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Iran live updates: Trump says Iran is 'FINISHED' as talks postponed

Trump said the U.S. didn't meet out of "desperation, Iran did."

Last Updated: June 19, 2026, 9:46 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." 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.

2:29 AM EDT

US talks with Iran postponed

The planned talks between the United States and Iran meant to take place on Friday have been postponed, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced early Friday.

Preparations for future talks are continuing in Bürgenstock, officials said, but the ministry did not share details about when they could possibly be held.

"The planned talks between the U.S., Iran, Qatar and Pakistan have been postponed," the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks. The relevant preparatory work at Bürgenstock is continuing. No further information can be provided at present.

It was announced late Thursday that U.S. Vice President JD Vance would not be traveling to Switzerland for initial negotiations on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding with Iran, according to the White House.

-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

Jun 18, 2026, 10:24 PM EDT

Vance not traveling Thursday night to Switzerland for Iran negotiations

Vice President JD Vance will not be traveling Thursday night to Switzerland for initial negotiations on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding with Iran, the White House said.

"As the Vice President said at his press conference, the plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized, and the U.S. delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity," a White House spokesperson said. "But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now the Vice President is not departing tonight."

Vice President J.D. Vance takes a question from a reporter during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on June 18, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The statement went to say that the White House will provide "next steps" as soon as there is a "concrete update."

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

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

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