Iran's Supreme Leader Accuses Trump of 'Desperation' in Deal, US Lifts Naval Blockade

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Iran-US war latest: Supreme Leader says Trump made a deal out of ‘desperation’ after US lifts naval blockade

The US president told the G7 that he would ‘go back to bombing’ if a full agreement was not struck within 60 days

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has accused Donald Trump of making a deal with Tehran out of “desperation”, as he confirmed his approval of the plan.

The supreme leader said he authorised the agreement despite holding a different view, after receiving assurances from President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials that Iran's rights and the interests of the "Resistance Front" would be safeguarded.

Khamenei, who has not been seen since he was injured in the US-Israeli attacks on 28 February, added that future face-to-face negotiations with the United States would not mean accepting "the enemy's position".

The US earlier confirmed it had lifted its blockade on Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz, as officials claim millions of barrels are once again flowing through the vital waterway.

“Today, U.S. forces lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, in accordance with the President’s direction,” Centcom said in a statement.

The navy will “remain in the general area” to ensure the agreement with Iran is “adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect”.

In a press conference earlier on Thursday, vice president JD Vance said 12.5 million barrels of oil had passed through the strait the previous night, and that Iranian forces had not fired on any ships.

Iran's supreme leader says Trump made deal out of 'desperation'

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday he had authorised a memorandum of understanding signed by the Iranian and U.S. presidents.

The supreme leader said he himself held a different view, but received assurances from President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials that Iran's rights and the interests of the "Resistance Front" would be safeguarded.

He accused Trump of making the deal out of “desperation”.

In a written message to the Iranian nation, Khamenei said Pezeshkian, in his capacity as head of the Supreme National Security Council, had accepted responsibility for ensuring the agreement protected Iran's interests and pledged not to yield if Washington made what he described as excessive demands.

Khamenei added that future face-to-face negotiations with the United States would not mean accepting "the enemy's position".

Alex Croft18 June 2026 19:20

What next for Iran after Trump signs ‘disastrous’ deal to end war with $300bn boost and scrapped sanctions

The United States and Iran have signed an interim deal to end their war, setting the table for two months of talks aimed at resolving long-standing disputes.

We look at the main obstacles to a more long-term peace and what happens now the documents have been signed:

What next for Iran after Trump signs ‘disastrous’ deal to end war with $300bn boost

Trump is touting his deal with Iran as a great success. But experts say the US moves into talks after three months of fighting with less leverage and more to lose

James Reynolds18 June 2026 19:00

Watch: JD Vance sends warning to Israel as he defends Trump's Iran deal

Alex Croft18 June 2026 18:41

White House hands over copy of US-Iran agreement to Congress

The White House has provided a copy of the interim US-Iran agreement to the US Congress on Thursday.

The terms listed in the document to Congress matched the details of the interim US-Iran agreement read out by a US official on Wednesday.

The document, titled "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America", begins with a declaration of an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

The document also confirmed that the US would fully end its naval blockade on Iranian ports within 30 days and Iran would ensure safe passage of commercial vessels at no charge in the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days.

Washington and Tehran commit to negotiating a final deal within 60 days, and they can extend the time frame by mutual agreement, the document showed.

The document bears signatures on behalf of Iran and the United States, with Pakistan signing as witness and mediator.

Alex Croft18 June 2026 18:19

Trump attacks on past Iran deal resurface amid criticism of MoU

Donald Trump’s criticism of a past Iran deal has resurfaced amid mounting pressure over his memorandum to end the current war.

The president took to Twitter on November 24, 2013 to make his thoughts known as the US co-signed the interim Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) with allies.

“What a rotten deal we made with Iran. We get nothing (except laughter at our stupidity). They get everything, including delay and big cash!” he wrote at the time.

James Reynolds18 June 2026 18:00

Vance lashes out at Israeli critics of US-Iran peace deal

Vance has issued a warning to Israel to respect the peace process between the US and Iran.

Attacks on Beirut that kill civilians were "not acceptable", he said.

He also hit out at Israeli critics peace agreement, stating on Thursday: "I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world."

Speaking to reporters from the White House, Vance said that President Donald Trump was "the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time," and chastised Israeli cabinet members that the majority of the Jewish State's defensive weapons were provided through US funding.

"The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the President of the US needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in," Vance said.

Alex Croft18 June 2026 17:39

‘Worst foreign policy blunder in decades’: Republicans turn on Trump over Iran deal

Republicans have turned on Donald Trump over his plan to end the war with Iran, accusing him of making the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades”.

The U.S. released the 14-point interim agreement on Wednesday as Trump signed the documents in Versailles, France. The terms included stopping the conflict and reopening the vital shipping route the Strait of Hormuz, but also financing Iran’s recovery with a $300bn fund and scrapping sanctions.

“Reagan is rolling over in his grave,” said Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy on Wednesday, referring to the former president Trump admires.

Read the full story:

‘Worst foreign policy blunder in decades’: Republicans turn on Trump over Iran deal

Members of Trump’s own party have lined up to condemn the deal, which pledges to help fund Iran and scrap sanctions

James Reynolds18 June 2026 17:19

Majority of Iranian petrochemical units back to production, industry group says

Iran has restored about 89% of petrochemical units that were knocked offline during the war with Israel and the U.S., the head of the country's largest petrochemical holding group said on Thursday, according to the Iranian Student News Agency.

Mohammad Shariatmadari, chief executive of Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, said disrupted facilities had returned to production following what he described as rapid reconstruction efforts, with some units operating above nominal capacity, while others had yet to reach full output.

Iran introduced a ban on petrochemical exports in April to ensure domestic supply after its petrochemical sector production was disrupted by Israeli strikes hitting utilities companies that provide feedstock for petrochemical plants.

James Reynolds18 June 2026 17:00

White House confident it can lift Iran sanctions without Congress approval - Vance

Vance is now discussing the issue of US sanctions on Iran, some of which are set to be lifted during the 60-day ceasefire.

He says that the Trump administration will soon brief the US Congress on the Iran deal.

"We feel quite confident that we can temporarily lift those sanctions without going to Congress and seeking their approval on that," Vance told reporters at the White House.

Alex Croft18 June 2026 16:52

Vance: I’ll be fine negotiating with the Iranians - they aren’t as tough as The View hosts

JD Vance is now seeking to prove his worth engaging in the high-stakes negotiations with Tehran over the coming weeks.

Pointing to his recent appearance on The View, in which he was mercilessly grilled by Joy Behar and her co-hosts, Vance said he is well equipped to deal with “hostile negotiations”.

“I have seen some progressive criticisms of me personally saying, what experience does the Vice President of the United States have with hostile, high-stakes negotiations,” the vice president said.

“I would point those progressive critics to the fact that just two days ago I spent over an hour on The View, so I actually have a great experience in very hostile negotiations.

“Joy Behar is way tougher than the Iranians, and she and I are best friends now. So we're going to get to a good place here,” he adds.

Read here Holly Baxter’s scathing critique of Vance’s disastrous appearance on The View.

Alex Croft18 June 2026 16:46