Israeli finance minister renews demand to destroy 10 Beirut buildings for every rocket fired at Israel

US, Pakistan leaders forecast Sunday signing of a long-elusive framework agreement ​to end fighting

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reiterated his demand Saturday for the destruction of 10 buildings in Beirut's Dahiyeh district for every rocket fired at Israel from Lebanon.

In a post on the US social media company X, Smotrich referred to negotiations between the US and Iran, and claimed that Hezbollah should not be allowed to exploit the situation to attack northern Israel.

He argued that every rocket or drone attack targeting Israel should be met with the bombing of 10 buildings in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut. He demanded that the action be carried out "immediately tonight".

The Israeli military, meanwhile, said sirens were activated in several communities in northern Israel following rocket fire from Lebanon.

It said the rockets targeted Israeli forces operating in occupied areas of southern Lebanon and claimed that no injuries were reported.

Israeli media also reported earlier that a drone launched from Lebanon crossed the border, triggering sirens in two communities in northern Israel.

Qatari delegation in Tehran to discuss US-Iran talks

A Qatari delegation headed by an advisor to the country's foreign minister arrived in Tehran on Sunday to advance negotiations between Iran and the US, according to Iran's semi-official news agency ISNA.

The Iranian news agency Mehr also reported that the Qatari delegation met with Iranian officials "to review the status of the diplomatic process".

No further details were disclosed regarding the content of the discussions.

Iran says limited cyberattack disrupts services at four banks, state media says

A cyberattack disrupted services at four major Iranian banks, though no customer data was compromised, the country's banking coordination council said on Sunday, according to state media.

The council said the attack targeted a shared communications infrastructure used by Bank Melli, Bank Tejarat, Bank Saderat and the Export Development Bank of Iran, prompting technical teams to implement protective measures and temporarily affecting some banking services.

It said no unauthorised access to customer information had occurred and no data had been deleted, adding that recovery efforts were underway to restore normal operations.

Pezeshkian says 12-day war proved Iranians’ unity and resilience

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the 12-day war launched by Israel in June 2025 demonstrated the unity and resilience of the Iranian people, IRNA news agency reported.

In a message marking the first anniversary of the conflict on Saturday, Pezeshkian paid tribute to those martyred during the imposed war and said Israel had miscalculated by assuming attacks on senior military figures and strategic facilities would weaken the nation and destabilise the Islamic Republic.

The president said the resistance of the Iranian people, together with the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, and the preparedness of the Armed Forces, prevented those objectives from being realised and ultimately compelled the adversary to accept a ceasefire.

.@drpezeshkian: Iran’s unity in 12-day war forced enemy to ask for ceasefirehttps://t.co/Bfl3VPKXTu pic.twitter.com/yuqj6sSlpa

— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) June 13, 2026

Describing the conflict as a symbol of national solidarity, Pezeshkian said Iranians from different political backgrounds and viewpoints had stood together in defence of the country.

He also praised citizens for their patience amid economic difficulties over the past year, saying his administration had continued addressing public concerns despite operating under severe pressures.

“The government did not neglect people’s problems even for a moment,” he said, adding that officials had worked continuously to reduce hardships and find solutions to the country’s challenges.

Referring to recommendations from the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Pezeshkian said preserving national cohesion, strengthening defensive capabilities and maintaining public vigilance were essential for overcoming future challenges.

The president expressed confidence that Iran would continue its path of progress through social solidarity, the talents of younger generations and hope for the future.

Qatar, Kuwait back US-Iran talks, seek quick deal

Qatar and Kuwait voiced support for progress in the US-Iran negotiations and expressed hope that Washington and Tehran will soon reach an agreement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah discussed the issues during a call, according to the Foreign Ministry.

"Both sides affirmed their full support for the ongoing commendable efforts to address all pending issues through dialogue and peaceful means," it said.

US, Iran inch closer to deal, timing remains unclear

US and Pakistani leaders forecast a Sunday signing of a long-elusive framework agreement ​to end fighting between the United States and Iran. Still, Tehran cast doubt over the timing and hardline protesters in Iran voiced opposition.

Read: Israel has become world's most boycotted state

President Donald Trump posted on social media ‌on Saturday that the deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed the next day, his 80th birthday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two sides had agreed on a framework for a peace deal and that Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing on Sunday, to be followed by technical-level talks in the coming week.

But Iran did not confirm a Sunday signing. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking before Trump's post, had cautioned against commenting on ​the timing of the signing but was quoted by state media as saying, "It will not be tomorrow," but could happen "in the coming days".

Trump wrote on Truth Social that after a framework ​deal is signed, the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies that Iran has blocked, would immediately be "open to all".

Iranian hardliners remain visible

While US bombings have heavily degraded Iran's military-industrial base and damaged its military, experts say the war has left hardline Revolutionary Guard dominance more firmly entrenched than before.

Videos on social media and Iranian ​news websites showed opponents of an agreement gathering in squares and in front of the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, appearing to blame Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as they chanted, "Araqchi has some shame, let ​go of America!"

Reuters could not immediately verify the videos.

When the US and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, Trump called on Iranians to rise and take over state institutions.

Read more: Iran peace deal looms while new military action flares near Strait of Hormuz

Even as the US and Iran appeared to be moving toward an agreement over the past two days, clashes have continued, as the US military imposes a blockade on Iran and seeks to loosen Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, which was the conduit for ​20% of the world's oil shipments before the war.

Early on Saturday, US forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the strait, the US military said. Israel, which says it is not ​a party to the US-Iran deal, said on Saturday that it had struck more than 70 sites over 24 hours in Lebanon against Iranian ally Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clashed with Trump over US ‌demands that Israel ⁠curb military action in Lebanon to allow Washington to reach a deal with Tehran.

On Friday, Araqchi said that while changes in the deal were still possible, the tentative agreement showed his country had emerged stronger from the conflict.

Opening Strait a priority, nuclear talks later

At pro-government rallies held across Iran on Saturday night, residents and news agencies reported that hardliners opposed to the framework agreement loudly voiced their dissatisfaction.

A resident in the northeastern city of Mashhad told Reuters that some protesters chanted: "Death to the compromiser," in an apparent reference to Araqchi. "Compromiser, resign, resign."

The proposed memorandum of understanding calls for reopening the strait and ​lifting the US naval blockade, sources on all ​sides of the talks said. Negotiations over Iran's ⁠nuclear program — a key rationale Trump has given for the war — would take place afterwards.

"Iran is going to open up the Strait of Hormuz; that's a requirement. It could be open with no tolls. As they do that, we will lift our blockade," a US official told reporters.

Also read: Violations of the US blockade on Iran ‘will not be tolerated,’ Rubio tells India’s Jaishankar

"It's going to ​happen in conjunction, and part of the next step, the phase after that, is going to be the demining of the straits," the official ​said, indicating countries in the ⁠Group of Seven major powers could have a role in this.

Trump discussed the efforts to end the Iran conflict in a call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Downing Street said on Saturday.

Draft terms described to Reuters by multiple sources indicate the US would begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and waive sanctions on its oil exports, in return for Iran opening the strait.

Iran's Fars news agency quoted Baghaei ⁠as saying ​the release of Iran's frozen assets was an integral part of the agreement and also that Iran would have to ​charge for services in the Strait of Hormuz.

He said foreign military bases in the region must end, the agency reported, without providing details.

Iran's nuclear program would be addressed during 60 days of talks. A US official said the agreement would ultimately ​lead to the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to be destroyed and removed.