Trump seeks to ease Lebanon conflict as Iran threatens

On 2 June 2026, Axios reported from the United States that Trump told Netanyahu in a heated phone call that he was 'crazy' over Israel's escalation in Lebanon. Trump then said he had stopped an Israeli attack on Beirut and promised calm in Lebanon; Haaretz and Al Arabiya reported that he blocked a Beirut strike. The Jerusalem Post cited an Israeli source saying Trump did not insult Netanyahu. Israeli officials and Netanyahu's rivals criticised his decision to cancel the Lebanon strike.

The call came while talks between the United States and Iran were under strain. Iran said there would be 'no dialogue' until Israeli operations in Lebanon stop, and Iranian agencies said message exchanges with the US had halted, while Trump said the talks continue. Rubio said the US has not offered Iran sanctions relief to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran is willing to discuss aspects of its nuclear programme. Rubio also said Iran leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive.