Trump says US ‘close to a very good deal’ with Iran

US President Donald Trump said Washington is getting closer to reaching an agreement with Iran, while warning that military options remain on the table if negotiations fail. In a Fox News interview, Trump also accused the ‘fake news media’ of undermining US successes, calling it Iran’s ‘biggest asset’ for downplaying American gains. Meanwhile, CENTCOM said American forces remain ‘present and vigilant’ across the region as tensions persist. IRGC said it shot down a US drone further heightening regional friction. In related developments, UAE motorists are set to face higher fuel prices for a fourth consecutive month in June. Follow our live coverage for the latest updates.

11:20 AM, 31 May 2026

Israel army says Hezbollah drone kills soldier

The Israeli army announced Sunday that one of its soldiers had been killed the previous day by a Hezbollah explosive drone in southern Lebanon, bringing to 25 the number of Israeli military deaths since early March.

Staff Sergeant Michael Tyukin, 21, “fell in combat in southern Lebanon,” the army said in a brief statement. An army spokesman told AFP he was killed by a Hezbollah drone strike.

In total, 25 Israelis have been killed – 24 soldiers and one civilian contractor – since hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah resumed on March 2, when the Shiite militant group reopened thr front in support of Tehran, following Israeli-US strikes.

10:30 AM, 31 May 2026

Israeli army captures strategic castle in Lebanon

Israeli troops have captured a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon in their deepest incursion into the country in more than a quarter century, the military said Sunday.

The capture of Beaufort castle near the city of Nabatiyeh came after days of intense fighting and airstrikes in nearby villages where Israeli troops fought Hezbollah members in the rugged area.

It marks a major gain for Israel in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, which began in early March. Israel and Lebanon have been at war since Israel was created in 1948 hold direct talks in Washington.

10:20 AM, 31 May 2026

Sri Lanka raise fuel prices after IMF loan instalment

Sri Lanka raised fuel prices by up to six percent on Sunday, in line with IMF plans to recover energy costs and phase out subsidies to stabilise the economy.

Petrol was raised to 434 rupees ($1.33), up from 410, while diesel increased to 407 rupees a litre from 392, the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation said.

The price hike came days after the International Monetary Fund released a $695 million instalment of a $2.9 billion bailout loan, agreed in early 2023 to stabilise the cash-strapped South Asian nation.

The IMF wants Sri Lanka to ensure cost recovery for both fuel and electricity tariffs, which have been subsidised by the government since the start of the conflict in the Middle East in February.

09:49 AM, 31 May 2026

Trump says Iran has agreed to no nuclear weapons

US President Donald Trump said he had secured guarantees from Iran that it would not develop nuclear weapons, as reports emerged he had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Tehran.

Any tweaks to the proposal could prolong even further an agreement to formally end the Middle East war and open the Strait of Hormuz maritime route after weeks of efforts to secure a deal despite fractious rhetoric and the occasional flare up of armed conflict.

Read more here.

08:03 AM, 31 May 2026

Israeli military says ground operations in Lebanon ‘expanding to additional areas’

Israel’s military said on Sunday its forces were advancing in Lebanon as part of expanded ground operations to strengthen its military position in the south of the country where it is fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

“A significant number of IDF ground soldiers commenced offensive operations aimed at expanding the Forward Defense Line…the operation is currently expanding to additional areas,” the Israeli military statement said, adding its forces had crossed the Litani river.

06:49 AM, 31 May 2026

Trump asked for tougher terms in proposed Iran war deal

President Donald Trump has sought to change several terms of a proposal to end the Middle East war, US media reported Saturday, as a finalized deal remains elusive among the parties.

The New York Times reported Trump’s changes involved toughening the terms of the deal, and has sent the new framework back to be considered by Iran, according to officials familiar with the proceedings.

The report said it was not immediately clear what the changes entailed, but news site Axios reported Trump wanted to reinforce multiple points of the deal that he personally felt were important, such as what is done to Iran’s nuclear material.

The new tweaks could prolong negotiations between the parties for days before a decision is reached on whether the deal would end the war which began after the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28.

06:41 AM, 31 May 2026

Trump: Iran’s ‘biggest asset’ is the Fake News Media

Donald Trump’s Fox News interview shows the US president saying Iran’s “biggest asset” is the “fake news media,” which he claims repeatedly downplays American successes.

“You have a big win in a battle, and they say you lost… it’s just a terrible thing for our country,” Trump said, arguing that negative media coverage undermines US achievements.

06:30 AM, 31 May 2026

Trump says US nearing ‘very good deal’ with Iran

US President Donald Trump said Washington is getting closer to reaching an agreement with Iran, while warning that military options remain on the table if negotiations fail.

“We’re close to a very good deal,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

“We’re close to a very good deal,” says @POTUS on Iran.

06:25 AM, 31 May 2026

CENTCOM highlights carrier readiness operations

US Central Command (CENTCOM) shared new images and details highlighting sustained flight operations aboard US aircraft carriers and warships, emphasizing the role of maintenance crews in keeping aircraft mission-ready.

‘Sustained flight operations aboard US aircraft carriers and warships is no easy task,’ CENTCOM said in a post on X, adding that skilled maintainers work around the clock to ensure aircraft remain at peak readiness to support any mission.

The post comes as the US military maintains a heightened presence across the region, with CENTCOM previously stating that American forces remain ‘present and vigilant’ amid ongoing tensions with Iran.

06:03 AM, 31 May 2026

UAE petrol prices: How much will you pay more in June?

UAE motorists will see fuel prices rise for a fourth consecutive month in June, although the increase was smaller than the sharp jump recorded a month into the Iran war.

The reason is simple: oil prices remain elevated despite recent declines from peak levels. Brent crude averaged around $103 per barrel through much of May, higher than April’s average of roughly $99.

That increase alone keeps upward pressure on UAE fuel prices, which are revised monthly based on global oil averages. At the same time, crude has started cooling from recent highs. Brent fell below the $100 mark last week to around $91 per barrel as of Friday on signs of progress in US-Iran talks.

That leaves June fuel pricing in an in-between phase. Oil is no longer surging the way it did in March and April, but prices are still high enough to prevent a meaningful drop at the pump.

05:45 AM, 31 May 2026

Iran’s IRGC says it shot down a US MQ-1 drone

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement on Sunday that it had shot down a US MQ-1 drone, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The drone entered Iranian territorial waters with the intention of conducting hostile operations, but was promptly detected and brought down by air defence missiles, the report said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the IRGC said that it reserved the “legitimate and definite” right to retaliate against any ceasefire violations by the United States, adding that its air defence units had shot down a US MQ-9 drone.

According to local media reports, the IRGC also claimed to have fired at a fighter jet that had entered Iranian airspace. This comes after the US said it conducted fresh “self-defence strikes” on Iran.

05:26 AM, 31 May 2026

Iran says Strait of Hormuz restrictions remain despite Trump claim of lifted blockade

Despite US President Donald Trump’s claim that he had lifted a naval blockade on Iran, Iranian ships are still being barred from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

Citing Iranian sailors, the report said the restrictions remain in place and vessels continue to receive warnings from US Central Command not to enter the area.

05:15 AM, 31 May 2026

US military disables non-compliant vessel over blockade violation

The US military has disabled a Gambian-flagged vessel that was heading to Iran by firing a missile into its engine room, US Central Command said.

CENTCOM said the M/V Lian Star was en route to an Iranian port when the US military issued “more than 20 warnings” that it was violating the US blockade of Iranian ports.

“A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room after Lian Star’s crew failed to comply,” CENTCOM said on X. “The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.”

04:35 AM, 31 May 2026

Trump calls for replacing US 250th concerts with MAGA rally

US President Donald Trump called Saturday for the cancellation of upcoming concerts celebrating America’s 250th anniversary after several musical acts backed out, saying they should be replaced by a political rally headlined by himself.

“We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, adding: “Cancel it.”

Shortly after they were announced as performers in a Washington concert series around the July 4 holiday, multiple musical acts backed out, with some citing the event’s politicization.

The concerts were scheduled to kick off on June 25 as part of a major event on the National Mall organized by Freedom 250, a Trump-backed public-private entity.

01:35 AM, 31 May 2026

US says capable of resuming war with Iran

he United States warned on Saturday it was “more than capable” of resuming its war with Iran after President Donald Trump said any peace deal must adhere to his red lines, including Tehran never being able to develop nuclear weapons.

The White House had signaled Trump was close to a decision on a potential deal, though Tehran denied there was a final agreement on ending the conflict.

12:05 AM, 31 May 2026

UAE announces petrol and diesel prices for June 2026

The UAE Fuel Price Committee has announced the retail prices for petrol and diesel for June 2026.

Under the new rates, Super 98 petrol will be priced at Dh3.95 per litre, compared to Dh3.66 in May, while Special 95 petrol will be set at Dh3.83 per litre, against Dh3.55 last month.

E-Plus petrol will be available at Dh 3.76 per litre, up from Dh3.48 in May.

Diesel prices have dropped to Dh4.33 per litre, down from Dh4.69 the previous month.

Gulf News