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US temporarily eases Iran oil restrictions after talks yield progress on Strait of Hormuz

The Trump administration has temporarily authorized the production, delivery and sale of Iranian oil under a new 60-day license, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Monday.

The general license was announced as the U.S. and Iran continue talks with a goal of reaching a final peace deal. It eases the restrictions on Iranian crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products through August 21.

“In line with the ongoing productive talks in Switzerland, Iran has committed to free and open transit in the Strait of Hormuz and to permit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors into their country,” Bessent wrote on X.

“As part of the framework, Treasury has issued a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian oil,” he continued.

The license further states that people in North Korea, Cuba, or the Crimea region of Ukraine cannot buy Iranian oil or benefit from its sale.

Vice President JD Vance on Monday said one goal achieved through high-level talks in Switzerland was establishing a mechanism to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and prevent disputes in the strategic shipping lane from escalating into a wider conflict.

Posted by Stephen Sorace

42 mins ago

Rubio heads to Gulf for talks on Iran, Strait of Hormuz security

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to the Persian Gulf this week for talks with key U.S. allies as tensions with Iran and concerns over shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz remain at the forefront of Washington's regional agenda.

Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain from June 23-25, where he is expected to meet with regional leaders as the Trump administration works to advance a newly signed memorandum of understanding with Iran and reassure Gulf partners about U.S. efforts to promote stability in the Middle East.

The State Department said Rubio will discuss a range of regional priorities, including the agreement reached with Tehran, efforts to ensure "full and free safe transit" through the Strait of Hormuz and broader initiatives aimed at maintaining peace and security across the region.

The trip comes amid heightened diplomatic activity following recent talks between senior U.S. and Iranian officials in Switzerland and ongoing efforts by the administration to prevent further escalation between Iran and its neighbors.

While in Bahrain, the state department said Rubio will also meet with officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional bloc that includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, “to discuss shared priorities across the region.”

Posted by Stephen Sorace

2 hours ago

Netanyahu vows Israeli forces will stay in southern Lebanon security zone ‘as long as necessary’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed that Israeli forces will retain broad authority to strike threats in southern Lebanon and remain in a security zone along the border for as long as necessary, signaling a hardline stance against Hezbollah despite ongoing international pressure to reduce tensions in the region.

Netanyahu reaffirmed his stance on Israel Defense Force (IDF) troops remaining in southern Lebanon in a video statement translated from Hebrew.

"My directive, and that of the Minister of Defense, to the IDF is clear and has not changed: Our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or developing threat to them or to the residents of the North,” Netanyahu said.

“The IDF has no restrictions on this matter,” he added.

The prime minister said that he and the entire nation of Israel stand behind the troops.

“My stance is firm on our remaining in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as is required in order to protect the residents of the North and all citizens of the state," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu’s statement comes after high-level talks between the U.S. and Iran wrapped up in in Switzerland on Monday.

Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. team, earlier touted one goal achieved through the talks was establishing a "deconfliction mechanism" aimed at improving communication among parties in the region when hostilities break out.

Vance said the mechanism would allow Israel, Lebanon, Hezbollah and regional partners to communicate during periods of heightened tensions and to prevent incidents from spiraling into a larger conflict.

Posted by Stephen Sorace

4 hours ago

Vance: US wants ‘regional ceasefire’ that protects Israel’s security

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that the Trump administration is working toward a regional ceasefire that protects Israel's right to defend itself while preventing isolated clashes from escalating into a broader conflict.

"We want a regional ceasefire," Vance said after the high-level talks with Iran and mediators Qatar and Pakistan wrapped up in Switzerland. "We want Hezbollah to stop firing at our friends in Israel. We want Israelis to be able to live in peace. We also want to make sure that when things happen, they don't spiral into a broader escalation.”

A key focus of the talks, Vance said, was establishing what officials are calling a "deconfliction mechanism" aimed at improving communication among parties in the region when hostilities break out.

The goal is to prevent incidents from spiraling into a larger conflict, particularly when attacks are carried out by lower-level actors without authorization from senior leadership.

"Israel and every other nation in the region has the right of self-defense," Vance said. "But we want to make sure that everybody has that right of self-defense in the background, where we're talking about how to de-escalate these conflicts rather than spiraling out of control."

Vance said the mechanism would allow Israel, Lebanon, Hezbollah and regional partners to communicate during periods of heightened tensions, creating a process that he argued did not previously exist.

"There really hasn't been a mechanism to have those discussions until basically around 4 p.m. yesterday," he said.

The vice president pointed to a recent decline in violence as an early sign that the effort may be working, though he cautioned that the situation remains fragile.

"The past 24 hours have probably been the most peaceful that we've seen," Vance said, noting that fighting had flared up just days earlier.

Vance described the ceasefire effort as a work in progress but said U.S. negotiators have put a framework in place designed to reduce the risk of a wider regional war.

“We want Israel's security to be protected, and we also want Lebanon's sovereignty to be protected. And this is going to be an ongoing conversation,” Vance said.

Posted by Stephen Sorace

4 hours ago

Vance insists any unfrozen Iranian funds would go towards buying US goods for Iranian people

Vice President JD Vance pushed back Monday on what he described as inaccurate reporting about potentially unfrozen Iranian assets, arguing that any future release of funds would be tightly controlled and directed toward purchases that benefit both American farmers and the Iranian people.

Vance spoke to reporters in Switzerland after high-level talks concluded, saying the Trump administration worked to establish a framework ensuring that any Iranian assets unfrozen as part of a future agreement could not be diverted to fund terrorism.

According to Vance, the arrangement developed with Qatari officials would require approval from both the United States and Qatar before any unfrozen Iranian funds could be spent on American agricultural products, which would then be provided to the Iranian people.

"If there is any frozen Iranian assets that are unfrozen, then we have approval over that process, the Qataris have approval over that process," Vance said. "The money would actually go to buy American soy, American corn and American wheat for the benefit of the Iranian people."

Vance said the structure was designed to ensure the funds benefit ordinary Iranians rather than the country's government or its proxies.

He also blamed confusion surrounding the proposal on social media commentary that he said mischaracterized the agreement.

"Fundamentally, what Jared [Kushner] and the Qataris and the entire team here in Bürgenstock accomplished is, to me, a classic Trump deal," Vance said. "If Iranian assets are ever unfrozen, they're going to go to make American farmers richer and to feed the Iranian people."

"That's a very, very good and very classic Trump deal," he added. "That's great for our people, great for the people of Iran."

Posted by Stephen Sorace

5 hours ago

Vance outlines goals for Iran, says US successfully laid foundation despite ‘whining’ from Tehran

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that U.S. negotiators accomplished every major objective they brought to talks with Iran in Switzerland, dismissing complaints from Tehran and arguing the discussions laid the groundwork for a broader agreement.

"There was a little bit of whining from the Iranians," Vance told reporters in Switzerland after the high-level talks. "But I think that's to be expected."

Despite those tensions, Vance said the negotiations produced concrete results. He outlined four goals the administration set before entering the talks and said all four were achieved.

The first was establishing a mechanism to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and prevent disputes in the strategic shipping lane from escalating into a wider conflict. Vance said oil and gas shipments through the waterway have already increased and that negotiators created a framework to manage future incidents.

The second goal focused on maintaining a regional ceasefire. Vance said U.S. officials worked to establish communication channels that could be used to quickly address flareups involving Israel, Hezbollah or other actors in the region before violence spirals further.

“We wanted to make sure that if there is shooting ... we're actually talking to each other and figuring out how to stop the shooting," Vance said.

The third objective, and the one Vance said Americans should be most encouraged by, was Iran's agreement to invite International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors back into the country.

"The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country. That is a major milestone for the American people," Vance said.

The fourth goal was setting up the technical negotiations that will continue in the coming weeks. Vance said U.S., Iranian, Qatari and Pakistani officials made significant progress establishing the process and oversight structure needed for those talks to move forward.

While portraying the meetings as a success, Vance stressed that negotiators have not yet reached a final agreement.

"The final deal is the house. We set the foundation," Vance said. "We haven't built the house, but we've laid a successful foundation to get to a good place for the American people."

Vance acknowledged that major issues remain unresolved, including nuclear and economic matters, but said the administration is confident the talks have moved the process in the right direction.

"A lot of progress, but still some work to do," he said.

Posted by Stephen Sorace

5 hours ago

US, Iran wrap second day of Switzerland talks after first round yields roadmap for broader deal

Senior U.S. and Iranian negotiators wrapped up initial talks in Switzerland on Monday after a first day of discussions produced a 60-day roadmap toward a broader agreement and established mechanisms addressing the Strait of Hormuz and the conflict in Lebanon.

The talks are expected to continue this week as both sides work through nuclear, sanctions and security issues, although Iranian state media reported negotiations were briefly disrupted Sunday following remarks by President Donald Trump before discussions resumed.

Mediators Qatar and Pakistan hailed what they called “encouraging progress” made during the talks as Iran and the United States agreed to create a “de-confliction cell” to address the fighting in Lebanon.

Switzerland on Monday welcomed what it described as "constructive progress" during the overnight negotiations at the Bürgenstock resort, praising the creation of a high-level committee and a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry said the framework would help structure the next phase of political and technical talks and reiterated its support for efforts aimed at de-escalation, stability and peace.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Posted by Landon Mion