Iran–US War 2026: Ceasefire, Timeline & the Deal

Last updated: 2026-06-21 · Developing story — figures and status change rapidly; verify against the live sources below.

Key facts (at a glance)

Is the war over? A ceasefire is in effect under the 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed digitally on 14 June and on hard copy at Versailles on 17 June 2026 — but it is a memorandum, not yet a final peace treaty.
The war began on 28 February 2026 with joint US (Operation Epic Fury) and Israeli (Operation Roaring Lion) strikes; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reported killed and succeeded by Mojtaba Khamenei (Iranian state media, 9 March 2026).
The deal reopens the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for 60 days and lifts the US naval blockade — though the strait is still effectively closed while mines are cleared.
Iran reaffirms it will not develop nuclear weapons; ~440 kg of 60%-enriched uranium is to be down-blended on-site under IAEA supervision.
A $300 billion reconstruction fund (backed by Gulf states, not the US Treasury) and ~$100 billion in frozen assets are conditional on Iranian compliance.
Casualties are contested: Iran ≈3,500+ killed (Iran Ministry of Health/HRANA); Lebanon ≈3,756+ (Lebanese Ministry of Health, 13 Jun); United States 13 service members (US CENTCOM).

Not to be confused with the 2025 Twelve-Day War (13–24 June 2025), a separate Israel–Iran conflict in which the US Operation Midnight Hammer struck Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan on 22 June 2025. This page covers the distinct 2026 Iran war, which began on 28 February 2026.

Latest developments

Headlines below update automatically from Google News and link to primary reporting; last refreshed 2026-06-21.

Iran war updates: Tehran shuts Hormuz, Vance on way to Switzerland2026-06-20 — Al Jazeera
Iran war latest: Trump threatens 'Guardian Angel' tolls on Strait of Hormuz as Tehran says waterway closed again2026-06-18 — Sky News
Iran-US war latest: Trump threatens ‘Guardian Angel’ tolls on Strait of Hormuz after Tehran declares it shut again2026-06-21 — The Independent
West Asia war updates on June 20, 20262026-06-21 — The Hindu
Iran war live: Vance heads to Switzerland; Israel kills 16 in Lebanon2026-06-21 — Al Jazeera
Opinion | Trump Was Right. The War Ended With a Surrender.2026-06-20 — The New York Times
Iran says Strait of Hormuz is closed over ceasefire violations after continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon2026-06-20 — NBC News
Live updates: Iran and US make opposing claims on Strait of Hormuz ahead of talks in Switzerland2026-06-21 — CNN

Is the Iran–US war over?

Not formally — but active fighting has largely stopped under a ceasefire. On 14 June 2026 the United States and Iran digitally signed a 14-point ceasefire memorandum, the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, mediated by Pakistan with Qatar and Oman. President Trump signed a hard copy at the Palace of Versailles on 17 June, and Iran's foreign ministry confirmed the electronic signing the same day. The memorandum declares an immediate, permanent end to the war on all fronts and opens a 60-day window to negotiate a final, UN-endorsed deal. It is not yet a final peace treaty, and key terms remain unresolved.

This page summarizes the war and the deal neutrally and links to primary reporting. Because the situation is fast-moving, treat every figure as a contested estimate and check the live headlines below.

What does the ceasefire deal include?

The 14-point memorandum ends hostilities, reopens the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for 60 days, lifts the US naval blockade, issues immediate waivers for Iranian oil exports, commits to a $300 billion (Gulf-funded) reconstruction plan, releases frozen Iranian assets on compliance, and has Iran reaffirm it will not develop nuclear weapons, with ~440 kg of 60%-enriched uranium to be down-blended on-site under IAEA supervision. For the full point-by-point breakdown and what is still unresolved, see our dedicated page on the US–Iran peace deal.

How did the 2026 Iran war start?

The war began on 28 February 2026, when the US (codename Operation Epic Fury) and Israel (codename Operation Roaring Lion) launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran's military installations, nuclear enrichment facilities and leadership. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was reported killed in the opening hours and was succeeded by Mojtaba Khamenei (per Iranian state media, 9 March 2026). Iran retaliated against Israel and US-aligned Gulf states and moved to close the Strait of Hormuz. An April ceasefire collapsed in early June before the current deal. See the full 2026 Iran war timeline.

The Strait of Hormuz and the oil shock

Iran used the Strait of Hormuz — which carries roughly a fifth of the world's oil — as its main point of leverage, declaring it closed in June 2026. The new deal reopens it toll-free for commercial vessels for 60 days, but as of mid-June it remains effectively closed while mines are cleared and war-risk insurance stays elevated. See our dedicated analysis of the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

What happened to Iran's nuclear program?

The opening campaign hit Iran's three main enrichment sites — Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan — but several analyses concluded the program was set back rather than destroyed, with much of Fordow's deep bunker reportedly surviving. The IAEA reported Iran held about 440 kg of 60%-enriched uranium, now slated for on-site down-blending under the deal. See Iran's nuclear program after the strikes.

How many people have died in the 2026 Iran war?

Casualty figures are contested and attributed below by source and date. They remain wartime estimates that should be verified against primary humanitarian sources.

Reported casualties in the 2026 Iran war — contested wartime estimates; ranges vary by source.
Country / party	Reported killed	Reported wounded	Source (as of)
Iran	≈3,500–7,600 killed (incl. ~1,700 civilians)	≈26,500	Iran Ministry of Health; HRANA (3,636 killed as of 7 Apr 2026)
Lebanon	≈3,756+ killed	≈11,632+	Lebanese Ministry of Health (as of 13 Jun 2026)
Israel	≈26–28 killed	thousands	Israeli authorities (mid-Jun 2026)
Iraq	≈119+ killed	≈370	Iraqi officials (as of the Apr 2026 ceasefire)
Gulf states	≈28–48 killed	—	National authorities, UAE/Kuwait/Bahrain/Saudi (2026)
United States	13 killed	≈373–381	US Central Command (Operation Epic Fury, as of ~May 2026)

What happens next? The risks to the ceasefire

The central risks are that the 60-day talks collapse over the hardest issues — Iran's enrichment, the sequencing of sanctions relief and the $300 billion fund; that the Lebanon front reignites, since Israel says it is not bound by the memorandum; that the Strait of Hormuz is slow to reopen; and that President Trump has warned he could resume strikes if he dislikes the final deal. CIA Director John Ratcliffe and acting National Security Adviser Marco Rubio have publicly questioned whether Iran will comply.

Timeline of the 2026 Iran war

Jun 2025 — The 'Twelve-Day War' between Israel and Iran (Operation Midnight Hammer) sets the stage for a wider confrontation — a distinct earlier conflict.
28 Feb 2026 — The US (Operation Epic Fury) and Israel (Operation Roaring Lion) launch coordinated airstrikes on Iran's military and nuclear sites; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is reported killed in the opening hours and Iran begins blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
9 Mar 2026 — Iran's Assembly of Experts names Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, per Iranian state media.
21 Mar 2026 — US bunker-buster strikes hit the Natanz nuclear facility; Fordow and Isfahan are also struck.
Apr 2026 — A ceasefire pauses the heaviest fighting after roughly two months of strikes.
7–8 Jun 2026 — Iran fires ballistic-missile barrages at Israel; Israel strikes across Iran — the April truce collapses.
9–11 Jun 2026 — US forces strike Iranian air-defense sites; Iran's IRGC attacks US bases across the Gulf (Al Udeid, Ali Al Salem, Al Dhafra, Bahrain) and declares the Strait of Hormuz fully closed.
12 Jun 2026 — US and Iran reach a final agreed text for a ceasefire memorandum after mediation led by Pakistan, with Qatar and Oman.
14–15 Jun 2026 — The 14-point 'Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding' is digitally signed; VP JD Vance announces the signing on 15 June.
17 Jun 2026 — Trump signs a hard copy at Versailles and Iran confirms the electronic signing; the planned 19 June Geneva ceremony is cancelled. A 60-day window opens to negotiate a final, UN-endorsed deal.

Follow the whole Iran war & peace deal

This page is part of our Iran-war coverage cluster. Explore the connected analyses:

US–Iran peace dealThe 14-point Islamabad MOU Iran war timelineFeb 28 → present, dated Iran nuclear dealThe 60-day final-deal talks Iran's nuclear programStockpile, sites, strikes Strait of HormuzClosure, reopening, oil $300bn reconstruction fundWho pays, conditions Iran sanctions reliefOil, frozen assets, schedule Hezbollah ceasefireThe Lebanon front Attacks on US basesWhich bases were hit Iran's red linesHow they shifted Iran war newsLatest headlines Iran–Israel warThe Israel front

Frequently asked questions

Is the Iran–US war over in 2026?

Active fighting has largely stopped under a ceasefire. On 14 June 2026 the US and Iran digitally signed the 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, and President Trump signed a hard copy on 17 June. It is a ceasefire memorandum that opens a 60-day window for a final deal, not yet a final peace treaty, and remains fragile — verify the current status with live reporting.

Who signed the US–Iran deal and when?

The memorandum was digitally signed on 14 June 2026 by President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance for the United States and, per US officials and CSIS, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf for Iran. Trump signed a hard copy at the Palace of Versailles on 17 June; Iran confirmed the electronic signing the same day.

Was there a Geneva signing ceremony on June 19?

No. A formal ceremony in Geneva had been planned for 19 June 2026 but was cancelled after the agreement was signed electronically. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said no signing ceremony would be held in Switzerland, though negotiating teams may still meet there to begin final-deal talks.

How did the Iran–US war start?

It began on 28 February 2026 when the US (Operation Epic Fury) and Israel (Operation Roaring Lion) launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran's nuclear, military and leadership targets. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reported killed and succeeded by Mojtaba Khamenei; Iran retaliated against Israel, Gulf states and US bases and closed the Strait of Hormuz.

How many people have died?

Figures are contested. Iran reports roughly 3,500 or more killed (Iran Ministry of Health; HRANA documented 3,636 as of 7 April 2026); Lebanon's Health Ministry reported about 3,756 killed as of 13 June; Israel about 26–28; Iraq about 119; and US Central Command reported 13 US service members killed. Treat all counts as wartime estimates.

Sources & further reading

Primary reporting and analysis used to build this page. Treat all wartime figures as contested estimates and verify against the original source before reuse.

Sources & disclaimer. This is a fast-moving story and figures are contested estimates, not confirmed counts. Reporting is aggregated from outlets and trackers including Reuters, AP, Al Jazeera, Wikipedia, the CFR Global Conflict Tracker, and Google News. Casualty figures, MOU terms and contested claims are attributed inline to a named source and date; always verify against primary reporting before relying on any figure.

The Iran–US War (2026)