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Ukraine to 'Significantly Reduce' Iran Diplomatic Presence

A general view shows Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters file photo
A general view shows Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters file photo
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Ukraine to 'Significantly Reduce' Iran Diplomatic Presence

A general view shows Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters file photo
A general view shows Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters file photo

Kyiv said on Friday it has decided to reduce Iran's diplomatic presence in Ukraine over sending weapons to its foe Russia.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said "the temporary charge d'affaires of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ukraine was summoned" over the issue.

A ministry statement said the envoy was told the supply of Iranian weapons to Russia "directly contradicts the position of neutrality, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and was "an unfriendly act that deals a serious blow to Ukraine-Iran relations".

"In response to such an unfriendly act, the Ukrainian side decided to deprive the ambassador of Iran in Ukraine of accreditation, as well as to significantly reduce the number of diplomatic personnel of the Iranian embassy in Kyiv", the ministry said.

Earlier on Friday Kyiv said one civilian was killed during a Russian attack with drones on the southern port city of Odessa and one Iranian-designed unmanned vehicle was shot down by Ukrainian forces.

According to AFP, President Volodymyr Zelensky's spokesman said "the use of Iranian-made weapons by Russian troops... are steps taken by Iran against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state."

Later on Friday Ukraine's armed forces said four Iranian-made drones had been shot down in the south of the country during the day.

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World

US Official Says Parties Can Still Walk Away from Iran Deal, Sequencing Will Be Key

Men ride their mopeds past a map of Iran with the images of some of those killed in the Israeli-US war against the nation, erected on a wall along the highway in Tehran on June 17, 2026. (AFP)
Men ride their mopeds past a map of Iran with the images of some of those killed in the Israeli-US war against the nation, erected on a wall along the highway in Tehran on June 17, 2026. (AFP)
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US Official Says Parties Can Still Walk Away from Iran Deal, Sequencing Will Be Key

Men ride their mopeds past a map of Iran with the images of some of those killed in the Israeli-US war against the nation, erected on a wall along the highway in Tehran on June 17, 2026. (AFP)
Men ride their mopeds past a map of Iran with the images of some of those killed in the Israeli-US war against the nation, erected on a wall along the highway in Tehran on June 17, 2026. (AFP)

Both Iran and the US can walk away from the memorandum of understanding they are set to sign on Friday, and upcoming talks are likely to focus on ‌the precise sequencing ‌of the steps ‌previewed ⁠in the preliminary accord, ⁠a senior US official told reporters on Wednesday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official read out the 14-point memorandum that is due ⁠to be formally ‌signed in Switzerland. ‌

They said the upcoming meeting ‌there will be "critical" for ‌ensuring that the memorandum of understanding can evolve into a comprehensive agreement.

"I think the meeting in ‌Switzerland will be quite critical in order to really ⁠see ⁠how we get to the next phase," a senior US official said.

The document, as read out by the official, was similar to the 14-point memorandum that various media outlets had already reported on earlier in the day.

According to the official, the draft agreement includes a new “minimum” standard for downblending of highly enriched Iranian uranium and has provisions to ensure the “territorial integrity” of Lebanon after Israel’s latest attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanese territory.

In return, the US will move to waive, but not eliminate, some wide-ranging sanctions against Iran once the deal is signed.

The US draft of the agreement also secures toll-free passage of the Strait of Hormuz for only 60 days, and it does not preclude fees in future, the officials said.

World

Trump Says Iran Accord to Be Signed ‘Shortly’, ‘Maybe’ Thursday or Friday

US President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the Hotel Royal during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, 17 June 2026. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the Hotel Royal during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, 17 June 2026. (EPA)
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Trump Says Iran Accord to Be Signed ‘Shortly’, ‘Maybe’ Thursday or Friday

US President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the Hotel Royal during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, 17 June 2026. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the Hotel Royal during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, 17 June 2026. (EPA)

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he expected the accord with Iran ending the Middle East war to be signed "shortly" but added uncertainty over the exact date. 

"The deal we reached with Iran on Sunday will be signed shortly, tomorrow (Thursday), maybe the next day (Friday)," Trump said at the G7 summit, after previous announcements that it would be signed Friday in Switzerland. 

"We are going to most likely sign a deal," he added. 

Trump told reporters at the final press conference of the G7 that he was prepared to "bomb the hell" out of Iran if they violated the agreement. 

"If they are not behaving they will be hit again," he said. 

But he added: "They don't want to get bombed, they don't want to get hit". 

In a long succession of comments on his dealings with Iran, Trump recalled at length how he had in 2020 issued the order to kill Qassem Soleimani, the head of foreign operations for the Revolutionary Guards. 

Trump also recalled the February 28 air strike that killed supreme leader Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, who he said were "having breakfast" at the time. 

Trump said Washington "did send a copy" of its accord with Iran to end the Middle East war, following reports of tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  

Insisting he maintains a good relationship with Netanyahu, Trump reaffirmed his criticism at the G7 summit of Israel's campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying "they (Israel) could do a much better job". 

Trump was also asked about the deadly strike on an Iranian school in Minab on the first day of the war, which left 155 dead, according to the Iranian authorities. 

Initially describing the question as "strange", Trump said: "Nobody did it on purpose. Mistakes are made, war is nasty." 

"I know it is under investigation," he said, telling the reporter to address the question to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instead. 

A US Tomahawk cruise missile hit the elementary school due to a targeting mistake, according to the preliminary findings of a US military investigation reported by The New York Times. 

Trump also thanked China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir ‌Putin for ‌what he ‌called ⁠their neutrality during the ⁠war with Iran.  

"I just want to thank ⁠them because ‌they ‌made it ‌a lot better," ‌Trump said, adding that both leaders had been "neutral." 

World

Italy Says to Re-Open Tehran Embassy on Friday

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani ahead of the European Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, 15 June 2026. (EPA)
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani ahead of the European Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, 15 June 2026. (EPA)
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Italy Says to Re-Open Tehran Embassy on Friday

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani ahead of the European Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, 15 June 2026. (EPA)
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani ahead of the European Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, 15 June 2026. (EPA)

Italy's embassy to Tehran will re-open on Friday after more than three months of closure because of the Middle East war, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

"Our embassy in Tehran will re-open its doors on Friday," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italy's parliament.

After the US and Israel began the war with air strikes on Iran, Italy in early March decided to temporarily close its embassy and move its staff to neighboring Azerbaijan for security reasons.

"Our ambassador will return to the Iranian capital with all our diplomats and foreign ministry officials," Tajani said.

"In a complex region like the Middle East, caution is essential. But, for the first time, after weeks of war and faltering negotiations, a tangible glimmer of peace is emerging," he said.

The US and Iran this week agreed a framework deal to end the Middle East war.

The agreement is due to be formally signed on Friday in Switzerland.