Live Updates: US-Iran deal will be signed tomorrow, Trump says

Israel’s embassy in Washington on Saturday appealed directly to the people of Lebanon, arguing that the country’s future should be determined in Beirut rather than Tehran.

“You deserve a future defined by opportunity, stability, and sovereignty — not by the ambitions of a foreign regime,” the embassy wrote on X.

The post accused Hezbollah of advancing Iran’s interests at Lebanon’s expense and was accompanied by a video referencing the devastating 2020 Beirut port explosion.

“For too long, Hezbollah has dragged Lebanon into conflicts that do not serve the interests of the Lebanese people, while advancing Iran’s agenda at Lebanon’s expense,” the embassy said.

“A stronger, more prosperous Lebanon begins when its future is determined in Beirut — not Tehran.”

The message comes as negotiations over a potential U.S.-Iran agreement continue and as the future of Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon remains a key regional issue.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday released new photos showing sailors aboard the USS George H.W. Bush conducting maintenance on MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters as the aircraft carrier operates in the Arabian Sea.

“Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) perform maintenance on MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters, keeping them mission-ready as the aircraft carrier transits the Arabian Sea and supports the U.S. blockade against Iran,” CENTCOM wrote on X.

The post comes as U.S. officials express confidence that a deal with Iran could be nearing completion, even as American forces continue military operations in the region and maintain pressure on Tehran.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., defended his support for Israel and opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, arguing his positions are rooted in preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon rather than support for war.

“My vote hasn’t been a pro-war one. It’s always been anti-Iran becoming a nuclear power,” Fetterman told Fox News’ Mark Levin during an interview that aired Saturday.

Fetterman also brushed off recent protests outside his Senate office and home, calling them “badges of honor” as he continues to face criticism from anti-Israel activists and some members of his own party over his stance on the Middle East.

A senior administration official said Saturday the U.S. believes a deal framework with Iran is taking shape that would require Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without charging transit fees, while the United States would lift its blockade of Iranian ports.

“We think we have a deal. It’s a great deal and a very strong deal,” the official said during a background call with Fox News.

According to the official, Iran would reopen the strategic waterway “with no tolls,” a key U.S. demand in negotiations aimed at ending months of conflict.

The official said the U.S. blockade would be lifted in conjunction with the reopening of the strait and that a subsequent phase would focus on demining operations in the waterway.

The comments come as President Donald Trump and other administration officials have expressed confidence that an agreement could be nearing completion, though Iranian officials have publicly offered differing accounts of the status and terms of the talks.

Hardline protesters in Tehran on Saturday suggested Iran’s negotiators lack the backing of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, pointing to his public silence on ongoing talks with the United States, according to reporting from Iran International.

During demonstrations opposing negotiations, protesters carried signs questioning why Khamenei had not publicly endorsed the diplomatic effort.

“Imam Mojtaba Khamenei even issued a message about a plane tree for Nature Day,” one placard read. “How come he has not said a single sentence about approving negotiations?”

The protest comes as U.S. and Iranian officials signal a potential agreement could be near, while opposition from hardline factions inside Iran appears to be growing.

Rep. John James, R-Mich., said Saturday he is “excited” to see what comes from a potential U.S.-Iran deal, arguing President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign forced Tehran to the negotiating table.

“President Trump is the president of peace, but he’s also the president of strength,” James said on “Fox Report.” “And this is exactly why Tehran is coming to the table to negotiate.”

James, an Iraq War veteran and Michigan gubernatorial candidate, contrasted Trump’s approach with the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal and Biden administration policy, claiming past sanctions relief helped fuel Iranian-backed terror groups.

“President Trump said, not on my watch. No more death to America, no more nukes,” James said.

James said any agreement should be “event-driven” and “fact-based,” adding that “nothing is going to proceed outside of America’s interests while President Trump is in charge.”

A second round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran is expected to address fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, according to Iranian state media, as both sides work toward a broader agreement following a proposed memorandum of understanding.

Fox News correspondent Max Gordon reported that Iran has linked the conflict in southern Lebanon to a future peace deal, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a withdrawal, arguing Tehran continues to use Hezbollah as a proxy force against Israel.

The report comes as Washington and Tehran continue to send mixed signals over the timing and terms of a potential agreement to end the conflict.

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is urging soccer fans to use the 2026 World Cup as a platform to honor victims of the Islamic Republic and distinguish between Iran’s people and its government.

“In this World Cup, Iran’s name is represented by its champion and immortal sons,” Pahlavi wrote Saturday in an X post translated from Persian. “Take the jerseys adorned with their images to the stadiums and streets.”

“Let the world know that the true Iranian team is the brave people of Iran; not the representatives of Iran’s criminal and occupying regime,” he added.

A related message from Pahlavi’s communications team encouraged supporters to wear white T-shirts bearing the names and symbolic numbers of athletes, protesters and young Iranians who were killed, executed or subjected to repression by the Islamic Republic.

According to the campaign, each shirt would feature a QR code linking to the individual’s story.

The appeal comes as opposition figures continue seeking to capitalize on heightened scrutiny of Iran’s leadership following months of conflict.

Fox News co-host and Marine Corps reservist Joey Jones said Saturday that the biggest challenge facing any potential U.S.-Iran agreement is ensuring Tehran follows through on its commitments.

Speaking on “Fox News Live” with Aishah Hasnie, Jones said a signed deal would only be the beginning of the process.

“This deal is signing a piece of paper,” Jones said. “It doesn’t exactly mean Iran is abiding by it.”

Jones pointed to reports that the Trump administration is seeking direct involvement in verifying the destruction or removal of Iranian nuclear material, calling that a major sticking point throughout negotiations.

“I think that’s been a huge sticking point this entire time,” he said.

Jones also argued that military options such as seizing Iran’s key oil infrastructure could prove difficult to sustain.

“It’s my belief that taking Kharg Island is a lot easier than holding Kharg Island,” Jones said. “You could take Kharg Island from the air, seize the place, but then to hold it, now you have to defend it.”

Jones added that diplomacy remains complicated because of uncertainty surrounding Iran’s leadership structure following months of conflict.

“Iran is that hard to communicate and understand because … they may have multiple folks that think they’re in charge or want to be in charge,” he said.

U.S. Central Command released new images Saturday showing Navy fighter jets and command and control aircraft preparing to take off from the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. 

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has been operating in the Middle East in support of the U.S. military’s blockade of Iranian ports. 

As of Saturday, “CENTCOM forces have redirected 141 commercial vessels and disabled 9 to ensure compliance” with the blockade, according to CENTCOM.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that a deal with Iran to bring an end to the war is “schedule to get signed tomorrow” and that “immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL.” 

“Barack Hussein Obama’s Deal with Iran, the JCPOA, was an easy, beautiful, smooth road to a Nuclear Weapon, which Iran would have had six years ago, and would have used long before now,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “My Agreement with Iran is the exact opposite, A WALL TO NO NUCLEAR WEAPON! In fact, they no longer want a Nuclear Weapon, nor will they have one, either through purchase, development, or any other form of procurement.” 

“The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL,” the president continued. 

“Our relationship with Iran is a much different and better one than previous Administrations have had. Unlike Obama’s Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in payments to them, including 1.7 Billion Dollars in green, cold cash, no money will exchange hands. At the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust, buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains, thanks to our beautiful B-2 Bombers and their brilliant pilots, and downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran, or the United States,” Trump also said. 

“We look forward to working with Iran, and the entire Middle East, long into the future. Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly,” he concluded. “If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!” 

The office of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Saturday that a deal between the U.S. and Iran is “ready for signatures.” 

Sharif’s office said he spoke by phone with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister. 

“The Prime Minister expressed his deep appreciation for Qatar’s strong and steadfast support for Pakistan’s peace efforts throughout the Gulf crisis and stated that a peace deal was ready for signatures by the relevant parties very shortly,” Sharif’s office said in a statement. 

“While sincerely appreciating Pakistan’s remarkable efforts for p eace, the Qatari Prime Minister paid tribute to the Prime Minister and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for playing an instrumental role in steering the diplomatic efforts,” the office added. “He assured the Prime Minister that Qatar was proud to extend its support to Pakistan’s endeavors and hoped that this would bring lasting peace to the region.” 

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said he held a joint meeting Saturday with ambassadors from Russia and China in Tehran, where “discussions and exchanges of views were held regarding the latest developments related to the draft memorandum of understanding in Islamabad.” 

“The strategic partnership between Iran, China, and Russia, as well as the coordination and interactions among the three countries, will continue with full strength,” he added. 

The statement comes as the U.S. and Iran are working to finalize a deal to end the war. 

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced earlier Saturday that a U.S.-Iran peace agreement is likely to be finalized within the next 24 hours. 

Retired U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander Vice Adm. Robert Harward told “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Saturday that he believes the U.S. military’s blockade of Iranian ports is driving Tehran toward a deal.

“Like anything else with the Iranians you just never know,” Harward said about the potential for the U.S. and Iran to soon reach an agreement to end the war. “But I will say this — they have been paying the price for the blockade and the economic strangulation they have been suffering from. And so I think that’s what’s driving them now more than ever. They need money.” 

“They need money to pay their troops, pay their people. So this has been a big problem for that,” he continued.  

“I think the strategy the president has adapted is very astute. Look, open up the straits immediately, get the world economy going, you’re not getting any money or anything yet. Once that is proven and then we can move into negotiations on the nuclear issues, then you’ll be able to sell some of your oil, at least survive for the time being,” Harward added. 

CENTCOM said in late May that “American forces began implementing the blockade April 13 against commercial ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, in accordance with a presidential proclamation.”

“Our service members are doing extraordinary work,” Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said at the time. “They have been highly effective by executing the mission with precision and professionalism, allowing zero trade into and out of Iranian ports which has squeezed Iran economically.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told his Indian counterpart in a phone call that “all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from U.S. forces as they seek to uphold peace and security” in the Strait of Hormuz. 

The State Department said Rubio spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on Friday, days after U.S. Central Command accused the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello of attempting to transport Iranian oil in violation of the U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports. 

CENTCOM said “a U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces” in the Gulf of Oman. India’s shipping minister later said Thursday that three Indian seafarers aboard the ship were killed. 

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke yesterday with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The two officials discussed recent events in the Strait of Hormuz,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.   

“The Secretary stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from U.S. forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait.  He underscored that violations of the U.S. blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated,” Pigott added. 

Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz contributed to this post.

The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday that more than 70 Hezbollah targets have been struck in Lebanon over the last day. 

“The IDF continues to operate against the terrorist organization Hezbollah to remove threats to the citizens of the State of Israel,” the IDF wrote on X. 

“Over the past day, more than 70 infrastructures of the organization were struck, including launchers and buildings used by terrorists of the terrorist organization Hezbollah to advance terror plots against IDF forces and the citizens of the State of Israel,” it added. 

“At the same time, terrorists identified in the area where IDF forces operate in southern Lebanon were eliminated,” the IDF also said. 

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) said a tanker reportedly was struck with an “unknown projectile” off the coast of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz. 

The incident happened on Friday about six nautical miles east of Oman, according to the UKMTO. 

“It is reported a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile in the port bow,” the agency said on X. “The crew are reported safe and there is no reported environmental impact. The tanker is continuing to its next port of call.” 

“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO,” it also said. 

The funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali ‌Khamenei, who was killed in a strike on Feb. 28 at the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, will unfold in early July, according to Reuters. 

The news agency, citing Iranian state media reports Saturday, said the funeral will begin in Tehran on July 4 and finish with Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad on July 9. 

Khamenei led Iran for more than three decades until his death earlier this year. 

Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, then became Iran’s new supreme leader, although he has not been seen in public since. 

He went underground as soon as the strike killed his father, amid reports that he was gravely injured. 

Mojtaba Khamenei was struck in Operation Epic Fury — “wounded and likely disfigured,” according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. His wife and son were killed in the same strike. 

Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this post. 

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Saturday that a U.S.-Iran peace deal is likely to be finalized within the next 24 hours. 

“We are closer to a peace deal than ever before. With finalization likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical level talks next week,” Sharif wrote on X. 

Pakistan has served as a key mediator in U.S.-Iran negotiations to end the war. 

“We would like to thank United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran for their ongoing commitment during the negotiations, and we extend our sincere appreciation to our brothers in the region for their support,” Sharif also said. “We are confident that this historic peace deal will form a strong foundation for lasting peace.” 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions involving “service fees” in the Strait of Hormuz remain part of ongoing negotiations, according to remarks carried by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

Araghchi said international law does not permit countries to impose transit tolls on ships passing through the strategic waterway.

However, he indicated that Iran is collecting what it describes as service fees from vessels operating in the area, according to the report.

He also said Iranian forces would continue to intervene in the Strait of Hormuz when necessary, Tasnim reported.

The comments come as U.S. and Iranian officials continue discussing a potential agreement that could affect access to one of the world’s most important shipping routes.

Yesterday’s Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage of the Iran conflict.

U.S. Central Command said late Friday that the Strait of Hormuz “remains open for transit” after American forces rebuffed multiple attempted Iranian drone attacks. 

“Iran launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded,” CENTCOM said on X. 

The announcement comes as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Friday that “a final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached” between the U.S. and Iran. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said Friday that reaching a memorandum of understanding to end the war “has never been closer.”   

Vice President JD Vance added that the deal “has the potential to remake the region and lead to lasting peace.”