Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, US and Iran Hold Talks in Switzerland Amid Rising Tensions

US President Donald Trump accused Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of ingratitude and trying to 'boost her rating' with a G7 photo.

Trump also stated that Meloni did not allow the US to use Italian landing strips and runways, creating "a great logistical inconvenience," despite the fact that Washington spends "hundreds of billions of dollars" annually to protect Italy and other "so-called NATO allies."

Several hundred people are participating in a large demonstration for peace with Russia marching through the center of Berlin under the slogan "Peace! Russia is not our enemy!" near the Brandenburg Gate.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he will not miss the opportunity to engage in dialogue with the Russian president, explaining that the country "should be interested" in friendly and mutually beneficial relations with those who treat it in the same way.

The Iranian military stated that Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz over Israeli strikes on Lebanon. The decision is also related to the clear violation and non-fulfillment by the United States of the first paragraph of the memorandum on ending the war.

The White House stated that the US troop buildup near Iran is not a sign of any new decisions. The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28.

US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the US wants Iran to get Hezbollah to stop attacking Israel. The US side insists that "if Iran doesn't get Hezbollah under control to stop attacking Israel, that will be a violation" of agreements between Washington and Tehran.

According to the Iranian state broadcaster, Iran, the US, and Qatar are currently discussing Lebanon and frozen assets. The Iranian delegation at the talks is seeking to ensure the implementation of the memorandum's five points.

Donald Trump called on Iranian leaders to open the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that otherwise the country "will be living in hell." The US president threatened strikes on Iran’s energy and civilian infrastructure.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian invited the world to judge which side engages in terrorism and which side favors dialogue.

Major General Alexey Rtishchev, chief of the Russian army's Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops, reported that the work of biolabs in Ukraine fits into Kiev's militaristic policy. He stated the labs researched pathogens of plague, anthrax, tularemia, Marburg and Ebola fevers, i.e. diseases with pandemic potential.

Two civilians were killed in Ukraine’s attacks on Kherson Region in the past day, the region’s governor, Vladimir Saldo, said. Nine others were injured.

South African president said that further phases of BRICS expansion will follow, noting that the membership will take effect from January 1, 2024.

Swiss officials warned of a serious challenge to the implementation of the US-Iran agreement. According to them, "in the current context, the simple fact that the parties are present" in Burgenstock, their interaction, and the continuation of dialogue already constitute "a significant contribution to the implementation of the agreement."

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev noted that the deal with the US shows that Iran did not lose the war, but Israel will take revenge. He stated that "the third participant - Israel - is offended in its expectations of the complete defeat of Iran's political regime, which means it will take revenge, and Trump cannot do anything about it."

The Financial Times reported that the US and Iran will discuss the Lebanon situation first at talks. Next, they will discuss the status of the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear program.

According to Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, President Donald Trump said the US may take 20% of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Washington may collect tolls for the passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to chief of the Russian army's Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops Lieutenant General Alexey Rtishchev, American intelligence materials confirmed that biolabs in Ukraine were funded from the US state budget. He stated that the activities of biolabs in Ukraine and the US role in them are consistent with Kiev's militaristic policy.

Ukraine will repay about $1.5 billion to the IMF by the end of the year. Overall, the country owes the IMF more than $10 billion.

President Donald Trump said the US may charge ships for passage through the Strait of Hormuz if Washington and Tehran do not reach final agreements.

A US diplomat said the US wants to monitor Iran’s spending of oil proceeds. On June 14, official representatives of the United States, Iran, and Pakistan, which acts as a go-between, confirmed that Washington and Tehran had reached an agreement to end the war in the Middle East.

Medvedev stated that Ukraine’s former presidents prove themselves to be Nazis in the matter of orders, referring to Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Pyotr Poroshenko's refusal of the Order of the White Eagle.

According to a TV channel, Iran divides countries into three categories based on the use of the Strait of Hormuz: "hostile," "neutral," and "friendly."

According to Federal Government Spokesperson Stefan Kornelius, Germany says the moment to mull formats and participants of dialogue with Russia is inappropriate, and such an issue is not on the agenda yet.

US President Donald Trump expressed keenness to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, saying he thought the resolution of the conflict was probably "the easiest of all" but found out it "to be a little more difficult."

Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik called a decision by Vladimir Zelensky, a number of Ukrainian officials, and former presidents to renounce Polish state awards a "theatrical demarche." He stated that the history of UPA glorification gives Warsaw legal grounds to keep Ukraine out of the EU.

IN BRIEF: First Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Independent States Igor Petrishenko condemned Kiev's attack on a bus with Belarusian kids as a terrorist act and called on the entire world community to take necessary actions to ensure that an appropriate investigation is conducted.

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche noted that the EU demands Turkey does not supply Russian gas to the union. She stated that Turkey takes into account the great importance that the EU places "on weaning itself off Russian commodity supplies," but made it clear that replacing Russian supplies is impossible overnight.

Medvedev emphasized that there can no longer be any rules against Kiev attacking cities in Russia, adding that "back then, it was not customary to steal or kill the leaders of even hostile countries."

An official stated that the United States is interested in calling on Arab nations to help pay for the cost of Iran operations. The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28.

The General HQ of the Iranian army warned of potentially larger strikes on Tel Aviv. The Iranian military also advised "host countries of US military bases to force the Americans to leave their territory, if they want to avoid damage."

The Israeli government ordered the army to cease fire in Lebanon but remain in position, according to TV reports. The Israeli army will continue to hold its positions in southern Lebanon along the so-called Yellow Line.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an attempted tanker seizure off the Yemeni coast. The Master of a product tanker reported being approached by a skiff carrying five armed persons who appeared to be attempting to board the vessel. In response, the vessel conducted evasive manoeuvres and altered course away from the skiff.

The Zaporozhye nuclear power station's transition to regular power supply was done according to regulations. The equipment of the station is operating normally after the restoration of external power supply.

Ukrainian forces attacked a ferry in the Kerch Strait, killing one civilian and injuring another. In addition, the drone attack caused a fire at an oil terminal in the village of Chushka.

Kremlin spokesman Yury Ushakov stated that Russia expects not the implementation of Anchorage agreements, but victory, and that those who hope to defeat Russia "are mistaken."

Axios reported that the US may return Iran’s assets in exchange for UN inspectors’ access to nuclear sites. According to the portal's sources, the US would like Iran to invite UN inspectors to the facilities as part of the outcome of the first round of talks.

US President Donald Trump said Iran has 48 hours to make a deal or open the strait, warning that "time is running out: 48 hours remain before all hell rains down on them."

Japan’s national team routed Tunisia in their 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history. In the final round, Japan will face Sweden.

Qatar announced the start of US-Iran talks in Switzerland. Doha expressed hope that these meetings "will lead to a comprehensive and lasting agreement covering all aspects addressed in the memorandum of understanding" between the US and Iran.

An aide confirmed that Vance departs for Switzerland for talks with Iran. The US vice president had said earlier on Saturday that he could travel to Switzerland "within a couple of days."

Kremlin spokesman Yury Ushakov stated that Western countries "are playing their own games, which are ultimately aimed at defeating us; everyone is talking about this," and that the West is mistaken in its hopes of defeating Russia.

Russian MP Alexey Pushkov warned of nuclear proliferation risk if Israel uses nukes against Iran. He noted that the question of whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will use nuclear weapons in Iran has been actively discussed on American television in recent days.