West Asia war LIVE: U.S. says Iran talks to continue, 'both sides' standing down after clashes

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The U.S. and Iran have traded strikes in recent days despite a fragile June 17 MoU aimed at ending the conflict

Updated - June 29, 2026 08:39 am IST

Bahrain civil defence and rescue personnel work in a residential building, which according to the Bahraini Interior Ministry, was hit by an Iranian drone, in Muharraq, Bahrain, on June 28, 2026

| Photo Credit:

via Reuters

The United States and Iran early on Monday (June 29, 2026) agreed to stop attacking each other, American media reported, citing senior U.S. officials, and plan to meet on Tuesday (June 30) in Qatar to resolve their dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. and Iran have traded strikes in recent days despite a fragile June 17 memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict that began in late February and disrupted shipping through the vital waterway.

War on Iran | The story of a shipwrecked hegemon

Under that agreement, Tehran committed to allow safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz while Washington agreed to lift its blockade of Iranian ports.

“We decided to stop all the kinetic activity,” a senior U.S. official told media outlet Axios on Sunday (June 28), using a military term for strikes. A second American official told Axios both sides will stand down “for now” and that “vessels can move freely” as talks are set to continue.

(Inputs from AFP)

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June 29, 2026 08:39

Gold slips as fresh U.S.-Iran strikes boost oil, Fed rate-hike bets weigh

Gold prices eased on Monday (June 29, 2026) as recent U.S.-Iran strikes in ⁠the Gulf pushed oil prices higher, while expectations of U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate hikes further weighed on the non-yielding metal.

Spot gold was down 0.7% ‌at $4,061.35 per ounce, as of 0242 GMT. U.S. gold futures for August delivery lost 0.5% to $4,076.40. The metal ‌was headed for a fourth consecutive monthly loss of 10.4%.

Oil prices rose after Iran launched missiles and drones at U.S. military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain early on Sunday, shortly after ‌U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to wipe out the Iranian leadership if they did not stick to the agreement to end their war.

- Reuters

June 29, 2026 08:00

Israel strikes south Lebanon despite framework agreement to end hostilities

Israel renewed its strikes on Lebanon on Sunday (June 28, 2026), Lebanese state media reported, two days after an agreement was signed by the two countries, which a Hezbollah lawmaker warned would lead to “internal conflict”.

Israel strikes south Lebanon despite framework agreement to end hostilities

Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon despite a newly signed framework agreement aimed at ending hostilities between the countries.

June 29, 2026 07:59

Israel destroys Hezbollah underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military has destroyed underground infrastructure used by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in a village ‌in southern Lebanon, according to a joint statement by the Israeli Prime Minister ⁠and Defence Minister on Sunday (June 29, 2026).

Israel destroys Hezbollah underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon

Israel targets and destroys Hezbollah's underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon, informed the U.S. ahead of the operation.

June 29, 2026 07:59

Profile | War on Iran: The story of a shipwrecked hegemon

“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” President Donald Trump told Iranians on February 28, after the U.S. and Israel launched an all-out war on their country. He asked the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), armed forces and police to “lay down” weapons. “You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death,” warned Mr. Trump.

War on Iran | The story of a shipwrecked hegemon

The war the U.S. and Israel launched has come to a fragile pause with a preliminary agreement between Washington and Tehran, but it has already diminished America’s presence in the region.

June 29, 2026 07:49

U.S., Iran agree to pause attacks, meet in Qatar: US media

The United States and Iran have agreed to stop attacking each other, American media reported citing senior U.S. officials, and plan to meet on Tuesday (June 30, 2026) in Qatar to resolve their dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.

“We decided to stop all the kinetic activity,” a senior U.S. official told media outlet Axios on Sunday, using a military term for strikes.

A second American official told Axios both sides will stand down “for now” and that “vessels can move freely” as talks are set to continue.

- AFP

Published - June 29, 2026 07:46 am IST