US and Iran agree to end war and reopen Strait of Hormuz

US-Iran peace deal ends war, Hormuz reopening set for June 19 The United States and Iran agreed to an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, with an official signing ceremony scheduled for Friday in Switzerland. The breakthrough, mediated by Pakistan, sent oil prices tumbling and prompted President Trump to authorize lifting the US naval blockade of the strategic waterway. 12345

G7 leaders gather in France as Iran deal reshapes summit agenda President Trump heads to the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, just hours after announcing the Iran peace framework. The war in Ukraine and economic turbulence will also top the talks, with leaders from Ukraine, India, Egypt and other nations attending as guests. 678

Russia pummels Kyiv with largest combined strike in weeks, killing 11 Russian forces launched over 70 missiles and 600 drones at Ukraine overnight, setting fire to Kyiv’s UNESCO-listed Pechersk Lavra cathedral and killing at least 11. President Zelenskyy called the attack a barbaric crime, as Moscow also struck Kharkiv and other regions. 910

Trump speaks with Putin and Zelenskyy; UK seizes Russian shadow tanker As the war escalates, President Trump held separate phone calls with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stressing the need to end hostilities. Meanwhile, the British navy intercepted a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the English Channel, the first such detention of the shadow fleet. 1112

Chinese vessels breach Taiwan’s waters near South China Sea outpost Two mainland Chinese law enforcement ships entered the restricted zone around Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island, marking the first such incursion. Taipei’s coast guard drove them away, while officials warn Beijing is using gray-zone tactics to expand influence across the First Island Chain. 1314

Armenia finalizes election results as pro-Russian opposition protests Armenia’s electoral commission confirmed Prime Minister Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party won 49.7% of the vote, securing a majority. Supporters of the Kremlin-aligned opposition held demonstrations demanding a new election, alleging fraud that international monitors have not verified. 15

Italy’s Meloni confronts far-right rival as ex-general launches party Former Italian army general Roberto Vannacci has formed a new nationalist party, Futuro Nazionale, challenging Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni from the right. The move tests Meloni’s dominance ahead of local elections, as Vannacci’s blunt rhetoric attracts disaffected voters. 16