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US Republican Senator Graham: 'Pleased,' But 'Somewhat Concerned'
US Senator Lindsey Graham, a top supporter of President Donald Trump and also a vocal opponent of the regime in Tehran, said he was "pleased" to hear the announcement of a peace deal but that he was "somewhat concerned" about apparent differences in the two sides' views of the accord.
"I am pleased to hear the memorandum of understanding with Iran to allow the Strait of Hormuz to open has been agreed to. I will be watching closely the ensuing negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program and other matters,' the Republican from South Carolina wrote on X.
"I am somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming," he added.
Graham pointed out that "under our law, any nuclear deal with Iran will be sent to Congress for review and a vote."
"I look forward to reviewing the final product and I believe it is imperative that the architect of the deal, Vice President [JD] Vance and his negotiating partners, be part of the process in presenting the final deal to Congress."
"Time will tell," he concluded.
Oil Down, Stocks Up After US-Iran Deal As Traders Await 'Verification'
Oil prices fell sharply early on June 15 and Asian stock markets soared after the US and Iran announced they had reached a framework deal to end the war in the Middle East.
The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was down 4.7 percent at $80.89 a barrel and North Sea Brent Crude fell 4 percent to $83.81.
Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index jumped 5 percent, while South Korea's benchmark Kospi index soared 5.5 percent.
US stock futures were also sharply higher. Most US stock markets open at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.
"This is a first-step deal, not a final peace settlement," Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management was quoted by AFP as saying.
"The market will now trade verification," he said, referring to the June 19 official signing, mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz, and Israeli reaction in Lebanon.
"It is a marketable ceasefire framework that kicks the hard problems down the road," he added.
With reporting by AFP
Britain, France, Germany, Italy Ready To Lift Some Iran Sanctions
Britain, France, Germany, and Italy said they were prepared to lift some sanctions imposed on Tehran as they welcomed an accord announced by Washington and Tehran to end the war in the Middle East.
"We are prepared to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear program. We will work intensively with the US, Iran and regional partners to seize this moment, maintain momentum and achieve a long-term diplomatic settlement," a joint statement read.
"Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon. We stand ready to work with the US, Iran and the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] to this end," it added.
Starmer Hails Deal, Says Hormuz Must Open
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among Western leaders to welcome the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran to end the war.
"We are clear that toll-free freedom of navigation must now be restored in the Strait of Hormuz," he said, adding that "Iran must never have a nuclear weapon."
Starmer congratulated US President Donald Trump and mediators on the "breakthrough" after Trump said an agreement "is now complete" and that Strait of Hormuz shipping route would be reopened without tolls.
"This is a hugely important step forward in ending the war, ensuring regional stability, and re-opening the Strait of Hormuz," Starmer said in a statement.
UN Chief Welcomes US-Iran Deal As 'Critical Step' Toward Peace
UN chief Antonio Guterres on Sunday welcomed the US-Iran peace agreement -- which includes a permanent cease-fire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz -- as a "critical step" toward resolving the war in the Middle East.
"The Secretary-General hopes that the parties will build on this new momentum and redouble their efforts toward a final resolution of the conflict," Guterres said in a statement attributed to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
US President Donald Trump and Pakistani mediators said the peace accord is scheduled to be signed on June 19 in Switzerland. Although some issues reportedly have been decided, others matters will be subject to negotiations over the next 60 days, officials said.
Macron Says G7 Will Discuss US-Iran Deal, Eyes Hormuz Reopening
French President Emmanuel Macron said the leaders of the Group of 7 (G7) nations will on June 15 discuss the long-term reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under the newly announced US-Iran agreement to end the fighting in the Middle East.
At the G7 summit -- to be held in Evian, France -- "the aim will be to see the consequences of this agreement, support for Lebanon, the lasting reopening of Hormuz and of course the concluding of an accord on nuclear and ballistic activities in Iran," Macron said in a video on Instagram.
In a statement on X, Macron said: "I welcome the agreement reached between the United States and Iran, the result of a diplomatic effort to which several partners contributed. I call for its rapid and complete implementation by all belligerents."
He said the deal "should allow the urgent and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which the international mission set up with the United Kingdom is ready to support."
"The means are in place and ready to be committed. The resumption of maritime traffic, without restrictions or tolls, is an essential condition for regional stability and the global economy," he added.
Trump Says Iran Deal 'Now Complete' -- Blockade To End, Hormuz To Open
US President Donald Trump said a peace deal with Iran is "now complete" and that he has ordered an end to the naval blockade of Iran's ports in exchange for the free flow of traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
"The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete," he wrote on Truth Social on June 14.
"Congratulations to all! I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines."
Iran appeared to confirm that a deal had been reached, with its deputy foreign minister saying the "immediate and permanent end to the war and military operations on various fronts, including Lebanon, will be announced starting tonight," according to state-run Tasnim news agency.
However, the Fars news agency -- which is close to the hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), said that "it has been decided that marine traffic through the Gulf will be regulated by Iran in coordination with Oman," remarks that would be counter to Trump's earlier comments.
Separately, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that a peace agreement had been reached, saying: "Following intensive talks, we are pleased to announce that the peace deal between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran has been reached."
"Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon," Sharif said on X.
Sharif, whose country has been working as a mediator in the talks between Washington and Tehran, said a signing ceremony would be held on June 19 in Switzerland.
Trump earlier told the Wall Street Journal that the deal would either be signed electronically by himself or by Vice President JD Vance.
Throughout the day, Iran had suggested that while it believes a deal was close, it would still take more days to finalize.
Iran has insisted that an end to fighting in Lebanon be included in any deal.
Israel has maintained its offensive against the Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon.
Iran-backed Hezbollah, a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, is considered a terrorist organization by the US, while the European Union has blacklisted its armed wing but not its political branch.
No Nuclear Weapon, Opening Of Hormuz
Trump told the WSJ that the deal would include an agreement by Tehran not to obtain a nuclear weapon and to immediately open the Strait of Hormuz, through which some 20 percent of the world's oil and gas supplies flowed prewar.
The WSJ report added that Trump expressed "no urgency" to extract nuclear material Iran, saying that would come later.
With reporting from Reuters and The Wall Street Journal
Read more here.
Iran Soccer Team Arrives In Los Angeles Ahead Of First World Cup Match
Iran's World Cup soccer squad arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on June 14 following a 15-minute flight from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico.
The team will face New Zealand in its opening group play match on June 15 at 6 p.m. Pacific time in Los Angeles.
The team was expected to head to their hotel, where a police security presence was already in place.
A news conference was scheduled at Los Angeles Stadium later on June 14, with coach Amir Ghalenoei and striker Mehdi Taremi expected to participate.
The Iran team's presence in California comes amid the backdrop of the US war with Iran and as peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue.
With reporting by Reuters
Former Trump Official Says US Pressure Forced Iran To Recalibrate As Talks Advance
WASHINGTON -- Cale Brown, a former State Department deputy spokesperson during President Donald Trump’s first term, said that the growing momentum in US-Iran negotiations reflects what he described as Washington’s successful use of pressure to force Tehran back toward compromise.
“If we are close to a deal today, it is because America demonstrated this week that it would not respond to Iranian aggression with a mere tit-for-tat,” Brown, now the chairman of Polaris National Security, told RFE/RL on June 14.
“By establishing escalatory dominance, the president forced Tehran to recalibrate its position,” he added, stressing that diplomacy must be accompanied by strict conditions. “We are all hopeful for a peaceful resolution to this conflict, but not at any cost.”
“Any agreement with Iran must include strict safeguards and robust verification mechanisms to ensure full compliance with its obligations,” Brown said.
He added that he saw Washington as remaining in a strong position during the ongoing talks, saying that potential sanctions relief for Iran should be tied not only to ending Iran’s nuclear program but also to curbing its support for armed proxy groups across the region.
“If economic relief is tied to commitments to both end Iran’s nuclear program and its support for terror proxies, then the president will have addressed the breadth of Iran’s threats to the region and the world,” Brown said.
Brown’s comments came as a senior US administration official told RFE/RL that dialogue between Washington and Tehran remained ongoing and was “inching closer,” without elaborating.
The official also said the White House did not believe the latest air strikes exchanged between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah -- considered a terrorist organization by the United States -- would disrupt diplomacy. Earlier in the day, Trump urged "all sides" to de-escalate, saying the United States and Iran were “very close” to an agreement.
At the same time, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country’s Supreme National Security Council had determined that “the path of dialogue should be pursued,” signaling continued backing for negotiations from Tehran’s top decision-making body.