US-Iran news Highlights: India welcomes a memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations over a ceasefire and the future of Lebanon would remain separate from any agreement with Iran.

Speaking in Abu Dhabi, he stressed that Washington would work directly with Lebanon's sovereign government, while Iran's support for Hezbollah would be addressed separately in US-Iran discussions.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that unnamed "spoilers" were trying to derail the agreement and progress made between the United States and Iran.

He said some parties did not want Iran to emerge from the aftermath of war and achieve renewed prosperity, though he did not identify any countries or groups.

A video circulating on social media appears to show Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi watching the Iran-Belgium World Cup match while in Switzerland for negotiations with the United States. The timing of the footage could not be independently verified. The reported sighting came after the Iranian delegation reportedly skipped a joint US press conference hours before the match.

US Central Command said the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is operating in the Arabian Sea, adding that two US aircraft carriers remain deployed in the Middle East as American forces continue to maintain a vigilant presence in the region.

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At least eight Iranian banks experienced widespread service disruptions on Tuesday, preventing customers from accessing several electronic and card-based banking services. The outage comes just days after a similar disruption affected four major banks.

Iran's Fars News Agency dismissed Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's claim that Tehran's ballistic missile programme was discussed in negotiations, calling the remarks inaccurate.

The agency said Pakistan's mediation role remains limited and suggested the comments were aimed at boosting Islamabad's diplomatic profile, adding that Qatar is currently the key mediator between Iran and the United States.

US President Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to the highest level of nuclear inspections for the foreseeable future, calling the move a guarantee of “nuclear honesty.” He said the inspections were a condition for continuing negotiations and warned there would have been no further talks without the agreement.

Trump also announced that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open, with no naval blockade in place. However, he said US forces and assets would remain positioned to reinstate the blockade if necessary.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday as part of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s state visit to Pakistan.

He was received by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, with Islamabad highlighting the two countries’ longstanding historical, cultural and religious ties.

India has welcomed the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval saying the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would strengthen energy security, ease supply chain disruptions, and support regional economic growth. He made the remarks at the BRICS national security advisers' meeting in New Delhi.

Iraq has increased production from its southern oilfields to about 2.1 million barrels per day as more tankers queue to load crude from export terminals on the Persian Gulf, according to two Iraqi oil officials cited by Reuters.

US President Donald Trump said unfrozen Iranian funds would be used exclusively to purchase American agricultural products such as corn and soybeans, benefiting US farmers.

Speaking after the first round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland, Trump also marked the anniversary of Operation Midnight Hammer, claiming the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities had destroyed Tehran’s nuclear potential when it was “two weeks away” from a weapon.

The Israeli military said it carried out an airstrike against armed militants in southern Lebanon after identifying a group operating near Israeli troops in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area.

The IDF said the militants posed an immediate threat and vowed to continue acting against threats while preventing Hezbollah from targeting Israeli civilians or soldiers.

Hezbollah denounces 'flagrant' truce violation after Israeli fire in Lebanon as Israel army says soldiers struck 'terrorist cell' in southern Lebanon.

Iran and Oman have formed a joint committee to discuss issues related to the Strait of Hormuz following an Iranian delegation’s visit to Muscat, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said. He added that further details would be outlined in a joint statement to be released later.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Pakistan showed stronger determination than Iran in helping secure the agreement and promote regional peace, praising Islamabad’s efforts to bring the deal to fruition.

Iran has no plans to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit nuclear sites damaged during the recent conflict, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.

His remarks contradicted comments by US Vice President JD Vance, who had suggested Iran agreed to readmit IAEA inspectors as an initial step toward a broader nuclear agreement.

Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva said any new Israeli attack in Lebanon, including in Beirut or the south, would cross Tehran’s red line. He warned Iran would respond if Israel violated the memorandum of understanding, including by targeting Hezbollah.

Bahreini added that Iran remains open to negotiations if the US adopts a constructive approach, but said comments by US President Donald Trump have put the Swiss talks at serious risk.

Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva said Lebanon is a key part of Tehran’s understanding with the US, including the withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to Israeli attacks. He said US-Iran technical talks in Switzerland made “good progress,” with working groups set to discuss sanctions relief and Iran’s nuclear programme. Bahreini added that no talks have been held on allowing nuclear inspectors into Iran, while the future of the Strait of Hormuz after the current 60-day period will depend on ongoing negotiations.