US forces attacked a cargo ship they claimed was attempting to breach their naval blockade of Iran on Saturday.
Centcom said Lian Star ignored over 20 warnings before its forces struck the Gambia-flagged vessel's engine room with a missile, stranding it in the Gulf of Oman.
The incident came as Tehran awaits the US president’s response to a proposed peace deal, as efforts to bring an end to the war drag on.
A senior official accused Trump of “betraying diplomacy for the third time”. Mohsen Rezaei pointed at the continuing naval blockade and what he called the president’s excessive demands in negotiations as he blamed the White House for failure to reach a peace deal.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Israeli troops pushed beyond the Litani river and seized the Crusader-era Beaufort fortress in their deepest invasion of the neighbouring country in over 25 years.
Defence minister Israel Katz said the country’s troops will remain stationed in the 900-year-old castle, where the flags of Israel and the IDF’s Golani Brigade have been hoisted.
On Friday morning, it issued a fresh evacuation warning for residents south of the Zahrani River in southern Lebanon.
Key Points
- US says missile disabled ship attempting to breach blockade
- Israel captures Beaufort castle in deepest Lebanon incursion in decades
- Iran deal revised after Trump requests changes - report
- Lebanon PM accuses Israel of escalating ‘scorched-earth policy’
- US proposes new plan to ease Israel-Lebanon tensions
Breaking: Kuwaiti air defences intercept missile, drone attacks
04:23 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Kuwait's air defences were intercepting missile and drone attacks this morning as sirens sounded across the country, the state news agency KUNA reported.
It was unclear where the missiles and drones were coming from.
Oil prices still below $90 a barrel
04:18 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices rose more than 2 per cent in early trading after Israel ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in the battle with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago.
US crude futures rose $2.37 or 2.71 per cent to $89.73 a barrel. Brent futures rose $2.16 or 2.37 per cent to $93.28 a barrel.
The Israel-Lebanon conflict has been the broadest spillover of the Iran war. It started on 2 March when Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones across the border into Israel to back its ally Iran.
The two sides reached a ceasefire in mid-April but have continued to trade fire.
US proposes new plan to ease Israel-Lebanon tensions
04:17 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with both Lebanese president Joseph Aoun and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the diplomatic negotiations between Israel and Lebanon and proposed a plan to allow for "gradual de-escalation", a US official said.
The US has proposed that as a first step, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group would stop all attacks on Israel and in return Israel would refrain from escalation in Beirut, the official told Reuters.
"This would create space for gradual de-escalation and an effective cessation of hostilities," according to the official.
They added that Aoun tried to advance the proposal and secure an agreement.
However, Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who claimed to "guarantee" Hezbollah's commitment to a ceasefire, placed the burden on Israel to stop "shooting first".
As the Pentagon pushes for battlefield AI, some military leaders urge caution
03:00 , Alex Croft
The Trump administration is pushing to unleash the power of artificial intelligence for the U.S. military while facing calls to put up guardrails around the rapidly developing technology from some companies — and even notes of caution from top leaders in uniform.
Adm. Frank Bradley, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, told attendees of a recent annual special forces conference in Tampa, Florida, that troops “have to be very careful about how we come to (AI’s) employment and its inspiration into the delivery of lethality.”
Bradley said he can see a future where AI determines what targets to hit but that “we, as humans, have to have the confidence that ... it's going to deliver violence only where we intend it to be delivered.”
Read more here:
As the Pentagon pushes for battlefield AI, some military leaders urge caution
UK special relationship with US ‘meaningless’ unless it boosts defence, Hegseth warns
02:01 , Alex Croft
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports...
Britain’s special relationship with the United States is “meaningless” unless it “locks arms and shields” with the US and matches its military capabilities, Donald Trump’s war secretary has warned.
Giving a speech in Singapore, Pete Hegseth said that “model allies” who comply with US demands will benefit from arms sales and access to intelligence, while those seen to be “freeloading” on US capabilities will be penalised.
Referring to conversations with the UK defence secretary, the politician said: “As my friends, Mr [Richard] Marles [the Australian defence minister] and John Healey know, I’m probably the most blunt with our closest friends about what our capabilities are and where they need to be to ensure that we’re locking arms and shields, considering the threats of the world.”
He continued: “You can’t just say, ‘Oh, we’ve been friends for a long time, so let’s work together.’ It’s: ‘We’ve been friends for a long time, so you better have the same capabilities we do, because if we don’t, our alliance is meaningless.’”
Mr Hegseth also vowed to move allies who step up their military capabilities to “the front of the line” when it comes to closer ties, praising countries such as South Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
Iranian commander warns of ‘more forceful’ retaliation
01:01 , Alex Croft
Iran has warned that any new attack on its territory would trigger a stronger military response, as tensions remain high despite ongoing discussions over a possible ceasefire extension.
Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Iran’s deputy army commander for coordination, said the country’s armed forces were prepared to respond to further military action.
“The enemy should know that any aggression against the country’s territory will be met with a response even more forceful than before,” he said, per Al Jazeera.
“Today, the army of the Islamic Republic stands firmly and resolutely against any hostile move by the enemy,” Sayyari added.
The warning comes as the US and Iran remain divided over a proposed agreement covering Tehran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Recap: Iran does not trust any promises made by the US, says Tehran
Monday 1 June 2026 00:00 , Alex Croft
We heard earlier from Iran’s top negotiator and parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Ghalibaf.
He says no agreement with the US will be accepted until Iran’s rights are secured, according to Tehran’s IRNA state news agency.
The Iranian government does not trust promises made by the US side, he said, adding that only objective results matter.
It comes after Donald Trump reportedly asked for changes to the proposed Iran agreement negotiated by US envoys, triggering another round of talks with Tehran.
“At the turn of the week, we hope to have something,” a senior administration official said.
Watch: Tehran-based photographer Tahmineh Monzavi captures the lives of Generation Z in Iran
Sunday 31 May 2026 23:01 , Alex Croft
UK foreign minister calls for end to Israeli military action in Lebanon
Sunday 31 May 2026 22:54 , Harriette Boucher
IRGC navy says 28 vessels pass through Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 31 May 2026 22:00 , Alex Croft
The navy of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has said that 28 vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours.
This is according to Iranian state media - we’re working to bring you more detail on the claims.
Iran's president asks to resign - report
Sunday 31 May 2026 21:43 , Harriette Boucher
Iran’s president has reportedly asked to resign, stating that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had taken control of affairs and decision-making.
Masoud Pezeshkian’s office has denied the report from Iran International, which states that he submitted an official letter of resignation to the office of the supreme leader.
The Persian news channel cited a source familiar with the matter.
The report said the president said that under the circumstances, he could not run the government and carry out his responsibilities.
It added that it was not known if supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei will accept the resignation.
The president’s deputy head of communications has denied the claims, saying Mr Pezeshkian would not be stepping down.
What is Beaufort Castle being occupied by Israel?
Sunday 31 May 2026 21:00 , Alex Croft
As we reported earlier, Israel has announced its occupation of Lebanon’s Beaufort Castle will remain in place as part of its security zone.
The Israeli military had already been striking in the area around the ancient structure as it deepens its invasion and occupation of southern parts of the country.
The 900-year-old Beaufort Castle was hit by Israeli strikes on Tuesday, as its bombardment of southern Lebanon killed 31 people and wounded another 40 in the deadliest day since a ceasefire was supposed to take hold, state news agency NNA reported.
The fortress has been described by UNESCO as one of the best-preserved examples of medieval castles in the region.
In Focus | As Iran war threatens undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz, is it time to rethink the internet?
Sunday 31 May 2026 20:02 , Alex Croft
When one of the world’s worst ever energy crises began in the Strait of Hormuz in February, few believed that their internet access – rather than their gas bill – would be the worst affected aspect of daily life.
But lurking many thousands of metres beneath the oil ships being attacked by the Iranian navy lie a series of undersea cables that play a vital role in the global economy, helping to power our internet and keep the world connected.
Earlier this month, Tehran floated plans to impose tariffs on Strait of Hormuz submarine cables, warning that they were a vulnerable chokepoint for the region's digital economy.
Undersea internet cables form the backbone of all worldwide connectivity, enabling bank transfers, messaging, and critical services to function. But as global conflicts threaten crucial chokepoints through which they run, how can the critical cables be protected? Alex Croft reports
As Iran and Russia threaten undersea cables, is it time to rethink the internet?
Israel's advance to Beaufort castle provides new vantage point
Sunday 31 May 2026 19:00 , Alex Croft
As we reported earlier, the Israeli military on Sunday issued a fresh evacuation warning for Southern Lebanon residents south of the Zaharani.
The Israeli advance also came as the US military hosted Israeli and Lebanese defence representatives in Washington on Friday to pursue a US-brokered plan to forge peace between the two countries and disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah. On May 15, the two sides agreed to extend the ceasefire by 45 days.
The advance into Beaufort Castle has granted Israeli troops a vantage point over much of southern Lebanon and northern Israel, from which attacks have been launched towards Israeli residential areas.
It was the first time Israel had held the site since May 2000, when Israel withdrew its troops from southern Lebanon after 18 years.
Trump lashes out at Pope Leo again over Iran
Sunday 31 May 2026 18:01 , Alex Croft
Here is everything you need to know in five bullet points with The Independent’s Bulletin.
- Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV regarding Iran's nuclear program, asserting that the country must be nuclear-free.
- Trump reshared a social media post from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who had attended a prayer with Pope Leo at the Vatican.
- In his comment, Trump suggested someone should inform the Pope that the Chicago Mayor is "useless" and that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.
- This marks another instance of disagreement between Trump and Pope Leo concerning Iran, following Trump's earlier accusation that the pontiff was "endangering Catholics" by supporting Iran's nuclear ambitions.
- Pope Leo responded by emphasizing the Church's mission to preach peace and its long-standing, clear opposition to all nuclear weapons.
Hegseth walks back on 'any Iran deal will be a good deal' comment with 'important clarification' - ICYMI
Sunday 31 May 2026 17:29 , Alex Croft
Gas production resumes at three platforms of Iran's South Pars gas field after Israeli attacks, IRNA reports
Sunday 31 May 2026 16:58 , Alex Croft
Iran has restored gas production at three offshore platforms in the South Pars gas field that had been forced to halt output after Israeli attacks, the chief executive of the Pars Oil and Gas Company told state media on Sunday.
Touraj Dehqani said the platforms had not been damaged in the attacks, which disrupted processing capacity at some onshore facilities.
He added that production from the three platforms was being routed to other processing plants in the region while repairs continue at damaged facilities, including the Phase 14 refinery.
After weeks of boasting that he’s destroyed Iran’s armed forces, Trump now says ‘we actually left their military alone’
Sunday 31 May 2026 16:18 , Harriette Boucher
Our Washington DC correspondent John Bowden writes:
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 the U.S.’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. Negotiations continue, but details of a pending agreement to extend the ceasefire indicate that the sides are still far apart on the eventual question of Iran’s nuclear program, including its future enrichment capabilities.
On Saturday Trump gave another description of the U.S. operation, and seemed to break from his past claims of having obliterated Iran’s military.
After saying Iran’s navy and air force were “totally gone”, the president then commented on Iran’s “military”, telling Lara Trump: “Their military, we’ve sort of left it alone, because we think that their military is somewhat, somewhat moderate....We've actually left their military alone. People would be surprised to hear that."
Read more:
Trump now says US left Iran’s military ‘alone’ as he considers deal
Israeli army captures strategic castle in Lebanon in deepest incursion into country in 26 years
Sunday 31 May 2026 16:01 , Alex Croft
Israeli troops have captured a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon in the deepest incursion of the country in more than a quarter-century, the military said Sunday.
The capture of Beaufort castle, near the city of Nabatiyeh, came after days of airstrikes and intense fighting in nearby villages where Israeli troops fought Hezbollah members in the rugged area.
Its capture marks a major development in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, which began on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked its main backer, Iran.
Read the full report:
Israeli army captures strategic castle in Lebanon in deepest incursion into country in 26 years
No deal without tangible results, says Tehran
Sunday 31 May 2026 15:30 , Alex Croft
As we earlier reported, Iran’s top negotiator and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf earlier warned there will be no deal with the US without tangible results, according to state media.
He also said Tehran did not trust the US side to keep its promises.
We can now bring you more quotes: "There is no trust in the enemy's words and promises. Our only criterion is to achieve tangible results before we fulfill our commitments in return," he said after taking an oath as the re-elected speaker of parliament alongside its presidium.
Hamas rejects Israeli plans to further extend Gaza control in breach of ceasefire agreement
Sunday 31 May 2026 15:00 , Alex Croft
Palestinian militant group Hamas has warned that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that his country would expand its area of control in Gaza is a dangerous escalation.
European states and residents of the Palestinian territory have also voiced alarm at the plan, which would see the Israeli military further breach the terms of an agreed ceasefire deal.
Under the deal in October Israel's military was to temporarily remain in control of 53 per cent of Gaza, but Netanyahu said on Friday that it would expand that area to an initial 70 per cent, without laying out details or a timeline.
"Any attempt to impose a new reality of occupation in Gaza is null and illegitimate," said Ismail al-Thawabta, head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, adding that Netanyahu's statement "represents a dangerous escalation".
More than eight months into the ceasefire, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the territory since the ceasefire agreement was announced.
Israel has already expanded its area of control in Gaza from the 53 per cent lying behind a "yellow line" mapped into the ceasefire deal up to around 64 per cent, with an area it has designated as restricted in maps shared with aid groups.
The financial cost of the US war on Iran
Sunday 31 May 2026 14:31 , Alex Croft
Senior foreign affairs reporter James Reynolds writes:
Jules Hurst III, the chief financial official for the Pentagon, said on 12 May that the US war on Iran has cost around $29bn so far, an increase of $4bn from the end of April due to repair and replacement costs, as well as the “general operational costs to keep people in theatre”.
The Pentagon has been reluctant to share a detailed breakdown of costs, but the latest figures yield a mean average spend of $386.67m per day – quite a departure from the $2bn a day the Pentagon was said to be spending in March, according to Republican lawmakers.
Professor Linda Bilmes, senior lecturer in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, told The Independent that the reported upfront costs are just the “tip of the iceberg”.
“When the Pentagon talked about their figures of $29bn, they systematically underestimate the cost because they are basing this on the historical cost of inventory of munitions. But the actual replacement costs are much higher,” explained Professor Bilmes, who served as assistant secretary and CFO of the US department of commerce during the Clinton administration.
A Tomahawk missile may be valued at around $2m each in inventory, she said, but replacement today would cost between $3m and $3.5m. Patriot missiles are priced at $1m to $2m, but the newer models cost $4m to $5m.
Late last month, and after the ceasefire took effect, the Center for Strategic and International Studies assessed that the United States had used upwards of 1,000 Tomahawks and between 1,060-1,430 Patriots since 28 February.
Professor Bilmes said the $29bn figure could be double or “probably three times as much” with accrual accounting.
But behind that figure, the United States will still have to make repairs to damaged military sites and facilities, like embassies, spread across the region, she added, giving a ballpark figure of an additional $300bn.
In pictures: Israel deepens its invasion in southern Lebanon
Sunday 31 May 2026 14:00 , Alex Croft
UK special relationship with US ‘meaningless’ unless it boosts defence, Hegseth warns
Sunday 31 May 2026 13:28 , Alex Croft
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports...
Britain’s special relationship with the United States is “meaningless” unless it “locks arms and shields” with the US and matches its military capabilities, Donald Trump’s war secretary has warned.
Giving a speech in Singapore, Pete Hegseth said that “model allies” who comply with US demands will benefit from arms sales and access to intelligence, while those seen to be “freeloading” on US capabilities will be penalised.
Referring to conversations with the UK defence secretary, the politician said: “As my friends, Mr [Richard] Marles [the Australian defence minister] and John Healey know, I’m probably the most blunt with our closest friends about what our capabilities are and where they need to be to ensure that we’re locking arms and shields, considering the threats of the world.”
He continued: “You can’t just say, ‘Oh, we’ve been friends for a long time, so let’s work together.’ It’s: ‘We’ve been friends for a long time, so you better have the same capabilities we do, because if we don’t, our alliance is meaningless.’”
Mr Hegseth also vowed to move allies who step up their military capabilities to “the front of the line” when it comes to closer ties, praising countries such as South Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
Watch: Tehran-based photographer Tahmineh Monzavi captures the lives of Generation Z in Iran
Sunday 31 May 2026 13:00 , Alex Croft
IRGC navy says 28 vessels pass through Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 31 May 2026 12:29 , Alex Croft
The navy of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has said that 28 vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours.
This is according to Iranian state media - we’re working to bring you more detail on the claims.
Netanyahu: I have instructed Israeli troops to expand control of Lebanon
Sunday 31 May 2026 12:05 , Alex Croft
We’re hearing now from Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, about the Israeli military’s expanded invasion of Lebanon.
He says the instruction to deepen Israel’s control of Lebanon was on his own orders.
The next instruction for the Israeli military, Netanyahu says, is to deepen and expand Israel’s grip on the areas that were under Hezbollah control.
Iran does not trust any promises made by the US, says Tehran
Sunday 31 May 2026 11:39 , Alex Croft
We’re just hearing from Iran’s top negotiator and parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Ghalibaf.
He says no agreement with the US will be accepted until Iran’s rights are secured, according to Tehran’s IRNA state news agency.
The Iranian government does not trust promises made by the US side, he said, adding that only objective results matter.
It comes after Donald Trump reportedly asked for changes to the proposed Iran agreement negotiated by US envoys, triggering another round of talks with Tehran.
“At the turn of the week, we hope to have something,” a senior administration official said.
What is Beaufort Castle being occupied by Israel?
Sunday 31 May 2026 11:16 , Alex Croft
As we reported earlier, Israel has announced its occupation of Lebanon’s Beaufort Castle will remain in place as part of its security zone.
The Israeli military had already been striking in the area around the ancient structure as it deepens its invasion and occupation of southern parts of the country.
The 900-year-old Beaufort Castle was hit by Israeli strikes on Tuesday, as its bombardment of southern Lebanon killed 31 people and wounded another 40 in the deadliest day since a ceasefire was supposed to take hold, state news agency NNA reported.
The fortress has been described by UNESCO as one of the best-preserved examples of medieval castles in the region.
In pictures: Israel hoists Israeli flag on ancient Lebanese castle as it deepens invasion
Sunday 31 May 2026 10:55 , Alex Croft
Israeli troops will remain in Beaufort castle as part of security zone, says defence minister
Sunday 31 May 2026 10:35 , Alex Croft
Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz has declared that the country’s troops will remain stationed in Beaufort castle as part of the Israeli security zone in Lebanon.
Israeli forces are occupying larger areas of the country as they push their invasion deeper, seizing more territory than they have done in decades and intensifying attacks on the south.
In Focus | As Iran war threatens undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz, is it time to rethink the internet?
Sunday 31 May 2026 10:14 , Alex Croft
When one of the world’s worst ever energy crises began in the Strait of Hormuz in February, few believed that their internet access – rather than their gas bill – would be the worst affected aspect of daily life.
But lurking many thousands of metres beneath the oil ships being attacked by the Iranian navy lie a series of undersea cables that play a vital role in the global economy, helping to power our internet and keep the world connected.
Earlier this month, Tehran floated plans to impose tariffs on Strait of Hormuz submarine cables, warning that they were a vulnerable chokepoint for the region's digital economy.
Undersea internet cables form the backbone of all worldwide connectivity, enabling bank transfers, messaging, and critical services to function. But as global conflicts threaten crucial chokepoints through which they run, how can the critical cables be protected? Alex Croft reports
As Iran and Russia threaten undersea cables, is it time to rethink the internet?
Dutch defence minister says Iran war shows conflicts are interconnected
Sunday 31 May 2026 09:52 , Shahana Yasmin
Dutch defence minister Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius has warned that the Iran war is exposing how closely conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have become intertwined.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, she cited Iran’s alleged drone support for Russia during the war in Ukraine and growing military cooperation between Tehran, Moscow, North Korea and China.
“A war in Europe involves drones from Iran, soldiers and ammunition from North Korea and various types of support from China,” she said. “The lesson is clear: regional tensions are no longer regional. Our security is interconnected.”
The US, UK, France, and the EU have accused Iran of supplying Shahed drones to Russia for use in Ukraine. Iran has denied sending drones for use in the war, although it acknowledged in 2022 that it had supplied a “small number” of drones to Moscow before Russia’s invasion.
ICYMI: Kazakhstan offers to store Iran’s enriched uranium, says IAEA chief
Sunday 31 May 2026 09:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Kazakhstan has offered to take custody of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium if Washington and Tehran reach a nuclear agreement.
Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the Financial Times that Kazakhstan has “a place where this could be stored safely,” since it has a “bank” for low-enriched uranium.
Iran’s 440kg stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity has become one of the biggest sticking points in negotiations over a proposed deal to extend the ceasefire and restart talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Experts have said the material could be refined further to produce about 10 nuclear weapons.
Donald Trump has demanded the stockpile either be removed from Iran or destroyed under international supervision.
Hegseth walks back on 'any Iran deal will be a good deal' comment with 'important clarification'
Sunday 31 May 2026 09:10 , Shahana Yasmin
ICYMI: The Situation Room meeting that had the world watching for a deal
Sunday 31 May 2026 08:50 , Shahana Yasmin
President Donald Trump on Friday met with with top aides in the White House Situation Room “to make a final determination” on whether to accept a proposed agreement to end the war he started with Iran three months ago and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global maritime traffic.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would end and Iran would “complete the immediate removal and/or detonation of any mines” in the key waterway so that the strait would be “immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic” to allow hundreds of ships that have been trapped on the wrong end of the strait to “start the process of ‘heading home!’”
“Say HELLO to your wives, husbands, parents, and families from me, your favorite President,” he said. “I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination.”
Read Andrew Feinberg’s report on the meeting here
Iranian commander warns of ‘more forceful’ retaliation
Sunday 31 May 2026 08:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Iran has warned that any new attack on its territory would trigger a stronger military response, as tensions remain high despite ongoing discussions over a possible ceasefire extension.
Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Iran’s deputy army commander for coordination, said the country’s armed forces were prepared to respond to further military action.
“The enemy should know that any aggression against the country’s territory will be met with a response even more forceful than before,” he said, per Al Jazeera.
“Today, the army of the Islamic Republic stands firmly and resolutely against any hostile move by the enemy,” Sayyari added.
The warning comes as the US and Iran remain divided over a proposed agreement covering Tehran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
‘A cartoon villain’: Hegseth shredded for ‘cringe’ pep talk to Navy soldiers about Iran war
Sunday 31 May 2026 08:10 , Shahana Yasmin
A clip of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth giving a “cringe” speech to US sailors about the Iran war is going viral.
Hegseth was in Singapore on Friday, where he did drills with the crew of the USS Boxer and then spoke to a group of assembled sailors about the ongoing conflict.
In his remarks, Hegseth pointed to a recent comment from President Trump, which threatened further US strikes if Iran doesn’t agree to a deal to end the war.
Online commentators quickly mocked the speech and the audience of service members, who appeared to be mostly unmoved by Hegseth’s call to arms.
Israel issues fresh evacuation orders for southern Lebanon
Sunday 31 May 2026 07:57 , Alex Croft
The Israeli military has issued a fresh evacuation warning for residents south of the Zahrani River in southern Lebanon.
Israel is deepening its invasion of the country to the furthest point in decades, as it intensifies its attacks.
The evacuation order comes ahead of potential strikes, and is the latest in a significant number of evacuation orders .
What a peace deal between Iran and the US could look like as Trump outlines key demands
Sunday 31 May 2026 07:30 , Shahana Yasmin
What could a peace deal between Iran and the US look like?
Israel captures Beaufort castle in deepest Lebanon incursion in decades
Sunday 31 May 2026 07:10 , Shahana Yasmin
Israeli troops have captured the Beaufort castle in southern Lebanon in their deepest incursion into the country in more than 25 years.
The Crusader-era fortress sits on a strategic hilltop near Nabatiyeh, where Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters have clashed for days amid heavy airstrikes.
The Israeli military said troops launched an operation in the Beaufort Ridge and nearby Suluki valley to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and remove “direct threats to Israeli civilians”. It added that the army was prepared “to expand the operation if needed”.
Israeli forces have advanced beyond the Litani River and are now about 5km from Nabatiyeh, one of southern Lebanon’s main cities, despite a ceasefire that officially took effect on 17 April.
Lebanon PM accuses Israel of escalating ‘scorched-earth policy’
Sunday 31 May 2026 06:50 , Shahana Yasmin
Lebanese prime minister Nawaf Salam has accused Israel of escalating its offensive in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire that officially came into force last month.
Speaking in a televised address on Saturday, Salam said Israel was pursuing a “scorched-earth policy and collective punishment” by “destroying towns and villages, and forcing their inhabitants into exile”.
“This will bring neither security nor stability” to Israel, he said.
Salam also warned Lebanon was facing a “dangerous” escalation and called for “a swift and real ceasefire”.
Salam spoke after Israeli forces pushed deeper into southern Lebanon and issued new evacuation warnings for villages near the border, while airstrikes continued across parts of the south despite the April ceasefire.
Qatar opposes permanent Strait of Hormuz transit fees
Sunday 31 May 2026 06:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Qatar has said it is against permanent transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz but is open to temporary tolls if they help restore normal shipping through the key waterway.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, Qatar’s deputy prime minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said: “Qatar and also the partners in the Gulf stated very clearly that charging fees will always impact the consumer, so we are against this.”
“But for certain times that they say they will use it for mine-clearing or some usage of the fees for a temporary time, this is something that is negotiable,” he added.
The comments came amid reports that Iran and Oman have discussed introducing a permanent toll system in the strait, which Iran effectively closed after US-Israeli strikes began in February.
Soaring prices during the Iran war jeopardize travel to tourism-dependent countries in Asia
Sunday 31 May 2026 06:10 , Shahana Yasmin
With summer around the corner, soaring prices and other complications from the war with Iran are straining the tourism-dependent economies of countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Vietnam.
The region's peak tourist summer season is at risk as elevated jet fuel costs coupled with ceasefire uncertainties prompt flight cancellations and higher ticket prices.
Tourism in Asia has yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, many countries are coping with the war's repercussions for global energy supplies and prices, which hit Asia first and hardest. Some families are pulling back on travel as visiting gas stations and grocery stores gets more expensive worldwide. Crowds have thinned at some places once synonymous with travel.
Soaring prices during the Iran war jeopardize travel to tourism-dependent countries in Asia
Trump says Iran would have nuclear weapon without US strikes
Sunday 31 May 2026 05:50 , Shahana Yasmin
Donald Trump has said the US “shouldn’t have been in Iran” while defending strikes on the country and claiming they prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump compared the conflict to the Iraq war and said: “We did so bad. It was such a foolish thing what we did. We shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”
“We shouldn’t have been in Iran, but Iran has the capability,” he added. “If we didn’t hit them with B-2 bombers nine months ago, they would have a nuclear weapon right now and will be a whole different story. You probably wouldn’t have had Israel, but you probably wouldn’t have had a Middle East, and then where do they go from there?”
Trump also claimed the US had intentionally avoided targeting much of Iran’s military leadership.
“Their military, we sort of left it alone because we think that their military is somewhat moderate,” he said. “We’ve taken different forms of leadership out. We’ve actually left their military alone.”
Pentagon chief says Iran talks have been ‘productive’
Sunday 31 May 2026 05:30 , Shahana Yasmin
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said he was “quite confident” Donald Trump would secure an agreement with Iran, saying negotiations were moving in Washington’s favour.
Speaking to reporters at the Shangri-La Dialogue defence summit in Singapore, Hegseth said Iran “knows very, very clearly what our expectations are”.
“They’re coming in our direction and the talks have been productive,” he said. “They know where it needs to go, and I’m quite confident with our president who makes nothing but great deals.”
Hegseth also repeated that Trump would only agree to terms he considered beneficial “for our country and the world”.
“You saw it in how he's been talking about it publicly. The goalposts haven't shifted at all. The closer they come to that reality, the closer we're going to get to that kind of a deal.”
He added that concerns over the Strait of Hormuz had been raised repeatedly during talks with allies at the summit, but said the US had reassured partners over the situation.
Iran’s internet blackout still a reality for 60 per cent of population
Sunday 31 May 2026 05:10 , Shahana Yasmin
After 88 days of a widespread internet shutdown in Iran, the Islamic Republic partially restored access for some users this week.
State media described the move as the “return of the internet”, but an investigation by Independent Persian, global data and reports sent to us from across Iran suggest that users still only have limited, slow and unstable access.
Iran’s internet blackout still a reality for 60 per cent of population
Iran deal revised after Trump requests changes - report
Sunday 31 May 2026 04:34 , Shahana Yasmin
Donald Trump has reportedly asked for changes to the proposed Iran agreement negotiated by US envoys, triggering another round of talks with Tehran.
The revisions focus on Tehran’s nuclear programme, its enriched uranium stockpile, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials cited by Axios. One official said Trump wanted more detail on “how the US gets the material and the timing”, referring to Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.
The proposed memorandum of understanding would reportedly extend the ceasefire by 60 days and create a framework for negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
US officials told Axios they expect Tehran to respond within three days. “At the turn of the week, we hope to have something,” a senior administration official said.
