US-Iran Deal's First Hours: Vance Declares Ceasefire Clock Ticking

Vance announces 60-day period has begun, warns Israeli ministers against undermining the deal.

US-Iran Deal's First Hours: Vance Declares Ceasefire Clock Ticking — US Vice President JD Vance declared at a press conference that "the 60-day period for the ceasefire with Iran has begun," marking a formal start to the implementation of the recent US-Iran agreement. Vance also criticized Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, asking "what is your proposal?" in response to their attacks on the deal. The remarks came as the Iranian negotiating delegation postponed its planned trip to Switzerland, with a report citing Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon as a factor.[^1][^2] Iran's Supreme National Security Council issued new rules for ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz, stating that "due to special conditions and security threats on the route, as well as the need to ensure safe navigation and prevent maritime incidents, vessels must pass through the route at scheduled times."[^3] This move appears to tighten control over the strategic waterway even as the US and Iran begin a 60-day ceasefire period. Separately, a US Air Force tanker aircraft declared an emergency minutes after takeoff from Ben Gurion Airport, carrying three people and about 32 tons of fuel.[^4] In Europe, Germany's population fell by about 100,000 to 83.5 million in 2025, driven by a demographic gap of about 400,000 between deaths and births and a 45% drop in net migration compared to 2024, reaching about 235,000.[^5] Migration from Syria fell by 67%, from Turkey and Afghanistan by 41% each, and from Ukraine by 21%, with a deficit of 54,000 in the migration balance with the EU.[^5] Meanwhile, 97,000 German citizens left in 2025 compared to 81,000 the previous year.[^5] The Barcelona prosecutor's office opened a preliminary investigation against Pilar Rahola, a former Catalan journalist and politician, on suspicion of incitement to hatred and complicity in 'genocide' after she defended Israel.[^6] US-Iran deal fractures Israeli trust in Trump — US Vice President JD Vance harshly criticized Israeli politicians in a New York Times podcast interview for their 'strange panic' over the new nuclear deal with Iran.[^1] The remark stunned Israeli officials, who viewed it as an i