Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- US and regional officials say Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a new ceasefire
- Early on Friday, heavy fighting in Lebanon put the wider Iran ceasefire under pressure
- Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister both said they would retaliate after four IDF soldiers were killed
- US Vice President JD Vance skips planned trip to meet Iranian negotiators in Switzerland
- Swiss Foreign Ministry confirms Friday peace talks postponed, no new date given
Read here for the latest developments on the Iran war on Friday, June 19.
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Skip next section Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire starting Friday, US official says06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire starting Friday, US official says
Israel and the Lebanese, Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire starting at 4 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) on Friday, after fighting that has shaken the deal between Iran and the US to end the war.
“Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire,” Reuters news agency cited what it called a “senior US official” as saying, without naming them. It reported that US and Qatari negotiations worked out the deal with help from Iran.
“We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire,” the offical was quoted as saying, with AFP reporting similar off-the-record comments.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Fip9Skip next section Iran says no tolls in Strait of Hormuz for 60 days06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Iran says no tolls in Strait of Hormuz for 60 days
Iranian officials have announced that vessels will be granted passage through the Strait of Hormuz if they submit requests in accordance with newly released procedures.
The ships would be required to file transit requests at least 48 hours before entry. They would need to coordinate routes and transit time in advance due to mines and other safety risks.
The government body in charge of the strait said it would waive fees for the next 60 days, the negotiation period following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the US. The fees, according to the agency, would be compensation for security, safety, environmental services and related insurance.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FiGgSkip next section Iran football officials to complain to FIFA over US travel restrictions06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Iran football officials to complain to FIFA over US travel restrictions
With Iranian footballers taking part in the ongoing 2026 World Cup in North America, the Iranian football federation said they will file a complaint with FIFA over strict travel restrictions imposed on their team in the US.
Iran had already switched its base from the US state of Arizona to Tijuana, a Mexican city bordering the US, in hopes of circumventing travel restrictions and potential security issues amid the war in the Middle East.
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Even so, the US authorities only allow the team to enter US soil a day before a match and the players are expected to leave again after the match wraps up. Iran’s request to fly to Los Angeles two days before their game against Belgium on Sunday was turned down.
Iranian football officials now argue these restrictions are unfair to their team, as they are not providing them with an equal playing field as other teams. They also said the goal of their request was “to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalize preparations.”
“Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iran’s national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organizers,” the spokesman said.
Iranian officials have said that 15 of their football officials have been denied visas to the US.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Fi6wSkip next section Netanyahu doubles down on Lebanon incursion06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Netanyahu doubles down on Lebanon incursion
Following reports of several Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would exact “a very heavy price” from the Iran-aligned Hezbollah.
“Following the heinous attack by Hezbollah, which is a flagrant violation of the ceasefire, I instructed the IDF last night to strike Hezbollah with force,” he said.
Netanyahu also restated his previous claims about Israel’s occupation of parts of southern Lebanon, saying that the IDF will stay in the neighboring country “as long as necessary.”
The Israeli military said Israel lost four soldiers and Lebanese media reported a total of 18 people were killed in Israeli strikes amid heavy fighting.
Netanyahu claimed Israel “struck over 80 terror targets and eliminated dozens of terrorists.” That figure from Netanyahu could not be independently verified.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FiBRSkip next section US-Iran talks delay raised at sidelines of EU Summit — ‘It’s regrettable’06/19/2026June 19, 2026
US-Iran talks delay raised at sidelines of EU Summit — ‘It’s regrettable’
Katharina Kroll Brussels
“I think it’s regrettable. But, given the nature of this scenario, it’s not entirely unexpected,” Ireland’s Prime Minister Michael Martin said upon arriving for the second day of the EU summit in Brussels. “I would urge continued dialogue and adherence to the agreement because the world needs stability and peace.”
Martin’s comments come after news broke that the United States and Iran postponed their planned negotiations in Switzerland.
It’s somewhat dulled the general optimism here at the EU summit in Brussels, after the successful G7 summit in Evian. There, they had seized the moment: US President Donald Trump was promised European political support for the newly negotiated Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, whilst they were also able to convince him to increase pressure on Russian President Putin so that peace talks could potentially finally begin over ending the war in Ukraine.
Strategic Stakes for Europe and Ukraine
For the European Union, the stakes go beyond the immediate question of nuclear safeguards and the security of critical shipping routes, such as the Strait of Hormuz.
The G7 summit in Evian showed how closely the conflicts in Iran and in Ukraine are interconnected.
With a solution to the Iran war and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz on the horizon, the tense situation for the global economy could also ease, particularly when it comes to oil prices. This easing, in turn, would allow US President Trump to reinstate oil sanctions against Russia. As he promised in Evian.
The key question for Europe remains: When might a diplomatic window for peace talks with Russia open, and just how might it take shape?
https://p.dw.com/p/5FiEGSkip next section Watch DW’s livestream analysis: US-Iran ceasefire under strain as fighting flares in Lebanon Published 06/19/2026Published June 19, 2026last updated 06/19/2026last updated June 19, 2026
Watch DW’s livestream analysis: US-Iran ceasefire under strain as fighting flares in Lebanon
https://p.dw.com/p/5FhoISkip next section WSJ: Pentagon to ask Congress for $80 billion06/19/2026June 19, 2026
WSJ: Pentagon to ask Congress for $80 billion
The US Defense Department is set to ask US lawmakers for $80 billion (nearly €70 billion) to cover the costs of the Iran campaign and expenses such as farm and disaster relief, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
The US-based paper said a formal request to US Congress could be sent in the following days.
The exact cost of the war the US waged in Iran is not clear. In April, a Pentagon official estimated it at $25 billion in a report by the Reuters new agency.
In 2026, the US military was given approximately $1 trillion dollars for its budget, with the Trump administration pushing to boost military spending to around $1.5 trillion in 2027.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FhkqSkip next section Japanese-owned vessel navigates Strait of Hormuz, leaves Gulf06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Japanese-owned vessel navigates Strait of Hormuz, leaves Gulf
A ship owned by a Japanese company with three Japanese crewmembers managed to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after being stuck in the region due to the fighting between the US and Iran.
The vessel is an oil tanker sailing under a Liberian flag, and is currently sailing towards Japan.
With the tanker’s exit, all vessels linked to Japan and having Japanese sailors onboard have evacuated the Gulf, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
“In light of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, the Government of Japan will continue to make every diplomatic effort towards the swift reestablishment of free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” the Japanese diplomats said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FhEfSkip next section Switzerland: The fog of peace talks? 06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Switzerland: The fog of peace talks?
Rosie Birchard Stans, Switzerland
Until last night sources were telling us US-Iran talks would be going ahead in Switzerland, with a question mark over exactly when.
But this morning we woke up not only to views of Swiss mountains so high they’re still snow-capped when the June sun feels baking at street level, but news from DC that JD Vance has cancelled his trip, for now at least.
The postponement is not a surprise in this week of diplomatic twists and turns. Ceremony, no ceremony, talks, no talks, will they, won’t they? There’s been a litany of mixed messages.
Qatari and Pakistani mediators remain ready to host talks, at a technical or high level. And Switzerland says “relevant preparatory work” is continuing at the Qatari-owned mountain resort which was due to host talks.
You’ve heard about the fog of war, undoubtedly more dangerous. But this is the fog of potential peace talks, and the stakes are still high.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Fh3LSkip next section Israel’s Ben-Gvir: ‘All of Lebanon must burn!’06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Israel’s Ben-Gvir: ‘All of Lebanon must burn!’
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged the country to “go berserk” after the IDF reported four Israeli soldiers were killed in Lebanon.
“For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn!” the far-right politician said in an online post.
Lebanon has emerged as a key flashpoint as Washington hopes to wrap up the Iran war, while Israel insists on keeping troops in the neighboring country and pursuing their offensive against Hezbollah. Just hours before Ben-Gvir’s post, Lebanon’s state-run NNA agency reported 16 people killed in the Israeli strikes overnight.
“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not not up for bargaining.” Ben-Gvir wrote on Friday.
“In the Middle East, you don’t win with measured responses and restraint — you need to go berserk.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5FgxkSkip next section Israel says four of its soldiers killed in Lebanon, including lieutenant colonel 06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Israel says four of its soldiers killed in Lebanon, including lieutenant colonel
With fighting in Lebanon intensifying, Israel has reported four of its soldiers were killed in the clashes, the first confirmed deaths since the US and Iran announced a peace deal last weekend.
One of the soldiers was a lieutenant colonel, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Israel is currently controlling parts of Lebanon, with the proclaimed goal of neutralizing the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia.
The fledgling peace deal between Washington and Tehran calls for the end of fighting in Lebanon and for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to be respected. But Israel is not a party to the deal and has rejected the calls to withdraw.
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Also on Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged the US to put pressure on Israel to halt its offensive in Lebanon. According to Barrot, Paris is working to organize an international conference which would provide support to the Lebanese army.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Fgu5Skip next section Israel hits Lebanon overnight06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Israel hits Lebanon overnight
At least 16 people in Lebanon were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight, Lebanese state-run news agency NNA reported on Friday morning.
The report described the attacks on multiple towns as among the heaviest bombardment in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said they were responding to ceasefire violations from the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Israel, the US, Germany and many other nations consider Hezbollah a terrorist group.
“During the night, the army struck and continues to strike Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure in several areas in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said in a statement.
Amid fragile peace negotiations between the US and Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces will not withdraw from Lebanon until the Hezbollah threat is neutralized.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5FgjnSkip next section Switzerland says US-Iran talks planned for Friday called off06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Switzerland says US-Iran talks planned for Friday called off
The scheduled meeting between the US and Iranian officials are “postponed” and will not be taking place on Friday, the Swiss Foreign Ministry has said, after US President JD Vance delayed his trip to Switzerland.
“Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks,” Swiss diplomats said, adding that “preparatory work” was continuing.
Previously, the Swiss government said the summit will be held at the luxurious mountaintop resort of Bürgenstock, in the Swiss Alps.
The president of the US and Iran, Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian, have already signed the Memorandum of Understanding without meeting in person.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FgifSkip next section Report: Iranians not flying to Switzerland because of Lebanon fighting06/19/2026June 19, 2026
Report: Iranians not flying to Switzerland because of Lebanon fighting
Tehran was also delaying sending its delegation to Switzerland, according to Al Mayadeen, a pan-Arab Iran-backed, pro-Hezbollah satellite channel.
The news outlet said this was due to Israel continuing its campaign in Lebanon.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran foresees “permanent termination” of the fighting in Lebanon and calls for respecting the country’s “territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
But Israel is not a party to the peace deal and has stated it has no intention of ending its offensive against the Hezbollah militia. Israeli forces control parts of Lebanon and have launched airstrikes on targets inside the country on Thursday. On Friday, Hezbollah said it destroyed three Israeli tanks.
Israel’s opposition to the peace deal and the prolonged fighting in Lebanon have triggered a public rift between the Trump administration and the Israeli government.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FgeeSkip next section JD Vance delays trip for peace talks with Iran06/19/2026June 19, 2026
JD Vance delays trip for peace talks with Iran
US Vice President JD Vance has postponed his trip to Switzerland where he was going to meet Iranian negotiators to discuss the implementation of the 14-point agreement reached between Washington and Tehran to end the war.
The team led by Vance had been ready to leave but was pushed back, the White House said, citing difficult logistics for negotiations.
“The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now the Vice President is not departing tonight,” a White House spokesperson said late Thursday. “We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible.”
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US officials wanted to hold a formal signing ceremony for the US-Iran agreement in Geneva, but Iran’s Foreign Ministry cast doubt on that, saying it was unnecessary after both countries’ presidents signed the agreement on Wednesday.
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s signing of the deal extended the ceasefire for 60 days and opened up the pathway to negotiate on wider issues including Iran’s nuclear program.
But there has been uncertainty over the next steps as it appeared unlikely that the two countries would hold a signing ceremony and talks in Switzerland on Friday as previously announced.
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