West Asia war LIVE: 'Very strong' nuclear verification needed in Iran after war, says IAEA head

A "very strong" verification system is needed in Iran following the West Asia conflict to ensure that the country does not develop nuclear weapons, the UN atomic watchdog chief said Friday (June 26, 2026). "I think the objective of this (recent U.S.-Iran) agreement is to ensure that there is no development of nuclear weapons in Iran. The government of Iran has declared quite clearly that this is not its intention," Rafael Grossi told reporters in Japan. "But of course, intentions are not enough. We have to have a very strong verification system in place, as soon as is practicable," Mr. Grossi said. Also Read | U.S.-Iran deal may leave Netanyahu as biggest casualty: analysts Washington’s top diplomat said Thursday (June 25, 2026) there are limits to what it would accept in any Iran deal, as an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz led the UN to suspend an effort to evacuate trapped mariners. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Bahrain as part of a regional tour to reassure Gulf partners hit hard by the West Asia war, also dismissed the idea of allowing Tehran to charge fees in the strait, saying it would open the door to "chaos". Also Read | Any deal with Iran will ensure security of Gulf allies: Rubio An Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed three people on Thursday (June 25), Lebanese state media reported, while Israel’s army said it had targeted Hezbollah operatives in two incidents in the south. Follow for the live updates June 26, 2026 10:56 U.S.-Iran deal may leave Netanyahu as biggest casualty: analysts The biggest casualty of the U.S.-Iran deal may not be Israel’s Iran strategy. Still, the U.S.-Iran deal may leave Netanyahu as biggest casualty: analysts Analysts suggest the U.S.-Iran deal severely undermines Netanyahu's political influence and strategy regarding Israel's relationship with the U.S. political brand Benjamin Netanyahu spent decades building as the Israeli leader who could uniquely bend Washington to his will on Iran, analysts, former U.S. officials and ‌diplomats say. June 26, 2026 10:55 Iran warns against Hormuz crossings without authorisation Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Thursday (June 25, 2026) warned against any crossings of the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation, saying v Iran warns against Hormuz crossings without authorisation Iran's Revolutionary Guards warn unauthorized crossings in the Strait of Hormuz will face consequences amid U.S.-Iran negotiations. essels not complying "will be dealt with". The future of the strait, a vital route for energy shipments that was blockaded by Iran during the war, is a key sticking point in negotiations between Tehran and Washington. June 26, 2026 10:54 Any deal with Iran will ensure security of Gulf allies: Rubio U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf Arab allies on Thursday (June 25) that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as ‍he wrapped up a trip in West Asia aimed at selling the Trump administration’s preliminary accord to sceptical regional partners. Any deal with Iran will ensure security of Gulf allies: Rubio Rubio assures Gulf allies that any Iran deal will prioritize their security amidst concerns over concessions in U.S.-Iran negotiations. June 26, 2026 10:51 'Very strong' nuclear verification needed in Iran after war: IAEA head A "very strong" verification system is needed in Iran following the West Asia conflict to ensure that the country does not develop nuclear weapons, the UN atomic watchdog chief said Friday (June 26). "I think the objective of this (recent U.S.-Iran) agreement is to ensure that there is no development of nuclear weapons in Iran. The government of Iran has declared quite clearly that this is not its intention," Rafael Grossi told reporters in Japan. "But of course, intentions are not enough. We have to have a very strong verification system in place, as soon as is practicable," Mr. Grossi said. June 26, 2026 10:49 Attack on ship in Hormuz leads UN to halt evacuation plan for trapped sailors An attack on a ship on Thursday (June 26) in the Strait of Hormuz led the UN to suspend efforts to evacuate trapped mariners as the United States warned against Iran charging fees for passage through the vital waterway. The New York Times and other U.S. media reported that Iran struck a container ship in the strait, and the Iranian agency that claims to regulate traffic there issued a warning after the incident. "Any passage through routes outside the framework designated by PGSA will not be covered by safe passage guarantees," the Persian Gulf Strait Authority said on X. - AFP Published - June 26, 2026 11:03 am IST