Above photo: Ali Hankir/Reuters.
Over Israel’s war in Lebanon.
Iranian officials have threatened to completely block the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab Strait to punish Israel for its aggression in Lebanon.
Iran’s negotiating team is stopping exchanges of messages with the US due to Israel’s ongoing bombardment and invasion of Lebanon, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported on 1 June.
“The immediate cessation of the Zionist regime’s aggressive and brutal army operations in Gaza and Lebanon and the necessity of the regime’s complete withdrawal from the occupied areas in Lebanon have been emphasized by Iranian officials and negotiators, and there will be no talks until Iran and the resistance’s views on this matter are met,” Tasnim added.
The US and Iran have been negotiating to end the war launched by Washington and Tel Aviv on the Islamic Republic in February.
The outlet said Iran and the Resistance Front, which includes its Shia allies in Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq, plan to completely block the Strait of Hormuz and activate other fronts, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait, to punish Israel and its international backers.
On June 1, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman accused Israel of sabotaging diplomacy and the US-Israel-Iran ceasefire after its recent attacks on Lebanon and Gaza.
Tehran also highlighted that Lebanon was “an inseparable part of any ceasefire agreement.” Here’s more. pic.twitter.com/A1bVYBQhpm
— CGTN America (@cgtnamerica) June 1, 2026
Bab al-Mandab is a strategic waterway and shipping chokepoint located off the coast of Yemen. By blocking it, the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) are able to control access to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, which serves as a bridge between Asia and Europe.
Coupled with Iran’s closure of Hormuz, the closure of Bab al-Mandab could further disrupt oil and gas supplies, raising their prices and harming the world economy.
“Violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts. The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X on Monday, referring to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
Since the US and Iran reached a so-called ceasefire on 8 April, Israel has escalated its attacks on Hezbollah and Lebanon, including targeting civilians and emergency rescuers.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday ordered attacks on the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
Netanyahu said “terror targets” in Dahiye would be struck, causing traffic jams as residents rushed to flee the area with their families.
BREAKING | Israel attacks the vicinity of Jabal Amel Hospital in Tyre, south Lebanon. Injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/CaQklCqT9F
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) June 1, 2026
A senior Lebanese government official said it was relying on US mediation efforts to pressure Israel to end its own violations and prevent further civilian casualties.
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio proposed a plan for “gradual de-escalation” to Netanyahu and Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, according to a US official.
Israel has targeted Beirut twice since the start of the April ceasefire, while bombing south Lebanon regularly, including the cities of Tyre (Sur) and Nabatieh.
On Monday, Israeli strikes killed two young men, Haidar Qassem Bitar and Ali Lotfi Bitar, in the town of Zibdin, near Shoukin, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported.
The night before, Israeli airstrikes targeted the town of Kfarsir, killing five people, including Hassan Sbeiti and Mohammad Ahmad Reda, whose bodies were recovered from under the rubble of buildings destroyed by the attacks.
The Ministry of Public Health reported that Israeli forces have killed 3,433 Lebanese and wounded 10,395 since large-scale fighting resumed on 2 March.
