West Asia LIVE: Donald Trump defends Iran deal from critics

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U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance issued an extraordinary rebuke to Israeli critics of the Iran deal, warning them not to alienate their "only powerful ally" left in the world

Updated - June 19, 2026 07:13 am IST

U.S. President Donald Trump.

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rEUTERS

U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at critics of his agreement with Iran on Thursday (June 18, 2026), calling those who accused him of offering concessions to end the war “fools”, ahead of negotiations in Switzerland on implementing the deal. Oil prices tumbled after Mr. Trump and his Iranian counterpart separately signed their accord to end the West Asia war, with the Strait of Hormuz to reopen but two months of negotiations lying ahead.

Meanwhile, Senators are seeking to block Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel funds until the Pentagon submits several overdue reports to lawmakers, including its investigation into a deadly strike on an elementary school in Iran at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said that it was ready to begin defining the “concrete steps” needed to implement a U.S.-Iran deal. “Now it’s for us to sit down with our American colleagues, our Iranian colleagues, and start formulating the concrete steps that will have to be taken,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told reporters in Geneva.

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June 19, 2026 07:13

Watch: U.S.-Iran peace deal signed: does Iran come out on top? | Above the Fold

Watch: U.S.-Iran peace deal signed: does Iran come out on top? | Above the Fold | 18.06.2026

The U.S. and Iran have signed a 14-point agreement aimed at ending the West Asia conflict. We break down what’s in the deal and whether it can hold. We also look at Governor Arlekar’s maiden address to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the West Bengal Opposition leader row, the Telegram-NEET case, and PM Modi’s visit to VivaTech in Paris.

June 19, 2026 07:09

Trump's Iran deal sparks anger among Republican hawks

U.S. President Donald Trump’s deal with Iran has opened a rare breach with Republican hawks, who warn that the agreement falls far short of the sweeping victory he promised and could leave Tehran richer, stronger and still able to threaten the region.

The terms have alarmed some of the same Republicans who spent years denouncing Democratic former President Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran as dangerously weak.

They have voiced concerns that Mr. Trump is offering Iran sanctions relief, access to oil markets and the prospect of a $300 billion reconstruction fund while failing to secure firm commitments on uranium enrichment, ballistic missiles or Tehran’s support for armed proxies.

Here’s the full story

Trump's Iran deal sparks anger among Republican hawks

Trump's Iran deal faces backlash from Republican hawks, who criticize it as a major foreign policy mistake.

June 19, 2026 07:03

Senators seek to block Hegseth travel funds until Pentagon releases report on Iran school strike

Senators are seeking to block Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel funds until the Pentagon submits several overdue reports to lawmakers, including its investigation into a deadly strike on an elementary school in Iran at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war.

According to an annual defence authorization bill, filed this week, much of the travel funds for the Defence Secretary’s office may not be spent until Mr. Hegseth submits “unredacted civilian harm investigations,” including for the Feb. 28, 2026, strike on the Minab school. Officials have preliminarily said the U.S. was responsible for the strike, which was blamed on outdated intelligence.

Congress, which conducts oversight of the Pentagon, has not yet received the Defence Department’s report on the investigation. It is believed to have been completed last month.

-AP

June 19, 2026 07:01

IAEA ready to help define 'concrete steps' to implement U.S.-Iran deal

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Thursday (June 18, 2026) that it was ready to begin defining the “concrete steps” needed to implement a U.S.-Iran deal to end the West Asia war.

US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a deal on Wednesday (June 17) meant to end the West Asia war, with Tehran agreeing to dilute its enriched uranium in return for large-scale economic relief.

“Now it’s for us to sit down with our American colleagues, our Iranian colleagues, and start formulating the concrete steps that will have to be taken,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told reporters in Geneva.

Read the story here

IAEA ready to help define 'concrete steps' to implement U.S.-Iran deal

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi announces readiness to define steps for implementing the U.S.-Iran deal to end the West Asia war.

June 19, 2026 06:54

Trump defends Iran deal from critics he calls 'fools'

U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at critics of his agreement with Iran on Thursday (June 18, 2026), calling those who accused him of offering concessions to end the war “fools”, ahead of negotiations in Switzerland on implementing the deal.

Oil prices tumbled after Mr. Trump and his Iranian counterpart separately signed their accord to end the West Asia war, with the Strait of Hormuz to reopen but two months of negotiations lying ahead.

In a sudden development after uncertainty over when the deal agreed earlier this week would be formally signed, Mr. Trump put his name to it in thick black ink at a candlelit dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris on Wednesday (June 17).

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Trump defends Iran deal from critics he calls 'fools'

Trump defends his Iran deal, calling critics 'fools' while asserting its positive impact on the stock market and oil prices.

Published - June 19, 2026 06:54 am IST