The US military says that Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait and Bahrain failed or were shot down, and that the US launched strikes on an Iranian facility in response.
US Central Command said the strikes were on an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island, near the Strait of Hormuz, that is home to a desalination plant.
Iran had fired missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain but they failed to hit their targets, the US said. The two fired at Kuwait fell apart en route, while US and Bahrain forces intercepted the missiles aimed at Bahrain.
The escalation comes as president Donald Trump calls suggestions that the US and Iran are no longer holding peace talks “false and erroneous” and insisted the two countries have been speaking "continuously".
In a post on Truth Social, he added the US and Iran in fact spoke “four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, one day ago, and today”.But he also said he had told Tehran: "It's time, one way or another, for you to make a Deal. You’ve been doing this for 47 years, and it cannot be allowed to go on any longer!”
Key Points
- US says Iran's attack on Bahrain and Kuwait failed
- US fires Hellfire missile at tanker heading towards Iran
- Oil climbs to $97 a barrel
- Israel reportedly kills 11 in Lebanon after Trump said fighting would de-escalate
- Trump tells Netanyahu: 'Everyone hates you'
study reveals how much increased costs from Trump’s Iran war have hit your household
04:56 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The military conflict in Iran has cost U.S. households an estimated $100 billion overall, driven primarily by a sharp increase in energy costs following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a new study from Moody’s Analytics found.
The analysis indicates that the financial burden translates to roughly $750 per household since the conflict began in February. The military action, initiated by President Donald Trump without congressional approval, has led to a 35 percent surge in oil prices.
According to data from AAA, the national average price for regular gasoline sits at $4.29 per gallon, though prices remain elevated after previously climbing above $4.50. Costs continue to top $5 in six states following the disruption of shipping lanes in the region.
More here.
New study reveals how much increased costs from Trump’s Iran war have hit households
Iran finalises plan for World Cup attendance
04:37 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran's Football Federation said that the final coordination with Fifa for the national team's travel to and stay in Mexico for the World Cup has been completed.
The squad will depart for Tijuana on Saturday and arrive in the Mexican city early Sunday for the tournament.
Iran moved its base to Mexico due to the ongoing conflict with the US.
The team will travel from there to match venues, including Los Angeles and Seattle.
US fires Hellfire missile at tanker heading towards Iran
04:27 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US military fired a Hellfire missile at a tanker heading towards Iran as part of a blockade being imposed by Donald Trump.
US Central Command posted a video showing the missile striking the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie, and said it targeted the ship's engine room, disabling it.
"The ship's crew ignored repeated warnings, failing to comply with directions from US forces multiple times over a 24-hour period," Central Command said in a statement.
"A US aircraft ultimately disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room, preventing the tanker from reaching Iran.
"The Lexie is the sixth ship that the US military has disabled since it started its blockade of Iran on 13 April.
Oil climbs to $97 a barrel
04:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices climbed more than 1 per cent in early trade as hostilities in the Middle East erupted anew with Iran firing missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain.
Brent futures rose $1.05, or 1.09 per cent, at $97.05 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.01, or 1.08 per cent, to settle at $94.77.
On the supply side, US crude oil inventories fell for a seventh straight week last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute data.
Crude stocks fell by 6.8 million barrels in the week ended 29 May, Reuters reported.
US says Iran's attack on Bahrain and Kuwait failed
04:05 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US military has claimed that Iranian missile attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and other regional targets were either thwarted or failed, as diplomacy between Washington and Tehran showed little progress.
Two Iranian missiles shot at Kuwait fell short or broke apart in flight, while several ballistic missiles aimed at regional targets failed and three missiles heading for Bahrain were intercepted, the US Central Command said.
It said the US military also downed Iranian drones targeting civilian ships in regional waters and US forces in Kuwait, and carried out strikes on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz following attempted attacks by Iran.
The Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly attacked the US Fifth Fleet headquarters, located in Bahrain, as well as an airbase and helicopters in an unspecified regional country using missiles and drones in response to a US attack on a communications tower south of Qeshm.
Watch: Rubio eviscerated over Trump’s ‘dumpster fire’ foreign policy during Congressional testimony
04:00 , Rachel Dobkin
There are supposed to be ceasefires across the Middle East, but the fighting is worsening
03:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
Ceasefires have been announced, often to great fanfare, in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. So why is there still so much fighting?
In just the last few weeks, Israeli forces have captured more territory in Gaza and killed two top Hamas militants there, as well as more than a dozen other people. In Lebanon, Israeli troops captured a Crusader fortress over the weekend in their deepest incursion in 26 years, as Hezbollah kept up rocket fire into northern Israel.
The fighting in Lebanon showed no sign of letting up on Tuesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said both sides had agreed — again — to de-escalate.
Read more from Sam Metz:
There are supposed to be ceasefires across the Middle East, but the fighting is worsening
Watch: Sirens heard across Kuwait City following US attacks on Iranian military bases
03:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
US forces disable oil tanker during its blockade
02:00 , Rachel Dobkin
American forces have disabled an unladen oil tanker during its blockade of Iranian ports.
The tanker “was attempting to sail toward an Iranian port on the Arabian Gulf” on Tuesday, according to the US Central Command.
“The ship’s crew ignored repeated warnings, failing to comply with directions from U.S. forces multiple times over a 24-hour period”, CENTCOM said in an X post.
A US aircraft “ultimately disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room, preventing the tanker from reaching Iran”, the post read.
American forces have disabled a total of six commercial vessels and redirected another 122 ships during their blockade, which started on April 13.
US sanctions Iran's largest crypto exchange
01:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
The United States announced sanctions on Iran’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, accusing it of enabling the Iranian government and blacklisted state institutions to circumvent Western sanctions.
The four entities include; Nobitex, Bitpin, Ramzinex and Wallex.
Watch: Trump is furious with Netanyahu because Israel is still in charge
Wednesday 3 June 2026 00:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia says it will start handing its weapons to the state
Tuesday 2 June 2026 23:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
One of Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed armed groups said Tuesday it would begin putting its weapons under government control, a major step in the new government’s effort to bring militias that have long operated on their own under state command.
Asaib Ahl al-Haq said it had formed a committee to oversee the move, including an inventory of its fighters, weapons and equipment, and to coordinate with the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The group cast the decision as a response to calls by Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority and the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework, the largest bloc in Parliament that dominates Iraqi politics.
Powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia says it will start handing its weapons to the state
Over 2,000 US diplomats left foreign service over the last year
Tuesday 2 June 2026 22:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
As the United States grapples with a deadlock in negotiations with Iran, NBC News has revealed that over 2,000 US diplomats left the foreign service over the last year, according to figures by the American Foreign Services Association.
The officials were either laid off or forced to retire, according to the report.
Current and former state department officials say that the reduction in numbers is a critical disadvantage for the US at this time. The US diplomatic service was made up of 13,000 employees in 2024.
Pictured: Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh, Lebanon
Tuesday 2 June 2026 21:00 , Becky Whittaker
Watch: Netanyahu says Iran will 'fall in the end' in speech in Tel Aviv
Tuesday 2 June 2026 20:40 , Rebecca Whittaker
Israel kills 11 in Lebanon, a day after Trump said Israel and Hezbollah will de-escalate
Tuesday 2 June 2026 20:20 , Rebecca Whittaker
Israeli drone strikes on southern Lebanon on Tuesday killed 11 people, including a man along with his son and daughter, the state-run news agency said, a day after Donald Trump said Israel and the militant group Hezbollah agreed to dial back fighting.
Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, launched dozens of projectiles and drones toward Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon and Israeli cities and towns in recent days as Israel's airstrikes killed dozens, including women and children, in Lebanon. Hezbollah did not carry out any attacks on Israel after Trump's announcement.
Trump said Monday he'd spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had communicated with Hezbollah through mediators, and that no troops would be “going to Beirut." But the intensity of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah continued.
‘Stuck in quicksand’: How the Iran war has stalled the Trump agenda and frustrated the White House
Tuesday 2 June 2026 20:05 , Rebecca Whittaker
The mood inside the White House is reportedly being driven by a sense of burnout among staffers and officials who are trying to push President Donald Trump’s agenda forward while being “all-consumed” by the unpopular Iran war.
For more than three months, Trump’s war with Iran has dragged on, pushing gas prices and inflation higher for Americans – leading to negative media attention and general disapproval by the public. The administration has made several efforts to end the war, or at least open the Strait of Hormuz but so far no tangible deals have been implemented.
Read more here:
‘Stuck in quicksand’: How the Iran war has reportedly stalled Trump’s agenda
British couple jailed in Iran lose appeal
Tuesday 2 June 2026 19:37 , Daniel Keane
A British couple jailed in Iran on spying allegations have lost an appeal against their convictions, their family and the UK government said Tuesday.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman were detained in January 2025 while on an around-the-world motorcycle trip. In February they were handed 10-year prison sentences for espionage, which they both deny.
Britain's Foreign Office called the couple's incarceration "unjustified and appalling."
"We are disappointed by the appeal decision and will continue working to ensure that Craig and Lindsay are returned safely to the U.K.," it said in a statement.
"Since their arrest last year, Britain's ambassador to Tehran, diplomats and officials in London have been working to provide consular assistance. This includes the ambassador visiting them in prison and facilitating calls with their family back in the U.K."
Nuclear watchdog offering technical support to UAE after attack on nuclear plant
Tuesday 2 June 2026 19:10 , Daniel Keane
The International Atomic Energy Agency is offering the United Arab Emirates technical as well as moral support, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said after a visit to the site of a nuclear power plant that came under a drone attack last month.
Grossi said Emirati authorities had reacted very quickly to the attack at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant by shutting down a reactor because of the loss of external power.
He said a number of activities would take place to complete repairs at the plant but provided no further details.
Watch: Trump calls Netanyahu 'crazy’ in furious call as Hezbollah agrees to halt attacks
Tuesday 2 June 2026 18:50 , Maira Butt
Trump calls reports of halted peace talks 'false'
Tuesday 2 June 2026 18:21 , Rebecca Whittaker
US President Donald trump has called suggestions the US and Iran are no longer holding peace talks “Fake News”.
Trump claims Iran and the US have been speaking "continuously".
In a post on Truth Social he said the claims were “false and erroneous” adding the countries spoke “four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, one day ago, and today”.
Trump now says US left Iran’s military ‘alone’ after weeks of boasting that he destroyed its forces
Tuesday 2 June 2026 18:20 , Maira Butt
Donald Trump has now said that Iran’s military was largely untouched by U.S. strikes over the past three months, contradicting countless statements he has made and continues to make about the scale of America’s successes in the ongoing war.
The president spoke in an interview that aired Saturday with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump on Fox News. As the war in Iran now runs past the three-month mark, the U.S. remains mired in a stalemate with Iran under the shadow of a shaky ceasefire that Trump is now considering an offer to extend for another 60 days.
A war that the president and his team have long insisted would be over in “days” or even just a few weeks is now at a flashpoint with the U.S. having proven largely unable to forcibly open the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy shipping traffic.
John Bowden reports:
Trump now says US left Iran’s military ‘alone’ as he considers deal
Watch: Rubio eviscerated over Trump’s ‘dumpster fire’ foreign policy during Congressional testimony
Tuesday 2 June 2026 17:50 , Rebecca Whittaker
Rubio says he sees indications that Iran’s new supreme leader is ‘engaged’ with US talks
Tuesday 2 June 2026 17:20 , Rebecca Whittaker
Marco Rubio said he is confident Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still alive.
He testified that US negotiators have seen signs that Iran’s new supreme leader has been engaged with negotiations despite not being seen publicly.
“I would imagine, given what’s happened to multiple leaders in that system, being very public is probably not something that’s recommended for them internally,” he said.
“But that said, I think there are indications out there that he is increasingly engaging at some level, although all of his communications have been in writing and through intermediaries.”
Rubio: Iran should comply with nuclear programme if it wants sanctions lifted
Tuesday 2 June 2026 16:55 , Alex Croft
The US secretary of state is again talking about Iran, now discussing its nuclear programme.
“Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” Rubio says, reiterating the long-held stance by the US - although Iran denies it is attempting to produce one.
He proposes that Tehran should comply on the nuclear programme - zero enrichment and getting rid of the enriched uranium - if it wants Washington to lift sanctions.
But he suggests this is not yet an official offer by the White House.
Rubio says Nato response to Iran war 'calls into question' US membership
Tuesday 2 June 2026 16:46 , Alex Croft
We’re hearing more from Marco Rubio, who is now speaking critically of Nato and
Rubio says he has previously supported, and still does to an extent support, the membership of Nato. The benefit of Nato for the US, he says, is that it allows the US military to use the military bases of its allies.
But he questions whether Nato’s response to the Iran war has called into question its utility for the US.
“Some of these countries - I point to Spain as an example - openly brag about how they denied us the use of these bases,” he said.
“If what we get out of Nato is the ability to use bases, and then we have members of that alliance that are basically denying the use of those bases, it calls into question the entire thing,” he added.
Rubio is asked whether the challenges in relations with Nato have come after Trump threatened to seize the territory of Greenland and to use tariffs to coerce Denmark into giving it up.
He denies there is a link between the two, saying that debates about Nato have been “ongoing for a long time”.
Over 2,000 US diplomats left foreign service over the last year
Tuesday 2 June 2026 16:30 , Maira Butt
As the United States grapples with a deadlock in negotiations with Iran, NBC News has revealed that over 2,000 US diplomats left the foreign service over the last year, according to figures by the American Foreign Services Association.
The officials were either laid off or forced to retire, according to the report.
Current and former state department officials say that the reduction in numbers is a critical disadvantage for the US at this time. The US diplomatic service was made up of 13,000 employees in 2024.
Rubio says US has not offered Iran sanctions relief just for reopening the Strait of Hormuz
Tuesday 2 June 2026 16:23 , Daniel Keane
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the Trump administration has not offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for opening the Strait of Hormuz.
He told lawmakers that any sanctions relief would be based on Iran meeting conditions relating to its nuclear program, despite Tehran previously insisting that it is not up for negotiation.
Germany's Merz urges Israel to show restraint in Lebanon, calls on Hezbollah to disarm
Tuesday 2 June 2026 16:00 , Maira Butt
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on Israel to exercise restraint in its campaign in southern Lebanon, where a three-month war with Hezbollah has killed more than 3,400 people and uprooted over 1.2 million.
Merz said on Tuesday that Germany viewed the latest escalation in the south with great concern and urged Hezbollah to lay down its arms.
Rubio admits Iran has 'a lot of drones' in testimony before Congress
Tuesday 2 June 2026 15:38 , Maira Butt
Secretary of state Marco Rubio has admitted that Iran retains “a lot of drones” as he testified before Congress on Tuesday.
He said that the US was in discussions with Iran on coming to an agreement about the ongoing conflict.
Rubio said there is a prospect that Iran has agreed to negotiate aspects of its nuclear program that they previously refused to mention in discussions.
Rubio to testify before Congress for first time since Iran war
Tuesday 2 June 2026 14:50 , Maira Butt
Secretary of state Marco Rubio is to testify before Congress for the first time since the outbreak of the Iran war on Tuesday.
He will answer questions about the US’s foreign policy efforts around the world as sits before the House and Senate committees to make the State Department’s annual budget request.
In April, defence secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense scrutiny from furious Democrats during his first congressional appearance since the Trump administration initiated military action against Iran.
Lawmakers grilled Hegseth over the costly conflict, which has proceeded without congressional approval and has already amounted to $25 billion, according to Pentagon figures presented to the House Armed Services Committee.
Analysis: Trump’s furious with Netanyahu because Israel is still in charge
Tuesday 2 June 2026 14:44 , Maira Butt
They both favour bizarre cosmetic makeup. Both face legal jeopardy at home and they both took part in an illegal attack on Iran. Like the “brother in arms” the Israeli leader likes to make the US president feel, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu appear to bicker like siblings.
This is an appearance. Not reality. The relationship between the two leaders has been closer to that of an agent and his handler. It has always been “Bibi” who’s done the handling, and it is always The Don who has been handled.
This has delivered unimagined benefits to Netanyahu who, with the help of Trump acting against the advice of his own bands of court loyalists, has reduced America to a protector of Israel.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
‘Terrified’ family of British couple jailed in Iran can’t get in contact with them
Iran says message exchange with US stopped days ago
Tuesday 2 June 2026 14:35 , Maira Butt
The exchange of messages between Iranian and US officials in order to reach an agreement stopped a few days ago, a source has told Iran’s Fars news agency.
The latest message from Iran to the US was reportedly “a clear message about Lebanon”.
British couple held in Tehran lose appeal against 10-year prison sentence says family
Tuesday 2 June 2026 14:22 , Maira Butt
A British couple held in Tehran have lost their appeal against a 10-year prison sentence.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 53, were arrested in January 2025 while travelling through Iran during an around-the-world motorcycle trip.
The couple, from East Sussex, were held in Tehran’s Evin prison, having been sentenced on espionage charges, which they vehemently deny.
Israeli official calls Axios reports 'inaccurate'
Tuesday 2 June 2026 14:00 , Maira Butt
A very senior official on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s team has called an Axios report on the discussion inaccurate, according to Israeli media outlet N12 News.
In a post on X on Tuesday, reporter Amit Segal wrote: “According to a very senior official on the PM’s team on the late-night Netanyahu-Trump call, the Axios report is inaccurate.
“Trump did not make personal remarks about jail or claim Netanyahu is hated globally. Instead, the tense call focused on conflicting social media posts: Trump felt Netanyahu implied the war was continuing at full intensity, while Netanyahu felt Trump implied a total ceasefire.
“Trump did note that defending Israel’s global position is difficult and breeds hatred. Ultimately, the call ended with an understanding: Israel will hold off on striking Beirut as long as it is not attacked within its own borders.”
Why is Trump so furious at Netanyahu?
Tuesday 2 June 2026 13:47 , Alex Croft
As the fallout continues over Trump’s apparent raging verbal attack on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, let’s take a look at what is going on in southern Lebanon to lead to this point.
Israel and Hezbollah have continued to trade fire despite an April 16 US-brokered ceasefire.
Before that point, Israel had deepened its invasion of southern Lebanon, displacing over a million people and killing more than 3,400 as it bombards areas with attacks it says are aimed at rooting out Hezbollah. Hezbollah has not released figures on its war dead.
Hezbollah has fired rockets and explosive drones at Israeli troops and northern Israeli towns. Israel says 26 soldiers and four civilians have been killed since March 2.
Netanyahu disputes criticism of Israel's military operations in Lebanon, arguing that air strikes under his watch have dealt Hezbollah blows. After Trump's announcement on Monday of a new Israel-Hezbollah agreement, Netanyahu said Israel's stance in the conflict "remains unchanged."
Full story: Trump says ‘crazy’ Netanyahu has made everyone hate Israel in furious phone call – report
Tuesday 2 June 2026 13:30 , Maira Butt
Donald Trump lashed out at Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an expletive-laden phone call over Israel’s continued strikes in Lebanon on Monday, according to US media reports.
The US president was reportedly furious after Iran threatened to suspend peace talks with the US over Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, telling the Israeli prime minister that “everybody hates Israel” because of his actions.
In his public remarks after the two leaders spoke, Trump announced that a partial truce had been agreed between Israel and Hezbollah and that the call had been “very productive”.
But behind closed doors Trump is said to have yelled at Netanyahu over the phone, calling him “f****** crazy”, Axios reported late on Monday, citing two unnamed US officials familiar with the call.
Shweta Sharma reports:
Trump ‘says crazy Netanyahu has made everyone hate Israel in furious phone call’
In pictures: Faulty interceptor missile launched by Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system disintegrates above southern Lebanon
Tuesday 2 June 2026 13:21 , Maira Butt
A faulty interceptor missile launched by Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system disintegrates above southern Lebanon, shortly after being launched by Israel, as seen from the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border, in northern Israel, June 1, 2026.
Netanyahu has 'lost control of Israeli sovereignty', say political opponents
Tuesday 2 June 2026 13:01 , Alex Croft
Benjamin Netanyahu’s main political opponents have slammed the Israeli prime minister for having “lost control of Israeli sovereignty” following reports of a blowout with Donald Trump.
"The location is different, the story is the same," said Naftali Bennett, a right-wing security hawk and former premier who also criticizes Netanyahu over Hamas militants' resurgence in Gaza.
"A government that has lost control of Israeli sovereignty," Mr Bennett, who will challenge Netanyahu in the October elections, said in an X post.
Bennett and his coalition partner in the upcoming election, centrist Yair Lapid, have pressed for strikes against Hezbollah.
"A full protectorate," Lapid said in an X post, in effect accusing Netanyahu of allowing the US to dictate Israeli military policy as if Israel was an American client state.
Revolutionary Guards say 24 ships passed through Hormuz with permission, according to Nour news
Tuesday 2 June 2026 12:27 , Maira Butt
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said that 24 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz after obtaining permission from Iran in the last 24 hours, according to Nour news.
The vital shipping route has largely been under the control of the IRGC navy since US-Israeli attacks were launched in February.
Bahrain bans citizens from travelling to Iran and Iraq over security concerns
Tuesday 2 June 2026 12:05 , Maira Butt
Bahrain has banned citizens from traveling to Iran and Iraq citing regional security concerns, the interior ministry said on Tuesday.
The ban will be in place until further notice.
Iran and its supporting groups in Iraq have launched attacks against Gulf countries, including Bahrain, since the outbreak of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Bahrain has a majority population of Shi'ite Muslims but is ruled by a Sunni family.
Watch: Netanyahu says Iran will 'fall in the end' in speech in Tel Aviv
Tuesday 2 June 2026 11:44 , Maira Butt
What did Trump say to Netanyahu in furious phone call?
Tuesday 2 June 2026 11:20 , Maira Butt
During a heated phone call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump is reported to have called the leader “f**king crazy”.
A US official reportedly told Axios that Trump told Netanyahu: “You’re f**king crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”
Another source told the publication that Trump yelled: “What the f**k are you doing?” at one point.
Trump says he ‘couldn’t care less’ about Iran peace: ‘Oil will be dropping like a rock’
Tuesday 2 June 2026 10:49 , Maira Butt
President Donald Trump on Monday said he has little interest in whether Iran continues negotiations with the U.S. after Tehran claimed to have cut off communications with Washington over Israeli attacks on their Hezbollah allies in Lebanon.
In an interview with CNBC following reports that Iran had decided to suspend participation in the ongoing talks, he told the cable network: “I don’t care if they’re over, honestly.”
“I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less,” Trump said.
The Independent’s White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:
Trump ‘couldn’t care less’ about Iran peace: ‘Oil will be dropping like a rock’
Ben Gvir says it's time for Netanyahu to say 'no' to Trump
Tuesday 2 June 2026 10:20 , Maira Butt
Following a heated phone call between Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US president Donald Trump, Israel’s security minister and far-right nationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir has waded into the fallout.
In a post on X on Monday evening, he wrote: “Mr Prime Minister, You said that a strong prime minister tells the President of the United States—'yes' when possible, and 'no'—when necessary.”
He continued. “This is the time to tell our friend, President Trump—'no'. Now is the time to do what is required and necessary to strike Hezbollah, to unleash the hands of our fighters, and to restore security to the north.”
Netanyahu reacts to Trump claims: 'Our position remains the same'
Tuesday 2 June 2026 09:56 , Maira Butt
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded after reports if a furious call with President Donald Trump, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid.
“I spoke with President Trump this evening and told him that if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our cities and citizens, Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut,” he is reported to have said.
“Our position remains the same. At the same time, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon.”
Asian shares mostly slip as latest fighting undermines the US-Iran ceasefire
Tuesday 2 June 2026 09:36 , Maira Butt
Asian shares mostly declined Tuesday as renewed fighting threatened the US-Iran ceasefire.
US futures also fell.
Much hinges on whether the United States and Iran will reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, allowing deliveries of oil to resume from the Persian Gulf and easing the upward pressure on inflation.
Japan, for instance, imports almost all its oil, although the effects on prices of gas and other products have been relatively contained by the release of the nation's reserves so far.
Read the full story below.
Asian shares mostly slip as latest fighting undermines the US-Iran ceasefire.
Iran's parliamentary speaker says country will engage in 'direct confrontation' with Israel if bombing of Lebanon continues
Tuesday 2 June 2026 09:07 , Maira Butt
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf has issued a warning to Israel over its continuing strikes on Lebanon.
“In my conversation with my brother, President Nabih Berri, I affirmed that if the Israeli aggression against Lebanon continues, we will not only halt the path of negotiations, but we will also be in direct confrontation with the enemy,” he wrote in a post on X on Monday night.
Sharp rise in demand at food banks since start of Iran war, charities say
Tuesday 2 June 2026 08:30 , Maira Butt
Demand for food banks has shot up dramatically since the beginning of the war in Iran, with charities struggling to cope, a leading charity has warned.
Providers are reporting soaring costs and fall in donations since the US and Israel launched strikes in February, in what has been described as a “perfect storm” for services.
Felix, the UK’s largest food rescue charity which redistributes surplus food from supermarkets and restaurants and gives it to those most in need, surveyed more than 2,700 providers it works with on how they are managing in the face of increasing demands.
Nicole Wootton-Cane reports:
Sharp rise in demand at food banks since start of Iran war, charities say
Watch: Aftermath of Israeli strike near hospital in southern Lebanon's Tyre
Tuesday 2 June 2026 08:06 , Maira Butt
Iran has not yet sent its response to US in talks, Mehr says
Tuesday 2 June 2026 07:45 , Maira Butt
Iran is yet to respond to a final agreement proposed by the United States aimed at ending the conflict between the two countries.
A source close to the Iranian negotiating team told Mehr news agency that discussions on a final text are continuing in Tehran on Tuesday.
Iran is reportedly reviewing the proposal cautiously because of what it sees as a history of US non-compliance and longstanding mistrust.
“Based on previous experiences, Iran is seeking tangible and real benefits,” the source said.
Trump says ‘crazy’ Netanyahu has made everyone hate Israel in furious phone call – report
Tuesday 2 June 2026 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Donald Trump lashed out at Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an expletive-laden phone call over Israel’s continued strikes in Lebanon on Monday, according to US media reports.
After the two leaders spoke, Trump announced that a partial truce had been agreed between Israel and Hezbollah and that the call had been “very productive”.
The US president was reportedly furious after Iran threatened to suspend peace talks with the US over Israel’s actions in Lebanon.
More here.
Trump ‘says crazy Netanyahu has made everyone hate Israel in furious phone call’
Schumer slams Trump's recent remarks on Iran deal
Tuesday 2 June 2026 07:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Chuck Schumer has criticised Donald Trump's recent remarks that he is in “no hurry” to end the war with Iran.
The Senate Democratic leader, in a post on X, wrote: "Trump says he's in ‘no hurry’ to end the war in Iran. No hurry? Tell that to our troops in harm’s way. Tell that to their families. Tell that to the Americans getting crushed by record gas prices at the pump.”
“We will not stop fighting to end this war once and for all,” he added.
US in talks to expand nuclear weapon deployments in Europe
Tuesday 2 June 2026 07:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US is discussing whether to deploy nuclear weapons in additional European Nato states, the Financial Times reported.
US officials have signalled openness to additional deployments beyond the existing six countries hosting nuclear-capable bombers, the FT said, citing three people briefed on the discussions.
Trump blasts ‘Dumocrats’ as Iran deal hangs in the balance
Tuesday 2 June 2026 06:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Donald Trump has asserted that Iran is eager to strike a deal with the United States, which he believes would be beneficial for Washington and its allies, despite the protests of “Dumocrats.”
This declaration came just hours after the U.S. military reported striking Iranian military sites over the weekend, prompting Iran's Revolutionary Guards to claim a retaliatory attack on a US base.
These exchanges mark the latest escalation amid ongoing negotiations to resolve a three-month-old conflict.
More here.
Trump blasts ‘Dumocrats’ as Iran deal hangs in the balance
Iran's Red Crescent says Dubai hospital still shut
Tuesday 2 June 2026 06:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran's Red Crescent said its Dubai hospital has remained shut and its assets frozen after UAE authorities ordered the facility evacuated during the war.
Spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi told Iran's Labour News Agency that UAE requested that the hospital be evacuated for a period of two months during the war.
He added that the status of the property remained unclear and that the hospital's assets remained frozen in what he described as a violation of fundamental humanitarian principles.
Iranian official warns of consequences if Israel continues bombing Lebanon
Tuesday 2 June 2026 06:05 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A senior Iranian lawmaker has warned of severe consequences for Israel and US forces if Israel continues to attack Lebanon.
Ebrahim Azizi, in a post on X, wrote: "If the attacks against Lebanon do not stop completely, the consequences will be severe for the Zionist regime and US forces in the region."
He added: “They are fully aware that this is not an empty threat, and we are prepared for a military response.”
Rubio to testify before Congress for the first time since war on Iran
Tuesday 2 June 2026 05:55 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US secretary of state Marco Rubio is set to face a litany of questions today about the Trump administration's fragile or stalling diplomatic efforts around the world when he appears for back-to-back hearings on Capitol Hill for the first time since the Iran war began.
The former Republican senator will sit before House and Senate committees to make the state department's annual budget request.
But the focus is likely to shift quickly to the already unsteady ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, which has been further tested in recent days by back-and-forth attacks.
Cabinet members, including Rubio, have defended president Donald Trump's decision to launch the conflict despite promises over the years not to engage in "forever wars" in the Middle East. That work has been made more difficult by Trump's shifting goals for the conflict.
While Rubio is testifying before Congress for the first time since the Iran war started on 28 February, he took part in a classified briefing for lawmakers days after the first US and Israeli strikes.
He faced Democrats' anger over the lack of congressional approval but strong support from most Republicans for taking action against one of America's oldest adversaries.
JetBlue weighs raising prices as Iran crisis sends fuel costs soaring
Tuesday 2 June 2026 05:35 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
JetBlue has revised its second-quarter fuel cost projections upward, a move driven by persistent shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz that continue to pressure the global aviation sector amid escalating jet fuel prices.
The critical Strait, a crucial conduit for nearly a fifth of the world's oil and gas, has been impacted by US-Israeli actions against Iran. Before these strikes in February, jet fuel averaged $85 to $90 a barrel.
By late May, it had surged to approximately $142 per barrel, according to the International Air Transport Association. This volatility has compelled airlines worldwide to increase passenger fares and baggage fees to offset rising expenses, alongside reducing flight frequencies and routes to conserve fuel.
More here.
JetBlue weighs raising prices as Iran crisis sends fuel costs soaring
Lawmaker criticises UK government's ban on pro-Palestine commentators
Tuesday 2 June 2026 05:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Zarah Sultana has called on the British government to reverse its travel ban on pro-Palestinian commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur.
In a post on X, the member of parliament said the UK government banned both individuals from entering the country "over their criticism of Israel".
"Meanwhile, war criminal Isaac Herzog, whose statements were cited in the ICJ [International Court of Justice] genocide case against Israel, was welcomed at Downing Street with open arms," she said.
The ban was “part of a wider and deeply alarming pattern in which pro-Palestine voices are subjected to disproportionate scrutiny, restriction and intimidation”, she said in a letter to home secretary Shabana Mahmood.
The UK government has barred Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur from entering the country over their criticism of Israel.
— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) June 1, 2026
Meanwhile, war criminal Isaac Herzog, whose statements were cited in the ICJ genocide case against Israel, was welcomed at Downing Street with open arms.
I’ve… pic.twitter.com/OqWzfuZyqh
Trump tells Netanyahu: 'Everyone hates you'
Tuesday 2 June 2026 05:19 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Donald Trump reportedly lashed out at Benjamin Netanyahu during a heated telephone conversation over Israel's ongoing bombardment of Lebanon.
The US president is said to have told Netanyahu, “You're f***ing crazy” because of its recent strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to one US official who summarised the call to Axios.
Trump also yelled at Netanyahu, asking: "What the f*** are you doing?"
Another source privy to the discussion summarised part of Trump's comments as "everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this," Axios reported.
Following the exchange, Netanyahu's office released a statement asserting that Israel's position "remains the same".
GOP rep defends Trump's war: 'If you don't love this country, get out
Tuesday 2 June 2026 05:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
'Republican lawmaker Sheri Biggs defended president Donald Trump's war on Iran and told Americans they should leave the country of they don't support the move.
The South Carolina representative was asked if she thinks the Iran war will overshadow the midterms in November, to which she declared that the "bottom line is ... Iran cannot have nuclear weapons".
She told Newsmax: "The president is putting America first, and it’s not about politics. This is about the security of our nation. And the hypocrisy is overwhelming."
“It’s OK for a Democrat president to try to address the issues in Iran, but it’s not OK for President Trump or the Republican majority to try and address this?” she asked.
“It’s complete hypocrisy. We have to put America first. And as I’ve said before, if you don’t love this country, get out.”
WATCH: Trump tells Americans to ‘sit back and relax’ as sides exchange fresh strikes
Tuesday 2 June 2026 05:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Oil prices hold steady
Tuesday 2 June 2026 04:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices held on to most of the previous session's sharp gains in early trade on uncertainty over the status of ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran and the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures inched up 6 cents, or 0.06 per cent, to $95.04 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate fell 17 cents, or 0.18 per cent, to $91.99 a barrel.
Both benchmarks rose more than 5 per cent in the previous session but pared gains after US president Donald Trump said he had not been told that Iran was suspending talks with Washington and that Israel had agreed to pull back any troops that were preparing to attack southern Lebanon.
New Zealand bans three ‘extremist Israeli settlers’
Tuesday 2 June 2026 04:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
New Zealand has joined partners including Australia and the EU in imposing travel bans on three "extremist Israeli settlers", the foreign minister said.
Winston Peters, in a statement this morning, said Itamar Yehuda Levi, Harel David Libi, and Eliav Libi “actively worked to expand illegal settlements in the West Bank".
“The actions of these individuals threaten peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians and drive the region further into crisis,” he said, adding that New Zealand’s policy is to support a two-state solution for Palestinians.
"This action is against three individuals whose use of violence and displacement is destabilising the West Bank," Peters added.
Israel continues to bomb Lebanon
Tuesday 2 June 2026 04:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Trump attacks American media in yet another late-night post
Tuesday 2 June 2026 04:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Donald Trump has yet again criticised the American media in a late-night post on Truth Social over their coverage of the Iran war.
The president wrote: "If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting 'I surrender, I surrender' while wildly waving the representative White Flag.
"... and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary 'Documents of Surrender,' and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent U.S.A., The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), Corrupt and now Irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a Masterful and Brilliant Victory over The United States of America, it wasn’t even close.
"The Dumacrats and Media have totally lost their way. They have gone absolutely CRAZY!"
Israel says it intercepted projectiles despite ceasefire
Tuesday 2 June 2026 04:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The Israeli military early this morning said that it intercepted two projectiles that crossed from Lebanon into northern Israel, and that no injuries were reported.
The statement comes as hostilities in southern Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March, continued last night despite US president Donald Trump announcing a ceasefire.
The Israel-Hezbollah war erupted on 2 March as an offshoot of the broader conflict and has been entangled with it ever since.
Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue military operations in southern Lebanon, where ground forces are pushing towards the Zaharani River, their deepest incursion in Lebanon in 25 years.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said the militia would support a full ceasefire across all Lebanon as a precursor to the withdrawal of Israeli troops. He did not say whether the group would stop its strikes on Israeli territory.
Lebanon said it would seek to expand the ceasefire in talks with Israel in Washington on Wednesday.
Lebanon announces partial ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah
Tuesday 2 June 2026 04:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Lebanon has announced a partial ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in what would amount to a limited de-escalation of a conflict that has killed thousands of people and inflamed the broader US-Israeli war with Iran.
According to Lebanon's embassy in Washington, the agreement would not end the conflict in that country. But it calls for Israel to refrain from strikes on Beirut and its suburbs controlled by Hezbollah, while the Iran-aligned group would halt its attacks on Israel.
US president Donald Trump, who first announced the agreement, said Hezbollah, through intermediaries, had pledged not to attack Israel. No US president has ever spoken with Hezbollah, with or without intermediaries.
Top US Democrat responds to Trump telling Americans he's 'in no hurry' to end Iran war
Tuesday 2 June 2026 03:30 , Rachel Dobkin
US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has responded to Donald Trump telling Americans he's “in no hurry” to end the Iran war.
“If you’re gonna be in a hurry, you’re not gonna make a good deal”, the US president told Fox News Saturday. “Slowly, but surely, we’re getting, I think, what we want. And if we don’t get what we want, we’re gonna end it a different way”.
Schumer criticized Trump’s comments Monday evening, Washington time: “No hurry?”
“Tell that to our troops in harm’s way. Tell that to their families. Tell that to the Americans getting crushed by record gas prices at the pump.
“We will not stop fighting to end this war once and for all”, he wrote on X.
Gas prices have soared during the Iran war after Tehran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil passageway in the Middle East.
The average cost for a gallon of gas in the US currently sits at around $4.32. Gas prices were more than $5 per gallon in June 2022 under the Biden administration.
Ex-counterterrorism chief responds to Netanyahu's threat to Hezbollah
Tuesday 2 June 2026 03:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Joe Kent, who resigned as Donald Trump’s director of the National Counterterrorism Center over the Iran war, has responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threat to Hezbollah.
“Tonight, I spoke with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens—Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut”, Netanyahu wrote on X Monday.
Kent said the prime minister’s comments “further demonstrates [sic] two fundamental truths that the Trump administration is not addressing”.
“We have fundamentally different objectives in Iran & the region than Israel does. Israel is determined to take out all threats & rivals, from Iran to Lebanon. They are comfortable with a brutal drawn out conflict. We are not, we want a deal with Iran & the [Strait of Hormuz] open”, Kent said.
“Iran believes they are winning by keeping control of the SOH & using Hezbollah in Lebanon, there is no lasting military solutions to either of these problems and we can’t win at the negotiating table with Iran controlling these two factors”, the ex-counterterrorism chief added.
Kent said the best thing the US can do in this situation is to “walk away”.
Netanyahu’s comments further demonstrates two fundamental truths that the Trump administration is not addressing:
— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) June 1, 2026
1. We have fundamentally different objectives in Iran & the region than Israel does. Israel is determined to take out all threats & rivals, from Iran to Lebanon.… https://t.co/oa2AJV8gX0
Trump berated Netanyahu on call about Lebanon: report
Tuesday 2 June 2026 02:10 , Rachel Dobkin
Donald Trump berated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a call about the fighting in Lebanon Monday, according to a new report.
The US president told Netanyahu, “You're f***ing crazy”, adding, “Everybody hates Israel” because of its recent strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to one US official who summarized the call to Axios.
The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment.
Trump says he ‘couldn’t care less’ about Iran peace: ‘Oil will be dropping like a rock’
Tuesday 2 June 2026 02:00 , Bryony Gooch
Donald Trump has said he has little interest in whether Iran continues negotiations with the US after Tehran claimed to have cut off communications with Washington over Israeli attacks on its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon.
Read more from Andrew Feinberg:
Trump ‘couldn’t care less’ about Iran peace: ‘Oil will be dropping like a rock’
Watch: Why Netanyahu is pushing Israeli forces so far into Lebanon now
Tuesday 2 June 2026 01:00 , Bryony Gooch
Two explosions hit cargo vessel in Gulf off Iraq, officials say
Tuesday 2 June 2026 00:00 , Bryony Gooch
Two explosions struck a cargo vessel in the Gulf about 40 nautical miles southeast of Iraq's Umm Qasr, one of which was caused by a drone attack, Iraqi officials said on Monday.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel had been hit by some sort of projectile on its starboard side, causing a large explosion.
A second explosion struck the same vessel and was the result of a drone attack, according to an initial assessment, the Iraqi officials told Reuters.
The fire aboard the vessel was later brought under control, they added.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack and no information on the identity of the vessel was available.
Special report: I was jailed for taking pictures in Iran – the next generation is fearless
Monday 1 June 2026 22:10 , Maira Butt
When she was just 23 years old, Tahmineh Monzavi was imprisoned for her photography.
The Tehran-based photographer’s images of drug addicts and prostitutes in the poorer parts of her city were deemed “dangerous to society” by the Iranian regime. She spent a month in solitary confinement.
Her time in prison brought on panic attacks. “In addition, I got [an] autoimmune disease for the rest of my life,” she says from Tehran, “I lost my hair.”
She did not know how to treat the disease, and it began to attack her body. This was 2012, in the wake of the Arab Spring, when a wave of pro-democracy protests toppled dictators across the Middle East and North Africa. It was a highly sensitive and politically charged time in Iran.
Read the full story below.
I was jailed for taking pictures in Iran – the next generation is fearless
Watch: Beachgoers flee as strikes from Lebanon hit northern Israel
Monday 1 June 2026 21:40 , Maira Butt
Israeli operations in Lebanon could lead to similar traffic in Bab Al Mandab and Hormuz straits, Iran's Quds force commander says
Monday 1 June 2026 21:37 , Bryony Gooch
The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Quds Force Esmaeil Qaani said on Monday that Israeli operations in Lebanon and Gaza will lead the Resistance Axis, Iran and its allies, to establish a similar traffic situation both in Bab al Mandab and Hormuz strait, according to state media.
He said: "The evil of the Zionists (Israel) in Lebanon and Gaza, in the shadow of the shameless support of America, will mark the determination of the resistance axis to expand support from both fronts, take steps to activate other fronts, and equate the traffic situation of the Bab al Mandab Strait with the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Strait of Hormuz has remained closed with the price of Brent Crude standing at $95 per barrel when the market closed on Monday.
Iran’s allies have repeatedly threatened to close the Bab al Mandab strait, situated between Yemen and Djibouti.
Mapped: US and Iran exchange fresh strikes as peace talks appear to break down
Monday 1 June 2026 21:10 , Maira Butt
Hezbollah accepts U.S. proposal for mutual halt to attacks with Israel, Lebanese embassy says
Monday 1 June 2026 21:10 , Bryony Gooch
Lebanon's embassy in Washington said in a statement on Monday that Hezbollah had accepted a US proposal for a mutual cessation of hostilities that would be extended to encompass all Lebanese territory.
The statement, shared by the Lebanese presidency on X, said the arrangement would first see Israel refrain from striking Beirut's southern suburbs in exchange for Iran-backed Hezbollah halting its attacks against Israel, after Israel had threatened to attack the capital's suburbs on Monday.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told the group's Al-Manar broadcaster that Hezbollah would support a full ceasefire across all Lebanon as a precursor to the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and said the group would watch whether a cessation of hostilities took hold in the coming days.
JetBlue weighs raising prices as Iran crisis sends fuel costs soaring
Monday 1 June 2026 20:40 , Maira Butt
JetBlue has revised its second-quarter fuel cost projections upward, a move driven by persistent shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz that continue to pressure the global aviation sector amid escalating jet fuel prices.
The critical Strait, a crucial conduit for nearly a fifth of the world's oil and gas, has been impacted by U.S.-Israeli actions against Iran. Before these strikes in February, jet fuel averaged $85 to $90 a barrel.
By late May, it had surged to approximately $142 per barrel, according to the International Air Transport Association. This volatility has compelled airlines worldwide to increase passenger fares and baggage fees to offset rising expenses, alongside reducing flight frequencies and routes to conserve fuel.
Paul Farrell reports:
JetBlue weighs raising prices as Iran crisis sends fuel costs soaring
