Day 94 | Iran signals progress in US talks as 'Israel' pushes deeper into Lebanon

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Read more: Day 95 | Trump says Iran talks continue at 'rapid pace' despite suspension claims

The ‘Israeli’ military said Monday night that a Hezbollah rocket struck near ‘Israeli’ troops a short while ago in southern Lebanon.

The rocket allegedly came hours after US President Donald Trump announced a pause in hostilities between ‘Israel’ and Hezbollah.

No one was injured in the attack, which occurred near the border settlement of Metula, per the statement.

Lebanese media also reported several ‘Israeli’ strikes in southern Lebanon since Trump’s ceasefire announcement.

‘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.

An ‘Israeli’ military doctor was killed by a Hezbollah explosive drone attack in southern Lebanon earlier on Monday, the ‘Israeli’ military said today.

He is identified as Cpt. Dr. Ori Yosef Silvester, 30 years old, the medical officer for the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion.

Seven other troops were wounded in the attack, the statement adds.

Three soldiers out of the seven were seriously wounded, one was moderately wounded, and three lightly injured.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that ‘Israel’ and Hezbollah had agreed to stop fighting, adding that Iran talks were moving rapidly after seeming to be on the rocks over ‘Israel's’ Lebanon offensive.

Trump said on social media that ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised not to send troops to Beirut's southern suburbs as threatened, while Hezbollah had agreed that "all shooting will stop."

His comments came after Iran's news agency Tasnim reported Tehran had suspended dialogue with mediators in protest at ‘Israel's’ expanding offensive in Lebanon against Iran's ally Hezbollah.

"I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back," Trump wrote.

"Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop -- That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel."

In a separate post a few minutes later, Trump said that "talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

But earlier on Monday, the US leader had given decidedly mixed signals about his enthusiasm for the talks to end the Iran war, which the United States and ‘Israel’ launched on February 28.

Trump told US broadcaster CNBC in a telephone interview shortly before his Truth Social posts that "I don't care" if the Iran talks collapsed.

"If they’re over, they’re over," Trump told CNBC.

"Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring."

Trump separately told NBC News on Monday that he had not been informed that Iran was suspending negotiations but that, "I think we've been talking too much if you want to know the truth."

"I think going silent would be very good, and that could be that could be for a long time," he told NBC.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that peace talks with Iran are continuing “at a rapid pace,” moments after he announced a ceasefire between ‘Israel’ and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that a ceasefire will take place between ‘Israel’ and Hezbollah, following separate phone calls with both sides.

“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” Trump added, without clarifying who the Hezbollah representatives are.

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.

The aftermath of an ‘Israeli’ army strike in the Lebanese city of Tyre.

The strike also damaged a nearby hospital, with the Lebanese Health ministry saying several were wounded.

Footage of an ‘Israeli’ military strike on a building near Jabal Amel Hospital in the coastal city of Tyre, Lebanon.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he was not informed of Iran’s decision to suspend negotiations ahead of time.

“It’s an appropriate thing to say, because they’re better negotiators than they are fighters,” Trump told NBC News in a call.

“But they haven’t informed us of that.”

“It doesn’t mean we’re going to go and start dropping bombs all over there,” Trump added.

“We’ll keep the blockade,” he continued.

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.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned residents of northern ‘Israel’ to evacuate if Israel launches attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs, according to statements carried by Iranian media.

The commander of the headquarters said the warning was issued in response to what he described as ‘Israel's’ repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The statement comes as ‘Israel’ presses on with its strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which Iran said it considered an important part of any truce deal with the US.

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 percent 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 percent at $92.55.

‘Israel's’ military on Monday warned residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, long a stronghold of Lebanese 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.

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 media reported Monday that Tehran has stopped exchanging messages with the United States “in protest against Zionist crimes,” according to Tasnim News Agency, referring to ‘Israeli’ attacks on Lebanon.

The Iranian negotiating team is stopping “talks and exchange of texts through a mediator,” Tasnim said in its report.

Tehran also threatened to “completely block” the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

“The Resistance Front and Iran have set their agenda to completely block the Strait of Hormuz and activate other fronts, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in order to punish the Zionists and their supporters,” the IRGC-affiliated outlet said.

“The immediate cessation of the Zionist regime’s aggressive and brutal army operations in Gaza and Lebanon and the necessity of the regime’s complete withdrawal from the occupied areas in Lebanon have been emphasized by Iranian officials and negotiators, and there will be no talks until Iran and the resistance’s views on this matter are met,” it added.

• Iran blames US and 'Israel' for regional tensions
• Tehran says sanctions hinder Hormuz shipping stability
• President voices concern over Lebanon ceasefire violations

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has assured Japan that his government is taking active measures to guarantee the smooth and unhindered transit of Japanese commercial vessels through regional waterways, while forcefully blaming the United States and 'Israel' for destabilizing global diplomacy.

The statements were made during a high-level phone call between the Iranian President and the Prime Minister of Japan, where the two leaders reviewed maritime security, international trade, and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Middle East.

Commitment to Hormuz

Addressing bilateral trade concerns, Pezeshkian emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran remains fully prepared to facilitate safe maritime navigation.

He specifically noted that Tehran is directing efforts toward ensuring that Japanese cargo ships encounter no operational difficulties.

"We will make every effort to ensure that the transit route for Japanese ships is provided without any problems and with greater ease," Pezeshkian stated.

He further reiterated Iran's broader commitment to safeguarding the vital energy chokepoint in the Persian Gulf.

He declared that Tehran "will take every action within its power to normalize the flow of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and to maintain the stability and security of this strategic passage."

However, the Iranian President clarified that current shipping complications do not stem from Iranian policy, but rather from external economic pressures.

The primary obstacle to seamless global trade in the region, he argued, remains the extensive network of restrictions and sanctions imposed by the United States against Iranian shipping and commerce.

Criticism of US, 'Israel' 

Throughout the diplomatic call, Pezeshkian maintained that Iran has consistently viewed diplomacy as the most effective mechanism for resolving international disputes.

He lamented, however, that these peaceful channels are being actively undermined by Washington and its regional allies.

"Unfortunately, some parties -including the United States, by breaking their commitments, alongside the destabilizing actions of the 'Israeli' regime- have confronted diplomatic processes with severe challenges." Stated the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Pezeshkian pointed to the Levant as a primary example of this diplomatic breakdown.

He expressed profound concern over the repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, the continuous displacement of Lebanese citizens, and the unwavering political and military support the United States provides to 'Israeli' military operations.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Monday that American military assets successfully shot down two Iranian ballistic missiles fired at US personnel stationed in Kuwait.

The high-stakes interception follows a wave of regional alerts regarding cross-border Iranian missile and drone activities.

'Immediately defeated'

According to the official statement released by CENTCOM via X, the active threat emerged late Sunday night at approximately 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Iranian forces launched the ballistic weapons directly toward installations housing American military units.

Last night at 11 p.m. ET, U.S. forces successfully intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting American forces based in Kuwait. These missiles were immediately defeated and no American personnel were harmed.

U.S. Central Command remains vigilant and will continue to…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 1, 2026

US air defense batteries immediately engaged the incoming projectiles. "These missiles were immediately defeated and no American personnel were harmed," CENTCOM reported, confirming that the defensive operation prevented any structural damage or troop casualties on the ground.

Commitment to regional defense

The direct missile attack marks a severe spike in tensions between Washington and Tehran, occurring alongside parallel statements from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemning Iranian violations.

Despite the direct targeting of its regional hubs, the Pentagon emphasized its commitment to maintaining the existing geopolitical framework.

"U.S. Central Command remains vigilant and will continue to protect our forces from Iranian aggression while supporting the ongoing ceasefire." - Official Statement from US Central Command.

The defensive deployment highlights a delicate balancing act for the US military, which is actively working to shield its forward-deployed forces while attempting to prevent the collapse of wider regional diplomatic understandings.