Live: Vance hails 'good progress' in Iran talks, suggests unfreezing Iranian assets

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the country's officials, negotiators and footballers are all engaged in defending the honour and dignity of the Iranian people, sharing a social media post that combined images of schoolgirls killed in a February strike with scenes from the World Cup.

"From the football pitch to the negotiating table to the battlefield, every step we take as Iranians is part of a larger struggle: defending the honor and dignity of our dear people," Araghchi wrote.

The post came as mediators reported progress in US-Iran talks in Switzerland and after Iran drew with Belgium in a World Cup group-stage match.

Araghchi also referenced the victims of the missile attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls' School in Minab on 28 February, in which about 160 people, most of them schoolgirls and teachers, were killed.

From the football pitch to the negotiating table to the battlefield, every step we take as Iranians is part of a larger struggle: defending the honor and dignity of our dear people.#Minab168 pic.twitter.com/CFZ6EbYo49

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 22, 2026

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has welcomed the outcome of the latest US-Iran talks in Switzerland, crediting Pakistani and Qatari mediation efforts with helping achieve what he described as major progress towards ending the war in Lebanon.

In a post on social media, Araghchi said that oil and petrochemical exports had been exempted from restrictions, the blockade had been lifted, some frozen Iranian assets had been released and a major reconstruction and development programme for Iran had been launched.

Despite the reported progress, he cautioned that implementation would be the true measure of success, saying the first "real test" of the agreement would be the newly established Lebanon deconfliction cell, which is intended to oversee adherence to the cessation of military operations in Lebanon.

Tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War. Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran.

1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell https://t.co/q0okD2qwSO

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 22, 2026

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the work of Tehran's negotiating delegation in Switzerland has been completed, with the next phase of discussions to be handled by technical teams tasked with implementing the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States.

Speaking to Iranian media, Baghaei said it had been agreed that technical teams would continue work on issues necessary for the effective implementation of the agreement.

"It was agreed that technical teams will continue their work on the issues necessary for the effective implementation of this memorandum of understanding," he said.

"At this stage, the work of the negotiating delegation is complete, but the technical teams will continue their work tomorrow."

A joint statement issued by the mediators of the US-Iran negotiations said the parties had agreed to establish a de-confliction cell aimed at supporting the implementation of the memorandum of understanding's provisions on Lebanon.

According to the statement, the mechanism will involve representatives of the United States, Iran and the Lebanese government, with mediation support from the countries facilitating the talks.

The statement said the de-confliction cell would work "to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon as per the MoU".

The move creates a direct channel for addressing incidents, reducing the risk of escalation and monitoring compliance with commitments to end hostilities in Lebanon, an issue that has emerged as one of the most sensitive elements of the broader US-Iran agreement.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the Iranian delegation refused to continue quadrilateral talks involving the United States, Pakistan and Qatar in Switzerland after what he described as a "threatening statement" by US President Donald Trump during the negotiations.

Speaking to Iranian media, Baghaei said Qatar and Pakistan attempted to keep the four-party format in place, but Tehran rejected the proposal.

"Qatar and Pakistan tried to continue the talks, and we said it would not be a quadrilateral meeting," he said.

Baghaei added that the Iranian delegation's priority remained ensuring that commitments already agreed upon were implemented, stating: "The Iranian delegation's view is that we must force the other side to implement its commitments."

Pakistan and Qatar said talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland were conducted in a "positive and constructive atmosphere", with mediators reporting encouraging progress on several key issues.

In a joint statement, the two countries said the parties had agreed to create a mechanism for further technical talks as efforts continue to build on the memorandum of understanding reached earlier.

The statement said a High-Level Committee would be established to provide political oversight of the mediation process, with chief negotiators reporting regularly and leading working groups focused on nuclear issues, sanctions, and monitoring and dispute resolution.

The committee has also agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days.

In addition, the parties established a direct communication channel intended to prevent incidents and misunderstandings and help ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran said "good progress" was made during the first day of talks with the United States on issues including the release of Iranian assets and relief from oil-related sanctions.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the Iranian delegation stressed that the conflict must end on all fronts, including Lebanon, while discussions also addressed "the issuance of necessary licenses for oil sales and the release of Iranian assets".

Baghaei said discussions were held on the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz and “a mechanism was set up, which is important”.

The comments came after Iranian finance minister Seyed Ali Madanizadeh said the memorandum of understanding would lead to the lifting of oil sanctions and allow Iran to sell crude oil without restrictions.

Speaking to the state news agency IRNA, Madanizadeh said: "With this agreement, oil sanctions have been lifted, and we can sell our oil without any restrictions and return the foreign exchange to the country."

He added that the accord would also support non-oil exports, increase foreign currency earnings and help address budgetary and exchange rate pressures.

A senior US official involved in the negotiations said that discussions between American and Iranian representatives in Switzerland remain ongoing and are expected to continue throughout the night, Al Jazeera Arabic reported.

The official said the US delegation had been engaged in continuous meetings since the morning and rejected reports suggesting the Iranian delegation had left, stating that negotiations were still actively underway.

The official said discussions covered Iranian messaging regarding the Strait of Hormuz, with mechanisms established to prevent escalation and help ensure the strategic waterway remains open.

Negotiators also discussed implementation of a ceasefire in southern Lebanon and held what the official described as in-depth talks on all aspects of a potential nuclear agreement.

The official added that the parties would continue working on these issues and use the progress achieved so far as the basis for future technical discussions.

US President Donald Trump has criticised Italy and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for not joining the United States and Israel in their military campaign against Iran.

In a social media post, Trump argued that Nato allies had benefited from American support for decades but failed to reciprocate during the conflict.

"After spending Trillions of Dollars on NATO, Italy, and its Prime Minister, wouldn't even think of becoming involved with the Islamic Republic of Iran and their very serious Nuclear Threat," Trump wrote.

He added: "For decades, we defend them, but when tested, they are not there to defend us, and the rest of the World. Not good!"

The comments come amid a reported deterioration in relations between Trump and Meloni, with the US president recently making critical remarks about the Italian leader following the G7 summit in France.

Iran's acting defence minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, called on Islamic countries to establish a regional security belt, arguing that greater cooperation is needed to address shared security challenges.

According to the IRNA news agency, al-Reza made the proposal during a telephone conversation with Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif.

The remarks come as countries across the Gulf continue to reassess regional security arrangements following the conflict that began in late February.

Iran has maintained that its military operations targeted US interests, while several Gulf states have disputed that claim and said civilian infrastructure was also affected.

Oil prices rose on Sunday as traders assessed the implications of ongoing US-Iran negotiations and the durability of the ceasefire between the two countries.

According to Reuters, Brent crude futures climbed by $1.09, or 1.35 percent, to $81.66 a barrel by 22:06 GMT, after reaching an early session high of $82.30.

The increase came amid continued uncertainty over future oil supplies and the outcome of diplomatic talks.

Oil prices had fallen last week after several tankers successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns about disruptions to one of the world's most important energy shipping routes.

However, market participants remain cautious as negotiations continue and questions remain over the long-term stability of the agreement.

UK lawmakers are set to debate the influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups on British politics on Monday and consider calls for a public inquiry into the issue.

The discussion follows a petition that has attracted more than 118,000 signatures, surpassing the threshold required for parliamentary consideration.

Supporters of the petition argue that the role of pro-Israel organisations in UK politics should be examined in light of the government's response to the war in Gaza and rising settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

The UK government had said in a statement issued in April that it does not support launching a public inquiry into the matter.

Mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan are ongoing but have not yet yielded a final result, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported, citing an informed source.

The source said the Iranian delegation refused to return to the quadrilateral talks following threats by US President Donald Trump, but messages continued to be exchanged through Qatari and Pakistani mediators.

The Israeli army says its soldiers have killed two Palestinians near the illegal Karmei Tzur Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank on Monday.

The army claimed that they “hurled Molotov cocktails” towards the settlement.

The killing comes amid a surge in settler attacks in the West Bank since the start of the war on Iran.

A child was shot and injured by settlers in Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported.

Palestinian Information Centre agency said that a group of settlers set ablaze a vehicle scrapyard in the village of Shuqba, west of Ramallah.

مستوطنون يضرمون النيران في أراضي المواطنين ببلدة #شقبا غرب مدينة رام الله. pic.twitter.com/Otl7ESjMV1

— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) June 21, 2026

Israeli attacks have killed nine Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 41 others in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry in the Strip says.

Since the “ceasefire” took effect in October, at least 1,021 people have been killed and 3,249 wounded by Israeli attacks.