Trump Says Iran Talks Continue As Regional Strikes Raise Pressure On Ceasefire

President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran are continuing “at a rapid pace” as U.S. forces maintain a blockade, Iran warns over maritime routes and Israel-Hezbollah fighting threatens wider talks.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

President Donald Trump said Monday that negotiations with Iran are continuing despite Iranian state media reports that Tehran had halted talks in response to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Trump downplayed the reports, suggesting that public silence from Iran may be part of the negotiating process. He said Iranian officials had not formally informed the White House that talks were suspended.

The president later said on Truth Social that discussions with Tehran were still moving forward.

“Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump wrote.

Trump also told NBC News that Iran’s representatives are “better negotiators than they are fighters.”

The diplomatic uncertainty came as regional tensions intensified around Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

Iranian state media reported Monday that Tehran had halted message exchanges with Washington through mediators because of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah. Iranian officials also warned that Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Gaza could threaten maritime traffic through two major global chokepoints.

Esmaeil Qaani, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, said Israeli operations in Lebanon and Gaza could prompt Iran and its allies to take action affecting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz.

“The evil of the Zionists (Israel) in Lebanon and Gaza, in the shadow of the shameless support of America, will mark the determination of the resistance axis to expand support from both fronts, take steps to activate other fronts, and equate the traffic situation of the Bab El Mandeb Strait with the Strait of Hormuz,” Qaani said, according to Iranian state media and Reuters.

Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, also warned Monday that Tehran’s patience with the U.S. blockade was running out.

“The Strait of Hormuz is under Iran’s management,” Rezaei wrote on X. “We will not allow the continuation of the maritime blockade, and the escalation of tensions in Lebanon will not be tolerated either.”

Rezaei said the patience of Iran’s armed forces “has its limits.”

U.S. Central Command said Monday that American forces have redirected 121 commercial vessels and disabled five since the start of the blockade on Iranian ports.

“Thousands of U.S. service members at sea, in the skies, and on land are supporting the ongoing U.S. blockade against Iran,” CENTCOM said.

“As of June 1, CENTCOM forces have redirected 121 commercial vessels and disabled five to ensure compliance,” the command added.

The pressure on maritime traffic increased after a cargo vessel in the Persian Gulf was struck by two explosions southeast of Iraq’s Umm Qasr. Iraqi security officials said a preliminary assessment indicated the second blast may have been caused by a drone attack, Reuters reported.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it first received a report of the incident 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr. The vessel reported a large explosion after a possible impact from an unknown projectile on its starboard side. A second impact later caused a fire, which was extinguished. No crew injuries were reported, and authorities are investigating.

The regional conflict also affected energy markets. Oil prices rose 2% in early trading Monday as the war in Iran continued to pressure the global economy.

Trump said Monday that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and received assurances that Israeli troops would not enter Beirut.

“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back,” Trump wrote.

Trump also said he had communicated with Hezbollah through representatives and that both sides had agreed to stop shooting.

“Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” he added.

Netanyahu later warned that Israel would strike Beirut if Hezbollah continued attacking Israeli cities and civilians.

“Tonight, I spoke with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens, Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut,” Netanyahu wrote on X.

“Our stance remains unchanged,” he added.

“Meanwhile, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon,” Netanyahu said.

Iran also turned to Pakistan for diplomatic help. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi asked Islamabad to support regional de-escalation and help maintain the ceasefire between the United States and Iran during a conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Araghchi expressed “serious concern over recent developments in the region, including ceasefire violations in Lebanon by Israel and orders by the Israeli government regarding a potential attack in parts of Beirut.”

“FM Araghchi also appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in regional diplomacy and requested Pakistan to continue using its good offices to help facilitate de-escalation in the current situation and support efforts to maintain the ceasefire,” the ministry said.

Pakistan said Dar also expressed “serious concern” and stressed the need to sustain the ceasefire to prevent existing understandings from breaking down.

“Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact,” the ministry said.

The reported diplomatic tensions followed claims in Iranian media that President Masoud Pezeshkian had resigned after being excluded from key decision-making by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Kuwait also said it intercepted strikes from Iran on Monday after a series of U.S. attacks.

The developments left the U.S.-Iran talks under pressure from several fronts: the blockade of Iranian ports, threats to major shipping lanes, Israeli-Hezbollah fighting, reports of division inside Iran’s leadership and continued military exchanges across the region.