Iran's Top Negotiator Says No Deal With US Without 'Tangible Results'
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has said that Tehran would not accept any agreement with the United States unless it guaranteed the rights of the Iranian people, state media reported.
Speaking after being sworn in for another term as speaker on May 31, Qalibaf -- a former Revolutionary Guards commander and Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States -- said there was "no trust" in US promises, adding that Tehran would only fulfill its commitments after achieving "tangible results" and would judge any agreement based on concrete outcomes.
US President Donald Trump has said Washington was nearing a "very good deal" with Iran but warned that military action remained an option if negotiations failed.
At the May 31 parliamentary session, which was held at an undisclosed location, Qalibaf claimed that Iran was "pushing back the enemy in a historic war."
But he also warned that "we must not fall into the trap of a war of attrition," adding that by placing national interests and public demands above factional and regional considerations, we must design an effective shortcut to solve the country's problems."
Those remarks appeared to be directed at a radical hardline minority in parliament that has strongly opposed continued negotiations with the United States aimed at ending the war.
With reporting by Reuters and RFE/RL's Radio Farda
Iran Claims 28 Ships Passed Through Hormuz Strait 'In Coordination With' Revolutionary Guards
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy said on May 31 that 28 vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz "in coordination" with the force over the previous 24 hours, accounting for all ship traffic through the strategic waterway during the past day.
The IRGC said in a statement that " oil tankers, container ships, and other commercial vessels" had passed through the strait "after obtaining authorization and in coordination with, and under the security protection of, the IRGC Navy."
Earlier on May 31, the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that dozens of tankers carrying oil and liquefied natural gas had passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the past week with US approval and after paying transit fees to Iran.
The report came despite repeated statements by the US government opposing the payment of fees to Iran for passage through the strait, which usually accounts for 20 of global oil and gas supplies.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda
Iran's Top Negotiator Says No Deal With US Without 'Tangible Results'
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has said that Tehran would not accept any agreement with the United States unless it guaranteed the rights of the Iranian people, state media reported.
Speaking after being sworn in for another term as speaker on May 31, Qalibaf -- a former Revolutionary Guards commander and Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States -- said there was "no trust" in US promises, adding that Tehran would only fulfill its commitments after achieving "tangible results" and would judge any agreement based on concrete outcomes.
US President Donald Trump has said Washington was nearing a "very good deal" with Iran but warned that military action remained an option if negotiations failed.
At the May 31 parliamentary session, which was held at an undisclosed location, Qalibaf claimed that Iran was "pushing back the enemy in a historic war."
But he also warned that "we must not fall into the trap of a war of attrition," adding that by placing national interests and public demands above factional and regional considerations, we must design an effective shortcut to solve the country's problems."
Those remarks appeared to be directed at a radical hardline minority in parliament that has strongly opposed continued negotiations with the United States aimed at ending the war.
With reporting by Reuters and RFE/RL's Radio Farda
Israel Expands Lebanon Offensive, Seizes Beaufort Castle
The Israeli military says that it has expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon to additional areas and that its forces had crossed the Litani River to strengthen Israeli military positions in the region.
The Israeli military said "a significant number" of ground troops had begun offensive operations aimed at expanding what it called the "Forward Defense Line," adding that the operation was "currently expanding to additional areas."
The announcement on May 31 came two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had crossed the Litani River, about 30 kilometers north of the Israel-Lebanon border.
The military said its forces had seized Beaufort Castle and the adjacent Beaufort Ridge, a strategic high ground overlooking large parts of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. It said one Israeli soldier was killed during the operation.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli troops had raised the Israeli flag over the castle, which is also known as Qalaat al-Shaqif. He described the site as "one of the most important strategic points for defending communities of the Galilee" and ensuring the security of Israeli forces.
The castle has long held significant military value. Israeli forces used the fortress as a base during their 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon, which ended in 2000.
The Israeli military also warned civilians south of the Zahrani River to move immediately to areas north of the river, saying it was intensifying operations against Hezbollah.
A cease-fire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, officially took effect on April 17, but has largely failed to hold, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
On May 30, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of pursuing a "scorched earth policy" in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon's Health Ministry says that Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,371 people since March 2.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters
World Awaits Trump Decision On Negotiated Framework
The world continues to await US President Donald Trump’s reaction to a proposed framework to extend the current cease-fire with Iran, even as threats to resume US air strikes and American naval forces’ interdiction actions in the Persian Gulf region persist.
As of late May 30, there was no official word out of the White House, a day after Trump concluded a Situation Room meeting on a possible agreement with Tehran aimed at extending the shaky truce by 60 days, opening the Strait of Hormuz, and ending the US blockade of Iranian ports.
Under the framework, other difficult issues -- such as Iran’s right to enrich uranium and its overall nuclear program, along with potential easing of sanctions against Tehran -- would be negotiated during the 60-day period.
Several US media outlets on May 30 reported that Trump has sought a number of changes to the terms of the framework, indicating that much work remains to be done.
The New York Times and Axios, citing officials familiar with the discussions, separately reported that Trump's desired changes involved toughening the terms of the deal and that the US had transmitted the new details back to Tehran for consideration.
Read more here
Trump Says US ‘Very Close’ to Iran Deal But Warns Military Option Remains
WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Washington was nearing a "very good deal" with Iran but warned that military action remained an option if negotiations fail, according to an interview recorded at the White House on May 28 and aired on May 30 on Fox News host Lara Trump's program My View.
The interview aired a day after Trump emerged from a two-hour Situation Room meeting on Iran without announcing a decision on the status of negotiations, despite earlier saying a "final determination" was expected.
As of late May 30, Trump had not publicly disclosed any outcome from the meeting.
Lara Trump, who conducted the Fox News interview, is married to the president's son, Eric.
In the interview, Trump struck an optimistic tone about diplomacy while making clear he was prepared to escalate if talks break down.
"It's really a win already. We've defeated their military, essentially defeated their military," Trump said. "I would rather get a deal, because we can open the strait [of Hormuz] immediately upon signing."
Trump said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remained his non-negotiable condition.
"The one guarantee that I have to have is that there will be no nuclear weapons," he said, adding that Iranian negotiators had expanded their commitment from not developing a nuclear weapon to also not purchasing one.
"That's a big difference," Trump said. "So we're getting what we want slowly."
Calling Iranian officials "very tough negotiators," Trump said he was willing to let talks proceed at their current pace.
"I'm in no hurry," he said. "I'd like to say I'm in a hurry, because gasoline prices are going to come tumbling down, but if you're going to be in a hurry, you're not going to make a good deal."
"Slowly but surely, we're getting, I think, what we want," Trump added. "And if we don't get what we want, we're going to end it a different way."
US Restraint
Trump also argued that US military operations had not been aimed at destroying Iran's conventional armed forces, despite his repeated claims that Tehran had been effectively defeated militarily.
"We've actually left their military alone. People would be surprised to hear that," Trump said, apparently referring to Iran's ground forces as opposed to other branches.
"Their navy is totally gone, 100 percent. Their air force is totally gone, 100 percent. Their military, we sort of left it alone because we think that their military is somewhat moderate," he said.
Trump said the US had targeted other elements of Iran's leadership instead. "They have other people that aren't moderate. We've taken them out. We've taken different forms of leadership out," he said.
Trump framed the approach as a lesson learned from past US interventions in the Middle East.
"Mistakes have been made in wars where you wipe out everybody, and then you have a country that for 40 years can never rebuild," he said, citing Iraq as an example.
The president again defended US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities carried out nine months ago, saying they prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
"If we didn't hit them with the B-2 bombers nine months ago, they would have a nuclear weapon right now, and it would be a whole different story," Trump said.
Cease-Fire Framework Taking Shape
The interview aired as attention remained focused on an emerging US-Iran agreement that could extend the current cease-fire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route through which about one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes each day.
Trump earlier this week said the US and Iran were closing in on a deal that had been "largely negotiated" and could be unveiled soon.
According to US officials, the proposed framework would extend the current cease-fire by 60 days, restore unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and create a window for further negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program.
The negotiations represent the most significant diplomatic opening since hostilities erupted more than three months ago.
Iran suspended talks with Washington last June following Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets, after which the US carried out attacks on three nuclear sites inside the country.
Neither Trump nor Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has formally approved the latest draft agreement.
The fate of the Strait of Hormuz has become a central issue in the conflict. Iran's restrictions on traffic through the waterway and the US naval response have disrupted global energy markets and fueled concerns about inflation.
Signs of diplomatic progress this week helped push oil prices lower, easing some pressure on the Trump administration as US voters remain concerned about the economy and rising consumer costs.
US Central Command Disabled Ship Sailing To Iranian Port
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on May 29 that its forces operating in the Gulf of Oman had enforced blockade measures by disabling a Gambia-flagged ship that was attempting to sail to an Iranian port.
"A US aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship's engine room," a CENTCOM statement said, adding that US forces had issued more than 20 warnings before taking military action.
According to the statement, US forces have disabled five commercial ships and redirected more than a hundred others "to fully enforce the blockade while a cease-fire with Iran remains in effect."
Israel Issues New Evacuation Orders in Southern Lebanon
Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon intensified on May 30 as the army issued evacuation warnings for residents of seven villages after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had advanced beyond the Litani River despite a cease-fire that officially took effect on April 17.
Netanyahu said on May 29 that Israeli forces "have crossed the Litani" River and moved onto higher ground while "striking Hezbollah hard."
Israeli officials said the military aims to establish a wider security zone in southern Lebanon to push Hezbollah farther from the border.
The Israel Defense Forces said it was acting against Hezbollah in response to alleged violations of the cease-fire and warned residents to leave areas near the group's positions.
Later on May 30, an Israeli strike hit a Lebanese Armed Forces position in the south, wounding two soldiers.
Iran-backed Hezbollah, which is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, claimed it launched rockets at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, ambushed Israeli troops near Ghandouriyeh and attacked Israeli positions near the Beaufort fortress and a military base in northern Israel.
The Israeli military said some projectiles were intercepted after being fired from Lebanon, with one hitting near Kiryat Shmona.
The escalation came a day after Israeli and Lebanese military delegations held talks at the Pentagon within the framework of of a new US-backed "security track" between the two countries.
The Pentagon described the discussions as "productive" and said they would feed into a State Department-led political track next week.
In a May 29 call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed "the need to exert all efforts to reach a cease-fire."
Lebanon's Health Ministry said Israeli strikes killed 11 people in Tyre on May 29 and that at least 3,355 people have been killed since March 2.
Oman Warns Of Suspected Naval Mine In Hormuz Strait
Oman has warned mariners to exercise caution after a floating object believed to be a naval mine was spotted in its territorial waters near the Strait of Hormuz.
Oman's Maritime Security Center said on May 30 that the suspected mine was observed west of a coastal shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz and urged fishermen, ships, and other sailors to keep a safe distance from suspicious objects and report them to authorities.
The agency did not identify the source of the device.
The warning comes amid security concerns in the crucial waterway following the US-Israeli war with Iran and reports that Tehran has placed mines in the strait.
On May 29, US President Donald Trump said Iran must remove all naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz as part of a broader agreement with Washington.
"The Hormuz Strait must be immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions," he said in a Truth Social post.
Separately, Qatar said it opposes permanent transit fees for vessels using the strait but would consider temporary charges if they were used for security-related purposes, such as mine-clearing operations.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on May 30, Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Persian Gulf states oppose long-term tolls because they would raise costs for consumers. However, he said temporary fees linked to restoring safe navigation "is something that is negotiable."
Khamenei Adviser Accuses Trump Of 'Betraying Diplomacy'
An adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has accused US President Donald Trump of "betraying diplomacy for the third time" by continuing a naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports and making what called "excessive demands" in negotiations.
In an X post on May 30, Mohsen Rezaei said Trump's stance at the negotiating table showed "that he is not inclined toward negotiation and is pursuing other objectives."
Rezaei's comments came a day after Trump met with top aides in the White House Situation Room to make a "final determination" about a framework for extending the cease-fire with Iran, but it ended without a clear decision being announced.
Before the meeting, Trump said on Truth Social that Iran must permanently forgo nuclear weapons, reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls, clear naval mines, and cooperate with the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency in eliminating its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium.
Kazakhstan Open To Hosting Iran’s Enriched Uranium Stockpile, FT Reports
Kazakhstan has indicated it is open to hosting Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent if a future agreement is reached between Tehran and Washington, according to a report by the Financial Times citing International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi.
The proposal is being discussed as a potential confidence-building measure to support efforts to revive nuclear diplomacy between Iran and the United States.
Grossi raised the issue during a visit to Kazakhstan, where he met President Qasym-Dzhomart Toqaev on May 26.
Kazakhstan is viewed as a credible candidate due to its strong non-proliferation credentials, including its decision to dismantle the Soviet-era nuclear arsenal it inherited after independence and its hosting of the IAEA’s Low-Enriched Uranium Bank in Oskemen.
Any transfer of Iran’s uranium would require a broader political agreement and detailed safeguards under IAEA supervision. Grossi has said discussions remain preliminary and no final deal has been reached.