June 1, 2026 (Bloomberg) - US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about talks with Iran for a temporary peace deal, despite ongoing clashes near the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Truth Social late Sunday...
June 1, 2026 (Bloomberg) - US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about talks with Iran for a temporary peace deal, despite ongoing clashes near the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social late Sunday, Trump stated that speculation about the potential deal, which likely includes a two-month extension of the ceasefire, Iran reopening the strait, and the US lifting its blockade on Iranian ports, is not helpful.
“It is MUCH tougher for me to do my job and negotiate when political hacks keep negatively ‘chirping’,” Trump commented. He urged others to “sit back and relax,” assuring that things would work out well.
Iran accused the US of sending mixed signals and prolonging negotiations. Tehran is engaging with Washington with a sense of “distrust,” according to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator, noted that recent Israeli actions in Lebanon and the blockade of Iranian ports are signs of the US not complying with the ceasefire. He warned that “every choice has a price” and that everything will eventually fall into place.
Trump is facing pressure to end a conflict that has driven up energy prices and is largely unpopular among Americans. However, he also needs to consider the backlash he may receive if the US releases billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets, as Tehran demands.
Iran seeks control over maritime traffic in the Hormuz Strait, a vital route for oil and natural gas. It asserts that it and Oman have the right to manage the waterway, indicating the shipping regulations set during the conflict will remain in effect.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi acknowledged in a state TV interview that while the process will be complicated and challenging, the Iranian government will pursue the arrangements without retreating.
Meanwhile, tensions remain elevated as the US targeted Iranian radar and command sites over the weekend in response to “aggressive Iranian actions,” including the downing of a drone over international waters.
According to reports from the semi-official Fars news agency, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retaliated by targeting an air base, although the location was not specified. Kuwait's military indicated that its air defenses were responding to “hostile missile and drone attacks” early Monday.
Three ballistic missiles targeted the Ali Al-Salem airbase in Kuwait but were intercepted, as sources familiar with the situation confirmed, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information.
This series of clashes continues without disrupting the ongoing discussions between Washington and Tehran. Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that both sides are still proposing changes to a draft agreement, but stressed that reaching a final deal is not guaranteed.
Oil prices rose on Monday, with Brent crude increasing by 3.4% to $94.17 a barrel. This spike came after a more than 11% decline last week, as traders remained hopeful for a deal that would prevent a full return to war.
Trump's recent comments about the negotiations followed a meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday, where he indicated he would make a “final determination.” Instead, he opted to hold off as negotiations continue over Iran's highly-enriched uranium stocks and the conditions for reopening the Hormuz waterway, which likely requires demining.
Iran insists that any agreement with the US must cover all conflicts in the region, including the situation in Lebanon where Hezbollah, backed by Tehran, is engaged in a parallel war with Israel.
Israel has intensified its operations in Lebanon, including capturing the historic Beaufort Castle over the weekend, while Hezbollah has ramped up its attacks on northern Israel. The Israeli military reported that Hezbollah launched over 300 “projectiles” at its forces in both Lebanon and northern Israel during this time.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been in contact with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advocate for a new ceasefire initiative, as reported by Axios, citing a US official. The US proposal suggests that Hezbollah would halt all attacks on Israel, and in return, Israel would avoid escalating tensions in Beirut.
Israel is not involved in the negotiations between the US and Iran, and it is unclear whether it would agree to cease its actions in Lebanon, even if the conflict with Iran is resolved.
Negotiation Highlights
On Saturday, Iranian state TV announced a new draft agreement that would grant the Islamic Republic “exclusive authority to determine the nature of transiting vessels” in the Hormuz Strait, which is a condition the US may not accept.
The draft also states that the US would allow Iran access to $12 billion in frozen assets within 60 days, to be transferred directly to Iranian banks without restrictions, although Iranian TV noted this document is “unofficial” and not “finalized.”
The White House has not commented on this report.