Progress is being made in the talks between the US and Iran as both sides understand they have an opportunity to reach a final peace agreement. However, the toxic Israel continues to sabotage peace, with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declaring that the Israeli army will not withdraw from Lebanon. Meanwhile, Pakistan, which mediated between the US and Iran, states that the agreements being reached are finishing off Netanyahu, who will end up in prison.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced new agreements with the United States, 4 working groups are being created
Iran and the US have agreed to create 4 specialized working groups, according to the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister. "Four specialized working groups have been created: a working group for the termination of sanctions, a working group for nuclear issues, a working group for reconstruction and economic development, and a working group for monitoring and implementation".
According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the parties have completed preparations for the next stage of high-level talks. These will be attended by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, US Vice President J.D. Vance, as well as Pakistani and Qatari Prime Ministers Shehbaz Sharif and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The first round of technical talks between Washington and Tehran concluded on Monday night, June 22, 2026. Commenting on the results, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the talks led to the lifting of restrictions on Iranian oil exports, the unfreezing of certain assets, and the initiation of a plan for Iran's recovery. This meeting took place following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, which was conducted remotely.
Ghalibaf (Speaker of the Iranian Parliament): It is clear, Hormuz will never return to the pre-war situation
A clear message that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to the situation that existed before the war was sent by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and member of the Iranian negotiating delegation, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. "Everyone must know that the management of the Strait will never return to the situation that existed before the war. We agreed to create coordination mechanisms in the Strait of Hormuz, including a direct line of communication (hotline) and a center to which one can appeal whenever any ambiguity or disagreement arises," underlined Ghalibaf.
Furthermore, he emphasized that "this trip had positive results, especially regarding the discussion on the Strait, talks on Lebanon, the issue of oil waivers, and the matter of unfreezing frozen funds, which is one of the progress steps we are taking. Certainly, we believe that we are still at the beginning of this process and must continue our efforts." The Iranian official confirmed the release of two installments of $6 billion from frozen Iranian funds and stressed that sanctions on Iran's oil sector remain in effect, as a final agreement has not yet been reached.
"Therefore, we need waivers so that we can sell our oil and conduct our banking activities. These waivers have now been secured and the relevant agreements have been signed," said Ghalibaf, who regarding Lebanon argued that "we agreed to create a coordination center there." According to him, the center will handle any disputes "in order to prevent a return to war, to allow citizens to return to their normal lives, to ensure withdrawal from areas under Israeli occupation, and to respect the national sovereignty of Lebanon."
Regarding Trump's threats
Ghalibaf also referred to the threats issued on Sunday, 6/21, by US President Donald Trump, while negotiations were underway in Switzerland. "During the discussions, I was informed that Trump had made threatening statements against our president, the negotiating team, and had left open the possibility of attacks against our territory.
I told Vance: 'We are here in negotiations and, according to the signed memorandum of understanding, the first paragraph stipulates that there should be no threats or coercion. And yet, today your president made threats. You must understand that we never negotiate under threats or pressure.' We terminated the negotiations, left the meeting, and did not return. The American side attempted to organize a new meeting through mediators, but we refused. Subsequently, the mediators from Qatar and Pakistan came to us, and we told them that we would talk with them, but not directly with the American side. The result of these 80-minute discussions and negotiations was the announcement later released by the Pakistani and Qatari sides."
The power of weapons
"Military forces achieved the victories. Now the negotiation is coming to leverage and promote them. If problems arise, we can either respond with missiles or resolve them through negotiations. I am not a diplomat; I am a fighter. Military power and diplomacy work complementarily. We are not going to abandon the effort until we achieve the final result," argued Ghalibaf.
Trump: Iran's unfrozen funds will be spent only on purchasing food from the US, if Iran does not behave correctly I will close the Persian Gulf again
US President Trump stated: "We managed to transport more oil than before, the Strait of Hormuz is completely open, and Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon." "Iran is doing very well on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz," stressed Trump. "Good progress has been made in the negotiations to reach a fair and reasonable agreement with Iran." The US President claimed: "The unfrozen Iranian funds that will be released will be used only for the purchase of food from American farmers." He also reiterated: "If Iran does not behave correctly, I will do what I have to do, I will close the Persian Gulf again." "Iran should not use oil revenues for the reconstruction of its military, but these funds must be used for purchasing food for the people."
Netanyahu: I have ordered the Israeli army not to withdraw from Southern Lebanon
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, announced: My order and the order of the Defense Minister to the Israeli army are clear and unchangeable: Our forces in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to confront any direct or emerging threat against them or the residents of the north. The Israeli army has no restrictions in this regard. I support them, and the entire nation supports them. I am firm in my position that we will remain in the "security zone" in southern Lebanon for as long as needed to protect the residents of the north and all citizens of the State of Israel.
Pakistan's Defense Minister: The Iran-US agreement signals the fall of Netanyahu, he will go to prison
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the agreement between Iran and the United States constitutes a serious blow to the Zionist regime of Israel and could signal the political fall of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Iranian president and the US president officially signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU), with the text finalized and the agreement officially entering into force after months of intensive negotiations mediated by Pakistan, with the support of other countries in the region.
According to the MoU, the two sides have entered a 60-day period of negotiations, aiming to reach a comprehensive final agreement. The MoU provides for the final termination of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, the gradual lifting of US sanctions, the lifting of the naval blockade on Iran, and the restoration of trade traffic through the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days. Commenting on the development, the Pakistani Defense Minister stated that Israel is sabotaging the Iran-US agreement. He warned that the successful completion of the agreement will not only end Netanyahu's political career but could also lead to his legal accountability and imprisonment. "Israel is desperately seeking to derail the peace agreement between the United States and Iran."
"Reaching an agreement can bring about the political fall of Netanyahu and may even lead to his arrest." The Pakistani Defense Minister also stated that Western powers are complicit in Israel's crimes, declaring that its Western allies are accomplices in the genocide being committed in the occupied West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon. Khawaja Asif has been one of the most fervent Pakistani officials to condemn Israeli crimes in recent months.
Henry Ensher (former US Ambassador): US and Iran are getting what they want
Henry Ensher, former US Ambassador and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, estimates that the unfreezing of Iranian assets and the resumption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz show that both Washington and Tehran are reaping benefits from the agreement. "Both sides are particularly interested in showing that, in some way, they have gained the upper hand or at least that they are not being exploited," Ensher told Al Jazeera.
As he mentioned: "The only way to find out what is really happening is to see if money starts moving and if things start happening on the ground. For example, today I found that ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz, including oil tankers. This means that money is flowing and that both sides are getting what they want." Iran's chief negotiator and Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that an agreement was finalized in Switzerland under which the United States will unfreeze $12 billion in Iranian assets.
Ensher's position reflects a view gaining ground among analysts: that despite public disagreements and different interpretations of the agreement's terms, both the US and Iran have already begun to reap tangible benefits - Washington through the de-escalation of the crisis and the reopening of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and Tehran through access to frozen funds and the relaxation of certain economic restrictions.
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