Iran Suspends US Talks Amid Israeli Strikes in Lebanon

The Government of Iran suspended indirect negotiations and message exchanges with the United States on June 1, 2026, following Israeli military operations in the southern suburbs of Beirut and Gaza. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, asserted that the ceasefire agreement with the U.S. is a comprehensive arrangement covering all fronts, including Lebanon, and that Israeli actions constitute a direct violation.

This diplomatic breakdown coincided with a military escalation. Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at U.S. airbases in Kuwait, while U.S. Central Command responded with strikes on Iranian radar and command sites on Goruk and Qeshm Island. Iran further threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. In response, the Government of Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attacks as dangerous escalations.

Despite the tension, President Donald Trump claimed that negotiations are progressing rapidly and that he reached agreements with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hezbollah to stop hostilities. Pakistan has attempted to mediate the crisis, with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar holding calls with Iranian and Egyptian officials to prevent a total collapse of the peace process. This follows Pakistan's role as a primary mediator since February 2026, including hosting high-level talks in Islamabad in April.