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Pakistan PM, army chief to participate in US-Iran talks in Switzerland
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will participate in the technical-level talks being held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on June 21, the PM's office said on Saturday.
Earlier today, the country's foreign ministry said U.S. and Iranian representatives would participate in the meeting, along with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.
Lebanon central bank condemns Israeli attack on branch in south
Lebanon's central bank on Saturday condemned a "direct and deliberate" Israeli attack on one of its branches in the southern city of Nabatieh, where Israel has intensified its strikes despite a ceasefire.
"Israeli forces directly targeted a branch of the Bank of Lebanon in Nabatieh," the bank said in a statement.
It condemned what it called "a deliberate attack against an official building that is inseparable from Lebanese state institutions".
The building was empty at the time of the strike and sustained only material damage, it added.
The central bank called on the United States and allies "to guarantee the protection of civilians and Lebanese official institutions".
Trump threatens US tolls on Hormuz strait if final Iran deal not reached
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Saturday that no toll will be charged for passage through the Strait of Hormuz during or after the 60-day interim ceasefire with Iran — unless the U.S. imposes one should peace talks fail.
"There will be NO TOLLS in the Hormuz Strait for 60 days during the Cease Fire Period, and there will be NO TOLLS after the 60 day period has expired, unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America, should the deal not be completed, for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East for purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Death toll from Israeli strikes in Lebanon rises to 20
Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least 20 people on Saturday, Lebanon's state news agency NNA said, one day after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect, aimed at halting months of escalating violence.
Israel said the strikes were a response to projectiles fired overnight by the Iran-backed group. An Israeli military official said Hezbollah launched more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, prompting attacks on what the official described as "Hezbollah targets".
Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes and drones had struck multiple locations in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah accused Israel of committing hundreds of ceasefire violations, and warned that continued attacks "will not pass without a response".
It urged Washington to pressure Israel to halt its attacks.
Israel army official says told by 'political echelon to cease fire' in south Lebanon
An Israeli army official said Saturday that the military had received orders from the country's political leadership to halt fighting in southern Lebanon, where its forces have continued clashing with Hezbollah fighters despite a ceasefire.
"The IDF has received updated directives from the political echelon to cease fire," the official said, adding that troops are "not conducting proactive strikes" but operating "in a defensive manner within the security zone" in southern Lebanon.
Israel army confirms killing of journalist in Gaza, says he was 'Hamas terrorist'
The Israeli military said Saturday it had carried out a strike that killed Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Wishah in Gaza, saying he was a "Hamas terrorist".
"The IDF confirms it carried out a strike on Ahmed Wishah, who was a Hamas terrorist," a military spokesman told AFP.
The spokesman did not immediately provide evidence to support the military's claim about Wishah, but said "there will be a statement issued with further details".
Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz, US CENTCOM says
The US military on Saturday denied Iran's claims that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying the critical waterway remained open and that U.S. forces were monitoring the situation to ensure that continued.
"Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz," US Central Command spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told Reuters.
"Traffic continues to flow, and US forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case."
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz shut earlier on Saturday and warned ships not to approach the waterway, casting new doubt on the future of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran meant to pave the way for in-depth peace talks.
US military monitoring Strait of Hormuz to ensure it remains open
Iranian president Pezeshkian meets Pakistani interior minister for talks
Israeli fire kills six people in Gaza, including a child, medics say
Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least six people, including a child, in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, health officials said.
An Israeli airstrike killed four Palestinians, including two women and a child, in an apartment building in Gaza City, health officials said. The attack on the building in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City destroyed the apartment and wounded several other people, medics added.
The Israeli military said they stuck a militant, without elaborating. In another incident, Israeli forces shot and killed a woman in Beit Lahiya town further north, said medics.
US military says remains 'vigilant' after Iran announces Hormuz closure
Hezbollah says Israel bears 'full responsibility' for truce violations
Israel says Hezbollah 'constantly' violating ceasefire
US military says ships moved more than 17 million barrels of oil via Strait of Hormuz on June 20
US-Iran technical talks set for June 21 in Switzerland
Pakistan's foreign ministry said on Saturday that follow-up technical-level talks between Iran and the U.S. will be held in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on June 21.
It said U.S. and Iranian representatives would participate, along with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar. It added in a post on X that Pakistan will continue to facilitate the process in its role as mediator.
Can Washington restrain Israel in southern Lebanon?
Iran has closed the strait of Hormuz – citing alleged violations of a ceasefire agreement by the US and Israel.
Tehran said the closure was the "first step" in response to what it described as breaches of commitments regarding the continuing clashes in Lebanon - and warned of further measures if the "aggression" continued. To salvage the deal, the United States would need to rein in Israel.
Can Washington restrain Israel in southern Lebanon?
FRANCE 24's international affairs editor Kethevane Gorjestani and FRANCE 24 correspondent in Tehran, Reza Sayah share their analysis.
Iran negotiators leave for Switzerland to discuss US interim deal
An Iranian negotiating team left Iran for Switzerland on Saturday for discussions on the implementation of the agreement signed between it and the United States to halt the Mideast war, state media reported.
"Iranian negotiators have left for Switzerland," state news agency IRNA reported, after quoting foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei as warning that the deal was "in trouble".
Death toll in Israel-Hezbollah war surpasses 4,000
Lebanon's health ministry said Saturday that Israeli attacks since March 2 when the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began had reached 4,057 dead, including 135 health and emergency workers, and 12,121 people wounded.
The ministry also raised the toll in Israeli attacks on Friday from 47 to "a final toll of 83 martyrs and 141 wounded", most of them in south Lebanon but also in the country's east.
US deal 'in trouble' if not implemented soon, Iran warns
The interim agreement signed between Iran and the United States to halt the Middle East war will be "in trouble" unless its provisions are implemented soon.
"The other side must take the necessary measures as soon as possible. Otherwise, the entire understanding will be in trouble," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, according to the official news agency IRNA.
Yesterday's key developments:
• The next round of Lebanon-Israel talks will be held June 23–25 in Washington, the US State Department said on Friday, following a call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
• Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire following Israeli air strikes across southern Lebanon.
• Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz rose to its busiest in two months after a deal to halt the US-Iran war.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)
