The statement came after Israel said it had carried out strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs, further complicating efforts to end the wider Middle East conflict.

Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the strikes showed that the United States either lacked the willingness or ability to implement its commitments.

“If you do not have the will or the ability to fulfil your commitments, then there is no point in talking about continuing down this path,” Ghalibaf said in a statement on social media.

Trump had previously said an agreement with Iran was expected to be signed soon and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately after the deal. Iran, however, has given a less certain timeline.

Iran has insisted that any agreement must also address the conflict in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has been involved in fighting with Israel. Iranian Brig. Gen. Mohammad Jafar Asadi said Israeli strikes “will not go unanswered.”

A US official said the proposed agreement included Lebanon, which became involved in the wider conflict after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel.
Pakistan and Qatar have acted as mediators in the negotiations. A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Sunday to help facilitate the finalisation of a possible agreement, according to a diplomat familiar with the matter.

The parties have given different accounts of the proposed deal, including disagreements over the future of Iran’s nuclear programme and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has said it will maintain authority over the strategic waterway, while Washington has rejected that position. The US has imposed a blockade affecting Iranian ports, while Iran has restricted movement through the strait.

Another major issue remains Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. Tehran says its nuclear programme is peaceful, while Israel, the United States and other Western governments have expressed concerns over potential military use.

On Sunday, Israel issued evacuation warnings for 29 villages in southern Lebanon. Israel said its strikes in Beirut were carried out in response to Hezbollah fire toward Israeli territory.

Lebanon’s civil defence agency said at least three people were killed and six wounded in the strike. Israel’s military also said three suspected Hezbollah drones struck northern Israel but caused no casualties.

In a social media post, Trump said the United States would strike Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and declared that Washington would “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas sector, including the strategically important Kharg Island export terminal, at some point in the future.

Trump did not provide details on how such a move could be carried out. Kharg Island is the main hub for Iranian crude exports and a critical source of revenue for the country’s economy. The island is located off Iran’s Gulf coast and serves as a central artery for the nation’s energy shipments.

The comments came as the U.S. military launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets, broadening a campaign that appeared more extensive than operations conducted a day earlier.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces carried out additional strikes against Iranian surveillance systems, communications infrastructure and air defense facilities. According to the command, U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy assets employed precision-guided munitions against targets viewed as threats to American personnel and commercial maritime traffic in regional waters.

CENTCOM described the operations as defensive measures conducted in response to what it called continuing Iranian aggression.

Iran condemned the attacks, with the Foreign Ministry saying the latest U.S. military action effectively rendered a ceasefire that had held for nearly two months “practically meaningless.”

In a statement, the ministry said the strikes represented a violation of international norms and warned that responsibility for any serious consequences would rest with U.S. leaders.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said military pressure on Iran would continue while diplomatic channels remained open.

“We’re going to be attacking them very hard,” Trump told reporters, while reiterating his administration’s desire for a negotiated settlement.

The president said Washington sought an agreement that would permanently prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He claimed Tehran had accepted the principle of foregoing nuclear arms but said a final accord had not been concluded.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the administration’s warnings during a visit to the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Hegseth said the strikes were intended to protect American forces and cautioned Tehran against escalating the confrontation further.

“Iran would be unwise to challenge us further,” he said.

The latest exchange has heightened concerns about a broader regional conflict involving the United States and Iran, while adding uncertainty to energy markets and international diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East.

Despite the military escalation, U.S. officials continued to emphasize that diplomacy remains Washington’s preferred path, provided any future agreement includes lasting guarantees that Iran will not develop a nuclear weapons capability.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said the United States possesses sufficient military capabilities and munitions stockpiles to restart operations if required, while emphasizing that the administration remains committed to pursuing a diplomatic settlement.

“Our ability to recommence if necessary ,we are more than capable,” Hegseth said, adding that US military inventories are adequately positioned both in the region and globally.The remarks come as negotiators from Washington and Tehran continue efforts to overcome key differences that have stalled a broader agreement aimed at extending an early-April ceasefire and establishing a permanent framework to end hostilities.

Hegseth said President Donald Trump remains committed to securing what he described as a strong agreement that would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump said on Friday he would convene advisers in a secure White House facility to make a final decision on a proposal that would extend the current truce by an additional 60 days.

The conflict, launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, has resulted in thousands of deaths, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, while disrupting global energy markets through the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.

Despite the Middle East conflict, Hegseth rejected suggestions that Washington’s strategic focus had shifted away from the Indo-Pacific. He said the United States is expanding its defense-industrial capacity to increase weapons production and maintain readiness across multiple theaters simultaneously.

At the same forum, Hegseth urged Asian allies to increase defense spending in response to China’s growing military capabilities, describing Beijing’s military expansion as a source of concern for regional security.

He argued that a stronger network of capable regional partners is necessary to preserve the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and deter potential aggression. Hegseth warned that dominance by any single power would undermine regional stability and prosperity.

Echoing a longstanding position of the Trump administration, Hegseth said allies should assume greater responsibility for their own defense and reduce dependence on US military support.“The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over,” he said, adding that strong alliances require all partners to contribute meaningfully to collective security.

Hegseth cited defense contributions from countries including South Korea, Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, while highlighting efforts by Japan to strengthen its military capabilities and deepen cooperation with Washington.

The report said Iran’s leadership has imposed strict security measures following U.S. and Israeli military operations that intelligence officials believe exposed vulnerabilities within the country’s command structure and contributed to the deaths of several senior Iranian figures.

According to CBS, Iranian officials authorized to engage with Washington have faced difficulties communicating within their own leadership system, with proposals transmitted to Tehran taking extended periods to receive responses.

U.S. officials cited by the broadcaster said messages intended for the supreme leader are relayed through intermediaries before guidance is returned, slowing decision-making at a sensitive stage in diplomatic contacts between Tehran and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The report said many senior Iranian officials are spending extended periods in fortified facilities and limiting direct communications as part of broader efforts to reduce exposure to potential attacks.

CBS reported that even some high-ranking officials either do not know Khamenei’s precise location or lack direct access to him. Communications are said to be handled through trusted couriers whose role is to shield information about his whereabouts.

According to the report, Khamenei is providing broad direction on issues that can be discussed in negotiations while identifying matters that remain outside the scope of talks.

The security measures have emerged as diplomatic efforts continue to explore a possible framework for easing tensions between Washington and Tehran following weeks of conflict and heightened regional instability.

CBS reported that Khamenei has not made a public appearance since before the outbreak of the war, underscoring the extent of the security precautions surrounding Iran’s leadership.

The investigation focuses on Operation Southern Spear, a campaign launched by the administration of US President Donald Trump in September 2025 targeting boats Washington alleges are linked to narcotics trafficking networks operating from Latin America.

According to reports, the Pentagon review will examine whether the US military followed established operational and legal procedures under the Joint Targeting Cycle, the framework governing the planning and execution of military strikes.

“The scope of this evaluation includes the joint process for targeted vessels in the US Southern Command area of responsibility as part of Operation Southern Spear,” the Pentagon inspector general’s office said in a memorandum cited by Bloomberg.

The review will be conducted at the Pentagon and at the headquarters of United States Southern Command in Florida, according to the memorandum dated May 11.

The military campaign has drawn criticism from legal experts and human rights organizations, which argue the strikes may constitute extrajudicial killings because the targeted vessels allegedly did not pose an imminent threat to the United States.

Critics have also questioned whether the administration has provided sufficient evidence demonstrating that the vessels destroyed during the operations were actively involved in drug trafficking.
At least 192 people have reportedly been killed since the start of the operation, according to media accounts cited in the reports.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended the campaign, describing the operation as part of a broader war against what the administration terms “narco-terrorists.” Hegseth previously said the operation had been so aggressive that potential maritime targets had become increasingly difficult to locate.

The strikes represent a significant shift in US counter-narcotics strategy. Historically, American anti-drug operations in the region have focused on intercepting vessels, seizing narcotics shipments and arresting suspects rather than conducting lethal military attacks at sea.

The growing scrutiny comes as the Trump administration continues expanding military involvement in transnational security operations across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The findings suggest that the trajectory of Tehran’s nuclear program has remained broadly unchanged since last summer, despite months of conflict involving the United States and Israel. The war, launched on February 28, has largely targeted conventional military infrastructure, though Israel has struck several nuclear-related facilities.

Analysts say the unchanged timeline reflects both the limited focus of recent U.S. operations on nuclear sites and the continued existence of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Significantly delaying the program would likely require neutralizing or removing this material, they said.Earlier intelligence assessments had concluded that Iran could produce sufficient bomb-grade uranium within three to six months.

Following U.S. strikes last year on key facilities including Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan, that estimate was extended to roughly nine to twelve months.The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, has said Iran’s existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium could be sufficient for multiple weapons if further processed.

However, inspectors have been unable to verify the location of part of this material after oversight activities were disrupted.A fragile truce agreed on April 7 has paused large-scale hostilities, though tensions remain elevated. The conflict has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil flows, contributing to wider energy market instability.

U.S. officials have consistently said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a central objective. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that Washington aims to achieve this through a combination of military pressure and negotiations.Experts say assessing the full impact of military operations on Iran’s nuclear capacity remains difficult.

While physical infrastructure has been damaged, knowledge and technical expertise may persist, and some nuclear material is believed to be stored in hardened underground sites beyond the reach of conventional strikes.Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons, maintaining that its program is for civilian purposes.

U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA assess that Tehran halted an organized weapons development effort in 2003, though concerns remain over its enrichment capabilities and potential breakout capacity.

Lebanese state media reported fresh Israeli strikes, while the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for a building near the southern city of Tyre, signaling ongoing operations despite the broader regional truce.

Hezbollah, which entered the conflict by launching attacks on Israel on March 2, has not claimed any operations since early Wednesday. Three Lebanese sources close to the group told Reuters it had halted fire on northern Israel and Israeli forces in Lebanon as part of the ceasefire arrangement involving Iran.

The Israeli military said it “continues fighting and ground operations” against Hezbollah, underscoring that hostilities along the Lebanon front remain active.Lebanon’s army warned residents against returning to southern areas, citing ongoing Israeli attacks and the presence of advancing Israeli forces.

It urged civilians to avoid exposed zones until conditions stabilize.An AFP correspondent in the Tyre region reported limited civilian movement southward, despite the displacement of hundreds of thousands since the conflict expanded into Lebanon.

Hezbollah is expected to issue a formal statement clarifying its position on the ceasefire and Netanyahu’s assertion that Lebanon is excluded from the agreement, the Lebanese sources said.

French President Emmanuel Macron, while welcoming the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, said the situation in Lebanon remained critical and called for its inclusion in any broader de-escalation framework.

In a joint statement issued during a ministerial meeting hosted by France, the group said it had emphasized the need to minimize harm to civilian populations, regional partners and essential infrastructure amid intensifying hostilities.

The statement reflected mounting concern among major economies over the humanitarian and systemic risks posed by the conflict.

The ministers underscored that safeguarding non-combatants and public infrastructure remains a priority under international norms, as recent strikes have reportedly affected energy facilities and other civilian-linked assets in the region. They stressed coordination among allies and partners to contain spillover effects.

The G7 highlighted potential disruptions to global supply chains, including energy, fertilizer and broader commercial flows, noting that such shocks could have direct consequences for domestic economies and consumers.

The ministers said efforts were underway to mitigate these risks through coordinated policy responses and international norms.

The statement also reiterated the importance of restoring safe and toll-free maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.

Any prolonged disruption in the corridor could exacerbate volatility in energy markets and strain international trade routes.

The G7 comprises the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, along with the European Union.