Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says only Iran is in charge of reopening the Strait of Hormuz under the Tehran-Washington Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), warning that any foreign interference will complicate the process.

Araghchi made the remarks on Sunday during a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, in Baghdad amid renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained under Iranian control after the illegal US-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic.

“According to the MoU, the strait will return to its pre-war capacity within 30 days under the management that Iran will adopt and after the removal of obstacles by the Islamic Republic,” he said.

“These arrangements are being implemented, and the responsibility for them lies with the Islamic Republic … Any interference in this matter and any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements compared to what is underway by Iran will only lead to more complicated situations and delays in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and will fuel tensions.”

Referring to fresh tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the top Iranian diplomat called on all parties not to meddle in the arrangements that are being adopted by Iran for the reopening of the strategic waterway, and ensure that the MoU does not deviate from its intended course.

Iran has restricted transit through the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for a fifth of global oil demand, since the early days of the unprovoked US-Israeli aggression on the country that began on February 28 and came to a halt under a ceasefire on April 8.‌

On July 17, Iran and the US signed the Pakistan-brokered MoU, which calls for a permanent end to hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, as well as the removal of the naval blockade on Iran within 30 days, and the restoration of commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Additionally, in his remarks, Araghchi voiced regret that Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon, saying under the MoU, the US should stop the Zionist regime’s strikes.

He further expressed his gratitude to the Iraqi government and nation for their solidarity with Iranians as victims of the illegal US-Israeli war of aggression.

Source: Press TV

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it launched a large-scale missile and drone operation against eight US military installations in the region, describing the strikes as a “decisive response” to renewed American aggression against Iranian territory.

In a statement, the IRGC said its Navy and Aerospace Force jointly carried out the operation between “2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Sunday (local time),” targeting eight “key US military installations,” including the “Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait” and the “US Fifth Fleet headquarters at Salman Port in Bahrain.”

The Corps said the operation involved ballistic missiles and drones and said the targeted facilities were destroyed.

According to the statement, the operation followed attacks carried out by the enemy against five Iranian coastal outposts earlier in the day.

“The aggressor enemy, whose very nature is characterized by breaking commitments and violating agreements, attacked five coastal outposts of the Islamic Republic in the early hours of today under the pretext of responding to the IRGC Navy’s confronting a trespassing vessel [in the Strait of Hormuz],” the statement read.

Warning over Strait of Hormuz enforcement

The IRGC said maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz falls under Iran’s responsibility pursuant to a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding that was recently signed between Iran and the United States.

It added, “Henceforth, vessels found to be in violation will be dealt with more firmly than before.”

The statement also warned that “any future aggression by the enemy, regardless of the pretext and even if, as last night and tonight, it targets objectives deemed to be of minor importance, will be met with a crushing response.”

The IRGC further said, “The enemy should understand that violating the ceasefire constitutes a breach of Clause One of the Islamabad understanding and will result in the complete suspension of all related processes.”

The statement followed an announcement by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) that it had staged new aggression against targets inside Iran.

Source: Presstv

The death toll of the Venezuela earthquake has reached close to 1,000 as more international rescuers arrive in the country at a crucial time.

Two strong earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude rocked Venezuela within seconds of each other on Wednesday, causing many structures to collapse in the country’s north, including in the capital Caracas, trapping people under the rubble.

According to the government statistics, 920 people have been killed and 3,360 others injured. However, many more people are still unaccounted for, and as time passes, they are feared to be perishing under the rubble.

Venezuelan authorities announced more than 50,000 people remain missing in thousands of collapsed structures.

Rescuers keep searching for survivors, and families wait desperately for news of their missing ones.

La Guaira region, north of Caracas, has been hit the hardest.

Natacha Diaz told media that her two daughters, aged 22 and 23, were still trapped under the rubble of a collapsed mall in La Guaira.

“They were with their friends,” she said. “I just want them to be found. I have faith and hope that they are there.”

“I just want them back with me. They are all I have, please.”

At least 243 people have been rescued from under the rubble of collapsed buildings in La Guaira, so far.

The news of the people who have been rescued alive “brings us joy that they can embrace their families and loved ones,” Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said at a televised briefing on Friday.

There have been 214 aftershocks since the quakes started, she added.

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said almost 2,000 international rescue workers are taking part in the search operation.

Fletcher told the media on Saturday that rescue teams from different countries were still pouring into Caracas.

He stressed that the first 72 hours after the earthquake were “crucial.”

“It’s absolutely grim, it’s devastating, and for us, we are driven on minute by minute, hour by hour, by the sound of the survivors underneath the rubble.”

“We cannot pause for a second while we hear them, but the worst thing is when those voices go quiet. We’re determined to save as many lives as we can.”

Source: Press TV

The United States and Iran traded military strikes after Washington on Friday accused Tehran of attacking a cargo ship, jeopardizing a fragile ceasefire as diplomats struggle to contain the Middle East war.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Saturday that they had attacked US sites in the Gulf region in retaliation to American strikes in Iran, according to state television.

The US military had earlier announced that it had struck targets in Iran in response to an attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, which it attributed to Tehran.

“If the aggression is repeated, our response will be broader than this,” the Guards said, according to a post by state TV on Telegram.

By Asu Isong in London

Iran has said there are no visits scheduled for inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to see nuclear sites earlier bombed by the United States.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said there was no protocol for such inspections, adding that Iran would continue its current obligations as a member of ​the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and under its safeguards agreement ⁠with the IAEA.

His remarks appear to undercut those made by US Vice President JD Vance, who said negotiations in Switzerland won an agreement for the IAEA to visit the Iranian sites.

The IAEA has been in and out of Iran since Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in 2025, but has not been granted access to the bombed enrichment sites targeted by America in that war.

Source: France 24

US President Donald Trump says Israel’s security and military position in the region depends heavily on support from the United States, stressing that Tel Aviv would have been “crushed” without American backing.

Speaking about US-Israeli relations on Friday, Trump noted that American assistance has been critical to Israel’s so-called defense capabilities.

“If it weren’t for my intervention, Israel would have been crushed,” Trump said, adding that Washington provides key military assets, including advanced weapons systems, the Iron Dome air defense network, and B-2 bombers.

Trump also described his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as positive, while emphasizing Washington’s influence over Israeli decision-making.

“Netanyahu, who worked well with me, will tell you that we are the ones who have the weapons, we are the ones who have the Iron Dome, and we are the ones who have the B-2 bombers,” he said.

The US president claimed that Israel holds him in high regard and would listen to his advice, saying that Washington plays an important role in shaping Israeli actions.

“Israel has a lot of respect for me,” Trump said. “But we have to keep him a little bit sensible,” he added, referring to Netanyahu.

The comments come as Israel continues its military aggression against Lebanon despite Trump’s push to secure a ceasefire between the occupying regime and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.

Source: Presstv

US Vice President JD Vance has sharply criticized warmongering Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for their aggressive opposition to the landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the United States and Iran to end the war, describing their stance as detached from reality and harmful to Israel’s own interests.

In an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, Vance directly named the ultranationalist so-called National Security Minister Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich, calling out their public attacks on the agreement signed remotely by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“What is your exact proposal? You’re a country of 9 million people. You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have,” Vance stated, referring to the Israeli regime.

Vance emphasized that the deal represents a positive path forward for the region.

He noted pointed out that the majority of defensive weapons protecting Israel in recent months were American-made and funded by US taxpayers.

“Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time,” Vance said, adding that anyone believing their biggest problem is the US president “needs to wake up and smell the reality.”

The MoU calls for a permanent end to hostilities across all fronts, the removal of the US naval blockade within 30 days, the restoration of commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a reconstruction plan worth at least $300 billion, and the lifting of US sanctions.

Under the MoU, the two sides have entered a 60-day negotiation period, with the goal of reaching a comprehensive final agreement. In-person negotiations are scheduled to begin on June 19 in Switzerland, with Pakistan and Qatar serving as mediators.

The agreement followed an unprovoked US-Israeli war of terrorism against Iran that began in late February.

Source: Presstv

US President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with an extraordinary display of political machismo on Sunday, staging a cage fight on the White House lawn hours after announcing a memorandum of understanding with Iran.

In unprecedented scenes, Trump walked out of the Oval Office alongside Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) boss Dana White and headed towards the giant arena dubbed “The Claw”.

On the way, the reality TV star-turned-president mounted the historic Truman Balcony and saluted while the national anthem played and 12 US military jets staged a noisy flyover of the White House.

Trump then took his place on the South Lawn, beside the mesh-fenced cage called the Octagon, where 14 fighters beat each other bloody in the first professional sporting event ever held at the White House, in an event dubbed “UFC Freedom 250”.

Source: France 24

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army have announced a series of coordinated retaliatory military operations targeting US military installations across the region, including assets in Bahrain.

The statements, issued in early Thursday, described the operations as a response to American aggression targeting various regions in southern Iran.

Two-wave operation targets 18 US military assets

The IRGC said its Aerospace Force and Navy conducted a retaliatory operation in two separate waves in reprisal for attacks on the Corps’ coastal outposts and service units, law enforcement posts, and the Bandar Abbas airport area.

“Eighteen key targets belonging to the criminal US military” were struck and destroyed at the Ali al-Salem and Ahmad al-Jaber airbases in Kuwait, as well as the Sheikh Isa airbase in Bahrain.

Drone strikes against US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain

Separately, the Army’s Public Relations Office reported a drone operation targeting the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

“In response to a ceasefire violation and attacks on parts of southern Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army used various explosive-laden drones to strike the US Fifth Fleet,” the office noted.

It added that communication antennas and radar systems associated with the fleet’s Patriot air defense system were targeted in the counterstrikes.

The Army said its forces remained fully prepared for further confrontation and would continue operations until the “punishment of the aggressor” was completed.

Meanwhile, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s highest operational command unit, also issued a statement, attributing the halt brought about to the latest round of the aggression to “powerful and decisive response” by the armed forces.

Also on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said US bombing in Iran would stop shortly, claiming that senior Iranian officials had called to ask him to halt the latest attack.

The IRGC, however, categorically rejected the claim, calling it “a cover to escape war.”

Source: Presstv

US mediation efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war are currently on hold, although American negotiators continue to maintain contacts with both Moscow and Kiev, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

“The mediation process on Ukraine is currently on hold. That said, US negotiators are maintaining contacts,” Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

According to the Kremlin spokesman, discussions between Russia and the United States remain ongoing through existing communication channels, alongside contacts involving the Ukrainian side.

Peskov also said there are currently no plans for a phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Commenting on a potential visit to Moscow by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Peskov said no date has yet been set.

His remarks came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described a conversation with Witkoff and Kushner as “positive,” praising what he called their willingness to work toward a settlement of the conflict in the coming weeks.

Peskov added that the Kremlin had not been informed of any contacts between the American representatives and the Ukrainian side.

Addressing the possibility of European involvement in mediation efforts, the Kremlin spokesman said Russia currently considers such a role “unacceptable.”

“First of all, starting mediation efforts by putting forward certain conditions to Russia is likely illogical and wrong,” Peskov said.

“But the main thing is that, as far as we can see, the Europeans are far more inclined to focus on continuing the war rather than on peace negotiations.”

Source: Presstv