Kuwait intercepts missile and drone attacks; Tehran suspends negotiations via mediators with US: Iranian media

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The US naval blockade continues to choke Iran, with 121 ships redirected and five "disabled" so far as of June 1, according to the Central Command (CentCom), which oversees US military operations in the Gulf and Middle East.

The move ensures "compliance" to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, initiated on April 13, 2026, under orders from President Donald Trump following the collapse of nuclear negotiations.

The blockade "remains in full effect", CentCom stated, adding their forces as strictly enforcing it against all vessels attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

The blockade aims to economically pressure Iran by restricting its oil exports and imports through its ports.

Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened to halt negotiations and confront Israel if its military operations in Lebanon continue, amid heightened regional tensions.

Ghalibaf said he had phone call with Nabih Berri, speaker of Lebanon's parliament, in which emphasised solidarity with Hezbollah and Lebanese allies. "If the Zionist regime's crimes in Lebanon persist, we will not only stop the talks but will stand against them," he posted on X.

He concluded with chants of "Long live the resistance! Long live the defense of the motherland! Long live the brotherhood of the Iranian and Lebanese nations!"

The statement comes against the backdrop of Israel's ongoing campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, part of broader 2026 hostilities that have included direct Iran-Israel exchanges.

Iran has long provided support to the Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed militia that has long operated as a "state within a state".

The group, listed as a terrorist organisation by the UAE, the GCC, the US, the UK and several other countries, is a key proxy in Iran's narrative of "axis of resistance" against Israel.

Ghalibaf, a prominent hard-liner and former IRGC commander, plays a key role in Iran's strategic messaging and past ceasefire talks. His remarks underscore Tehran's willingness to escalate support for allies despite diplomatic pressures.

Iranian state media has released dramatic footage purporting to show missile launches carrying messages directed at the United States, in what analysts view as a calculated show of force amid increasingly fragile negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The video, aired Monday by the state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), emerged just days after US and Iranian forces exchanged fire in the Gulf and as President Donald Trump reportedly returned revisions to a proposed agreement aimed at extending a regional ceasefire.

CNN reported that it could not independently verify where or when the footage was recorded, a reminder of the information warfare increasingly accompanying the military confrontation. Still, the symbolism of the video appears difficult to miss: Iran signaling that even while negotiations continue, its missile forces remain active and central to its deterrence strategy.

Earlier this year, Iranian outlets released missile videos mocking Trump following threats of military action against Tehran.

Crude oil futures held near multi-month highs on Tuesday (June 2, 2026), with US benchmark WTI trading around $92 per barrel and international Brent near $95 as of 8.07am Tokyo, as lingering fallout from the US-Israel-Iran conflict continues to disrupt critical Middle East energy flows.

The elevated prices reflect persistent supply fears more than three months into regional hostilities that effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow chokepoint carrying roughly one-fifth of global seaborne oil — and triggered production shut-ins across multiple Gulf nations.

The status of ongoing US-Iran peace negotiations remained unclear on Tuesday as both sides issued conflicting statements on whether talks were advancing or on the verge of "collapse", deepening uncertainty over the future of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.

Fresh doubts emerged after Iranian state-linked media reported that Tehran had suspended indirect message exchanges with Washington following renewed Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), condemned and denounced in the strongest possible terms the continued hostile Iranian attacks targeting the State of Kuwait.

"These actions represent a dangerous and irresponsible escalation, a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and all international laws and norms, and a direct threat to regional security and stability," he stressed, underscoring that the continuation of these aggressive assaults reflects an unacceptable Iranian approach that undermines all efforts aimed at maintaining security and stability.

He also called upon the international community and the United Nations (UN) Security Council to assume their responsibilities and take a firm, deterrent stance against these serious violations that threaten regional and international peace and security.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has publicly urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reject pressure from US President Donald Trump and avoid concessions to Iran, exposing growing divisions within Israel's ruling coalition over ongoing peace negotiations.

“Time to say no to Trump,” Ben-Gvir stated, arguing that Israel should not accept any agreement that leaves Iran with nuclear capabilities or preserves the influence of Tehran-backed groups across the Middle East.

The remarks come as Washington seeks to broker a broader settlement with Iran following months of conflict that disrupted regional energy supplies and threatened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

US negotiators have reportedly pushed for a framework involving limits on Iran’s uranium stockpile, security guarantees in the Gulf and the reopening of key maritime routes.

The Trump administration continues to rapidly release oil from America’s emergency stockpile in a bid to ease the supply crisis caused by the war with Iran, reports CNN.

According to Energy Department data released on Monday, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve lost another 8 million barrels of crude last week alone.

That’s down from 9.1 million barrels the week before and a record-setting 9.9 million the week ending May 15.

Mohammed Ahmed Al Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, condemned the blatant Iranian attacks targeting the State of Kuwait, stressing that these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and represent a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of Kuwait and the region as a whole.

In a statement issued today, Al Yamahi emphasised the Arab Parliament's full solidarity and unwavering support for the State of Kuwait in the face of any threat to its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He affirmed the Parliament's support for all measures taken by Kuwait to safeguard its national security, protect its resources, and ensure the safety of its citizens and residents.

Lebanon's US embassy said on Monday that Hezbollah had accepted a US proposal for a "mutual cessation of attacks", after Israel threatened more strikes on south Beirut on the eve of a fourth round of Israel-Lebanon negotiations.

The announcement came after US President Donald Trump said Monday he had persuaded Israel and Hezbollah to de-escalate, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreeing not to send troops to southern Beirut and the Lebanese militant group promising to stop attacks.

"The Lebanese authorities received confirmation of Hezbollah's acceptance of the US proposal providing for a mutual cessation of attacks," said an embassy statement published by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's office.

It said the confirmation came after a telephone call between Aoun and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

On Sunday, a senior US official had told AFP that Rubio spoke with Aoun and Netanyahu about the ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he told US President Donald Trump that his country would strike Beirut if Hezbollah doesn't stop attacking Israel.

"I spoke this evening with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our towns and our citizens, Israel will strike terrorist targets in Beirut," Netanyahu said, according to a statement released by his office.

"Our position on this remains unchanged. At the same time, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon," he added.

Lebanon's US embassy said on Monday that Hezbollah had accepted a US proposal on a "mutual cessation of attacks", after Israel threatened more strikes on south Beirut on the eve of a fourth round of Israel-Lebanon negotiations.

"The Lebanese authorities received confirmation of Hezbollah's acceptance of the US proposal providing for a mutual cessation of attacks," said an embassy statement released by the Lebanese president's office.

"Under the proposed arrangement, Israeli strikes on Dahiyeh would cease in exchange for Hezbollah refraining from launching attacks against Israel, with the ceasefire framework to be expanded to encompass all Lebanese territory," the statement added, referring to Beirut's southern suburbs.

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressed his condemnation and denunciation in the strongest possible terms of the continued hostile Iranian attacks targeting the State of Kuwait.

"These actions represent a dangerous and irresponsible escalation, a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and all international laws and norms, and a direct threat to regional security and stability," he stressed, underscoring that the continuation of these aggressive assaults reflects an unacceptable Iranian approach that undermines all efforts aimed at maintaining security and stability.

Moreover, he called upon the international community and the United Nations (UN) Security Council to assume their responsibilities and take a firm, deterrent stance against these serious violations that threaten regional and international peace and security.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that talks with Iran were moving ahead rapidly, despite Iran's Tasnim news agency reporting Tehran had halted talks in protest at Israel's Lebnanon offensive.

"Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump said on his Truth Social account, shortly after another post saying Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to stop attacks.

A cargo vessel in the Gulf near Iraq's Umm Qasr port may have been targeted in a drone attack, according to Iraqi security officials. Reuters reported that preliminary assessments linked a second explosion and subsequent fire aboard the vessel to a drone strike about 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr. No injuries were reported. The incident comes after British maritime authorities said the ship had earlier been hit by an unidentified projectile, triggering a large explosion and an ongoing investigation.

US President Donald Trump said Monday he had persuaded Israel and Hezbollah to de-escalate, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreeing not to send troops to southern Beirut and the Lebanese militant group promising to stop attacks.

"There will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back," Trump said on his Truth Social network after a "very productive" call with Netanyahu.

The Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia issued a statement this evening that reads: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns the Israeli aggression against the territories of the brotherly Lebanese Republic and reiterates its categorical rejection of Israel’s incursion into Lebanese land and its violation against Lebanon’s sovereignty."

Read the full statement below:

The United Nations on Monday expressed its alarm and called for all sides to respect the ceasefire as Israel expanded its offensive into Lebanon, while negotiations to end the US-Iran war appeared in peril.

"We are deeply alarmed by the escalation in military activities across southern Lebanon and beyond," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said.

"We urge all actors to respect the cessation of hostilities and avoid further escalation."

Residents in northern Kuwait may hear a series of controlled explosions on Tuesday morning as the Kuwaiti military carries out a planned operation to dispose of shrapnel remnants and unexploded ordnance left in the area.

The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces said the operation will be conducted by the Inspection and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Land Force Engineering Corps between 8am and 12 noon on June 2, stressing that any explosion sounds heard during that period will be part of the scheduled disposal process and do not pose a threat to public safety.

US President Donald Trump said he had not been informed in advance of Iran's decision to suspend negotiations with Washington, dismissing the move as a negotiating tactic. Speaking to NBC News, Trump said Tehran had not officially communicated the decision to the US administration. "It's an appropriate thing to say, because they're better negotiators than they are fighters," he said.

Trump added that the suspension would not prompt an immediate escalation by Washington, saying, "It doesn't mean we're going to go and start dropping bombs all over there. We'll keep the blockade."

Iran's Revolutionary Guards threatened to open "new fronts" and keep the Strait of Hormuz closed over Israel's offensive in Lebanon, state media reported on Monday.

"Iran considers crossing the red lines in Lebanon and Gaza to mean direct war," state TV quoted the Guards' intelligence organisation as saying, adding: "in return, it is determined to carry out defensive operations by taking meaningful actions and opening new fronts, in addition to preserving the Strait of Hormuz equation".

US Central Communications tweeted: "Thousands of US service members at sea, in the skies, and from land are supporting the ongoing US blockade against Iran. As of June 1, CENTCOM forces have redirected 121 commercial vessels and disabled 5 to ensure compliance."

Lebanon said an Israeli strike hit near a hospital in the southern city of Tyre on Monday as the health ministry shared footage showing heavy damage to the facility.

The state-run National News Agency said a strike targeting an intersection near the Jabal Amel hospital "hit a building and the parking lot, resulting in a number of wounded".

The health ministry shared two videos showing damage inside a hospital ward, with rubble and debris on the ground, blown-out ceilings, blood on the floor and shattered glass, while smoke could be seen billowing from a fire at what appeared to be a heavily damaged adjacent car park.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported that several people were killed and injured in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building and a car park adjacent to Jabal Amel Hospital in southern Lebanon. The strike also caused a power outage in the hospital's intensive care units, disrupting oxygen supplies to critically ill patients. According to the agency, the attack inflicted extensive damage on the hospital complex, including intensive care wards, patient rooms, the dialysis centre and surrounding facilities.

Iran’s main military command warns that if Israel carries out attacks on Beirut, residents of northern Israel should leave the area if they do not want to be harmed.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has informed the Trump administration that Hezbollah is prepared to agree to a full and immediate ceasefire with Israel and has pledged to guarantee the group's compliance with any deal, according to Axios, citing Berri's senior adviser Ali Hamdan. However, the report said US and Israeli officials remain doubtful that Berri can ensure Hezbollah's adherence to a ceasefire, while American officials have reportedly told him they do not believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would agree to halt military operations at this stage. An Israeli official cited by Axios said Hezbollah had signalled its readiness for a complete ceasefire without demanding an immediate Israeli withdrawal.

"The Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's management," Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, said in a post on X.

"We will not allow the maritime blockade to continue, and an escalation of tensions in Lebanon will not be tolerated. The patience of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran has its limits," he added.

Qatar has condemned repeated Iranian attacks on Kuwait, labeling them a flagrant violation of Kuwait's sovereignty and the international rules-based order.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the necessity of shielding the region from the consequences of unprovoked attacks and de-escalating tensions to restore regional and global security and stability.

The ministry reiterated that the State of Qatar fully stands by the State of Kuwait and backs all measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty and security.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a cargo vessel transiting the northern Arabian Gulf was struck by an unidentified projectile, CNN reported.

The incident occurred about 40 miles southeast of Iraq's Umm Qasr port. UKMTO said a large explosion was reported after the vessel was hit on its starboard side.

"A cargo vessel was transiting in the Arabian Gulf when a large explosion followed a hit from an unknown projectile on the starboard side," the maritime security agency said.

UKMTO added that it was not aware of any environmental impact from the incident and said authorities were investigating the cause of the strike.

Several flights to and from Beirut were cancelled on Monday after Israel announced it was preparing to resume strikes on the Lebanese capital, prompting fresh concerns about regional security and travel disruption.

The cancellations came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to strike targets in Beirut’s southern suburb Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold.

Israel's military on Monday warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, long a stronghold of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, of imminent strikes and called for them to evacuate.

"The Israel Defense Forces warns residents of the Dahiyeh area in Beirut and calls on them to evacuate to preserve their safety. If the terrorist Hezbollah continues launching rockets toward Israeli cities and towns, the IDF will respond by targeting objectives in the southern Dahiyeh," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee said on X.

Oil prices surged Monday after Iran said it suspended all exchanges with Washington following days of inconclusive talks to end the war, and the two nations again traded strikes.

At around 1330 GMT the price Brent North Sea Crude for August delivery was up 4.9 per cent at $95.60 a barrel, after briefly rising above 5 percent. Its US counterpart, West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery, was up 5.9 per cent at $92.55.

Iran's Tasnim news agency said Tehran was suspending all exchanges with mediators in peace talks with the United States on Monday, blaming Israel's ongoing invasion of Lebanon.

"Given the continuing crimes of the Zionist regime (Israel) in Lebanon and considering that Lebanon was one of the preconditions for the ceasefire and that this ceasefire has now been violated on all fronts, including Lebanon, the Iranian negotiating team is suspending dialogues and exchange of texts through mediators," Tasnim reported.

It said Iran was demanding the "immediate cessation" of Israel's military operations in Gaza and Lebanon and its withdrawal from areas it occupied in its northern neighbour as a precondition for resuming talks.

Israel's military has pushed further into southern Lebanon than at any time since it ended its occupation of the region in 2000. On Monday it warned residents of the capital Beirut's southern suburbs to evacuate ahead of strikes.

Tasnim also reported that Iran and its allies had "set their determination to completely block the Strait of Hormuz and activate other fronts, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait", at the entrance to the Red Sea.

Iran's FM spokesman stressed that a ceasefire in Lebanon remains an integral part of any final arrangement aimed at ending the conflict. He also reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to safeguarding its rights and interests in accordance with international law.

Hezbollah said its fighters were still battling Israeli troops near south Lebanon's Beaufort castle on Monday, a day after Israel said it seized the strategic fortress and troops raised the Israeli flag there.

In a statement issued by Hezbollah's operations room, the group said its fighters were in a "battle of attrition against forces of the Israeli enemy army who are present in the area".

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday promised Japan to enable the passage of its ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been mostly closed since the start of the Middle East war in February.

"We will try to provide a smooth and easy passage for Japanese ships," Pezeshkian told Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a phone conversation, according to the presidency.

Jordan condemned the repeated Iranian attacks against Kuwait, affirming its rejection and denunciation of what it described as blatant violations of Kuwait's sovereignty and threats to its security, stability and territorial integrity.

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday that the Iranian attacks on Kuwait constitute a flagrant breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations and represent a dangerous escalation that undermines efforts at restoring security and stability aimed in the region.

The statement reaffirmed Jordan's full solidarity with Kuwait in confronting the Iranian attacks and its support for all measures taken by Kuwait to safeguard its autonomy, security and the safety of its citizens and residents.

Israel said Monday it would once again target Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold mostly spared heavy attacks since April, as it stages its deepest incursion into Lebanon in two decades.

The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting later Monday on Israel's expansion of its operations in Lebanon, and the European Union called on Israel to "stop its military escalation".

Iran, in stalled negotiations on an end to its wider war with the United States, said a Lebanon ceasefire remains a key condition for any deal.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said they had ordered strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, a densely-populated area where Hezbollah holds sway.

"In light of the repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon by the terrorist organisation Hezbollah and the attacks on our cities and citizens, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz have instructed the IDF to strike terror targets in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut," a joint statement said.

The UAE strongly condemns the Iranian terrorist attacks on the State of Kuwait with missiles and drones. Here's the full statement.

Last night at 11pm ET, US forces successfully intercepted two Iranian ballistic missile targeting American forces based in Kuwait, tweeted US Central Command.

"These missiles were immediately defeated and no American personnel were harmed. US Central Command remains vigilant and will continue to protect our forces from Iranian aggression while supporting the ongoing ceasefire," the tweet added.

Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, denounced the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, citing the targeting of civilians, the destruction of densely populated areas, and extensive damage to infrastructure and key facilities in breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.

In a statement issued today, Al Yamahi cautioned against the consequences of Israel's ongoing violations and war crimes, urging the international community and the United Nations Security Council to intervene immediately to end the attacks and compel Israel to adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

He underscored the Arab Parliament's support for Lebanon's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and for the efforts of its state institutions to preserve national security and stability and reinforce state authority across all parts of the country.

Oil prices jumped and equity markets diverged Monday as Middle East peace talks stalled and investors continued to pour into AI-linked stocks.

Crude futures won more than three percent after the United States and Iran traded strikes and Tehran again insisted that any deal must cover Israel's escalating offensive into Lebanon.

European stock markets traded mixed after gains for main equity indices in Asia.

The dollar firmed against main rivals as focus fixed on the US-Iran conflict.

"Even though there have been (fresh) attacks from both sides, the market is holding onto the fact that... an elusive deal" can be reached, noted Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB trading group.

Meanwhile, "there is no reason to think that the AI theme will fade... Thus, we may continue to see outperformance of US and some Asian stocks".

Israel's defence minister said Monday there would be "no calm in Beirut" if Hezbollah attacks continued and vowed to establish a military-controlled zone in the area of south Lebanon's Litani River.

"The Dahiyeh in Beirut is no different from the communities in northern Israel - if there is no calm in the north, there will be no calm in Beirut," Israel Katz said in a statement released by his office, referring to the Beirut southern suburb and Hezbollah stronghold where he had earlier Monday ordered strikes.

"At the same time, the IDF continues to operate with fire and manoeuvre against Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure in Lebanon... in order to push threats away from IDF forces and from the residents of the State of Israel, and to turn the Litani area into a zone under IDF security control, free of weapons and terrorists," Katz added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to push deeper into Lebanon after announcing on Friday that a large part of south Lebanon was now considered a "combat zone", despite a ceasefire.

France's President Emmanuel Macron said he had encouraged his US counterpart Donald Trump to pursue his "determined efforts" to reach a ceasefire deal with Iran to end the Middle East war.

In a phone call on Sunday night, "I welcomed the determined efforts he is making to swiftly reach an agreement between the United States and Iran, which represents a unique opportunity to build a new security framework that brings together all the parties concerned, in order to allow for lasting stabilisation of the region," Macron said on X.

"I also welcomed President Trump's commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and underscored the importance of a robust ceasefire and of our collective support for the Lebanese authorities," Macron wrote.

Iran has said only Iran and Oman have the right to exercise sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, amid renewed tensions over the key shipping route.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said maritime traffic in the strait is managed through a system coordinated with Oman.

He also urged Oman not to bow to US pressure, following reported threats from US President Donald Trump over control of the waterway.

Kuwait International Airport has resumed receiving and operating flights from Arab and international airlines as part of a phased reopening plan following the completion of repair and upgrade works, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

Passenger services have restarted at Terminal 1 (T1), with operational measures introduced to ensure smooth air traffic flow, streamline travel procedures and support the airport’s readiness to handle increasing flight activity.

The reopening forms part of a wider plan to restore full operational capacity at the airport after infrastructure improvements and enhanced readiness measures were completed.

Authorities said the phased resumption is designed to ensure efficiency across airport services while maintaining safety and service standards for travellers and airlines.

Iran's foreign ministry said on Monday that there were currently no exchanges with the United States over the details of Tehran's nuclear programme.

"We know when it is necessary to act on nuclear matters. No negotiations have taken place on the details of the nuclear file. At this stage, our priority is ending the war," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a weekly press briefing.

Iran's foreign ministry said Monday that the United States had continued to violate the ceasefire, after US strikes on a southern port triggered a brief military flare-up.

"The United States is also violating the ceasefire including this morning," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing, vowing that Iran will "take whatever measures we deem necessary to defend Iran's national security".

Iran's foreign ministry said that a ceasefire in Lebanon remains a key condition for a deal with the United States.

"We insist that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an essential condition for any deal aimed at ending the war," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing, as Israel expands its offensive in Lebanon.

Bangladesh has increased retail fuel prices for the second time in six weeks, raising petrol and kerosene by 5 taka per litre as global oil costs climb, Reuters reported.

From Monday, petrol is priced at 140 taka ($1.15) per litre and kerosene at 135 taka, while diesel remains unchanged at 115 taka.

The Energy Ministry said the revision reflects movements in international oil prices under the country’s automatic fuel pricing system introduced in 2024, which tracks global rates, exchange fluctuations and import costs.

The latest hike follows an increase in April after global oil prices rose amid the Iran conflict.

The move is expected to push up transport and food costs, adding further pressure to inflation in the import-dependent economy.

Iran has defended its strikes on regional military sites, saying they amount to “lawful self-defence” after Kuwait reported a series of missile and drone interceptions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran has the right to target “bases and assets” used in attacks against Iran, adding that international law requires states not to allow their territory to be used for aggression.

He also criticised the European Union’s response, accusing it of “selective moral outrage” and calling its statement on Iran’s actions “hypocritical and reckless.”

Netanyahu said in a post on X that he had directed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), together with Defence Minister Israel Katz, to target what he described as “terrorist targets” in the Dahiyeh area of Beirut.

He said the decision was taken in response to what he called ongoing violations of the ceasefire by Hezbollah and attacks against Israeli cities and citizens.

The Israeli army announced that one of its soldiers had been killed on Monday in fighting in southern Lebanon, bringing to 26 the number of Israeli military deaths since early March.

Staff Sergeant Adam Tzarfati, 20, "fell in combat in southern Lebanon", the army said in a brief statement.

In total, 26 Israelis have been killed - 25 soldiers and one civilian contractor - since hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah resumed on March 2, when the Shiite militant group reopened the front in support of Tehran, following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that his country was facing "a vicious and reprehensible Israeli aggression", after Israel stepped up its offensive against Hezbollah with the capture of the medieval Beaufort Castle.

Aoun condemned the Israeli offensive in a post on X and pledged to "work to end the suffering of the Lebanese people, and people in the south in particular".

On Monday the UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting on Lebanon, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the castle's seizure marked a "dramatic shift" in the fighting.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said negotiations were being complicated by political criticism in Washington, claiming it makes it harder to “properly do my job and negotiate.”

He criticised Dumocrats and what he called 'unpatriotic Republicans' for urging him to move faster or slower on diplomacy and military options, describing them as 'political hacks' who are “chirping” against his efforts.

Trump added that the situation would ultimately 'work out well in the end,' saying: 'Just sit back and relax, it will all work out well in the end - It always does!'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the ongoing diplomatic negotiations, a senior US official told AFP Sunday, asserting that Hezbollah must be the first to cease its attacks.

"To advance those talks, the United States proposed a clear sequence: Hezbollah must stop all attacks on Israel. In return, Israel would refrain from escalation in Beirut," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, about the conversations between the three leaders.

Netanyahu vowed Sunday to push Israeli forces deeper into Lebanon, with France prompting the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting Monday over the expanding offensive.

The US official said Aoun attempted to advance the proposal submitted by Washington, but speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon Nabih Berri's "response was evasive and disappointing." Berri is considered an ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Hezbollah for its part says Israel must cease its hostilities first.

"Hezbollah is following Tehran's lead. It clearly has no interest in the welfare of the Lebanese people," the US official said.

"The fastest way to de-escalate and protect civilians on all sides is for Hezbollah to stop firing immediately," the official added.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has targeted an air base it claims was used in a US attack on southern Iran.

According to the Fars news agency, the strike was carried out in response to an earlier attack on a telecoms tower on Sirik Island in Hormozgan province.

The IRGC said its Aerospace Force targeted the air base where the “aggression originated” and claimed that the intended targets were destroyed.

CENTCOM said the 'measured and deliberate' strikes took place on Saturday and Sunday in response to what it described as aggressive Iranian actions, including the downing of a US MQ-1 drone operating over international waters.

According to CENTCOM, US fighter aircraft responded by destroying Iranian air defence systems, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones that it said posed a threat to ships transiting regional waters.

No US personnel were injured in the operation.

CENTCOM added that it will continue to protect US assets and interests in response to what it called “unwarranted Iranian aggression” during the ongoing ceasefire.

The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army says the country’s air defences are currently intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks.

Authorities said any explosion sounds being heard are the result of air defence systems engaging and intercepting incoming threats.

Officials have urged the public to strictly follow all security and safety instructions issued by the relevant authorities as the situation develops.

In a swift rebuttal to circulating rumours, sources close to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s office firmly denied reports of his resignation.

The denial, amplified by Iran’s official channels and state-affiliated media like Tasnim News, comes as the country navigates a fragile ceasefire with the United States following months of intense conflict.

President Pezeshkian, 71, a reformist politician and former heart surgeon, appeared in a newly released video from the official presidency website, projecting resolve.

Seated at a formal meeting with advisors, the reformist leader emphasised his commitment to advancing Iran’s “progress and prosperity” despite ongoing challenges.

Amid instense US-Iran talks and renewed tensions, new satellite imagery suggests Iranian crews are already moving bulldozers and dump trucks into damaged underground missile and nuclear-linked sites, rapidly clearing debris and reopening access routes.

The images, as reported by CNN, highlight a stark reality of modern warfare: even after precision strikes and advanced bunker-buster munitions, efforts are ongoing to restore critical infrastructure hit by previous US-Israeli bombings.

Crude oil just woke up with serious attitude this Monday morning (June 1, 2026).

As Asian markets kicked off the new trading week, WTI Crude blasted higher to $89.41, jumping $2.05 (+2.35%), while benchmark Brent Crude powered up to $93.03, gaining $1.91 (+2.10%), as of 8.07 am in Tokyo trading. 

Energy traders keeping an out on the demand side while assessing signs of improving economic activity in Asia and North America, are bullish as both major contracts punched through key levels in early sessions.

Reports indicate that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has formally submitted a resignation letter to the office of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iran International.

The report, which cites a source familiar with the matter, says Pezeshkian argued that Iran’s elected government has been increasingly sidelined as hardline factions within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) expand their influence over key state decisions.

According to the reported contents of the letter, Pezeshkian stated that the presidency and civilian government have effectively been excluded from major decision-making processes, leaving him unable to carry out his constitutional responsibilities.

The report describes the situation as evidence of a widening power struggle between civilian institutions and military-security centers within the Islamic Republic.

The reported resignation underscores a deeper issue: even the restricted authority traditionally granted to Iran’s civilian government may be shrinking further as military-security factions consolidate influence.

Whether the resignation is accepted — or whether the report is officially confirmed — remains unclear.

On May 7, 2026 President Pezeshkian he had met Mojtaba Khamenei in person and spoken with him for two and a half hours, in the first public confirmation that the Islamic Republic's new ayatollah has been seen by a senior official since his appointment more than two months ago, Iranian and European media sources reported then.

Day 93: Trump asked for tougher terms in proposed Iran war deal

Day 92: Hormuz disruption raises summer fuel shortage fears

Day 91: Trump wraps Iran talks without announcement

Day 90: US, Iran reach deal pending Trump's final approval

Day 89: Trump says 'not satisfied' yet on Iran deal

Day 88: Iran condemns US attacks as violation of ceasefire

Day 87: 'Proceeding nicely': US-Iran talks intensify, oil drops

Day 86: US-Iran talks: Trump says 'I don’t make bad deals'

Day 85: Trump: Iran deal ‘largely negotiated’, Hormuz to open