US deploys fighter jets to Middle East as Iran talks stall

United States F-16 fighter jets have conducted patrols over the Middle East after talks between Washington and Tehran in Switzerland were postponed, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Friday. The negotiations, which also involved Qatar and Pakistan, were part of a broader diplomatic effort. Earlier, Iran and the United States had confirmed the completion of a memorandum of understanding. The document, signed remotely on 18 June, provided a 60-day window for both nations to negotiate a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme and US sanctions. It also established a timeline for the US to lift a maritime blockade and for Iran to restore shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.