Live: Iran says it will never negotiate defensive ability

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf has praised the national football team's defensive performance in its World Cup draw against Belgium, comparing the display to Iranian people's steadfast defence of their country during the war against the United States and Israel.

In a post on X shortly after the match, Ghalibaf shared a photograph from the game with the caption: "This is how we protect our land."

The message drew a direct comparison between Iran's performance on the pitch and the country's response during the conflict.

Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand played a key role in the goalless draw, producing a series of saves to deny Belgium's attack, which included Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.

Iran's defence remained organised throughout the match, while Belgium's task became more difficult after defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off for fouling striker Mehdi Taremi.

This is how we protect our land pic.twitter.com/Y9x0OoE7Kb

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) June 21, 2026

The United States and Iran have agreed on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement, according to a joint statement issued by mediators Pakistan and Qatar following talks in Switzerland.

The mediators said a high-level committee has been established to provide political oversight of the process, while chief negotiators will regularly report to the body and oversee working groups focused on issues including Iran's nuclear programme, US sanctions and dispute resolution mechanisms.

The statement said the parties also agreed to establish a direct communication line concerning the Strait of Hormuz and a de-confliction cell tasked with supporting the end of military operations in Lebanon.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi described the negotiations as having achieved "major progress" towards ending the war in Lebanon.

He also said the United States had waived sanctions on Iranian oil exports, released some frozen Iranian assets and launched a major reconstruction and development initiative for Iran as part of the broader understanding between the two sides.

We welcome the convening of the Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland today and the continuation of US-Iran talks. We thank Pakistan and all parties that contributed to this understanding and look forward to building on it. We also thank Switzerland for hosting the summit. pic.twitter.com/fYGA6NuUEf

— محمد بن عبدالرحمن (@MBA_AlThani_) June 21, 2026

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has linked a planned reduction in subsidised diesel prices to growing confidence that negotiations aimed at ending the Iran war could ease tensions in the Middle East and stabilise energy markets.

According to Malaysia's Star newspaper, Anwar said his government had decided to lower, rather than increase, subsidised diesel prices from next month despite global uncertainty.

He said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has played a key role in coordinating negotiations between the United States and Iran, had expressed confidence that the crisis in the Middle East could be eased.

"So far, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been coordinating much of the negotiations, told me that this time he is confident that the crisis in the Middle East can be eased. So this will help us in terms of diesel prices," Anwar said. 

The US military's Central Command (Centcom) has said American forces remain deployed across the Middle East, stating that US personnel continue to operate "in the skies, on land, and at sea" throughout the region.

In a social media post, Centcom shared a photograph of two warplanes conducting what it described as a routine patrol.

Earlier, the command also released images showing US service members aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.

The statement comes as diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran continue, with negotiations in Switzerland focused on implementing the recently agreed memorandum of understanding.

Two U.S. Air Force A-10 attack aircraft fly together over the Middle East during a routine patrol. U.S. forces continue to be present in the skies, on land, and at sea throughout the region. pic.twitter.com/TGyJ7FWdIP

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 21, 2026

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has indicated that diplomatic efforts surrounding the US-Iran negotiations remain active, sharing a photograph with US negotiators JD Vance and Jared Kushner from Switzerland.

In a post on X, Sheikh Mohammed wrote: "Live from Lucerne, work continues."

The brief update came as mediators from Qatar and Pakistan continued efforts to advance implementation of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, following a day of talks that both sides described as constructive and productive.

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs @MBA_AlThani_, during the proceedings of the Lucerne : "Qatar will stay dedicated to this partnership to support these mediations until the end, until we reach a solution. We… pic.twitter.com/h17dYgUq8w

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) June 21, 2026

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.