The US and Iran have agreed to temporarily halt military strikes following days of fresh clashes in the region. US officials say both sides will stand down to allow commercial ships to move freely through the vital Strait of Hormuz. The breakthrough comes ahead of emergency talks scheduled for Tuesday in Qatar. Meanwhile, regional tensions remain high as Iran warns against alternative shipping routes and Israel targets Hezbollah tunnels in southern Lebanon. Follow our live updates: 06:44 AM, 30 June 2026We are closing this coverage now. For the latest updates, click here:05:26 AM, 30 June 2026IRGC Navy spokesperson Mohammad Akbarzadeh dies in reported 'car rollover'Mohammad Akbarzadeh, political deputy (and spokesperson) of the IRGC Navy, died in reported vehicle rollover accident in Iran's Kerman province.Iranian state-affiliated media, including Fars News Agency (IRGC-linked), reported that Akbarzadeh, political deputy (and spokesperson) of the IRGC Navy, died after his vehicle overturned on a road in Kerman province (southeastern Iran, on the route from Yazd). Emergency responders transported him to a medical center, where he succumbed to his injuries. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause and circumstances.This is corroborated by multiple outlets carrying the Iranian reporting, including Iran International, RIA Novosti/Sputnik affiliates, and social media summaries from observers. 01:02 AM, 30 June 2026Conflicting US-Iran signals keep Mideast on edge Mixed signals over planned US-Iran negotiations injected fresh uncertainty into Middle East diplomacy, as Tehran denied that any talks were scheduled despite President Donald Trump's announcement that American and Iranian officials would meet in Qatar this week.Iran's Foreign Ministry said no negotiations with the US were planned "at any level" in the coming days, contradicting Trump's statement that talks would begin Tuesday. The conflicting messages have raised questions about the status of diplomatic efforts following weeks of heightened tensions in the region.The uncertainty comes as negotiators seek to build on a fragile US-Iran memorandum of understanding intended to reduce hostilities and pave the way for a broader agreement addressing Iran's nuclear program, regional security and sanctions relief.01:02 AM, 30 June 2026Shipping through Hormuz inches higher: tracking dataMore than two dozen commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, according to MarineTraffic data, as global shipping companies cautiously resumed operations ahead of expected US-Iran peace talks that President Donald Trump said are scheduled to begin Tuesday.The vessel count remains well below pre-conflict levels, underscoring continued concerns over security in one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints.MarineTraffic data showed that 25 commercial ships passed through the strait during the latest 24-hour period. The outbound traffic from the Persian Gulf included six oil tankers and eight cargo vessels, while five tankers and six cargo ships entered the Gulf.10:16 PM, 29 June 2026Iran says implementation of MoU underway, final talks not yet started