensive monitoring of its nuclear infrastructure. Concurrently, Washington will ease shipping constraints in the Strait of Hormuz and release bound financial concessions, subject to stringent American oversight.
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Clashing U.S. and Iranian Claims on Nuclear Inspection Show Challenge Ahead
President Trump said that in the latest round of peace talks, Iran had agreed to full inspection of its nuclear sites. Iran’s government said it had not.
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Aoun rejects 'foreign interference,' calls for 'full restoration' of sovereignty
Aoun rejects 'foreign interference,' calls for 'full restoration' of sovereignty Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday rejected Israel's occupation of south Lebanon and other foreign interference, as a fifth round of Israel-Lebanon talks began in Washington. "We accept nothing less than an end to the Israeli occupation and at the same time, the fall of foreign tutelage, because our only option is our national sovereignty and our solewager is on the Lebanese state," Aoun said, according to his office. He also expressed hope that the new round of talks would be "decisive along the path of achieving what we seek for the good of our nation and people", namely "the full restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty over every grain of its soil".
