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Iranian Commander Repeats Threats to Israel

This picture shows projectiles being intercepted by Israel near the northern city of Baqa al-Gharbiya on October 1, 2024. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP)
This picture shows projectiles being intercepted by Israel near the northern city of Baqa al-Gharbiya on October 1, 2024. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP)
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Iranian Commander Repeats Threats to Israel

This picture shows projectiles being intercepted by Israel near the northern city of Baqa al-Gharbiya on October 1, 2024. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP)
This picture shows projectiles being intercepted by Israel near the northern city of Baqa al-Gharbiya on October 1, 2024. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP)

The chief of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard threatened Israel on Thursday with more missile barrages if it strikes Iran.
“Do not repeat your mistake — if you misbehave, if you strike anything of ours either in the region or in Iran, we will again hit you painfully,” said Gen. Hossein Salami in a funeral ceremony for Iranian Guard commander Abbas Nilforoushan, who was killed alongside the head of the Hezbollah militant group in Beirut in September.
Salami said a missile barrage by Iran on Israel earlier in October in retaliation for killing Nasrallah and Nilforoushan was the “tiniest” action by Iran. He said an air defense battery deployed to Israel by the US will not prevent Iranian retaliation, The Associated Press said.
“We do know about your weakness, and you know too,” said Salami.
Earlier this month, Iran launched some 180 missiles at Israel in retaliation for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, killed in Iran in July, as well as Nilforoushan and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who were killed in Israel strikes on Beirut in September.
Iran is the main backer of Hezbollah and supports militant groups opposed to Israel across the region including Hamas.

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World

Gunfire at Airport in Niger's Capital

General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)
General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)
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Gunfire at Airport in Niger's Capital

General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)
General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)

Gunfire erupted early on Thursday at the airport in Niger's capital, Niamey, residents told AFP, five months after a terrorist attack at the facility.

Niger has been ruled for the past three years by a military junta that has struggled to contain violence blamed on terrorists.

In January, the Diori Hamani international airport in Niamey and a military drone base were targeted in an attack claimed by the ISIS in the Sahel (EIS).

Nigerien armed forces and their Russian allies repelled the strike, which was a rare development since violence had previously been contained to other parts of the vast Sahel country.

"I heard the first shots around 6 o'clock (0500 GMT). The shooting was coming from the airport entrance," a resident told AFP by telephone on Thursday.

He said firing was still ongoing two hours later.

Another resident confirmed the gunfire was coming from the airport entrance, where there is a security checkpoint.

A number of residents said a large military presence had been put in place at the airport.

Twenty assailants were killed and four soldiers wounded in the surprise assault on January 29, which caused damage, authorities said.

The head of the ruling junta, Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power in a coup in July 2023, said on state television "a flaw in the system" had "enabled the attack", whose aim, he said, "was to destroy all of the air capabilities" of the army.

In recent weeks, the authorities have started tearing down thousands of illegally built homes next to Niamey airport.

They alleged the shanty towns had been infiltrated by extremists.

The demolitions affected 26,000 people living in four neighborhoods that occupy nearly a quarter of the airport area, authorities said.

The airport perimeter fence has been extended and more than 350 security cameras installed inside and outside the perimeter.

Niger and its military-ruled allies in west Africa -- Burkina Faso and Mali -- have faced a decade of violence attributed to extremists.

They have moved away from former colonial power France and sought support from other partners.

World

Switzerland Says Talks Planned for Friday between Iran and US

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP
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Switzerland Says Talks Planned for Friday between Iran and US

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP

Initial talks between the United States and Iran are planned at the Buergenstock mountaintop resort in Switzerland on Friday, following ‌the signing ‌of a ceasefire ‌agreement ⁠between Tehran and ⁠Washington, the Swiss government said on Thursday.

"As things stand, the plan is ⁠still for the ‌US ‌and Iran, along with ‌mediators Pakistan ‌and Qatar and other involved countries, to meet tomorrow at ‌Buergenstock for initial negotiations about implementing the ⁠agreement.

"No ⁠further information is currently available regarding the schedule and details of this meeting," the Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement.

World

Key Points from the US-Iran Memorandum

This videograb from footage made available on June 18, 2026, from the X account of French President Emmanuel Macron shows US President Donald Trump (C) and France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) during the signing of a deal with Iran to end the Middle East war, inside Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles southwest of Paris on June 17, 2026. (Photo by @EmmanuelMacron (X account of France's President Emmanuel Macron)
This videograb from footage made available on June 18, 2026, from the X account of French President Emmanuel Macron shows US President Donald Trump (C) and France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) during the signing of a deal with Iran to end the Middle East war, inside Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles southwest of Paris on June 17, 2026. (Photo by @EmmanuelMacron (X account of France's President Emmanuel Macron)
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Key Points from the US-Iran Memorandum

This videograb from footage made available on June 18, 2026, from the X account of French President Emmanuel Macron shows US President Donald Trump (C) and France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) during the signing of a deal with Iran to end the Middle East war, inside Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles southwest of Paris on June 17, 2026. (Photo by @EmmanuelMacron (X account of France's President Emmanuel Macron)
This videograb from footage made available on June 18, 2026, from the X account of French President Emmanuel Macron shows US President Donald Trump (C) and France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) during the signing of a deal with Iran to end the Middle East war, inside Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles southwest of Paris on June 17, 2026. (Photo by @EmmanuelMacron (X account of France's President Emmanuel Macron)

Here are the main points from the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran to end the Middle East war, the text of which was made public by Washington and Tehran:

- Permanent end to hostilities -

The United States, Iran and their respective allies "declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon".

They undertake "not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon".

- Final agreement within 60 days -

Iran and the United States commit to "negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days, extendable with mutual consent".

- Lifting US blockade -

The United States will "immediately" begin the removal of its blockade of Iranian ports, which it imposed on April 13, and will bring it to an end within 30 days.

The United States also undertakes to "remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal".

- Reopening the Strait of Hormuz -

Iran will make best efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge, for 60 days only, from the Arabian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start and be fully restored within 30 days, once the Hormuz Strait has been cleared of mines.

- $300 billion plan -

The United States and its regional partners will draw up a plan with "at least" $300 billion "for the reconstruction and economic development" of Iran.

- Lifting sanctions -

The United States undertakes to "terminate all types of sanctions against" Iran, and to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Iranian Republic of Iran upon the implementation of this MOU.

The US Treasury will "issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, (and) transportation" with immediate effect, until the sanctions are lifted.

- Nuclear -

Iran reaffirms that "it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons".

The disposition of Tehran's enriched uranium will be resolved by "a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon... with the minimum methodology to be down-blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA".

Pending the final deal, Iran will "maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program", and the United States "will not impose any new sanctions, and will not deploy additional forces in the region".

- Signing -

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was involved in the mediation, said the memorandum was electronically signed on Thursday, Islamabad time, by US President Donald Trump and Iran's leader Masoud Pezeshkian.

A ceremony will be held in Switzerland on Friday to "commemorate this landmark event and commence with the technical level talks", according to Sharif.

- UN resolution -

The final agreement will be endorsed by a binding resolution of the United Nations Security Council.