(2026-06-01). US and Iran trade blows, Israel expands south Lebanon occupation. newarab.com 
For those just joining us, here are the key updates | The US and Iran conducted tit-for-tat strikes over the weekend into Monday. The US military says it attacked Iranian military sites in Goruk and Qeshm island. Meanwhile, Kuwait reports "hostile" missile and drone attacks, as Iran's IRGC says it launched a retaliatory strike on a base it claims was used for an attack on its Sirik Island
| As Israel expands its invasion and occupation of south Lebanon, the US reportedly put forward a proposal for a new ceasefire in Lebanon, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio holding separate talks with Lebanese Preside…
(2026-06-01). Could Israel's Lebanon Offensive Destroy Any Chance of an Iran-US Agreement? thinktank.pk As global attention remains fixed on Gaza and the fragile relationship between Washington and Tehran, Israel's expanding military operations inside Lebanon have opened another major fault line in the Middle East. Israeli forces recently seized the historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, marking their deepest military advance into Lebanese territory in more than two decades. …
(2026-06-01). Trump runs away, Putin now ready? NATO heading towards dangerous security vacuum amid Iran crisis. hindustantimes.com Fresh questions are being raised over Donald Trump's Europe strategy after the attack on Europe's biggest nuclear plant. Reports of a U.S. military drawdown across the continent have sparked concern among NATO allies, with fears that any weakening of Western deterrence could hand Vladimir Putin a strategic opening.
(2026-06-01). Trump's surprised 'we shouldn't have been…' Iran remarks come as Mojtaba refuses nuclear deal. hindustantimes.com U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked fresh debate with remarks on Iran, defending the 2025 U.S. strikes while also warning against the long-term consequences of military interventions. Trump argued that B-2 bomber attacks prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and claimed Washington deliberately avoided destroying much of Iran's military infrastructure. He also suggested that broader diplomacy could help reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and reduce regional tensions. The comments have fueled speculation about a possible shift in Trump's Middle East approach as discussions over regional se…
(2026-06-01). Hormuz Crisis hits Asia and Africa Hard, Spurs EV Buying. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — The release of massive strategic petroleum reserves in the US, China and Europe, along with austerity measures around the world, have kept the Hormuz crisis from pushing petroleum prices sky-high. They are, however, up 50% or so since the Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump launched their war of aggression on Iran. The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and the counter-closure by the US of Iran's exports has taken over a billion barrels of petroleum off the market this spring. If the Strait is not opened soon, neither austerity…
(2026-06-01). Is Mojtaba preparing for a bigger move? From ports to islands, strange blasts heard in Iran | War, US. hindustantimes.com Mystery explosions reported across Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Sirik and Jask have triggered fresh speculation in Iran amid soaring tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. While Iranian authorities linked the blasts to ammunition disposal and naval activity, conflicting reports have fueled questions over what exactly is unfolding near the strategic waterway.
(2026-06-01). The Iran War has cost Americans $50 billion at the Pump. juancole.com A settlement would be welcome news. But even if a deal happens tomorrow, here's the reality: Americans will be paying high fuel prices for months to come. The economic damage from this conflict is already done. | Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late…
(2026-06-01). What did Iran mean by 'new phase of war'? Mojtaba's top negotiator reveals battle plan to counter US. hindustantimes.com Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has declared that a "new phase" in the confrontation with the United States and Israel has begun, as diplomatic talks remain stalled. Speaking during a parliamentary session, Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran will not approve any agreement unless it secures what he described as the "rights of the Iranian nation." He warned against trusting enemy promises and framed the current situation as a broader struggle spanning military, diplomatic, economic, and social fronts. The statement comes amid rising regional tensions and renewed debate inside Iran over how to respond…
(2026-06-01). US says struck Iran military sites, Tehran responds by targeting base. scmp.com The US said it struck Iranian military sites at the weekend and Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Monday it had targeted a US base in response, the latest in a series of exchanges amid negotiations to end the three-month-old ‚Äåwar. | The strikes on Iran's Gulf coast were in response to "aggressive Iranian actions that included the shootdown of a US MQ-1 drone that was operating over international waters," the US Central Command said in a post on X.
(2026-06-01). Could the Next Iran-West Conflict Be Fought by Underwater Robots? thinktank.pk While global attention remains focused on conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and rising tensions between Iran and the West, a new military race is quietly unfolding beneath the oceans. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have announced plans to develop cutting-edge underwater drone technology under the AUKUS defense partnership, with deployment expected by 2027. …
(2026-05-31). Egypt works to help facilitate deal between U.S., Iran: president. ecns.cn CAIRO, May 31 ⚪ Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Sunday that the country was helping to facilitate a peace deal between the United States and Iran, as he spoke with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron over regional developments.
(2026-06-01). Democratic Party austerity, pseudo-left posturing and a MAGA aspirant: The 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race. wsws.org Los Angeles voters head to the polls amid a billion-dollar budget crisis, mass layoffs and ecological disaster to choose among candidates offering austerity, pseudo-left posturing or right-wing populism.
(2026-06-01). Iran denies reports about president's resignation. ecns.cn TEHRAN, June 1 ⚪ A senior Iranian official on Sunday denied media reports claiming that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had resigned.
(2026-05-31). Iran to make amendments to text of potential MoU after receiving latest U.S. response ⚪ media. ecns.cn Iran to make amendments to text of potential MoU after receiving latest U.Over the past weeks, they have exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for ending the conflict through Pakistani mediation.
(2026-06-01). Germany's Council of Economic Experts demands "U-turn" on care, health and pensions. wsws.org The German Council of Economic Experts is demanding deep cuts in social spending to pass the costs of the Iran war, rearmament and the enrichment of the rich onto the weakest in society.
(2026-05-31). Iran says US not to be trusted as Trump toughens deal terms. scmp.com Iran's chief negotiator warned on Sunday the United States was not to be trusted, saying Tehran would not agree to any deal with Washington unless it fully secured Iranian rights. | Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's remarks came as reports emerged that US President Donald Trump had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Iran, and underlined the rift that the parties still need to close.
(2026-05-31). Iran's Araghchi says talks and message exchanges with US ongoing, urges restraint on speculation. tribune.com.pk 
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that talks and message exchanges with the United States were ongoing, but stressed that no assessment of negotiations could be made until a clear outcome was reached. | We should not give importance to speculation and we can not judge the talks until we get to a clear result, Araghchi added. | Iran's top negotiator Ghalibaf says no agreement with US without 'tangible results' | Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Sunday that Tehran will not accept any deal with Washington unless it ensures "the rights of the Iran…
(2026-05-31). Mistrust deepens as Trump hardens Iran terms. tribune.com.pk 
Iran's top leadership has warned that no agreement with the United States will be accepted unless Tehran's rights are fully secured, as negotiations over a proposed nuclear and security framework continue amid deep mistrust and competing demands from both sides. | Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator and parliamentary speaker, said on Sunday that Tehran "will not approve any agreement until we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld," signalling that the latest US proposals have failed to bridge long-standing gaps between the two sides. | His remarks came after reports t…
(2026-05-31). Iran says does not trust US as Trump toughens terms. geo.tv 
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, November 27, 2024. — ReutersNo agreement has yet been finalised, says Ghalibaf.Trump sends "tougher" peace proposal to Iran.Any tweaks will further delay end to ME…
(2026-05-31). Israel troops capture Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon push against Hezbollah. al-monitor.com JERUSALEM, May 31 (Reuters) – Israeli troops have seized the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle and its strategic ridge in southern Lebanon, the military said on Sunday, a major advance against Iran-backed Hezbollah despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago. It comes after Saturday, one of the heaviest days of Hezbollah fire toward northern Israel since the April ceasefire, prompting school closures and restrictions.
(2026-05-31). Israel PM says capturing Beaufort in Lebanon offensive. al-monitor.com Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to push deeper into Lebanon after his military took over the medieval castle of Beaufort on Sunday, calling it a "dramatic shift" in the campaign against Hezbollah.The Iran-backed militant group, meanwhile, said it targeted Israeli army positions and infrastructure in Shlomi and Nahariya in northern Israel, while air raid sirens blared in the Acre area.
(2026-05-31). Trump Admin Uses Iran War Oil Shock to Push Drilling in Alaskan Wilderness. truthout.org The Trump administration and fellow Republicans are citing the Iran war as a pretext for oil drilling in Alaska, in an attempt to rapidly implement longstanding policy goals in the state. In April, President Donald Trump declared that the Strait of Hormuz blockade could be a boon for U.S. oil production, including in Alaska. This narrative was celebrated by Alaska Republicans… |
(2026-05-31). Iran Expresses 'Total Solidarity' With Oman. popularresistance.org Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi vowed "solidarity" and support for the Sultanate of Oman on 29 May, after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb the Gulf country if it teams up with Tehran to manage the Strait of Hormuz. | The comments came during a phone call between Araghchi and Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidy. | "In very productive call with Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidy, I expressed Iran's solidarity with Oman in face of any threat," Araghchi said in a statement on X. "We discussed Hormuz and its future administration in line with our sovereign responsibilities and international law.
(2026-05-31). Alexander Zevin: Trump's Gulf War. newleftreview.org Asymmetries of the US-Israeli assault on Iran, as an uneasy balance holds between Tehran's tourniquet on the Strait of Hormuz—and the world economy—and the enormous firepower of the aggressors, at the end of the first round.
(2026-05-31). Iran chief negotiator says no deal with US until Iranian rights secured. newarab.com 
Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that Tehran will not agree to any deal with the United States that fails to secure the rights of Iranians. | "We will not approve any agreement until we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld," Ghalibaf said, in a video broadcast on state television. | He added that Iranian negotiators "neither trust the enemy's words nor its promises." | His remarks came as Iran and Washington continue to exchange proposals over a framework for a deal to end the war that broke out on 28 February, engulfing the Middle East. | On Saturda…
(2026-05-31). Israeli Claims About An Iran 'Threat' Were Always A Lie. Now We Have Proof. scheerpost.com Jonathan Cook Substack [First published by Middle East Eye] Could it be that Israel's 30-year narrative about Iran — one that persuaded US President Donald Trump to wage a criminal and disastrous war of aggression — was always a fiction, an invention cooked up in Tel Aviv? Far from Tehran posing an existential danger to Israel, …
(2026-05-31). How did Netanyahu infatuate the "understanding" memo to end Iran war? thealtworld.com What is the function of his "brilliant" protégé, Kushner? And why hasn't a single Arab country condemned Trump's threats to weaken the Sultanate of Oman? And where's the Gulf Cooperation Council? | Yes, there was a draft memorandum of understanding to end the American-Israeli aggression against Iran, and it has great chances of success if implemented, because it provides a two-month truce to save America and what remains of its reputation, and to host the World Cup, for which it has allocated tens of billions for its organization, and to reduce the losses of this war, which have reached 95 billion dollars so far…
(2026-05-31). How hardening rhetoric signals uneasy path for US talks. al-monitor.com Iran's leadership is increasingly portraying negotiations with Washington not as compromise but as a continuation of confrontation by other means.
(2026-05-31). US must accept Iran's rights or continue war, says IRGC deputy. tribune.com.pk 
(2026-05-31). Iran U23s touch down in Antalya for high-stakes training camp. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN — The Iran U23 national football team have officially departed Tehran for Antalya, Turkey, embarking on a pivotal 12-day training camp.
(2026-05-31). Analysts raise oil forecasts as energy flows slow down. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN- A monthly poll released on Friday showed that analysts have raised their oil price forecasts to 2026 for the third time since the Iran War began in February. They cite an 'extended timeline' for normalizing energy flows back to pre-conflict levels, according to a Reuters report.
(2026-05-31). Son scores brace in 5-0 win. tribune.com.pk 
Son Heung-min answered questions about his form in convincing fashion on Saturday, netting twice as South Korea thrashed Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in a World Cup warm-up friendly. | The 33-year-old has been under some scrutiny ahead of the World Cup, with the forward yet to score for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer this season. | The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here. | Son opened the scoring for South Korea with a close-range finish in the 40th minute, before doubling their lead from the penalty spot three minutes la…
(2026-05-31). Iran sends six Greco-Roman wrestlers to Mongolia. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN — Six Iranian Greco-Roman wrestlers will represent Iran at the Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series 2026.
(2026-05-31). 10 Iranian universities in QS ranking 2026 by subject. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN —The 16th edition of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2026 has included 10 Iranian universities in three broad subject areas.
(2026-05-31). Zobeiri: Guardian of the Persian Gulf's millennia-old heritage. tehrantimes.com Until recently, few imagined human presence on Iran's Persian Gulf islands extended beyond the last millennium. But archaeological research has transformed this understanding. Excavations on Qeshm Island pushed settlement back nearly 5,000 years, while stone tools on Bam-e Qeshm hinted at an even older past. The discovery of Paleolithic sites on Hormuz Island—Chand-Derakht and Sang-e Ghorab—revealed that Middle Paleolithic populations lived there between 150,000 and 40,000 years ago, highlighting the Persian Gulf's role in early human migrations. Long before these scientific findings, Master Mohammad…
(2026-05-31). Iran war costs US households nearly $450 in extra fuel expenses. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN — American households have paid nearly $450 more on energy-related expenses since the outbreak of the Iran war, according to a Moody's Analytics analysis shared exclusively with CNBC.
(2026-05-31). Science ministry ready to resume teaching Persian Literature course in UPM. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN — Iran's scientific counselor in East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, Alireza Tavakolpour, in a meeting with officials of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), has announced the science ministry's readiness to reopen the Persian Language and Literature course in UPM.
(2026-05-31). Ancient tombstone motifs inspire new designs for textiles and handicrafts. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN — Researchers and artists studying the carved motifs of an ancient cemetery near Qale-Shadab mountain, southwestern Iran, say the unique designs found on centuries-old tombstones could provide inspiration for contemporary textile design, handicrafts and local cultural industries.
(2026-05-31). Defensive concerns cloud Iran's World Cup preparations. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN – Iran's road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to be accompanied by a growing concern: the national team's fragile defensive structure.
(2026-05-31). US issues new Iran-related counter-terrorism sanctions. al-monitor.com May 29 (Reuters) – The United States issued new counter-terrorism sanctions on Friday targeting Iranian individuals and entities, among others, a notice on the Treasury Department website showed.(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Daphne Psaledakis)…
(2026-05-31). Riab, an example of heritage preservation, sustainable tourism and community participation. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN — The historical village of Riab in eastern Iran is emerging as a leading example of heritage preservation, sustainable tourism and community participation as it seeks international recognition through the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) Best Tourism Villages initiative.
(2026-05-31). Iran wins WHO World No Tobacco Day award. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN — Abdolhossein Khosropanah, Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution and Behzad Valizadeh, former head of National Tobacco Control Secretariat have received the World Health Organization (WHO) for their outstanding contributions to tobacco control.
(2026-05-31). L'Occidente intensifica il terrorismo di Stato. strategic-culture.su L'Iran ha dimostrato che è possibile affrontare le potenze atlantiste con attacchi diretti e intensi, controllando al contempo le possibili conseguenze negative. | Segue nostro Gli esperti di geopolitica sono piuttosto chiari riguardo al carattere unitario della maggior parte dei conflitti contemporanei. I conflitti in Medio Oriente, in Eurasia, in Africa e in altre aree appaiono agli analisti strettamente collegati nelle loro linee gene…
(2026-05-31). UK foreign minister due to visit China and India to discuss global issues. al-monitor.com LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) – British foreign minister Yvette Cooper will travel to China on Monday, and then onwards to India later in the week, with the visits to focus on global issues from the Strait of Hormuz and the Russia-Ukraine war to the recent Ebola outbreak.Cooper will meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on June 2, before travelling to the southern tech hub of Shenzhen for a programme focussed on science and technology a day later, the government said.
(2026-05-31). The strait may reopen, but global confidence may not return. aljazeera.com The next phase of the Strait of Hormuz crisis may be defined less by its closure than by conditional access.
(2026-05-31). Drone hits Ukraine's captured nuclear plant Zaporizhzhia: IAEA. newarab.com 
A drone hit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, the UN nuclear agency has said, citing local officials. | The International Atomic Energy Agency posted on social media that the Russian-run plant's operator informed it that a drone had hit the turbine building on Saturday, "reportedly causing a hole in its wall". | Russian media carried a statement from state-owned nuclear power firm Rosatom accusing Ukraine of a deliberate attack – a claim strongly denied by Kyiv. | Close to the front line in southern Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia is the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe. | M…