At Least One Killed, Others Reportedly Injured By Israeli Forces In Lebanon
At least one person has been killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Lebanon, in the latest armed incident during a shaky cease-fire there between the IDF and Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
The IDF-Hezbollah conflict threatens to disrupt the cease-fire between Washington and Tehran, with Iran repeatedly insisting that it needs to be resolved within negotiations on ending its conflict with the United States.
Hezbollah is both a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency cited the country’s Health Ministry as saying that "the Israeli enemy's raid on the town of Arab Salim in the Nabatieh district resulted in one martyr and three wounded, including a child.”
An online statement by the IDF said two “armed Hezbollah terrorists” were “eliminated” after “posing an imminent threat.” It added that further “terrorists” were killed in a subsequent strike.
It was not clear if the IDF was referring to the same incident, and there was no immediate independent confirmation about what happened.
Earlier on May 3, the IDF issued a warning to residents of some areas of southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes and move at least a kilometer away due to what it said were ongoing operations against Hezbollah.
The previous day, the Israeli military said it had struck dozens of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
OPEC+ Announces Increased Oil Output After Price Spike
Seven of the world’s biggest oil producers have announced that they will increase their output “to support oil market stability,” days after a dramatic oil price spike amid market fears that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will not resume anytime soon.
Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman took the decision at a virtual meeting on May 3 to raise output by 188,000 barrels per day in June.
The move came after oil prices reached their highest level since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, reaching $126 per barrel on April 29 following a report in The Wall Street Journal that US President Donald Trump had told aides to prepare for an "extended" blockade of Iranian ports. The price has since slipped back slightly.
“The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and in their continuous efforts to support market stability,” a statement by OPEC+ said. However, while the move may provide some relief, it does not change the underlying causes of the current price levels.
The US blockade is preventing Iran shipping oil to China, adding to price pressures caused by Iran’s blockade that has stopped other Persian Gulf countries sending oil supplies to customers around the world. Washington’s blockade began on April 13, following failed US-Iranian talks in Islamabad.
Tehran launched its blockade after US-Israeli air strikes on Iran started the war on February 28.
Prior to the war, some 20 percent of global oil supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that ongoing Ukrainian attacks on the Russian oil industry was also adding to price pressures.
“If additional volumes of our oil are dropped from the market, prices will rise further from current levels, which are already above $120 a barrel. That would mean that even with lower export volumes, our companies would earn more money, and the state would receive more revenue,” Peskov said.
Ukrainian drone strikes have reached as far as 1,500 kilometers inside Russia in recent days.
“It is important that every strike reduces the capabilities of Russia’s military industry, logistics, and oil exports,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media on April 29.
Controversial Clip Emerges Of Iranian Women On Beach Without Hijab
After the appearance of a video of young men and women on an Iranian beach, a local prosecutor has said that the video is generated by AI and promised action.
The 15-second video emerged on May 2 and shows men and women, who are not wearing government-mandated hijabs, on a beach in Iran's Kish Island. The Persian Gulf island is known for its duty-free shopping, luxury resorts, and a more relaxed attitude when compared to the Iranian mainland.
On Iranian beaches, women must follow strict modesty rules, typically wearing full-body swimsuits, while men face fewer restrictions and are generally allowed to wear standard swimsuits. Some beaches in Iran are gender segregated.
According to the Jamaran, a news and information website, the Kish prosecutor said that "after technical investigations, it was determined that the published clip is a combination of an original clip and artificial intelligence."
The prosecutor also said that "a case has been opened" and the authorities were trying to identify and take legal action against "those responsible for the production [of the clip]."
How Is The World Coping With The Closure Of The Strait Of Hormuz?
It has been over two months since one of the world’s key oil chokepoints was shut down. And it has meant a seismic global readjustment and a number of creative workarounds. Watch our explainer with Kian Sharifi.
Iran Executes Kurdish Man In Jail Since 2022
Iran’s Mizan news agency, which is close to the country's judiciary, has reported the execution of a man accused of involvement in the killing of a security official during the Women, Life, Freedom protests that swept across the country in 2022.
The reported execution of Mehrab Abdullahzadeh is the latest in a series of judicial killings in Iran in recent weeks and followed reports of two other men being executed the previous day.
In February, the Kurdish Human Rights Network published a message from Abdullahzadeh in which he said he was 25 years old when he was imprisoned following his arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Urmia, in Iran’s West Azerbaijan Province.
In his message, from Urmia Central Prison, he said that "from the first day of my arrest, they forced me to confess through torture and threats." He added that his only “crime” was “being Kurdish.”
Kurds make up around 10 percent of Iran's population and primarily live in the country's west along the border with Iraq. Iran has long been accused of suppressing and discriminating against the country's ethnic minorities, including Kurds.
At least one of the men executed on May 2, Nasser Bakrzadeh, was also identified as Kurdish.
The current wave of executions comes amid what rights groups have described as a broader crackdown in Iran, following mass protests in January, which security forces suppressed by killing thousands of people.
This has continued, and even intensified, since US and Israeli air strikes began on February 28. Rights organizations have long accused the Islamic republic of using the death penalty to sow fear in society.
We are now closing the live blog for the day. We'll be back at 7:30 a.m. Central European time to cover the latest events across the Middle East.
Trump To Review Latest Iran Proposal But 'Can’t Imagine’ He'll Accept It
US President Donald Trump said he will soon evaluate a new peace proposal offered by Tehran but added that he “can’t imagine” it will be acceptable and suggested the possibility of renewed air strikes against Iran.
"I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years," he posted on Truth Social on May 2.
He earlier told reporters he had been told the basic concept of Tehran's offer but was waiting to be briefed by his aides on the details, alluding to the possibility of restarting strikes if Iran "misbehaves."
"They [US aides] told me about the concept of the deal. They're going to give me the exact wording now," he said as he boarded a flight to Miami from West Palm Beach, Florida, where he spends most weekends.
Asked if he might restart strikes on Iran, Trump said: "I don't want to say that. I mean, I can’t tell that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now we’ll see. But it’s a possibility that could happen."
Hours earlier, a senior Iranian official detailed a peace proposal submitted by Tehran, saying it consisted of 14 points, including many already rejected by Trump.
Tehran’s proposal included oft-reported conditions that would call for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and end the US blockade of Iranian ports while leaving talks on Iran's nuclear program for later.
Other Iranian conditions include the removal of US forces from areas surrounding Iran, the release of frozen Iranian assets, payment of compensation for war damages, the eventual lifting of sanctions against Tehran, and the end of all fighting, including in Lebanon.
Trump, who on May 1 said he was “not satisfied” with Tehran’s latest proposal, has repeatedly insisted that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and must give up its supply of already enriched uranium.
He has also said the blockade of Iranian ports will not end until after a peace deal is finalized.
While Trump has often stated that Iran is desperately seeking a peace deal, he has also said he could resume the air campaign against Iranian sites – including civilian infrastructure facilities – if no agreement is reached.
Trump, in a speech on May 1, said the US would not end its confrontation with Iran early only to have "the problem arise in three more years."
"At this moment I'm not satisfied with what they're offering," Trump told reporters, adding that the Iranian leadership was “messed up” and beset with "tremendous” internal discord.
Iran’s blocking of the Strait of Hormuz – a key waterway through which some 20 percent of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies were transported before the war -- has driven up energy prices globally, creating the risk of recession in many countries, creating political pressures on Trump.
In April, the US imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ports while agreeing to a cease-fire with Iran that took effect on April 8.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, AFP, and Reuters
Israeli Military Hits Dozens Of Hezbollah Targets
The Israeli military said on May 2 it had struck dozens of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon amid a fragile cease-fire.
"In the strikes, approximately 70 military structures and approximately 50 Hezbollah infrastructure sites were dismantled across several areas," the military said in a statement published on Telegram.
Hezbollah, a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon -- considered a terrorist organization by the United States -- said it has launched attacks targeting Israeli troops in response.
The attacks have become a regular occurrence, as both Israel and Lebanon frequently accuse each other of cease-fire violations. Israel has been launching strikes targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon since March 2, two days after the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, when Hezbollah forces opened fire in support of Tehran.
Meanwhile, Lebanese army chief Rodolphe Haykal met with visiting US General Joseph Clearfield, who is the head of the committee responsible for monitoring the 2024 cease-fire intended to bring an end to the most recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to a Lebanese army statement published on May 2, Haykal and Clearfield discussed "the security situation in Lebanon, regional developments, and ways to maximize the effectiveness of the [committee] and enhance its operations."
NATO 'Working With US' On German Troop Cut
NATO has responded to the US announcement that it will withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.
In a post on X, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said that the military alliance was "working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany."
Earlier, the Pentagon announced that it would withdraw approximately 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next 6–12 months.
"This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense," Hart said, "and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security - where we’re already seeing progress since Allies agreed to invest 5% of GDP at the NATO Summit in The Hague last year."
Trump later on May 2 told reporters that the US would be withdrawing from Germany even more than the 5,000 troops announced by the US military
"We're going to cut way down, and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000," he told reporters during a weekend trip to Florida.
Trump has long criticized NATO allies for not spending enough on defense. His pressure on NATO members states to shoulder a greater share of the burden was crucial in securing a landmark agreement at the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, where allies committed to raising defense and security-related spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
In 2025, all NATO members met or exceeded the previous target of 2 percent spending. NATO countries have until 2035 to reach the 5 percent target.
Senior Iranian Military Figure Says Resumption Of War With US 'Likely’
A senior Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander has said a renewed military confrontation between Iran and the United States is "likely" -- just two days after Iran delivered a draft proposal for a peace deal to mediator Pakistan.
Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a deputy commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters -- the military’s central command -- made the remarks on May 2, saying the evidence shows that "America does not honor any agreement or commitment."
He dismissed US statements and actions since the April 8 cease-fire as largely performative -- designed, in his telling, primarily to stop oil prices from falling and to help Washington "escape the trap it created for itself."
His forces, he added, are in a state of "full readiness" for any contingency.
The comments came against a fraught diplomatic backdrop. Iran submitted its draft to Islamabad on April 29, state media reported, without detailing its contents.
The war -- launched by the United States and Israel on February 28 -- has been on hold since April 8, though one round of peace talks in Pakistan has already collapsed without result.
In Washington, President Donald Trump suggested the Iranian offer fell short.
"At this moment I'm not satisfied with what they're offering," he told reporters, attributing the impasse to "tremendous discord" within Iran's leadership.
He framed the choice starkly: "Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever -- or do we want to try and make a deal?" He said he would “prefer not” to take the first option, "on a human basis."