Iran’s navy has said that it fired warning missiles and drones at US warships in the Gulf of Oman on Friday.
It accused the American navy of harassing maritime traffic and seizing commercial vessels and oil tankers, according to Iranian state media.
The hostility follows Donald Trump’s comments that Washington did not need a ceasefire deal with Iran to get enriched uranium from the country as Hezbollah rejected a new ceasefire in Lebanon.
"We could get it right now. I don't think they could stop us if we wanted, but there's no reason to. It's entombed," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Oman suspended oil loading operations at the Mina al Fahal terminal following an explosion near the facility. The blast occurred between the terminal's SBM 1 and SBM 2 single-buoy mooring berths and was allegedly caused by a drone attack, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Operations were resumed on Friday morning.
Iran-backed Hezbollah on Thursday rejected a new US-brokered ceasefire proposal in Lebanon, saying the group was not involved in the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Israel continued strikes in southern Lebanon, with defence minister Israel Katz saying military operations would continue and troops would not withdraw.
Key Points
- Trump says he does not need deal with Iran to get enriched uranium
- Oman suspends oil loading at Mina al Fahal terminal following explosion, sources say
- Hezbollah rejects ceasefire as Israel vows to keep troops in Lebanon
- US forces board sanctioned vessel in Indian Ocean, Pentagon says
- Iran's navy says it fired warning shots at US destroyers in Gulf of Oman
Israel strikes southern Lebanon after evacuation warnings to several villages
15:30 , Maira Butt
Israel’s air force struck different parts of southern Lebanon on Friday as the military issued evacuation warnings for nine villages, including one that has been spared much of the destruction and was sheltering thousands of people displaced by the three-month war.
Six people were killed, Lebanon's state news agency reported. The warnings forced hundreds of families to flee the village of Anqoun and the area of Aarnaya, on the edge of the predominantly Christian village of Maghdoucheh, near the southern port city of Sidon.
The strikes came a day after the Hezbollah militant group rejected the latest ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government, and demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
Israel strikes southern Lebanon after evacuation warnings to several villages
Watch: Trump says he does not need deal with Iran to get enriched uranium
15:00 , Maira Butt
Iran World Cup participation in doubt as team awaits US visas ahead of flying to Mexico training base
14:25 , Maira Butt
Iran's national football team is heading to their World Cup base this weekend, buoyed by a 2-0 friendly victory over Mali in Turkey, even though signifcant uncertainty continues to cloud their tournament participation.
Goals from Saeid Ezatolahi and Ramin Rezaeian sealed the win, securing Team Melli's record of three victories and a single loss in four warm-up matches in Antalya.
These friendlies represent the only competitive football for Iran-based players since the domestic league was suspended following US and Israeli air strikes on the Islamic Republic in late February, which triggered a regional war.
Iran World Cup participation in doubt as team awaits US visas
Breaking: Lebanese president says Iran using Lebanon as bargaining chip in US talks
13:55 , Maira Butt
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told CNN that Iran was using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the United States.
Aoun has repeatedly sought to distance Lebanon from regional conflicts and has said decisions concerning the country's sovereignty and security must be made by the Lebanese state alone.
In pictures: Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue
13:50 , Maira Butt
US forces board sanctioned vessel in Indian Ocean, Pentagon says
13:20 , Maira Butt
US forces overnight conducted an interdiction of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T DAVINA in the Indian Ocean, the Indo-Pacific Command said on Friday.
“We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,” it wrote in an X post.
Washington has imposed a blockade on Iran's trade by sea while Iran has fired on ships to prevent them sailing through the Strait of Hormuz waterway at the entrance to the Middle East Gulf. U.S. forces have intercepted multiple commercial and oil tankers in the Indian Ocean in recent months.
Iran's navy says it fired warning shots at US destroyers in Gulf of Oman
12:50 , Maira Butt
Iran’s navy has said it fired warning shots at US destroyers in the Gulf of Oman, according to state media.
The two sides have been trading strikes in recent days as negotiations appear to have stalled.
Lebanon parliament speaker supports Hezbollah pullback in parallel with Israeli withdrawal
12:20 , Maira Butt
Lebanon's parliament speaker and Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri said on Friday he would agree to the withdrawal of the Iran-backed group from southern Lebanon if Israeli troops simultaneously left territory they occupy in the country.
In written comments distributed by his office, Berri criticised the U.S.-mediated ceasefire framework announced this week as unfair, saying it should have included an "unconditional ceasefire by land, sea and air."
He added that he "agrees to... Hezbollah's withdrawal from south of the Litani River, in parallel with the Israeli withdrawal from the areas it occupied."
How the war in Iran could impact £3bn of UK pensions
11:40 , Maira Butt
As a barrage of Iranian missiles rained down on the Fujairah oil terminal, the explosion was deafening and the destruction dramatic: a brutal fire, thick black smoke stretching into the sky – and untold damage to one of the region’s crucial pieces of fossil fuel infrastructure.
The Fujairah terminal is part of the UAE’s key oil export route because it bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, loading up ships with about 1.7 million barrels per day. The attack on 4 May was one of many it has come under since the start of the war in the Middle East. Pension holders in Cambridgeshire, Dorset, and Leicestershire may be alarmed to discover that their savings are invested in it.
Theirs aren’t the only savings being put at risk by the ongoing war. We have found that local government pension schemes across the UK have invested almost £3 billion in funds holding assets that have been hit, stranded or put in the direct line of fire in the ongoing war. The money has been invested via funds managed by firms like BlackRock – the asset manager run by billionaire Larry Fink – that make billions of dollars in fees for investing UK savers’ money.
How the war in Iran could impact £3bn of UK pensions
Middle East conflict pushing millions into hunger, WFP says
11:15 , Maira Butt
The World Food Programme has warned on Friday that the Middle East conflict is pushing millions of people closer to hunger due to rising fuel and transport costs while funding shortfalls force aid agencies to scale back assistance.
In March, the WFP forecast as many as 45 million people could fall into acute food insecurity if oil prices remained around $100 per barrel through June. That scenario is now unfolding, the agency said.
In Somalia, 6.5 million people - roughly a third of the population - are expected to face severe hunger in 2026, while Afghanistan could see 17.4 million people affected, the WFP said. The situation is projected to worsen, with an additional 2.5 million Somalis and 2.3 million Afghans at risk of falling into food insecurity if disruptions persist. Both countries are reliant on imported energy and food.
The Middle East crisis comes amid a deep funding shortfall for aid agencies. The WFP said it expected to serve 1.5 million fewer people globally in 2026, and an extra 9 million fewer if the situation persists for six months.
UK PM Starmer says Defence Investment Plan will be published before Nato summit next month
10:54 , Maira Butt
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday that the country's Defence Investment Plan, delayed from last year, will be published before a Nato summit on July 7.
It comes after chief of the defence staff Richard Knighton told BBC Radio on Friday: Russia is definitely raising the stakes and risks crossing a line. We need to spend more on defence and do it faster.”
Trump’s approval rating hits another new low on 500th day back in the White House
09:32 , Maira Butt
President Donald Trump marks the 500th day of his second term in the White House Thursday, but the milestone coincides with a poll showing his approval rating at a new low.
The latest survey from The Economist and YouGov places Trump’s net approval rating at -25, down 1.1 points in a week, and reveals that only 35 percent of the American public approves of the job he is doing in the Oval Office, with a massive 60 percent disapproving and the remaining 5 percent unsure.
The news magazine explains that the results make the president the most unpopular U.S. commander-in-chief since it began polling in 2009.
Trump’s approval rating hits another new low on 500th day back in the White House
Watch: Trump says he does not need deal with Iran to get enriched uranium
09:00 , Maira Butt
In pictures: Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue
08:35 , Maira Butt
Trump says he would be 'honoured' to meet new supreme leader
08:07 , Maira Butt
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would be honoured to meet new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, despite ordering air strikes that killed his father, reportedly also his wife and child.
“I don’t want to meet but if I did meet I would be honoured to meet him,” Trump told reporters on Thursday. “If we make a deal it’s possible that we would meet.”
“Do you think because Epic Fury killed his killed his dad and his wife and his kid that he's has hard feelings?” a reporter asked.
The US leader replied: “I would say I'm not his favourite person, but with that being said, he's probably a pro—I don't know him—he's probably a professional in some circles, he has a very good reputation actually, you know, sometimes when people say bad, but a lot of people say bad about me. It's totally false, of course.”
Operations at Oman's main crude oil terminal have resumed
07:38 , Maira Butt
Operations at the Mina Al Fahal crude oil export terminal have resumed and are proceeding normally, according to the country’s state news agency.
Oman suspended oil loading operations at the facility, which is its main crude oil export terminal following an explosion nearby.
The blast occurred between the terminal's SBM 1 and SBM 2 single-buoy mooring berths and was allegedly caused by a drone attack, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Operations were resumed on Friday morning.
UN nuclear watchdog says it's been unable to inspect Iranian facilities
07:15 , Shweta Sharma
The UN nuclear watchdog has been unable to inspect nuclear facilities in Iran affected by the war last June, according to a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog circulated to member states and seen Thursday by The Associated Press.
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that it "cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran or whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities.
"The IAEA warned that it was "unable to discharge its safeguards responsibilities" that it has under the Safeguards Agreement of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, adding that it is "indispensable and urgent" for Tehran to implement its obligations under that Treaty.
The only nuclear facility inspected in Iran by IAEA inspectors since the last report in February has been the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which was visited on June 1-3.
The reactor currently running at Bushehr uses uranium from Russia enriched to 4.5 per cent, a low level needed for power generation in such plants.
The confidential report comes as tensions have flared in the Middle East.
Oil executives warn Trump that Iran war will cause gas prices to spike within weeks due to dwindling supplies: report
06:53 , Shweta Sharma
Several oil industry executives have reportedly privately warned the White House that the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is straining global oil inventories and could lead to gas price spikes in the coming weeks.
For more than three months, Americans have been forced to confront high gas prices as a result of President Donald Trump’s war with Iran. The conflict has disrupted global oil production because Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 34 percent of the world’s oil passes.
But executives from unidentified oil companies have warned senior administration officials in recent weeks that they’re concerned prices could rise further as a result of diminishing oil supplies, four executives told Politico.
Oil execs warn Trump that gas prices could spike due to dwindling supplies: report
US urges caution across Middle East amid regional tensions
06:38 , Shweta Sharma
The US State Department has urged Americans across the Middle East to remain cautious as tensions continue in the region.
In an advisory issued Thursday, the department said the security environment remains volatile and can change rapidly, encouraging US citizens to closely monitor news developments.
The warning comes despite secretary of state Marco Rubio saying the conflict with Iran is "over", as the two sides continue to exchange attacks.
The alert says “due to high tensions in the region, the security environment remains complex and can change quickly.”
Iranian strikes on Kuwait on Wednesday reportedly killed one person and injured dozens.
The State Department said travel advisories for Bahrain, Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain at Level 3, advising travellers to reconsider travel. Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and Yemen remain under Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warnings.
US House rejects Lebanon war powers resolution
06:26 , Shweta Sharma
The US House of Representatives on Thursday voted 324-92 to reject a Lebanon war powers resolution introduced by Representative Rashida Tlaib.
The measure would have required the president to withdraw US armed forces from Lebanon within seven days of its adoption.
Democratic leaders opposed the resolution, saying there are currently no US troops engaged in combat operations or hostilities in Lebanon.
They instead backed a separate, narrower proposal from Tlaib that would prohibit US involvement in hostilities in Lebanon while allowing continued security cooperation with the Lebanese military and protection of diplomatic facilities.
“I am grateful to the 90 members of Congress who joined me and my sister-in-service Delia Ramirez in voting to put an end to US support for these war crimes and mass atrocities,” Tlaib said in a statement.
Tlaib added that “far too many of my colleagues continue to fail to recognise the humanity of the Lebanese people”.
“This fight is not over. The Lebanese people continue to be subjected to violent forced displacement, illegal military occupation, and deadly US-funded bombs.”
US boasts about 500 days of Trump's 'Golden Age' as Iran war drags on
06:11 , Shweta Sharma
The United States has boasted about 500 days of President Donald Trump's “Golden Age” as the Iran war drags on.
The war has caused gas prices to soar while Americans were already struggling with the cost of living.
Crossing 500 days of President Trump’s Golden Age this week. The best is yet to come 🇺🇸💪 pic.twitter.com/PmYkPYtXHJ
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 4, 2026
At least 12 injured in Israel's strike in Lebanon's Tyre
05:51 , Shweta Sharma
Israel launched four missiles that struck near the Jabal Amel Hospital in Tyre, Lebanon, today.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said the strikes wounded 12 people and destroyed a bank building.
Rights groups say Iranian twin brothers sentenced to death for alleged spying
05:37 , Shweta Sharma
Two 20-year-old twin brothers have been sentenced to death in Iran on charges of spying for Israel, according to rights groups.
Iran Human Rights said Hassan and Hossein Amiri were convicted by a Revolutionary Court in Tehran. The group said Hassan was arrested in March after authorities allegedly found an image of a bombed site on his phone.
A source cited by the organisation claimed Hassan was tortured and forced to confess that his brother possessed additional images on a laptop, despite neither brother owning one.
Hossein, a car mechanic from Karaj, was arrested days later. Both men were subsequently transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison for interrogation.
Another rights group, HRANA, said prosecutors based the espionage case on images of damaged buildings allegedly found in the brothers' possession.
Hezbollah rejects ceasefire as Israel vows to keep troops in Lebanon
05:03 , Shweta Sharma
Iran-backed Hezbollah has rejected a new US-brokered ceasefire proposal in Lebanon, while Israel says it will not withdraw its forces or halt military operations.
The developments have complicated president Donald Trump's push for a broader regional peace deal.
Iran has made a ceasefire in Lebanon a condition for any agreement with Washington and has warned it could intervene directly if Israeli attacks continue.
However, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the proposed pact between Israel and the Lebanese government, saying the group was not involved in the negotiations.
Despite Trump saying he believed progress was being made and that Lebanon "deserved peace", Israel continued strikes in southern Lebanon.
Defence minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would remain in the country, while a senior commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Israel must at least return to positions held before the war began.
The US just had its highest number of people file for unemployment benefits since the Iran war started
05:00 , Matt Ott
Applications for unemployment benefits in the United States reached their highest level in four months last week, signaling growing economic uncertainty exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Iran, even as overall layoffs remain historically low.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that US applications for jobless aid for the week ending May 30 climbed by 13,000 to 225,000. This marks the highest figure since early February, prior to the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, though it still represents a historically low level. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had anticipated 211,000 new applications.
Read on...
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US employment benefit filings reach highest level since Iran war began
Oman suspends oil loading at Mina al Fahal terminal following explosion, sources say
04:21 , Shweta Sharma
An explosion near Oman's Mina al Fahal terminal has led to the suspension of oil loading, two people familiar with the matter said today.
The explosion happened near its single-buoy mooring (SBM) berths, between SBM 1 and 2 berths due to an alleged drone attack, they said.
It was not immediately clear when the attack took place.
Several supertankers were seen anchored off the port on Friday, shipping data from LSEG showed.
The terminal could not be immediately reached for comment outside office hours.
Iranian state media on Wednesday reported that Tehran targeted a US military ship hosting a "control and command center" while it was approaching Iranian territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, which the US Central Command has denied.
Trump says he does not need deal with Iran to get enriched uranium
04:20 , Shweta Sharma
US president Donald Trump on Thursday said that Washington did not need a deal with Iran to get enriched uranium from the country.
"We could get it right now. I don't think they could stop us if we wanted, but there's no reason to. It's entombed," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump also said that he did not want to meet with Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
But he added that if Washington and Tehran reached a deal, it was possible that the two would meet and added: "If it happened ... I'd be respectful".
Watch: Trump claims US military 'wants to' wipe out' all of Iran and is 'ready to do it'
04:00 , Rachel Dobkin
UN nuclear watchdog says it's been unable to inspect Iranian facilities
03:47 , Shweta Sharma
The UN nuclear watchdog has been unable to inspect nuclear facilities in Iran affected by the war last June, according to a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog circulated to member states and seen Thursday by The Associated Press.
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that it "cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran or whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities.
"The IAEA warned that it was "unable to discharge its safeguards responsibilities" that it has under the Safeguards Agreement of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, adding that it is "indispensable and urgent" for Tehran to implement its obligations under that Treaty.
The only nuclear facility inspected in Iran by IAEA inspectors since the last report in February has been the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which was visited on June 1-3.
The reactor currently running at Bushehr uses uranium from Russia enriched to 4.5 per cent, a low level needed for power generation in such plants.
The confidential report comes as tensions have flared in the Middle East.
Oil execs warn Trump that Iran war will cause gas prices to spike within weeks due to dwindling supplies: report
03:00 , Ariana Baio
Several oil industry executives have reportedly privately warned the White House that the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is straining global oil inventories and could lead to gas price spikes in the coming weeks.
For more than three months, Americans have been forced to confront high gas prices as a result of US President Donald Trump’s war with Iran. The conflict has disrupted global oil production because Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 34 percent of the world’s oil passes.
But executives from unidentified oil companies have warned senior administration officials in recent weeks that they’re concerned prices could rise further as a result of diminishing oil supplies, four executives told Politico.
“We’re at dangerously low levels already”, one unnamed industry executive told Politico. “We have shared those concerns at the highest levels of government about what’s coming in mid-to-late June … I hope they are paying attention to inventories right now. You’re hitting tank bottom”.
A White House official denied Politico’s reporting, claiming oil executives have not spoken with senior officials on oil reserve issues.
Read on...
Oil execs warn Trump that gas prices could spike due to dwindling supplies: report
US boasts about 500 days of Trump's 'Golden Age' as Iran war drags on
02:00 , Rachel Dobkin
The United States has boasted about 500 days of President Donald Trump's “Golden Age” as the Iran war drags on.
The war has caused gas prices to soar while Americans were already struggling with the cost of living.
Crossing 500 days of President Trump’s Golden Age this week. The best is yet to come 🇺🇸💪 pic.twitter.com/PmYkPYtXHJ
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 4, 2026
US military shares photos of space forces that hold 'the ultimate high ground across the Middle East '
01:00 , Rachel Dobkin
U.S. Space Forces Central, CENTCOM's space component, holds the ultimate high ground across the Middle East as America's warfighters execute missions in support of regional security and stability. Space Force has offensive and defensive capabilities ready to be employed 24/7.… pic.twitter.com/81qX1Ah0gW
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 4, 2026
More than 3,500 people killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon
Friday 5 June 2026 00:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
About 3,526 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.
Latest figures show 10,733 people have been wounded and more than a million people displaced.
Inflation and ICE fears threaten to dampen World Cup economic benefits in US
Thursday 4 June 2026 23:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
When the U.S. last hosted the World Cup in 1994, the event drew unexpectedly large crowds. At that time, soccer wasn’t as popular among Americans as it is now, so expectations for attendance had been fairly low.
So as the U.S. prepared to host the World Cup again in 2026, expectations for tourism were high.
But in the run-up to this year’s World Cup, the ongoing war in Iran has resulted in soaring inflation and high fuel prices, neither of which bodes well for tourism or event attendance.
Read more here:
Inflation and ICE fears threaten to dampen World Cup economic benefits
Watch: Kuwait releases footage of 'brutal Iranian drone attack' on airport terminal
Thursday 4 June 2026 23:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Recap: Trump rants about ‘grandstanding’ Republicans after they vote to block him striking Iran
Thursday 4 June 2026 22:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
President Donald Trump has ranted about “grandstanding” Republicans after the House of Representatives voted to block strikes on Iran on Wednesday.
“Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he wrote in a Truth Social post on Thursday.
“Who would do such an unpatriotic thing. They know where the negotiations stand. The Democrats are fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome. They would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories. The four Republicans, that’s a whole other story - They’re GRANDSTANDERS! They should be ashamed of themselves. MAGA!!! President DJT”.
Trump says he is not Mojtaba Khamenei’s 'favourite person'
Thursday 4 June 2026 22:18 , Rebecca Whittaker
Donald Trump has admitted he is probably not Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei’s, “favourite person”.
It comes after the US president said although he didn’t want to meet him he would be “honoured” if he did.
Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei - Mojtaba's father - was among those killed in the strikes, while Mojtaba himself was thought to have been seriously injured.
Trump said: "I would say I'm not his favourite person. But, that being said, he's probably a professional in some circles. He has a very good reputation, actually."
Trump says he would be 'honoured' to meet Iran's supreme leader
Thursday 4 June 2026 22:13 , Rebecca Whittaker
Donald Trump has said if he did meet Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei he would be “honoured”.
"I don't want to meet. But if I did meet, I'd be honoured to meet him," the US president said.
"But if we make a deal, it's possible that I would meet him. I'd be okay with that."
Trump added that he is unsure if he would host the supreme leader in the US, but adds he would "be respectful".
Trump insists US will 'win' and wrap up the conflict in Iran
Thursday 4 June 2026 22:02 , Rebecca Whittaker
Donald Trump reiterated that he’s certain his administration is on track to successfully wrap up the conflict.
“We're going to win one way or another,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
It comes as a series of strikes by the US and Iran this week has raised fresh concerns that the ceasefire could collapse.
How Iran’s ‘bazaar style’ negotiation tactic is stalling deal discussions to its benefit
Thursday 4 June 2026 22:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Negotiations between the US and Iran over an end to the war on the country have been languishing in a stalemate for weeks as both sides remain intransigent about key issues including nuclear development and the situation in Lebanon.
The US is insistent that Tehran surrender its right to ever develop highly enriched uranium and appears to have been manoeuvring to install a government more sympathetic to Western interests.
Read more here by Maira Butt:
How Iran’s ‘bazaar style’ negotiation tactic is stalling deal discussions
Trump says he does not need deal with Iran to get enriched uranium
Thursday 4 June 2026 21:58 , Rebecca Whittaker
Donald Trump told reporters that Washington did not need a deal with Iran to get enriched uranium from the country.
But he added that if Washington and Tehran reached a deal, it was possible that the two would meet and added: "If it happened ... I'd be respectful".
"We could get it right now. I don't think they could stop us if we wanted, but there's no reason to. It's entombed," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump also said that he did not want to meet with Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Trump responds to Hezbollah rejecting the new ceasefire agreement
Thursday 4 June 2026 21:23 , Rebecca Whittaker
Donald Trump has responded to Hezbollah rejecting the new ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon and insisting "resistance will continue".
Speaking to a reporter in the Oval Office he said: "They didn't reject me.”
"I will tell you, they called us and they said, 'How about stopping?'
"I think you're going to see things happen over there."
Watch: Video released by Iranian military shows missiles and drones launched in new exchange of fire
Thursday 4 June 2026 21:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Trump spins ‘meaningless, unpatriotic’ Iran war powers rebuke after House Republicans revolt against his authority
Thursday 4 June 2026 20:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
President Donald Trump on Thursday slammed Congress’ efforts to restrain him from launching new attacks against Iran without their approval and said he wasn’t concerned about the Senate joining the House of Representatives in adopting a resolution invoking the 1973 War Powers Act against him.
In a brief phone interview with The Independent, Trump said he was “not concerned” about the legislation to rein him in following a close House of Representatives vote to do the same a day earlier.
“It's a meaningless, unpatriotic waste of time, very unpatriotic to do, but that's okay — it means nothing,” he said.
Read more here by Andrew Feinberg:
Trump spins ‘meaningless, unpatriotic’ Iran war powers rebuke after House GOP revolt
UN peacekeeper in Lebanon is seventh killed in the country since March
Thursday 4 June 2026 20:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
A Serbian UN peacekeeper in Lebanon died from wounds sustained when mortar shells hit his position near Marjayoun in southeastern Lebanon.
He is the seventh peacekeeper killed in the country since March.
The UN said two other peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were wounded in the incident, one from El Salvador and the other from Spain.
The soldier killed was Sergeant Milovan Jovanovic of Serbia's 27th Mechanized Battalion, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a news briefing at UN headquarters in New York.
He said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the killing of Jovanovic, who would have turned 37 on Saturday.
He was married, with a son and a daughter, and was on his first peacekeeping deployment.
"We reiterate that attacks on peacekeepers must stop," Dujarric said. "They are grave violations of international humanitarian law and ... may amount to war crimes."
"Those responsible must be held to account," Dujarric said.
Pictured: Thousands gathered in Tehran to commemorate Eid al-Ghadir
Thursday 4 June 2026 19:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
Watch: Trump claims US military 'wants to' wipe out' all of Iran and is 'ready to do it'
Thursday 4 June 2026 19:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
EU to send €100m to support the Lebanese Armed Forces
Thursday 4 June 2026 18:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
The European Union is set to send €100m to reinforce the Lebanese Armed Forces, as it operates in the fragile ceasefire.
The funding, announced by the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, is drawn from the European Peace Facility.
“The best way to reduce the threat posed by Hezbollah is to strengthen the Lebanese state, empower its institutions, and restore its monopoly on the use of force,” Kaja Kallas said in a post on X.
The latest ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon offers a chance to prevent a return to full-scale hostilities.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) June 4, 2026
But the death of a UNIFIL peacekeeper and continued skirmishes underscore the tenuous nature of what was agreed.
The best way to reduce the threat posed by Hezbollah…
Major US city tacks on surcharge for taxi rides amid fuel cost rises driven by Iran War
Thursday 4 June 2026 18:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Chicago taxi riders will now see higher fares thanks to a new fuel surcharge to help drivers offset rising gas prices amid the war in Iran.
The temporary Taxi Fuel Surcharge Fee took effect in Chicago Monday and applies to all licensed taxi rides, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection revealed in a news release. It is based on the pre-tax meter fare and increases depending on the cost of the trip.
For shorter rides with a meter fare under $20, passengers will pay an additional $1. Trips ranging from $20.01 to $40 will include a $2 surcharge, while longer or more expensive rides above $40 will carry a $3 fee.
Read more here by Erin Keller In Ohio:
Chicago cabs just got more expensive thanks to the war in Iran
