Jordan Daily Brief — Saturday, June 13, 2026
US-Iran peace deal reaches 80-85% confidence as Hormuz drones are intercepted; Jordan FM Safadi and Qatar's FM welcome Pakistan-mediated text. The World Bank forecasts Jordan's growth at 2.7% in 2026 rising to 3% by 2028. ISSF commits $7M to Endeavor Catalyst V. Jordan's exporters make their debut in Seoul, and Al-Nashama open their Portland World Cup camp four days before the June 17 opener against Austria.
Good morning from Amman. Here are today's five stories shaping Jordan on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
US-Iran peace deal at 80–85% — and Jordan's diplomatic stake
A senior US official said Saturday that confidence in an imminent US-Iran agreement had risen to "80-85 per cent", up from 75% earlier the same morning, with a signing possible within days.1
The proposed framework — brokered by Pakistan — covers not only Iran and the US but also extends to Lebanon, Israel, and Gulf states as part of a broader regional settlement. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that "a final, agreed-upon text of the peace deal has been reached," though Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned that no announcement could be made until all outstanding issues were resolved.
The optimism came despite a new military flare-up: US Central Command said Iran launched one-way attack drones at commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday; all were intercepted and shipping traffic continued uninterrupted.1 Switzerland offered to host the signing ceremony.
Jordan's diplomatic fingerprints are on this process. Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi spoke by phone with Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Friday evening; both expressed "strong satisfaction" at the progress and welcomed Pakistan's announcement that a final text existed.2 Political analyst Amer Sabaileh, writing in the Jordan Times, offered a sobering note: "What we are seeing is an attempt to manage the conflict through negotiations backed by force" — not yet an end to war.1
Jordan's economy on track for 3% growth by 2028 — World Bank
The World Bank's latest Global Economic Prospects report projects Jordan's GDP growth at 2.7% in 2026, rising to 2.9% in 2027 and reaching 3% by 2028 — a steady upward trajectory even as the broader Middle East and North Africa region slows to 1.6% in 2026 amid geopolitical turbulence.3
Jordan Chamber of Industry President Fathi Jagbir read the numbers as external validation of domestic resilience. He pointed to rising fertilizer export prices as a partial buffer against energy import costs, and cited industrial sector data: the sector now accounts for about 24% of GDP directly (roughly 45% counting indirect effects), employs around 271,000 workers, and represents more than 95% of national exports.4 Industrial exports climbed from approximately JD 4.3 billion in 2018 to nearly JD 9 billion by 2025.
ISSF commits $7M to Endeavor Catalyst V — backing Jordanian startups globally
The Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF) signed a $7 million investment into Endeavor Catalyst V, a $300 million co-investment fund that backs high-growth companies in more than 60 countries.5 ISSF CEO Mohammad Al-Muhtasib and Endeavor Catalyst Managing Partner Allen Taylor signed the deal on Saturday in Amman.
The investment marks the start of ISSF's second operational phase, following a first phase — rated highest-performing by the World Bank — that ran through 2025. Taylor noted that Endeavor entered Jordan in 2009 as its first MENA market and has stayed through several investment cycles.
One headline credential: Endeavor Catalyst previously backed Replit, the AI and software development platform co-founded by Jordanian entrepreneurs Amjad Masad and Haya Odeh, which now carries a $9 billion valuation.
Jordan takes its exports to Seoul
Jordan Exporters Association Chairman Ahmad Khudri met his South Korean counterpart — KOIMA Chairperson Yun Young-mi — in Seoul on Saturday, describing the South Korean market as "a promising destination for Jordanian products" following JEA's debut participation in the Seoul International Food and Hospitality Expo.6
The JEA called the expo appearance its first trade initiative in the South Korean market. Jordanian companies held meetings with both Korean and Arab importers based in Korea. Khudri said the visit would "form a solid foundation" for bilateral trade, with JEA already planning to participate in the next Seoul Food Expo edition.
The Jordanian delegation was accompanied by Ambassador to South Korea Asel Al-Tal and Senator Mamdouh Nabbas.
Al-Nashama in Portland, four days from kick-off
Jordan's national football team opened its official World Cup camp at Oregon State University in Portland on Thursday, becoming the first Jordanian side to prepare for a FIFA World Cup on foreign soil.7 All 26 squad members were fit for the opening training session under coach Jamal Sellami; HRH Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, JFA President, leads the delegation.
Jordan's Group J schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (Amman) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 17 Jun | Austria | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara | 07:00 |
| Tue 23 Jun | Algeria | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara | 06:00 |
| Sun 28 Jun | Argentina | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | 05:00 |
Sellami acknowledged the bracket — Argentina (reigning champions), Algeria, and Austria — is a genuine test. Off the pitch, FIFA appointed Jordanian international referee Adham Mukhadimah to officiate the Spain vs. Cape Verde match on Monday, the first World Cup assignment for a Jordanian referee.8
References
- 1US-Iran deal edges closer despite fresh Hormuz tensions
jordantimes.com
- 2FM receives phone call from Qatari counterpart
petra.gov.jo
- 3
- 4
- 5ISSF invests $7 million in Endeavor Catalyst V
petra.gov.jo
- 6
- 7
- 8Jordanian referee to officiate World Cup match
petra.gov.jo
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