Strait of Hormuz Are in Their "Final Stages, According to State News Agency IRNA, As the US Paused a Threatened Strike Wave to Pursue"

Abbas Araghchi's remarks came after President Donald Trump said he would hold off on fresh attacks following agreement on "the perimeters of a deal" between Washington and Tehran. The US and Iran signed a memorandum on June 17 extending an April truce for 60 days to allow more time for a settlement. A regional official involved in mediation said the latest proposal calls for reopening the strait and halting attacks across the region, including by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on Gulf states and Jordan.

Iran, however, accused the US of "psychological and cognitive warfare" and said it remained prepared. The development follows months of failed efforts to restore shipping through the strait, a key oil artery. In a separate matter, Amnesty International reported that India has sold over 2,500 shipments of weapons to Israel since the October 7 Hamas attacks, despite risks they could be used in genocide in Gaza.

India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has shifted its historically pro-Palestinian stance, establishing full ties with Israel only in 1992 and hosting Modi's first visit in 2017. Meanwhile, Trump has threatened to bomb an under-construction Iranian nuclear site buried under a mountain near Natanz, known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, or "Pickaxe Mountain, which has remained untouched despite US strikes in the 2025 war. For Palestinians in Gaza, Trump's announcement that Hamas agreed to disarm offered a glimmer of hope, but Israeli strikes have continued, and most of the 2 million residents remain displaced in tent camps facing disease outbreaks. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump on Saturday to voice concerns about escalation, fearing Tehran could attack Gulf energy infrastructure, according to a person briefed on the call."