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Iran live updates: Vance not traveling Thursday to Switzerland for initial talks

The logistics "have never been simple or predictable," the White House said.

Last Updated: June 18, 2026, 7:55 PM EDT

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal. Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations concluded.

On Sunday, Trump announced that the U.S. and Iran had reached a "great deal." The memorandum of understanding was read to reporters on Wednesday, and the U.S. and Iranian presidents signed it that day, a White House official said.

Jun 18, 2026, 7:54 PM EDT

Trump on MOU: 'It probably is unconditional surrender' for Iran

President Donald Trump defended the memorandum of understanding, saying in a pre-taped interview with Axios that "it probably is unconditional surrender" for Iran.

While discussing how it compares to the initial goals at the onset of the war, a reporter said the MOU doesn't look like unconditional surrender.

"Well, really, it probably is unconditional surrender," Trump responded, in a clip of the interview released by Axios.

In another clip, when asked what he had learned about the limits on his power as a result of the conflict, Trump responded, "There are no limits," adding that's a lesson he has yet to learn because "we defeated them totally militarily."

-ABC News' Devin Garbitt

Jun 18, 2026, 3:26 PM EDT

Traffic picks up on Strait of Hormuz, according to ship tracking data

Three Saudi-flagged supertankers with 6 million barrels of crude and other ships sailed through the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump signed the deal with Iran, according to ship tracking data from Kpler.

Matt Smith chief oil analyst at Kpler says, "there is a pick up in traffic but it is not a mass exodus."


-ABC News' Zunaira Zaki

Jun 18, 2026, 3:13 PM EDT

More rockets fired at IDF troops in southern Lebanon

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel Defense Forces in southern Lebanon which were intercepted by the Israeli Air Force, the IDF said Thursday.

No injuries were reported, according to the IDF.

Jun 18, 2026, 1:07 PM EDT

US says it has lifted blockade on Iran

U.S. forces have lifted the blockade on ships leaving or entering Iranian ports, U.S. Central Command announced Thursday.

"U.S. military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased," CENTCOM said in statement posted on X.

While the blockade has been lifted, U.S. Naval ships "will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect," CENTCOM said.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

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