Author: space4knews

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has signed the historic ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)’ between the United States and Iran as a mediator. According to the agreement, Iran will immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the US will lift its naval blockade. Prime Minister Sharif acknowledged the significant contributions of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt in facilitating this historic accord. June 18, Kathmandu.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acted as the mediator in the signing of the MOU between the United States and Iran. He formally signed the ‘Islamabad MOU.’ A video released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday shows Sharif endorsing the agreement. Prior to his endorsement, both the United States and Iran had already signed the document. Sharif confirmed that the agreement would come into immediate effect.

Sharif expressed via X (formerly Twitter), “I am proud to announce the historic electronically signed Islamabad MOU between the United States and Iran. The respective presidents of both countries have signed the agreement, and I have approved it in my capacity as mediator.” He highlighted that the signatures from the highest levels of both governments demonstrate a serious commitment to resolving their conflict through dialogue.

“The Islamabad MOU will take effect immediately. As a first step, Iran will promptly open the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States will lift its naval blockade without delay,” Sharif wrote. He also extended his gratitude to the top leaders of the US and Iran. Sharif acknowledged Qatar’s role in facilitating this process and commended the contributions of leaders from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt in brokering the deal.

The main session of the Russia-ASEAN summit has commenced in Kazan, Russia, marking the 35th anniversary of relations between Russia and ASEAN. The meeting, co-chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is set to release four key documents, including the ‘Kazan Declaration’. The summit will also approve a joint action plan for 2026 to 2030 to enhance cooperation in energy, transportation, agriculture, and digital technology sectors.

The summit in Kazan began with President Putin welcoming the heads of foreign delegations at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center on Thursday morning. Prior to the meeting’s start, the leaders gathered for a group photo, according to the news agency TASS. The event commemorates 35 years of Russia-ASEAN relations.

Co-chaired jointly by Presidents Putin and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the participating leaders are presenting their perspectives on international and regional issues. They are reviewing the longstanding partnership between Russia and ASEAN and setting new objectives in political, security, trade, and investment areas. The session will conclude with the signing of four significant documents.

The centerpiece of these is the issuance of the ‘Kazan Declaration,’ which outlines the shared views of Russia and ASEAN on international matters. It emphasizes commitment to the rule of law and the establishment of a democratic global order. Additionally, the joint action plan covering 2026 to 2030 will be officially adopted. Following the formal session, a ‘working breakfast’ is being held for the leaders to discuss economic integration in the Eurasian region.

Representatives from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Commission are also participating in these discussions. The leaders will review the report from the business forum held the previous day. President Putin has scheduled separate bilateral meetings with several prime ministers today, including those from Vietnam, East Timor, Cambodia, Singapore, and Thailand. On Wednesday, he held talks with the President of the Philippines, the leader of Brunei, Malaysia’s Prime Minister, and Turkey’s Foreign Minister.

Special envoys of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are planning an imminent visit to Russia. Russian officials have stated that the primary purpose of this visit is to discuss resolving the Ukraine conflict and advancing peace talks. European countries and the United Kingdom have strongly criticized the ongoing dialogue between Washington and Moscow.

Kiril Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, confirmed the news, adding that the exact date of the visit has yet to be finalized but talks between the two nations continue uninterrupted. According to sources, there has been recent constructive communication between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

European nations and the UK have expressed considerable outrage over the continuous engagement between Washington and Moscow. Dmitriev stated that the Kremlin will soon officially announce the date of the US delegation’s visit to Moscow. Earlier, on June 16, Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, also briefed on this matter, noting that the American team would arrive in Moscow following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the US.

June 18, Kathmandu — The interim text of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran was made public on Wednesday. According to officials, both President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pejskian have digitally signed the agreement. Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that the deal has come into effect as of Wednesday. The formal signing of the interim peace agreement between the US and Iran is scheduled for Friday in Switzerland. According to news agency Reuters, the six main points of the agreement are as follows:
1. Immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon.
2. Unrestricted maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
3. Removal of the US blockade on Iranian ports.
4. Lifting of US sanctions on Iran and unfreezing of blocked assets.
5. Implementation of a $300 billion plan for Iran’s economic rehabilitation.
6. Iran reiterating its longstanding commitment not to develop nuclear weapons.

This agreement extends the ceasefire announced in April by 60 days, allowing both sides to negotiate a permanent peace deal. Leaders of the G7 summit, meeting in France, have welcomed the agreement. However, a senior US official noted that until the deal becomes binding, there remains concern that either party might withdraw.

Trump Issues Warning Over Non-Compliance
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned that renewed attacks would commence if Iran fails to meet its commitments. Speaking at a press conference during the ongoing G7 summit in France, Trump stated, “If they violate the agreement, we will bomb them greatly. I don’t want that—I want them to honor the agreement.” He referred to the Iranians as “smart people” and noted that negotiators from both countries are working toward a permanent ceasefire within the next 60 days. Trump has previously warned of resuming bombings if Iran behaves badly.

In a notable change in stance, Trump has retracted his previous hardline position by acknowledging that demanding Iran to forego ballistic missiles altogether is “unfair.” Earlier in the conflict, Trump had pledged to obliterate Iran’s ballistic missile program. However, reports by Reuters suggest that many of the original objectives set by Trump at the conflict’s outset have not been achieved, and Iran is now closer to being freed from billions of dollars in sanctions than before the intervention.

Iran’s traditional government remains intact. Its stockpile of highly enriched uranium is secure, and its ballistic missile capabilities are still intact. Additionally, Iran continues its support for Israel-opposing groups like Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Economic Impact and Regional Context
On February 28, the US and Israel launched their initial attacks against Iran, resulting in the assassination of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military officials on the first day. The resulting conflict escalated into a regional crisis, driving up energy prices, increasing inflationary pressures, and raising concerns about a food crisis in developing nations.

Following Wednesday’s agreement and the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, crude oil prices have fallen, with Brent crude dipping below $80 per barrel — the lowest level since the conflict began. However, Reuters reports that after Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the deal and warned that fighting could resume, oil prices rebounded slightly by more than 1 percent.

May 18, Pokhara – Internal conflicts within the Nepali Congress have also impacted the Gandaki Province. On April 15, 2026 (Nepali calendar 2083 Baisakh 3), Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey appointed Jit Bahadur Sherchan from Baglung as the Finance Minister. While MPs led by Gagan Thapa, who came into prominence after the special general convention, were preparing a vote of no confidence against the Chief Minister, the Gandaki provincial cabinet was reshuffled. There was internal party pressure on Chief Minister Pandey to reorganize the council ahead of the budget presentation. Additionally, there was pressure from both the ruling UML and opposition NC and Rastriya Prajatantra Party to collaboratively prepare the policy and budget.

Criticism is mounting over the inclusion of MPs’ preferred projects in the budget through a system of allowances and ceilings, as well as the introduction of multi-year projects added with the consensus of ruling party leaders in the current fiscal budget. Finance Minister Sherchan has announced a total budget of NPR 3.2999 billion for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/084. Following his declaration of an allocation of NPR 200 million for the industrial and tourism sectors, confusion erupted. Eventually, it was decided under Chief Minister Pandey’s direction to amend the error and inform the parliament accordingly.

Finance Minister Sherchan stated, “This budget includes some fundamental and innovative programs.” However, as he acknowledged, the province has yet to identify clear priorities and goals. The budget has been prepared with a focus on agriculture and tourism. He emphasized making agriculture and tourism more technology-friendly and integrating innovation.

The Finance Minister will need to answer how the internal revenue base will be expanded in the coming year and what results Gandaki Province expects from this budget. He mentioned, “In this budget, banks will invest, and the province will pay the interest.” This approach of selecting projects based on the preferences of MPs and ministers has drawn considerable criticism.

June 18, Kathmandu – Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, has announced that fees will be charged for passage through the Hormuz Strait, contradicting previous agreements with the United States. In an interview with state television, Speaker Ghalibaf stated that the situation in the Hormuz Strait will not revert to pre-war conditions. “The Hormuz Strait will not return to its status before the war,” he said. “Iran holds sovereignty over this waterway, and fees will be collected for its services.”

However, the agreement between the US and Iran explicitly states that Iran will not collect taxes from ships transiting the Hormuz Strait. This agreement was virtually signed by US President Donald Trump during the G7 summit held in France. The 14-point agreement, known as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), includes clauses under which Iran commits not to develop nuclear weapons, among other conditions. Speaker Ghalibaf also commented that the foundation of the initial peace agreement between the US and Iran is weak. US President Donald Trump has warned that if Iran fails to fulfill its commitments, military action will be resumed.