On June 1, former U.S. President Donald Trump posted multiple updates on social media, claiming significant breakthrough progress regarding the tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. According to his account, following phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli side committed to refraining from deploying troops to Beirut, with forces already en route being recalled. Additionally, Trump mentioned that through coordination by high-level representatives, Hezbollah agreed to cease all firing operations, establishing a state of mutual non-aggression.
However, responses from the Israeli side appeared relatively restrained. Although Netanyahu confirmed the fact of the conversation with Trump, he emphasized that Israel’s position remains unchanged: if Hezbollah continues to attack Israeli cities and civilians, Israel will still strike relevant targets in Beirut, and Defense Forces operations in southern Lebanon will continue as planned. Just hours before Trump announced the so-called ceasefire news, Netanyahu had ordered strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. This contrast in signals indicates a clear divergence between the U.S. and Israel regarding the assessment of the situation.
Influenced by Israeli military actions, Iran has responded with a firmer stance. Reports indicate that the Iranian negotiation team has suspended dialogue and document exchanges with the U.S. via intermediaries. Individuals close to the negotiation team pointed out that given Israel’s continued operations in Lebanon and Gaza, Iran requires the Israeli side to immediately halt military actions and withdraw from relevant areas; no negotiations will take place until these demands are met. Furthermore, Iran and the Resistance Front have released signals of escalating confrontation, planning to completely seal off the Strait of Hormuz and potentially open actions on other fronts such as the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. As a key global oil transportation channel, any obstruction in the Strait of Hormuz would cause a significant impact on the international energy market.
Responding to Iran’s suspension of negotiations, Trump stated that Tehran had not yet formally notified the U.S., adding that this does not imply bombing campaigns, though he intends to continue the blockade on Iranian ports. He anticipates reaching an agreement with Iran within the coming week to extend the current ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, the tension at the Lebanon-Israel border is tightly interwoven with the U.S.-Iran negotiation process. Despite U.S. claims of progress, actual Israeli military operations combined with Iran’s blockade threats have further complicated the landscape. Analysts suggest that conflicting stances indicate diplomatic efforts face significant hurdles, with developments over the next few days likely shaping the trajectory of the Middle East situation.
