Day 106 of Iran War: US and Iran Say Deal Near, Fighting in Lebanon Continues
Elizabeth Melimopoulos
The United States and Iran have signaled that a deal to end the war is close, with a final text agreed upon but key steps remaining. Meanwhile, fighting in Lebanon shows no signs of de-escalation.
On June 13, Iran and the United States appeared to be moving closer to an agreement to end the war, as officials from both sides indicated a deal could soon be reached.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that a memorandum with Washington was “never this close” and urged the media not to speculate on its contents before it is finalized. US President Donald Trump later reposted Araghchi's statement, after previously dismissing reports of a deal as “fake news.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country helped mediate, said a “final text has been agreed upon” and drafted, though some “next steps” still need to be completed.
In Iran
Ceasefire in Lebanon is 'test' for US-Iran deal: Al Jazeera correspondent Mohamed Vall, reporting from Tehran, said Araghchi acknowledged some disagreements within Iran's leadership over the proposed memorandum but described them as manageable and indicated a deal could be reached soon. The first phase of the deal would include a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, lifting the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and a mechanism for releasing Iran's frozen assets. Vall noted that securing and maintaining a ceasefire in Lebanon would be a critical test for the success of the deal.
Iran says $24 billion in assets could be freed: Iranian state media, citing senior official Mohsen Rezaei, reported that Trump had agreed to release $24 billion of Iran's frozen assets but has not publicly acknowledged it. Trump previously dismissed Iranian reports of the proposed deal as “fake news.”
In the US
Deal with Iran could be signed within days despite Trump's harder tone: Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher reported that Trump accused Iran of leaking “fake” and inaccurate details of the proposed deal, describing Tehran as “very dishonest” and urging it to quickly “change its behavior.” Despite the sharper tone, US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, stressed that progress is being made and Iran could receive incentives if it meets agreed-upon “benchmarks.”
US says it intercepted Iranian drones over Strait of Hormuz: CENTCOM said US forces shot down multiple Iranian attack drones allegedly targeting commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, adding that maritime traffic through the vital trade route remains uninterrupted.
Trump seeking 'way out' of Iran war, analyst says: Correspondent Mike Hanna in Washington, DC said Trump's shifting statements indicate a desire to reach a deal with Iran and move past the conflict. He said the deal could provide the president with a way to avoid the political and economic costs of a prolonged war.
In Lebanon
No signs of de-escalation in Lebanon: Al Jazeera correspondent Heidi Pett reported that Israel has resumed attacks on towns in Tyre and Nabatieh districts, issuing widespread evacuation orders affecting more than 20 communities in Nabatieh and Jezzine. This escalation suggests “we have not seen any signs of de-escalation” in the fighting, despite Iran's assurances that Lebanon would be included in a proposed ceasefire deal.
Former US diplomat says Lebanon remains key test for any deal: Henry Ensher told Al Jazeera that Iran has long used Lebanon as a “tool” in its foreign policy and warned that any Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon would be “a process.” He cautioned that there remain “many ways things can go wrong,” stressing that any deal between Washington and Tehran is only “an agreement to begin a process,” not a final solution.
