Israel's President Isaac Herzog condemned criticism of senior U.S. officials on Monday, emphasizing close coordination with Washington on regional security issues, including Iran and Lebanon.
"We share values and interests, and I am absolutely certain that together we can find the best formula for dealing with this challenge," Herzog said at a JNS conference, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump is a "true partner" of Israel.
Referring to U.S.-Iran talks, Herzog said Tehran's nuclear ambitions remain a threat to Israel and global security. "Iran has been threatening to destroy Israel for decades," he said. On Lebanon, Herzog said any agreement must include Hezbollah's disarmament, adding that "Iran cannot dictate the future of Lebanon."
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday after mounting pressure from within the governing Labour Party, saying he will remain as caretaker prime minister until a new leader is elected in the coming weeks.
Starmer, who led Labour to a landslide election victory in 2024, has faced declining approval ratings and growing internal criticism. His resignation follows the election of intraparty rival Andy Burnham to Parliament last week, making Burnham the frontrunner to succeed him as Labour leader and prime minister.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a statement on his future outside 10 Downing Street on the morning of June 22, 2026, in London.Credit: AFP/ADRIAN DENNIS
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a statement on his future outside 10 Downing Street on the morning of June 22, 2026, in London.Credit: AFP/ADRIAN DENNIS
"Technical talks" between Iran and the United States on implementing their memorandum of understanding and establishing related working groups will begin in Switzerland on Monday, the Iranian Students' News Agency reported.
According to the report, Iran's delegation will be led by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and include political, economic and legal experts. Representatives from mediator countries Qatar and Pakistan are also expected to participate, while Iran's senior negotiating team has returned to Tehran.
The first day of talks between the United States and Iran focused on deconfliction mechanisms in the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon, a senior U.S. diplomat said overnight into Monday.
According to the offical, talks focused on "clarifying some of the confusing messaging from Iran," and included "robust discussions on all elements of the nuclear deal."
Contrary to what the diplomat said was "rampant false reporting," the Iranian delegation was engaged in "constant meetings and negotiations" with the United States since U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Burgenstock, Switzerland, the qatari-owned resort where the summit is taking place.
The IDF said Sunday that it killed two Hamas operatives in separate strikes in northern Gaza on Saturday, saying both were involved in planning attacks on Israeli forces and had recently violated the cease-fire agreement.
Ahmad Munir Khalil Zaza, the engineering officer in the West Jabalia Battalion, was involved in the production and distribution of weapons to the battalion's companies and was responsible for the construction of explosive devices and booby-trapped buildings, the IDF said.
According to the IDF, in recent months, Zaza attempted to emplace explosive devices near the Yellow Line in order to harm IDF troops operating in the area.
In an additional strike in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF killed Hussein Safadi, the commander of Hamas' sniper division in Gaza City, who according to the military has recently violated the cease-fire agreement and attempted to train fighters. Safadi was responsible for directing sniper attacks against IDF troops operating in the area throughout the war.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance prior to a quadrilateral meeting between the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar in Switzerland on Sunday.Credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AP U.S. Vice President JD Vance prior to a quadrilateral meeting between the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar in Switzerland on Sunday.Credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AP
WASHINGTON – AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is perhaps the most closely examined element of the U.S.-Israel relationship in this fraught political moment. It also seems to feel the heat more than anyone who is not named Benjamin Netanyahu.
With the Israeli government facing the most existential crisis in its ties with Washington in memory – fueled by both U.S. President Donald Trump's Iran diplomacy and Vice President JD Vance's unprecedented attacks on Israel and the government's U.S.-based advocates – AIPAC's initial statements following the emergence of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding clearly indicate its tough position.
"We look forward to learning the full details of the framework for these negotiations, including whether the deal preserves the sovereign right of our democratic ally Israel to respond to the security threats it confronts," its initial statement read.
■ Israeli troops shot to death two Palestinians who had thrown Molotov cocktails at the Israeli settlement of Karmei Tzur, in the West Bank's Gush Etzion settlement bloc, causing a fire to break out outside the settlement, the IDF said.
■ Ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon in the coming week will determine the "pilot areas" which will be under exclusive Lebanese military control, requiring an IDF withdrawal from some of these areas, an Israeli source told Haaretz.
■ Earlier, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that "Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon."
■ Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland "delivered major progress to end Lebanon War," due to Qatari and Pakistani mediation.
■ In a joint statement, Qatar and Pakistan said the parties agreed to create a "a de-confliction cell... to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon."
■ Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa said in an interview with Al-Mashhad TV that his country is interested in "solving the Hezbollah problem and preserving Lebanon."
■ The Iranian delegation refused to return to the four-way talks in Switzerland after U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated threats to reignite the war, but messages were exchanged through Qatari and Pakistani mediators, Iran's semi-official Tasnim agency said, citing an informed source.
■ Trump said he would add The New York Times to a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit due to what he said was "false and ridiculous reporting" on "a very battered and beat up Iran," and calling the paper's coverage "treasonous."
■ Responding to criticism from The New York Times, Trump touted U.S. military victories in Iran, saying that the Strait of Hormuz is "open" and that "the oil is gushing."
In a joint statement, Qatar and Pakistan said the first session of U.S.-Iran talks has concluded after being "conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere."
"Encouraging progress has been made including the creation of a mechanism for further technical talks," the statement read.
The parties agreed to establish a "High Level Committee, which will provide political oversight on the mediation," while working groups would focus on nuclear, sanctions, implementation of the memorandum of understanding and other matters, according to the statement. The comittee agreed on a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days, the statement said.
The mediators said the parties established a High-Level Committee to oversee negotiations, working groups on key issues including sanctions and implementation, a communication channel for the Strait of Hormuz and a Lebanon deconfliction cell.
Responding to the mediators' joint statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that the first "real test" would be the Lebanon deconfliction cell. "Tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War," Aragchi wrote. "Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran."
Tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War. Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran.
1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cellShow more
🔊PR No: 1️⃣5️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Joint Statement by the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Regarding the Conclusion of Lake Lucerne Summit, First High-Level Committee Meeting with Participation of the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran
