The United States and Iran have agreed on a framework to end months of conflict, halt US military operations against Tehran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said on Sunday, describing it as a major diplomatic breakthrough in the four-month war.

“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all! I hereby fully authorise the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorise the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” he stated.

The announcement was later echoed by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has played a key mediating role in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

“Following intensive talks, we are pleased to announce that the Peace Deal between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran has been reached. Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. The official signing ceremony will be on Friday, 19 June in Switzerland,” said Sharif.

A formal signing ceremony is planned to take place in Geneva.

Under the preliminary framework, military operations between the two sides would cease immediately, while the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes — would be reopened following the signing of the agreement.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed key elements of the arrangement, saying broader negotiations would continue during a 60-day ceasefire period. Those talks are expected to cover sanctions relief and the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, which remains one of the most contentious issues between Tehran and Washington.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, would end permanently beginning on Monday night.

The Strait of Hormuz handles 20 per cent of the world’s seaborne energy trade and has been at the centre of regional tensions throughout the conflict.

News of the agreement helped push oil prices lower as markets reacted to the prospect of improved energy flows and reduced geopolitical risk. Brent crude prices on Sunday fell over 3 per cent to about $84 a barrel, while US crude dropped more than 4 per cent to about $81 a barrel.

Key issues to be resolved

While the framework appears to represent a major step towards de-escalation, several key issues remain unresolved.

The fate of Iran’s nuclear programme is expected to be addressed in follow-up negotiations, while details surrounding potential sanctions relief have yet to be formally disclosed.

Reuters reported that one option under discussion includes a temporary waiver of US oil sanctions and a commitment not to impose additional sanctions while a broader settlement is negotiated.

The announcement also comes amid renewed tensions involving Israel. There was no immediate reaction from Israeli officials, who were not party to the US-Iran talks.

Trump publicly criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after an Israeli strike targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday, saying he was surprised by the timing of the attack as negotiations were reaching their conclusion.

Mediators from Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey were involved throughout the talks, with diplomatic sources indicating that Pakistan and Qatar played particularly significant roles during the final phase of negotiations.

The conflict, which began on February 28, has killed thousands of people across the region, disrupted global energy markets and drawn in Iran-aligned groups operating in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.

Despite the breakthrough, analysts caution that the agreement remains a preliminary framework rather than a comprehensive peace settlement, with many of the most difficult issues still to be negotiated in the coming months.

US President Donald Trump and mediator Pakistan said on Saturday an initial deal to end the war in the Middle East would be signed on Sunday, although Iran denied the signing would take place so soon.

Pakistani 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 next week.

Trump also said in a social media post that the deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies which Iran has blocked, would be immediately “open to all” after it was signed.

Earlier on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei cautioned against commenting on the timing the signing.

“We will have to wait and see about the exact date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding, although it will not be tomorrow,” state media quoted Baghaei as saying.

“The possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out. However, due to the hesitation of the other side, we must be cautious in making any comments about this process.”

A US official who spoke to reporters later declined to be drawn on the timing but said: “It’s a great deal and a very strong deal.”

It is not the first time the two sides have appeared close to an initial agreement on ending the war that began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, but Sharif said on X: “We are closer to a peace deal than ever before.”

The conflict has sent global energy prices sharply higher and killed thousands of people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, where the war has revived a conflict between Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah militants.

What is in the deal?

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

Hours after those remarks, US forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the drones had posed a threat to commercial traffic. US Central Command later confirmed the action and said the strait, a major artery for global oil supplies, was open.

Iran has for months effectively blockaded the strait, and the US navy has blocked Iranian ports to reduce its oil exports.

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 – Trump’s stated rationale for starting 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,” said the US official who spoke on Saturday.

“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.

Frozen assets

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.

Fars also quoted him as saying foreign military bases in the region must end without providing details.

Iran’s nuclear program would be addressed during a 60-day period 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.

But Araqchi said that Iran, which sources said has not accepted the dismantling of its nuclear program, wanted to retain the uranium in diluted form.

The proposals also include discussion of possible war reparations for Tehran and dropping longstanding US demands for limits on Iran’s missile program, the sources said. The US official disputed that account.

Israel not party to memorandum

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would not be party to the agreement. He has clashed with Trump over US demands that Israel curb military action in Lebanon to allow Washington to reach a deal with Tehran.

Araqchi said the agreement would end the war in Lebanon, implying an Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas.

Israel’s defence minister said it would not withdraw. A senior Israeli official said Israel expects to retain its freedom to act against threats.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an airstrike on the first day of the war and later replaced in the role by his son Mojtaba. Khamenei’s funeral will begin in Tehran on July 4 and conclude with his burial in his hometown, the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, on July 9, Iranian state media reported on Saturday.

A new threat is quietly targeting internet users worldwide, and it’s nothing like traditional phishing attacks. Grey websites are deceptive online platforms designed to manipulate users into voluntarily handing over money and personal information. Unlike classic phishing that directly steals login credentials, grey websites use persuasion, fake legitimacy, and hidden terms to exploit trust.

Recent research from Kaspersky reveals that these fraudulent platforms are driving substantial financial losses and large-scale data harvesting across all global regions.

“Suspicious websites don’t look harmful at first glance,” explains Anna Larkina, web content and privacy analysis expert at Kaspersky. “They exploit trust, urgency, and familiarity, and a single click could be all it takes to lose money or expose sensitive data.”

How grey websites work

Gray websites succeed by impersonating legitimate services. They often pose as:

• E-commerce platforms selling counterfeit or non-existent goods
• Financial tools including fake crypto exchanges and trading platforms
• AI services and image-processing tools targeting tech-savvy users
• Subscription services offering cheap trials that hide costly recurring charges
• Security solutions such as browser extensions that actually harvest your data

The sophistication lies in their presentation. These sites use polished interfaces, fabricated licences, and professional branding to appear trustworthy, making them significantly harder to detect than traditional phishing attempts.

What these websites can do

Grey websites drain your bank account through fraudulent transactions, hidden subscriptions, and fake investment schemes promising unrealistic returns. Users often discover they’ve lost money only when attempting to withdraw funds or cancel services.

Browser extensions disguised as privacy tools actually track your every move. Fake financial platforms capture sensitive personal and financial information. Intermediary service scams (legal, real estate) collect data under false pretenses.

The personal data harvested by gray websites becomes currency for further exploitation, leading to identity theft, targeted phishing, and unauthorised account access.

Malicious browser extensions inject advertisements, intercept traffic, steal cookies, and monitor browsing behavior, compromising your entire online security.

Grey websites by region

Europe: Threat actors heavily exploit privacy concerns with fake security tools and browser extensions disguised as solutions.

Africa: Financial scams dominate, with fraudulent trading platforms and fake brokers preventing withdrawals while charging fake fees.

Middle East and North Africa: Scammers mimic communication tools, betting services, and financial platforms, combining financial fraud with technical data theft.

How to protect yourself

1. Check domain age – Newly registered domains are a major red flag
2. Verify legitimacy – Look for active social presence, consistent branding, and verifiable contact details
3. Scrutinise offers – Deals that seem too good to be true usually are
4. Avoid browser extensions – Only install from official sources; unknown extensions are common delivery mechanisms
5. Use secure payment methods – Choose options with buyer protection; avoid crypto or wire transfers for unfamiliar services
6. Read the fine print – Subscription terms often hide automatic charges
7. Use security software – Reliable solutions can detect grey website scams across Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS

Grey websites represent a growing threat that exploits human psychology as much as technology. Their convincing appearance and behavioral manipulation tactics make them dangerous for everyone, from casual browsers to experienced internet users.

By staying vigilant and implementing protective measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to these sophisticated scams.

Read: Beyond compliance: Why cybersecurity transparency has become a boardroom priority

DXC Technology said on Thursday it has formed a multi-year global alliance with Anthropic to embed artificial intelligence into mission-critical enterprise systems used by banks, airlines, insurers, manufacturers and government agencies.

Under the agreement, DXC becomes a Global Premier partner in Anthropic’s Claude Partner Network and will build new AI offerings tailored to specific industries, the companies said.

At the centre of the partnership is the deployment of Anthropic’s Claude models within DXC OASIS, DXC’s AI-native orchestration platform for managed services. DXC said OASIS is already live with more than 50 customers and has used Claude to accelerate software delivery significantly, with the AI generating the majority of code prior to human review.

DXC said the collaboration will also establish a workforce of forward-deployed engineers and builders certified in Claude, embedded directly within customer environments to support deployment of agentic AI systems.

The engineers will be trained through Anthropic’s partner programmes and DXC’s own certification track, the companies said.

DXC chief executive Raul Fernandez said the partnership marks a turning point for the company as it scales AI capabilities into core enterprise systems. Anthropic chief commercial officer Paul Smith said the collaboration builds on DXC’s internal use of Claude under production-grade security conditions before extending it to customers.

The companies said DXC had already used Claude internally to build and operate OASIS, its orchestration platform, which now serves as the foundation for agentic workflows across its managed services business.

The alliance is structured around DXC’s AI strategy, which the company describes as connecting technology, people and processes for enterprise transformation.

Initial focus areas include insurance, cybersecurity, application modernisation and application services. In insurance, DXC plans to use Claude to deploy agentic systems aligned with client operating models. In cybersecurity, the companies said AI-driven tools will be embedded in security operations centres to strengthen threat detection and response. In modernisation, Claude will be used to analyse and refactor legacy codebases at scale.

DXC said the partnership reflects its “customer zero” approach, where technologies are tested internally before being deployed to clients.

DXC did not disclose financial terms of the agreement.

Read: Anthropic launches Opus 4.8 alongside $65bn funding haul

The UAE has categorically denied media reports alleging that funds were transferred from the country to Iran, including claims involving as much as $3bn.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said reports published by certain international media outlets alleging the transfer of funds from the UAE to the Islamic Republic of Iran were “entirely false and unfounded”.

The ministry specifically rejected allegations concerning the release or movement of frozen Iranian assets through the UAE.

“The allegations are entirely false and unfounded,” the ministry said, stressing that no frozen Iranian funds have been released, transferred or facilitated through the UAE.

“The Ministry also called on media outlets to exercise accuracy, rely on official sources, and refrain from publishing or circulating unverified information and unfounded allegations,” the statement added.

The UAE has maintained that its financial system operates in line with international regulations and compliance standards, while continuing to support regional stability and diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions across the Middle East.