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Iran live updates: Israel won't leave Lebanon after US-Iran MOU, minister says

Trump said Sunday that the understanding with Iran will be signed Friday.

Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 10:31 AM 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," which he said would be signed on Friday.

3:35 AM EDT

Israeli troops won't withdraw from Lebanon, Katz says

Following Sunday's announcement of a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued statements saying Israel will not withdraw from any territory it has seized.

"Israel is not subordinate to the United States, and we are an independent and sovereign state," Ben-Gvir said in a statement. "We must not withdraw from any territory that our fighters have occupied and cleared of terrorist infrastructure," he added.

Katz said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are leading "a clear policy" under which the Israel Defense Forces "will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza indefinitely."

"The area will be cleared of local residents and all terrorist infrastructure, above and below ground -- including the houses in the contact villages that served as terrorist outposts -- will be destroyed," Katz said.

Netanyahu is yet to comment on the announced U.S.-Iran understanding.

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in Nabatieh, Lebanon, on June 15, 2026.
Reuters

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Somayeh Malekian

Jun 14, 2026, 6:49 PM EDT

Trump says oil will flow from Strait of Hormuz after deal is signed on Friday

President Donald Trump is trumpeting the "great deal" he has made with Iran, claiming it will bring "peace and security" to the entire region.

He also confirmed the deal will be signed on Friday, claiming that oil will flow from "both ends of the region" after the Strait of Hormuz is opened when the agreement is signed. The oil flow is linked to mine removal, he claims.

"With the opening of the Strait upon the signing of the Deal on Friday, for purposes of mine removal, oil will flow on both ends again for the Region, and the World!" Trump wrote on his social media platform.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

Jun 14, 2026, 5:40 PM EDT

Trump says US and Iran have reached a deal, opening the Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump said in a post on social media Sunday that the United States and Iran have reached a deal, opening up the Strait of Hormuz.

"I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade," Trump wrote.

"Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!" he added.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the deal had been finalized and said it would be signed in Switzerland on Friday.

"All of our positions and important issues are included in the draft understanding," Gharibabadi said in a statement to Iranian state media.

The U.S. and Iran's comments came after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the peace deal was made. "Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon," Sharif wrote.

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