US House votes to end Iran war, amid escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict
In a political blow to President Donald Trump, who ordered the war against the Islamic Republic on February 28, the US House of Representatives voted on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) to approve a resolution proposed by Democrats aimed at halting the Iran war until Congress issues an authorization for combat operations.
The House voted 215 to 208, after four Republicans joined the Democrats in voting for the resolution.
The adopted resolution is largely symbolic, given the US President's veto power if the Senate also approves it.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had tried to prevent an outcome that would show growing opposition to the war, abruptly adjourning the House session two weeks ago when a war powers resolution was about to be approved. However, discontent grew as the conflict continued and President Trump struggled to negotiate a quick solution.
This is the fourth time the House has attempted to curb the US war against Iran, and the first time it has managed to pass such a measure.
The Senate had put forward its own war powers resolution last month when a few Republican senators broke ranks with the Republican president in a rare display of political opposition from within his own party.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) that "any attack on Beirut will have serious repercussions and lead to the resumption of war on a large scale," adding that "our armed forces are ready to strike Israel if it attacks Beirut," according to Tasnim News Agency.
Regarding negotiations with the United States, the Iranian minister said, "Communications with the Americans have not been cut, and messages have been exchanged regarding the necessity of stopping the aggression on Beirut. However, no tangible progress has been made in the negotiation process."
He explained that "a return to the negotiating table is conditional on guaranteeing the rights of the Iranian people, ending the war in Lebanon, and stopping the tensions in the region."
Continued strikes between Israel and Hezbollah
Militarily, Lebanese sources reported that a strike targeted a car at the southern entrance of the Lebanese capital, and airstrikes on the south of the country resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, including two medics and a soldier.
In response, the Israeli army announced the interception of a "hostile aircraft" and two projectiles fired from Lebanon, while Hezbollah claimed responsibility for firing rockets at a military gathering in northern Israel.
Many countries consider the Lebanese Hezbollah, or its military wing, a terrorist organization. These countries include the United States, European Union member states, Britain, and others. Germany also banned the party's activities on its territory in 2020 and classified it as a "terrorist organization."
Lebanese and Israeli diplomats are holding direct talks in Washington on Wednesday for the second day, in the fourth round since the outbreak of the war on March 2.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps stated on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) in a statement that "in response to this aggression (US attacks on an Iranian oil tanker and on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz), Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, which houses helicopters, as well as the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, were subjected to missile and drone attacks launched by the Revolutionary Guard forces."
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had held Kuwait and Bahrain responsible for US attacks that targeted an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and a military point on Qeshm Island on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
For its part, Kuwait considered these "baseless Iranian claims to be false and not based on any evidence."
Kuwait dealt with 30 Iranian missiles and drones
The Kuwaiti Army said in a statement that it dealt with 30 Iranian missiles and drones that targeted its territory, adding that this resulted in "targeting civilian and vital facilities, including Kuwait International Airport, which halted operations for a short period, resulting in the death of a resident of Indian nationality."
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health announced that at least 63 people were injured in the attack on the airport, including travelers and workers, noting that there were serious injuries.
Kuwait expels two Iranian diplomats
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the "brutal and continuous Iranian aggressions with ballistic missiles and drones."
The Ministry summoned the Deputy Chargé d'Affaires of the Iranian Embassy in the State of Kuwait, handed him an official protest note and a decision to reduce the embassy staff, considering two members of the Iranian diplomatic mission undesirable, and demanding their departure from the territory of the State of Kuwait within a maximum of 24 hours.
US President Donald Trump denied reports in Iranian media that talks had stopped, confirming that negotiations between Washington and Tehran are ongoing.
The US President wrote on the Truth Social platform, "False news reports that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States stopped talking a few days ago are false and incorrect reports."
Trump stated that "our talks are ongoing, including four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, yesterday, and today."
He added, "No one ever knows what will come of it, but as I told Iran, it's time, one way or another, to make a deal."
Before Trump's post, Iran's Fars News Agency, close to the Revolutionary Guard, said that no talks had taken place between Tehran and Washington for several days.
Prior to that, Iran's Tasnim News Agency published a report stating that indirect negotiations had ended due to the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, whose military wing is classified by the United States, the European Union, and several countries as a terrorist organization.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday (June 2, 2026) that Israel and Lebanon could have concluded a peace agreement "starting tomorrow" were it not for the obstacle of Hezbollah, as the two countries began their fourth round of talks in Washington.
Rubio added, in response to a question on the matter during a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, "Israel and Lebanon can reach a peace agreement starting tomorrow. Israel is not demanding any territory in Lebanon. Hezbollah is the only obstacle."
He stressed that "without Iran, there would be no Hezbollah," also emphasizing that the United States, which is mediating the negotiations, insists on separating Israeli-Lebanese negotiations from negotiations with Iran, something Tehran rejects.
For his part, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed in a statement distributed by the presidency on Tuesday that "there is no option other than negotiation, and it should not be considered surrender, concession, or defeat, because strength is not in waging war, but in having the courage and wisdom to end the war through negotiation for the benefit of one's country, which remains the primary consideration above all else."
Representatives of Lebanon and Israel met at the US Department of State on Tuesday to begin a new round of direct talks, while clashes between the Hebrew state and Hezbollah continue after US President Donald Trump announced their agreement to stop mutual attacks.
Many countries consider the Lebanese Hezbollah, or its military wing, a terrorist organization. These countries include the United States, European Union member states, Britain, and others. Germany also banned the party's activities on its territory in 2020 and classified it as a "terrorist organization."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today (June 2, 2026) in Berlin that "the federal government views the recent escalation of violence in the south of the country with great concern."
The leader of the German Christian Democratic Union added: "Hezbollah must immediately stop attacking the population in Israel, and it must lay down its arms," adding that the German government urgently calls on Israel to adhere to the truce agreed upon last April.
Merz continued: "We encourage Israel and Lebanon to continue the path of direct talks that has been initiated." Meanwhile, a new round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon began today in Washington.
US President Donald Trump had expressed his hope for de-escalation on Monday evening, days after the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. He announced via his platform "Truth Social" that Israel and Hezbollah would initially stop their mutual attacks.
Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon continued on Tuesday, targeting several towns in the south, while the Israeli army ordered residents of the city of Nabatieh to leave before the airstrikes.
For his part, Hezbollah, classified, or its military wing, as a terrorist organization by the United States, Germany, the European Union, and a number of countries, said it carried out two operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon at dawn today without launching any cross-border missile attacks, but the Israeli army said during the night that it had intercepted two projectiles that crossed from Lebanon into Israel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his belief that Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was injured in US-Israeli strikes, is alive and increasingly involved in leading the country and making decisions, despite not appearing publicly since taking power.
Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, "I believe there are indications that he is participating more (in the country's leadership) at a certain level."
Rubio expressed hope for reaching an agreement with Iran, while emphasizing that Tehran must significantly curb its nuclear program if it hopes for the lifting of imposed sanctions.
He said, "There is a possibility before us, it may happen today, or tomorrow, or next week."
He pointed out that Tehran must agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is a major passage for oil and gas in the Gulf, adding, "They must clearly announce that the straits are open and that no transit fees will be imposed. We will help remove the mines they have planted there, and ships will not be targeted."
He added, "They must agree to negotiate strict and long-term restrictions. Iran is under sanctions because it has enriched uranium to high levels and because of its nuclear activities. If it agrees to abandon those things, it will lead to sanctions relief."
Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Tuesday (June 2, 2026) resulted in the deaths of 14 people. According to the official "National News Agency," the attacks targeted the villages of Maroun al-Ras, Siddiqin, Yater, and Mansouri, and the town of Dibin.
For his part, the Lebanese army announced today, Tuesday, that two of its elements were injured in an Israeli shelling targeting them in the south of the country. The Lebanese army stated in a press release today, "Two army soldiers were moderately injured as a result of being targeted by a hostile Israeli drone on the Haboush - Deir al-Zahrani road (Nabatieh)." The Lebanese army had announced last Saturday that two soldiers were seriously injured as a result of being targeted inside a car by a hostile Israeli drone on the Abba - Nabatieh public road.
Hezbollah announced in a statement that its fighters targeted an Israeli tank with rockets at dawn on Tuesday in the town of Hadatha in southern Lebanon, explaining via the Telegram application that they were repelling an attempt by the Israeli forces to "advance." Hezbollah also reported that its fighters targeted four Israeli tanks and soldiers on Monday evening.
The Israeli army announced at dawn on Tuesday that its air defenses had intercepted two projectiles fired from Lebanon and crossing into northern Israel, without indicating any casualties.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday (June 1, 2026) that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and also had a "very good call" with Hezbollah through unnamed representatives. He added in a post on his social network Truth Social that Netanyahu had agreed to cancel a military attack on Beirut, while Hezbollah had agreed to "stop all firing operations."
However, signs of new tension emerged between the United States and its ally Israel over the situation in the Middle East. Netanyahu appeared to doubt any ceasefire with Hezbollah, while the Axios website reported that Trump called the Israeli Prime Minister "crazy" and accused him of jeopardizing peace talks with Iran.
Trump's statements came after Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported that Tehran had suspended dialogue with mediators in protest of the Israeli attack against its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Field developments
Later, Netanyahu appeared to doubt Trump's announcement of a ceasefire, saying his country would strike Beirut if Hezbollah did not stop attacking Israel. Netanyahu said, according to a statement issued by his office: "I spoke this evening with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our towns and citizens, Israel will strike terrorist targets in Beirut."
The Israeli army announced at dawn on Tuesday that its air defenses had intercepted two projectiles fired from Lebanon and crossing into northern Israel, hours after Trump announced that the fighting would stop. Hezbollah also announced carrying out several attacks on Monday evening against Israeli targets in southern Lebanon, reporting repelling an Israeli incursion into the town of Hadatha and targeting three Merkava tanks in Hadatha and Bayada shortly before midnight Monday-Tuesday.
What about the talks with Iran?
In a separate post on the Truth Social platform, Donald Trump confirmed that "talks are continuing at a rapid pace with the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Earlier on Monday, the US President gave clearly mixed signals about his enthusiasm for talks to end the Iranian war. Trump told the American network "CNBC" in a phone interview shortly before posting his tweets on Truth Social that "I don't care" if talks with Iran collapse. He added, "Frankly, I think they're starting to get very boring."
Donald Trump separately told "NBC News" on Monday that he had not been informed that Iran would suspend negotiations, but said, "I think we've talked a lot, if you want to know the truth." He added, "I think silence would be a very good thing, and it might be for a long time."
