Iran and U.S. trade strikes, accuse each other of violating truce

Trump called the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to discuss the situation in the Middle East, the Qatari government said in a statement.

The Qatari emir “stressed the need to prioritize political and diplomatic solutions and dialogue among all parties in order to consolidate regional security and stability and spare the region further tension and escalation.”

Trump “expressed his appreciation” to the emir for supporting mediation efforts by Pakistan, according to the statement.

Pakistan hosted talks between the U.S. and Iran last month aimed at ending the conflict.

Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy chief of staff for policy, said in an interview with Fox News tonight that Trump is directly involved in negotiations with Iran.

"He’s directly, personally involved in the negotiations, making sure that the results are up to his standards," Miller said.

He added: "There’s no deal until there’s a deal. Nothing is final until it’s final. And President Trump has been clear that he reserves the option now or at any time in the future to do whatever is necessary to defend and protect America’s national security."

The State Department and the Treasury Department both announced new sanctions on Iran's oil trade today despite ongoing negotiations to reach a deal to end the conflict.

"The Department of State is sanctioning numerous entities, individuals, and vessels that form the backbone of Iran’s illicit oil economy, directly targeting the financial lifelines of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s military apparatus," the State Department said in a statement.

The IRGC is the most powerful military, political and economic force in Iran.

The Treasury sanctions will target "key players in an oil sales network that has moved tens of millions of barrels of Iranian oil worth billions of dollars."

"These Hong Kong-based entities have facilitated the storage, transport, and sale of this oil, directly funding the IRGC, Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff, and its military apparatus," the statement read.

U.S. Central Command said tonight on X that, despite a claim by Iranian state media, no American planes have been shot down.

"CLAIM: Iran’s state TV claimed Iranian forces downed a U.S. aircraft near Bushehr. FALSE," CENTCOM wrote. "TRUTH: No U.S. aircraft were shot down. All U.S. air assets are accounted for."

Vice President JD Vance told reporters this evening that the U.S. and Iran are "going back and forth" on an agreement, with some disagreement on the nuclear issue persisting.

"We’re going back and forth on a couple of language points. I do think we’ve made a lot of progress here," Vance said on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. "It’s very clear that I think the Iranians, they want a deal, and they want to open the Strait of Hormuz."

Vance said "it's hard to say" when Trump could be expected to sign a deal, adding, "There are a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff, the highly enriched stockpile, and also the question of enrichment."

"We do think they're negotiating, at least so far, in good faith, and we're making some progress. Hopefully, we'll continue to make progress," he said. "The president will be in a position where he can endorse the agreement, but obviously that's still TBD."

Vance told reporters that he thinks the delegations are "getting to a point where we could potentially sit down and settle these issues, but that requires us to make a little bit more progress."

"I can't guarantee that we're going to get there, but right now I feel pretty good about it," he said.

A federal grand jury has returned an eight-count indictment against Mohammad al-Saadi, alleging he financed terrorism, engaged in a conspiracy to support a foreign terrorist organization — Kata’ib Hezbollah — and conspired to bomb a public place, according to a copy of the 35-page indictment.

The indictment includes new details from Al-Saadi’s phones and devices, as well as statements he is alleged to have made after he received his Miranda warning and was en route to the U.S. in FBI custody.

He told the FBI that he “identified himself a leader of 'the resistance,' which he explained encompasses the IRGC and its proxies, including Kata’ib Hizballah, Hizballah, and the Houthis," the indictment alleges. The IRGC is Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Al-Saadi is also alleged to have told the FBI that he was in charge of media and psychological warfare against the U.S. He also told the FBI that the campaign of attacks across Europe was part of the resistance being waged against the U.S., which was “designed to instill fear and terror in civilians," the indictment reads. 

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said today that “there cannot be a bad deal” that harms Israel.

He said a bad deal would be one that “could endanger human lives.”

“Prime Minister Netanyahu and all of us as members of the Cabinet — both the smaller security Cabinet and the broader Cabinet, as well as the government of Israel — will not allow this to happen,” he said at a faction meeting today.

“There will not be a bad deal. There cannot be one. A bad deal has nothing to do with elections or no elections,” he said.

The prime minister of Lebanon said today that “nothing can justify” Israel’s attacks on the country.

The Israeli military earlier today pounded Tyre, Lebanon’s fourth-largest city, in a wave of strikes across southern Lebanon that killed at least 14 people, despite a month-old ceasefire deal Israel and Lebanon previously agreed to.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said continued strikes, threats and evacuation orders across southern Lebanon "amount to collective punishment, condemned by all international norms and laws.”

He reiterated a demand for "an immediate ceasefire, a complete Israeli withdrawal from our land, and the restoration of state authority over all its territory, allowing all displaced persons to return to their homes in safety and dignity.”

Netanyahu announced an expansion in the Israeli military’s attacks in Lebanon yesterday, with Israel citing a rise in drone attacks from the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah targeting some of Israel’s northern border towns.

Trump will decide whether there will be a deal with Iran, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at a briefing at the White House today.

"The teams have been going back and forth," he said, adding that "everything depends on what the president wants to do, and President Trump is not going to make a bad deal for the American people."

Asked whether Iran could get sanctions relief, Bessent said, "It is a multifaceted agreement, and nothing is going to be on the table until we see the Strait of Hormuz open and the Iranians agree that they have to turn over the highly enriched uranium and that they can't have a nuclear program."

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that President Trump was trying to "punctuate" the importance of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when he threatened to "blow up" Oman, a key U.S. regional ally.

Trump warned Oman at a Cabinet meeting yesterday against partnering with Iran to jointly control traffic through the strait. “Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we’ll have to blow them up,” he said, adding: “They understand that. They’ll be fine.”

Asked today whether the Trump administration plans to engage in a new war with Oman over the strait, Bessent told reporters: "I think the president wanted to punctuate freedom of navigation in the strait. I had a call with the Omani ambassador this morning, and he assured me that there were no plans for tolling the strait."

Bessent said the Omani ambassador told him that "our countries have had 200 years of good relations" and was eager for 200 more, but he added that he warned him that tolling the strait would risk sanctions. “It’s a nonstarter,” Bessent said.

Trump is reviewing the latest version of a potential agreement with Iran to kick-start 60 days of intensive discussions about Iran’s nuclear program but has not yet signed off on it, according to two U.S. officials. Iranian senior leadership also has not signed off on the deal, the officials said. 

The Trump administration has touted progress in negotiations with Iran before, only for a deal not to be reached. So it’s unclear whether this instance is materially different.

If agreed to, the current version of a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran would be a significant step toward ending the Iran war.

But nothing is final until both Trump and Iran agree and publicly sign off on the framework to extend the ceasefire and start larger negotiations over a more permanent deal.

Axios was first to report the news.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has directed the country's military to expand its control to cover 70% of the Gaza Strip.

“We were at 50; we moved to 60. My directive is to move to — let’s go step by step,” Netanyahu said. “First of all, 70. Let’s start with that. We’re pressing [Hamas] from all sides. We’ll deal with the remnants.”

Since the Israeli assault on Gaza following the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, Israeli forces have retained control of more than half of the enclave. The continued Israeli presence has squeezed 2 million mostly displaced Palestinians into a small area, many living in tents among the ruins of shattered cities.

Under an October U.S.-brokered truce that has failed to halt Israeli attacks or secure Hamas’ disarmament, Israeli troops were meant to initially withdraw to a “Yellow Line” demarcating the extent of their control, which was to have been followed by an expected longer-term withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. 

Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed more than 75,000 people, including thousands of women and children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Women mourn at a funeral today for 10 Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza City last night. Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP via Getty Images

A senior Arab official directly involved in mediating peace talks between Washington and Tehran told NBC News that American and Iranian negotiators agreed to the terms of a truce deal three days ago but that both sides have delayed finalizing and announcing it. 

“It was already closed in Doha three days ago. Now everyone is playing a game of chicken and egg,” the official said, describing the delays as “frustrating.” 

The official said that Iranian negotiators agreed and went back to their leaders to make the announcement and that now the American side is doing same, waiting for a final sign-off from Trump.

Asked whether Trump is pressuring the peace negotiators to sign the Abraham Accords and normalize their relations with Israel, the official said Trump has brought it up. 

Pakistan’s foreign minister will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tomorrow in Washington as efforts to reach a deal in the regional conflict continue, according to the Pakistani government.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Rubio will “review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest,” the foreign ministry said on social media.

“The discussions will also focus on strengthening cooperation in key priority sectors, as well as Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy,” the ministry said.

The main global oil prices jumped late Thursday morning, partially reversing two days of declines, after renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran overnight.

U.S. crude oil jumped more than 1.3% to about $90 per barrel, while international Brent oil rose 1% to nearly $95 per barrel.

Speaking this morning at an investment conference in New York, Mike Wirth, the CEO of U.S. oil giant Chevron, said he “would expect as we get into June and certainly into July” to see even more “upward pressure” on prices.

Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs today denounced what it called “heinous Iranian attacks” on its territory after Tehran said it had targeted a U.S. base in the Persian Gulf monarchy.

The attacks were a “dangerous escalation” and a “direct threat to the lives of civilians and vital infrastructure,” Kuwait's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Kuwait said the attacks came at a time when “strenuous efforts” were being made to reduce tensions and de-escalate the conflict in the region.

Other countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt also issued statements condemning the attacks and expressing support for Kuwait.

A mourner weeps over the body of a victim of an Israeli strike before the funeral today in Tyre, Lebanon. Kawnat Haju / AFP via Getty Images

At least 14 people were killed today as the Israeli military pounded Tyre in southern Lebanon. Among those killed in the flurry of strikes were five women and children and a Lebanese soldier. 

The mother and other family members grieve over the coffin of Israeli soldier Sergeant Rotem Yanai during her funeral in Giv'at Ada today.  Jack Guez / AFP via Getty Images

In Israel, relatives mourned soldier Sergeant Rotem Yanai, who was killed yesterday in a drone attack launched from Lebanon.

At least 3,213 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war broke out, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. At least 21 people have been killed in Israel since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has said that U.S. attacks last night were "provocations" that "certainly constitute a violation of the ceasefire."

"A very key point that must be emphasized is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, which has now been firmly established," he said in a statement, according to semi-official news agency Tasnim.

U.S. Central Command said earlier that the overnight U.S. strikes took out attack drones “that posed a clear threat in and near the Strait of Hormuz,” as well as an Iranian ground control site in Bandar Abbas.

The ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has created uncertainty for hundreds of ships and around 20,000 seafarers waiting for news of an agreement to reopen the crucial shipping corridor.

NBC News’ Raf Sanchez speaks with a crew member who was caught in the crossfire and takes us inside a U.K. agency serving as an emergency call center.

02:37

Iranian media reported that the country's Navy had fired warning shots at four vessels that attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without authorization this morning. The vessels were forced to stop and turn away, semi-official news agency Tasnim reported, citing military sources.

The Iranian Navy, meanwhile, said in a statement that it had stopped several ships attempting to enter the Persian Gulf without authorization.

In its statement, the Iranian Navy said that the ships tried to enter the Persian Gulf by altering and turning off their navigation systems. After several radio warnings, it stopped two vessels in place and the others were forced to turn back, the statemet said. It did not say whether shots were fired.

The statement also said 26 commercial ships and oil tankers were permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours, having coordinated with Iranian authorities.

The Iranian Navy also threatened a "harsh response" if the U.S. continues to strike Iran, accusing the U.S. military of violating the ceasefire agreement by firing several missiles near Bandar Abbas.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, which is composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, today said it condemned in the strongest terms “the continued heinous Iranian attacks on the State of Kuwait.”

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the secretary general of the council, said in a statement that the “treacherous attacks” were a “flagrant violation” of international law and the United Nations Charter.

Albudaiwi said the GCC and its member states fully support Kuwait “in all measures it undertakes to maintain its security and stability, as well as the safety of its citizens and residents.”

The Israeli military early Thursday pounded Lebanon’s fourth largest city, killing at least 14 people across the south of the country in its ongoing military escalation against the Hezbollah group ahead of crucial talks in Washington.

Among those killed in the flurry of strikes were five women and children and a Lebanese soldier. Dozens of others were wounded, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry and the state-run National News Agency.

A man surveys the damage at the site of an Israeli strike today in Tyre, southern Lebanon. Kawnat Haju / AFP via Getty Images

An Israeli soldier meanwhile was killed in a Hezbollah drone attack in northern Israel, the Israeli military said.

The intensification comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion in the Israeli military’s attacks in Lebanon, apparently sparked by Hezbollah’s use of fiber-optic exploding drones that have struck Israeli troops in Lebanon and reached some of Israel’s northern border towns.

Read the full story here.

Under pressure from soaring gas prices, President Trump said he’s not thinking about the midterms as he tries to wrangle a deal to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"They thought they were going to out wait me," he said. "Very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon."

01:59

Iran fired a missile at an American airbase in Kuwait Thursday just hours after the U.S. attacked the Islamic Republic, with both sides accusing the other of violating their shaky ceasefire and further imperiling diplomatic efforts to end the war.

Kuwait shot down the ballistic missile, the American and Kuwaiti militaries said. No damage or casualties were reported.

A U.S. official said that American forces in Kuwait were the suspected target. Iran said it had targeted a U.S. base responsible for strikes late Wednesday in Bandar Abbas, an Iranian port city near the Strait of Hormuz.

Hours earlier, President Donald Trump signaled an agreement between the two sides wasn’t close, and that he would not be rushed by either international economic pressure or the political pressure of upcoming midterm elections.

Read full story here.