June 12, 2026 — US and Iran say an agreement is close, but questions remain

Our live coverage has moved • Get the latest updates on the war with Iran here. Read more All Catch Up 45 Posts Link Copied! Key developments By CNN staff • Drones shot down amid push for agreement: The US military said it downed multiple Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz after the White House signaled optimism about a prospective agreement, voicing confidence it would earn buy-in from Tehran and Israel. • Remaining questions: US President Donald Trump lashed out Friday at Iranian state media reports that differed from US descriptions of the potential terms, adding uncertainty to the state of talks. It’s not yet clear if Iran’s supreme leader has signed off , but the country’s foreign ministry is also signaling that a framework is in reach . • Next steps: A signed memorandum of understanding would trigger 60 more days of “technical” negotiations on implementation and remaining issues, according to a US official. While sources said a signing ceremony could be held in Switzerland in the coming days, Iran’s foreign minister suggested the signing could take place remotely . Read more Link Copied! Sources: In recent weeks, Iran escalated efforts to seal uranium cache and placed mines By Katie Bo Lillis , Davis Winkie , Zachary Cohen and Natasha Bertrand In recent weeks, Iran has dramatically escalated efforts to seal off its cache of near bomb-grade uranium , deliberately collapsing tunnels and booby-trapping entrances with explosive mines, according to five sources familiar with US intelligence. Getting to the roughly half-a-ton of highly-enriched uranium is now far more difficult, dangerous and time-consuming than it already was just a month ago, when President Donald Trump was publicly signaling that he might order the US military to seize it, the sources said. The new fortifications by the Iranians add an additional layer of complexity to the Trump administration’s proposed deal with Tehran to remove and destroy its uranium, and the move raises questions about who will take on the dangerous task of digging it out. Iran’s diplomatic delegation to the United Nations did not immediately return a request for comment, and the White House did not immediately reply to questions from CNN. Trump has repeatedly stated that securing the material is a priority for the US in the ongoing negotiations to end the war and re-open the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed. And according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters Friday , the two sides are inching closer to a deal that would require Iran to turn its enriched uranium over to the US. But US and Iranian officials have offered conflicting accounts of the tentative deal, and its precise terms remain unclear. Read the full story here. Read more Link Copied! 12 months ago, a 12-day war between Iran and Israel began By Jessie Yeung Smoke rises from Tabriz airport in Iran, June 13, 2025 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Reuters Saturday marks one year since a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel began — a precursor to the longer ongoing war that would kick off eight months later. The conflict began on June 13, 2025, when Israel targeted the heart of Iran’s nuclear program and its missile capabilities — an unprecedented attack that also killed several of Iran’s most powerful figures . The operation, called “Rising Lion,” aimed to halt what Israel said was Tehran’s rapid progress in developing nuclear weapons. This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows view of Fordow enrichment facility in Iran after US strikes, Sunday, June 22, 2025. Maxar Technologies The US was not involved in Israel’s initial attack, but it entered the conflict in its second week, with President Donald Trump ordering the bombing of several Iranian nuclear sites. Behind the scenes, the Trump administration worked furiously to find a diplomatic solution, with the Qatari government serving as mediator — finally brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 24. But the short-lived conflict dealt a heavy blow to Tehran . In 12 days, Iran lost most of its air defenses, missiles, launchers and plants; the echelon of its military command; and its crown jewel nuclear facilities along with its leading nuclear scientists. Read more Link Copied! Advisor to Iran's supreme leader claims Trump has agreed to release frozen funds By Jessie Yeung Mohsen Rezaei takes part in an interview with CNN. CNN As the United States and Iran give signals they are close to a deal, a top Iranian official claimed the US has agreed to release part of the country’s frozen assets, despite the Trump administration earlier denying any such agreement. “Trump has agreed to the release of part of Iran’s frozen assets, but he is unwilling to announce it publicly,” said Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Saturday. After several differing media reports on what is being included in the deal proposal, Vice President JD Vance called out what he said was “fake information about a potential deal” on Friday, saying economic benefits will only flow to Iran if it “meets its obligations.” “The Iranians are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting,” Vance wrote on X. Some context: Iran has reportedly demanded the release of $12 billion in frozen funds as soon as an interim agreement is signed with the US, and another $12 billion at a later stage. But US officials are concerned that any unfreezing of funds at this stage could remove a key leverage point over the regime. Trump has demanded that any agreement appear far stronger than the nuclear deal struck in 2015, and to avoid anything that could be construed as handing over “pallets of cash.” In a rare interview with CNN earlier this month, Rezaei said: “If he (Trump) wants to reach an agreement with Iran, this $24 billion is a test of trust that Iran wants to have with Trump – this is a test that America must pass and the path will be opened … This is our own money, not America’s money.” CNN has reached out to the White House for comment. Read more Link Copied! US downs multiple Iranian one-way attack drones near Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM says By Michael Williams The US military has downed multiple Iranian one-way attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command announced Friday evening. Iran launched several attack drones that sought to disrupt commercial shipping near the strait, CENTCOM said in a post on X . The US military said its forces “have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded. “ “The international trade corridor remains open for transit,” CENTCOM said. Read more Link Copied! What Iranian officials are saying Friday about a possible agreement with the US By Elise Hammond An “understanding has been reached on the majority of issues” between the United States and Iran, according to an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, as a final agreement gets closer. Earlier in the day, a senior Trump administration official echoed the optimism , but said there are still details to be worked out. Here’s the latest on where things stand: Iranian government officials are in the final stages of discussing the terms of an agreement with the US, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said. The memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran will address the regime’s nuclear program and sanctions relief, among other issues, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. A statement with regards to future control of the Strait of Hormuz should be expected “soon,” Araghchi said. Under the agreement, the waterway would not return to how it operated before the war, according to the foreign minister, and the regime would not charge tolls but “service fees.” The agreement includes a resolution for the conflict of Lebanon “and all other fronts,” Araghchi said on Iranian state television. The timing, location and details related to the agreement will depend on how the diplomatic process moves forward, Baghaei said. The framework could be signed by both sides remotely in the next few days, Araghchi said. Video Ad Feedback Trump and Iran say an agreement is close A senior US administration official spelled out several points in the prospective agreement between the US and Iran, framing the document as accomplishing President Donald Trump’s objectives for the negotiations. CNN’s Kevin Liptak reports from the White House. 1:47 • Source: CNN Trump and Iran say an agreement is close 1:47 CNN’s Mitchell McCluskey and Dalia Abdelwahab contributed reporting to this post. Read more Link Copied! Iranian official says joint statement with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz coming “soon” By Dalia Abdelwahab Vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on Thursday. Stringer/Reuters Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Friday evening that a statement with regards to future control of the Strait of Hormuz should be expected “soon.” Araghchi told the Iranian state television that the statement will be jointly released with the Omani government, per the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA). The Strait of Hormuz is situated between Iranian and Omani territory. Video Ad Feedback Running Strait of Hormuz won't be free of charge, says Iran's FM 1:11 • Source: CNN Running Strait of Hormuz won't be free of charge, says Iran's FM 1:11 The comments come as a purported framework of a US-Iran deal is said to be finalized, with its signing expected in the coming days. US officials have outlined several of the points laid out in the memorandum of understanding, including a complete reopening of the strait and lifting of a US blockade on Iranian ports along the strait. Araghchi said that, under the agreement, the waterway would not return to how it operated before the war. He added that the regime would not charge tolls but “service fees” for transiting the strait. Read more Link Copied! US-Iran agreement could be signed remotely, foreign minister says By Mitchell McCluskey A memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran could be signed by both sides remotely in the next few days, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on state television on Friday. The statement would be signed and then announced following the final stages of negotiations, Araghchi said. Read more Link Copied! Iranian official says agreement addresses Strait of Hormuz, conflict in Lebanon By Mitchell McCluskey Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi, India, on May 15. Elke Scholiers/Getty Images The memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran will address various issues, including the regime’s nuclear program, sanctions relief and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said on Friday. The agreement, which has not yet been signed, includes a resolution for the conflict of Lebanon “and all other fronts,” Araghchi said on Iranian state television. Video Ad Feedback Agreement would end end war on all fronts, including Lebanon 0:29 • Source: CNN Agreement would end end war on all fronts, including Lebanon 0:29 The memo would also focus on other sources of tension in the relationship between Washington and Tehran, including a written statement from the US stating that it “respects Iran’s sovereignty,” the foreign minister said. “Threats must stop, and the Iranian people must be addressed with respect,” he said. Araghchi added that Iran is poised to return to war if the US chooses the path. “If the terms of the memorandum of understanding are not honored, the final agreement will not be signed,” he said. Read more Link Copied! Tehran's internal talks on US agreement in “final stages,” Iranian official says By Mitchell McCluskey and Dalia Abdelwahab People gather at Palestine Square in Tehran on Friday. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images Iranian government officials are in the final stages of discussing the terms of an agreement with the United States, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil