Trump expects Vance to travel to Switzerland for talks. Iran updates – USA Today
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire that began on Friday amid escalating violence between Israel and Lebanon that complicated President Donald Trump‘s efforts to reach a final peace agreement with Iran.
Still, the next round of U.S. talks with Iran remains on hold. Vice President JD Vance did not travel to Europe on Friday as originally planned for negotiations to end the war with Iran, a White House official confirmed to USA TODAY.
Trump, meanwhile, departed Washington to spend the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. Before doing so, he warned that the United States will “do things that won’t make them happy” if Iran doesn’t agree to a final deal.
At least 18 people were killed in Lebanon by Israeli overnight strikes, and Iran-backed Hezbollah killed four Israeli soldiers, Reuters reported, straining Trump’s interim peace deal between the United States and Iran.
Vance warned Thursday that the United States has “still got all the cards” if talks are not to the administration’s liking. U.S. and Iranian leaders made clear they are ready to begin fighting again if peace talks over the next two months stall.
The saber-rattling from both sides comes shortly after Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Wednesday signed an interim agreement that halts the war on all fronts and reopens the Strait of Hormuz for commerce. The pact gives the two sides 60 days to resolve the key issues of Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. sanctions on Iran.
Contributing: Reuters
Joey Garrison
President Donald Trump threatened U.S. retaliation if Iran doesn’t agree to a final deal over the next 60 days that secures commitments from Tehran not to possess or develop a nuclear weapon.
Trump issued the warning after the United States and Iran this week signed a memorandum of understanding that reopened the Strait of Hormuz and established a ceasefire, but opened a new round of talks to finalize Iranian agreements to disband its nuclear program and dispose of its highly enriched uranium.
“It’s 60 days, they have to make a deal, otherwise we will do things that won’t make them happy, but I don’t think it’s going to get to that. I think it’s going to be very good,” Trump said in remarks at Joint Base Andrews as he unveiled a plane gifted by Qatarthat will operate as Air Force One.
Trump added that oil exports from Iran could once again be bottlenecked at the Strait of Hormuz if the United States renews military strikes on Iran.
“Remember, if we do that, then all of a sudden you’re not going to have oil flowing out of the strait too quickly because people who own billion-dollar ships don’t like missiles flying over them,” Trump said.
Dinah Voyles Pulver
The Iranian body overseeing the Strait of Hormuz — the Persian Gulf Strait Authority — said Friday it will waive fees to use the strait during the 60-day negotiation period established by the memorandum of understanding with the United States, Reuters reported.
Ships seeking passage while the agreement is in force must submit transit requests at least 48 hours before arrival, the authority said in a notice. Iran would waive fees for security, safety, environmental services, and related insurance, while requiring vessels to coordinate routes and transit times in advance to ensure safe navigation.
Contributing: Jana Choukeir, Reuters
Dinah Voyles Pulver
The Football Federation of Iran plans to lodge a complaint with FIFA, the World Cup‘s governing body, over travel restrictions its soccer team is facing in the United States, Reuters reported on Friday.
Due to visa uncertainties and the ongoing issues with the United States, members of the Iranian team are commuting from their tournament base in Mexico for the three group games in the United States. They are required to enter within 24 hours of a match and leave the same day.
Reuters reported that Iran’s lead coach, Amir Ghalenoei, said their team is the “most oppressed” in the tournament and that the travel restrictions had prejudiced the team in Monday’s 2‑2 draw with New Zealand.
The Federation “believes these restrictions are inconsistent with the principles of providing equal conditions for participating teams and may affect their technical preparation,” Reuters reported.
Neither FIFA nor the U.S. Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to Reuters requests for comment.
Contributing: Reuters reporters Melory Ghazi in Dubai and Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru, with editing by Andrew Cawthorne.
Dinah Voyles Pulver
Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Central Command, released a statement Friday expressing appreciation to the “15,000 men and women in uniform who supported the blockade over the past two months.”
“Their dedication and professionalism were on full display every day, ensuring strict enforcement while still supporting humanitarian aid flow,” Cooper stated in a post to X.
The blockade was lifted on June 18 on maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas. Central Command said the Navy’s ships would remain in the area “to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect.”
Joey Garrison
President Donald Trump said he expects JD Vance to travel to Switzerland eventually after the vice president scrapped plans to head there Friday for a trip that was supposed to advance talks on a final agreement with Iran.
“I think he’s going to end up going back,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview, adding that Steve Witkoff, his special envoy to the Middle East, will be going before the vice president. “Steve Witkoff is going separately. I think JD’s going a little bit later.”
The White House cited logistical issues for Vance canceling plans for the trip to Switzerland.
In the interview, Trump also praised a ceasefire secured earlier in the day between Israel and Hezbollah, calling the truce “a positive” and “a little icing on the cake.”
Trump told NBC News that he spoke to Israel and asked them to agree to the ceasefire, though he declined to specify whether he talked directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Joey Garrison
President Donald Trump said he believes the 14-point memorandum of understanding he reached with Iran amounts to “unconditional surrender” by Tehran ‒ as he promised at the outset of the war.
Trump made the remarks in a June 18 interview with Axios days after signing an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Iran that reopens the Strait of Hormuz, establishes a ceasefire and targets a binding commitment from Iran not to possess a nuclear weapon.
The president’s defense of his deal comes as some Republicans in Congress have raised concerns about elements of the agreement, echoing similar pushback as Democrats over the MOU’s inclusion of a $300 billion redevelopment fund for Iran and sweeping sanctions relief.
Details on Iran’s nuclear program and disposal of highly enriched uranium would be finalized in a final agreement that the Trump administration hopes to complete in 60 days. If Iran agrees to these and other measures, the U.S. would lift all sanctions on Iran and create a $300 billion fund to help rebuild the war-torn country. Trump has vowed that no U.S. money will go to the fund and has signaled that the dollars could come from private investors.
Trump, speaking with reporter Marc Caputo on “The Axios Show,” also said there are “no limits” to his power as president after executing the war in Iran. “None,” Trump said when asked about limits to his power. “I haven’t learned that lesson yet. I know there are, but there are no limits. We defeated them totally militarily.”
Rachel Barber
Gas and oil prices were little changed on Friday morning from the day before as U.S.-Iran peace negotiations remain on hold.
Market data suggests shipping activity slowed in the Persian Gulf Friday morning after nearly 10 million barrels of crude oil were seen transiting or positioned near the Strait of Hormuz Thursday, according to Trading Economics.
Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, steadied around $77 per barrel. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline stands at $3.97, two cents lower than yesterday, according to AAA. It’s down from $4.53 last month, but still up from $3.21 this time last year.
Joey Garrison
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that will begin at 4 p.m. local time on Friday, a U.S. official told USA TODAY, after intensifying violence between Israel and Lebanon jeopardized an interim peace deal between the U.S. and Iran.
The truce was worked out by U.S. and Qatari negotiators with help from Iran,according to report from Reuters, which also cited a U.S. official.
Overnight Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 18 people, while four Israeli soldiers were killed by Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah presents a major hurdle in President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure a final peace deal between with Iran.
Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran also includes a halt in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, requiring Israel to withdraw from Lebanon under a final deal that Trump hopes to reach within 60 days.But Axios reported that Israel does not consider itself to be bound by the Lebanon portion of the agreement.
Contributing: Reuters
Joey Garrison
President Donald Trump is set to depart Washington on Friday afternoon for theCamp David presidential retreat, where he’s scheduled to spend the weekend as the U.S. tries to jump-start negotiations on a final peace deal with Iran.
It will mark just Trump’s second visit of his second term to Camp David, located about 70 miles from the White House in Maryland.
A White House official told USA TODAY that Trump will hold policy and political meetings at Camp David and that his family will be traveling with him to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 21.
Presidents have often used the Camp David compound, built in 1938, as a venue for diplomacy with foreign leaders.
Trump’s official schedule for Saturday and Sunday is blank other than 8 a.m. commitments listed as “executive time” on both days. The president is scheduled to return to Washington at an unspecified time on Sunday.
The Camp David trip comes after Vice President JD Vance canceled a Friday trip to Switzerland, where the U.S. was expected to advance peace talks with Iran on a final agreement after the two sides agreed to a memorandum of understanding this week. A White House spokesperson cited logistical issues and said: “The plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized.”
Trump previously planned to hold a Cabinet meeting at Camp David in May but canceled plans because of poor weather that would have complicated the helicopter flight to the retreat.
Michael Loria
United Against Nuclear Iran, a group aimed at stopping Iran’s nuclear program, is the latest conservative group to criticize the Trump administration’s deal with Iran. The group is chaired by former presidential candidate Jeb Bush.
The group issued a point-by-point analysis of the memorandum, criticizing it for potentially freeing up tens of billions of dollars for Iran without putting sufficient safeguards to ensure the country won’t use the money to fund operations against the United States.
“This language terminates military operations but does not disallow Iran’s regime from arming and funding its terror proxies,” the group said in analyzing the first point in the 14-point deal. “Consequently, this provision increases the chances of future conflict by providing breathing space and a pathway for these U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations to rearm, rebuild, and eventually attack America and Israel again.”
The group is just the latest Republican ally to criticize the apparent basis for ending the war. On Thursday, GOP lawmakers expressed skepticism over the pact.
Michael Loria
Iran’s Speaker of Parliament Mohammad B. Ghalibaf said “In the event of bad faith, breach of contract, and excessive demands by the opposing side, we have no hesitation in delivering a crushing response to the enemy.”
“They were once slapped during the war; if they wish to tread that path again, they will receive an even harder slap,” the top Iranian officials said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials appeared skeptical the pact will hold.
“If Hezbollah does not violate the agreement, it will be kept,” Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said in a statement, referring to Iran’s militant allies in Lebanon. “Under all circumstances, Israel retains its right to respond to attacks against it and to thwart threats to its territory, citizens and soldiers.”
Leiter followed up his statement with a list of alleged Hezbollah ceasefire violations. Israeli officials have previously indicated that it is necessary to occupy southern Lebanon in order to eliminate threats to Israel.
Contributing: Reuters
Michael Loria and Joey Garrison
Vice President JD Vance scrapped plans to travel to Switzerland on Friday for final negotiations on a deal to end the war in Iran, a White House official confirmed late Thursday evening.
“The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable,” a White House spokesperson said. “As of now the Vice President is not departing tonight. We will let you know as soon as we have a concrete update about next steps. We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible.”
Vance’s change of plans comes after he was originally expected to travel to Geneva to sign the memorandum of understanding halting the fighting. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the agreement remotely on Wednesday. The vice president said then that he would still travel to Switzerland for negotiations.
The vice president indicated at a news conference Thursday that he might still head to the region for negotiations over the weekend.
