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Updated on 13 June at 1330 CEST=========================== Source quoting Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, says the text of a Memorandum between the US and Iran has been agreed, and is likely to be signed in the next 24 hours. Iranian sources are saying that the Memorandum is likely to be signed remotely. ==================== The United States and Iran signaled on Friday that an agreement to end their war was close, with a senior U.S. administration official saying both sides had agreed on a text and that Washington ​expects to sign an initial deal in the coming days. There are reports that the two sides will meet in Geneva in the coming 3-4 days. iAccording to the BBC, the agreement  includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Foreign Minister has said. Seyed Abbas Araghchi told state TV the deal also includes the lifting of a US blockade of Iran, but that talks on Iran's nuclear programme would begin later. US officials have confirmed some of the details of the agreement, saying economic benefits for Iran would depend on Tehran meeting its obligations. The war began with US and Israeli strikes across Iran on 28 February, prompting Iran to attack Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf - as well as effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for the world's oil and liquefied gas. Trump says there is "no such thing as dealing in good faith" when it comes to negotiating with the Iranians Despite having agreed a ceasefire in April, the US and Iran have exchanged intermittent fire, including two rounds of tit-for-tat strikes this week. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had cancelled "scheduled attacks" against Iran, because negotiators had "just made a great settlement" - a deal that was likely be to signed imminently. On Friday, Iranian media published some details from the alleged 14-point deal which Trump said had "nothing to do with the terms that were agreed to" and "bears no relation to the truth".

On Thursday (11 June), LINKS Europe held a webinar on the results of the Armenian Parliamentary elections and the role of social media and media during the election period, both in Armenian media and Russian media. The panel was formed by Eleonora Sargsyan, from Armenian Progressive Youth; Dennis Sammut, Director of LINKS Europe; Santiago Ferbel-Azcarate, Senior Research Assistant at LINKS Europe; and Will Murray, founder of Vigeat Europa. The panel was chaired by Alexandra Dumirescu, international coordinator at LINKS Europe. Ms. Sargsyan offered the audience an overall assessment of the election results and the overall political mood in the country. She explained that the key outcome of Armenia's 2026 parliamentary elections was a renewed mandate for continuity. Dr Sammut described the 2026 parliamentary elections as a good election that strengthened Armenia's democratic process and produced a clear result. Yet he identified three issues that require serious attention. The webinar moved on to two presentations. Mr Ferbel-Azcarate shared a presentation titled 'Social media usage and Armenia's 2026 election'. This was followed by a presentation on how the Russian media discussed the Armenian elections by Will Murray from Vigeat Europa. (To read the full summary of the webinar, click on the image above)

Within a tumultuous peace and security environment in the South Caucasus, the European Union has over time established itself in multiple capacities. A network of financial, diplomatic, and security ties comprise the Union’s larger interests in working together with Armenia and Azerbaijan for the benefit of peace, security and stability in the region.  The European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) fulfils an active part in the EU’s contribution to the normalisation process in the South Caucasus. The monitors patrol the entire length of Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan from six Forward Operating Bases on the Armenian side. The Mission conducts both day and night patrols. Total staff of EUMA is over 200 international and national members who are working in different roles such as monitors and in supporting functions. One important task of the Mission is to build confidence among local border communities. Azerbaijan has repeatedly criticised EUMA, describing it as a “propaganda tool” used against Azerbaijan, and viewing the Mission’s presence on the Armenian side of the border with suspicion. In this final issue of Thursday Interview ahead of a summer recess, we speak to Ms. Satu Koivu, who has since March of this year served as Head of Mission for the European Union Mission in Armenia. HoM Koivu started her career in the Finnish police force, over time building a distinguished career in policing, crisis management, international peacekeeping, and security sector reform.  Before taking up her post in Armenia, she served as Senior Police Adviser and Head of Police Component in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. She has also held advisory and training roles in EU and UN policing missions and courses, including in Palestine, Rwanda, Kenya, and Finland. At the national level, she has held senior positions in the Finnish police, including as Assistant Police Commissioner and Chief of Human Resources Development at the National Police Board of Finland, where her work focused on capacity building, organisational development, police leadership, and professional standards. We speak to HoM Koivu about her professional life before taking up her post in Armenia, how EUMA fits into the region’s wider goal of peace and stability, the negative perception of the Mission in Azerbaijan, and what it means to build trust and confidence in a still fragile post-conflict environment. (To read the full interview, click on the image above)