World
US-Iran deal: latest developments
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran he was ready to resume military action if Tehran did not abide by its obligations.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran he was ready to resume military action if Tehran did not abide by its obligations. (File photo)
By: AFP ., Journalist @New Vision
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TEHRAN — Top officials from the United States and Iran will meet at a luxury mountainside resort in Switzerland on Friday to sign a deal to bring the Middle East war to an end.
Months of conflict, initiated by US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, wreaked chaos across the region and rattled the global economy until a peace deal was announced last week.
Here are the latest developments ahead of the signing:
Trump threatens Iran
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran he was ready to resume military action if Tehran did not abide by its obligations.
"If they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head," Trump said at the G7 summit, standing alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Lebanon strikes
Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on several areas in south Lebanon on Wednesday after strikes a day earlier killed four, despite the agreed peace deal reportedly including Lebanon.
Although the text has not been released, US and Iranian officials have said that the agreement covers the fighting in Lebanon.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran he was ready to resume military action if Tehran did not abide by its obligations.
"If they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head," Trump said at the G7 summit, standing alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Lebanon strikes
Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on several areas in south Lebanon on Wednesday after strikes a day earlier killed four, despite the agreed peace deal reportedly including Lebanon.
Although the text has not been released, US and Iranian officials have said that the agreement covers the fighting in Lebanon.
Israeli leaders have not publicly said if the country is part of the deal, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israeli forces would remain in Lebanon.
US blockade lifts
Iranian oil tankers have exited the zone in the Gulf blockaded by the US Navy, the TankerTrackers website said Wednesday, calling it the country's "first crude oil exports in two months".
It came after an Iranian deputy foreign minister said the two-month US naval blockade on Iranian ports had been lifted.
Oil prices drop
Fuelled by optimism over the promised reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, international benchmark Brent North Sea crude fell to a three-month low under $79 per barrel on Tuesday, while the main US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, fell under $76 a barrel.
G7 summit
The three-day summit of the G7 has focused intensely on Trump's deal to end the Iran war.
Asked at the gathering in France when the text would be released, Trump said: "It's a very powerful document, and I want it to be released. So probably pretty soon."
China warning
China's top diplomat told his Pakistani counterpart on Tuesday that the next phase of negotiations between the United States and Iran will be "more difficult".
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the United Nations Security Council "should also play a greater role" in reaching a final deal.
Signing venue chosen
The deal will be signed at Switzerland's mountainside Burgenstock resort located near Lucerne on Friday, the Swiss foreign ministry said.
Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will attend the signing, while the US will be represented by Vice President JD Vance, who also said Trump might attend.
IEA says Hormuz reopening vital
The International Energy Agency said Tuesday that opening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ending the shock from soaring oil and gas prices.
"The single most important solution to this problem is fully and unconditionally opening up the state of Hormuz to shipping," said IEA chief Fatih Birol.
Final deal talks 'likely' Friday
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that talks with the US on a final agreement covering Tehran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief could begin later this week.
"Likely on Friday, at a location to be determined... a new round of negotiations between Iran and the United States to reach a final agreement will begin," he said.
US blockade lifts
Iranian oil tankers have exited the zone in the Gulf blockaded by the US Navy, the TankerTrackers website said Wednesday, calling it the country's "first crude oil exports in two months".
It came after an Iranian deputy foreign minister said the two-month US naval blockade on Iranian ports had been lifted.
Oil prices drop
Fuelled by optimism over the promised reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, international benchmark Brent North Sea crude fell to a three-month low under $79 per barrel on Tuesday, while the main US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, fell under $76 a barrel.
G7 summit
The three-day summit of the G7 has focused intensely on Trump's deal to end the Iran war.
Asked at the gathering in France when the text would be released, Trump said: "It's a very powerful document, and I want it to be released. So probably pretty soon."
China warning
China's top diplomat told his Pakistani counterpart on Tuesday that the next phase of negotiations between the United States and Iran will be "more difficult".
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the United Nations Security Council "should also play a greater role" in reaching a final deal.
Signing venue chosen
The deal will be signed at Switzerland's mountainside Burgenstock resort located near Lucerne on Friday, the Swiss foreign ministry said.
Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will attend the signing, while the US will be represented by Vice President JD Vance, who also said Trump might attend.
IEA says Hormuz reopening vital
The International Energy Agency said Tuesday that opening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ending the shock from soaring oil and gas prices.
"The single most important solution to this problem is fully and unconditionally opening up the state of Hormuz to shipping," said IEA chief Fatih Birol.
Final deal talks 'likely' Friday
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that talks with the US on a final agreement covering Tehran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief could begin later this week.
"Likely on Friday, at a location to be determined... a new round of negotiations between Iran and the United States to reach a final agreement will begin," he said.