AJ
As negotiations remain at deadlock, the US/Iran recap for June 6 drops Israel from the title for the first time, as a result of recent military intelligence assessments and cross-spying activities between the United States and Israel, while Israel appear to have been almost frozen out of talks; the recap has further information about the exchange of fire in the early hours of June 6 between Iran and US resulting in attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain; and a look at other news from around the world in relation to the current Middle Eastern situation.
Negotiations:
⚡️ Naqvi To Spend Another Weekend In Iran
🔹 Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi travelled to Tehran on Saturday, according to Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya, claiming the IM is carrying a ‘special message’ from Army Chief Asim Munir to Iran’s Supreme Leader, and special instructions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in relation to ongoing Iranian-US negotiations, while a Pakistani source allegedly told Al Jazeera the message was regarding the frozen Iranian assets.
⚡️ Naqvi Greeted By Momeni Upon Arrival In Tehran
🔹 Pakistan’s Interior Minister has travelled to Tehran again this weekend in an attempt to facilitate negotiations with the United States, and was greeted by Iranian Interior Minister Eskander Momeni upon arrival.
🔹 Naqvi told waiting reporters: “I am here to deliver a special message from the Field Marshal and the Prime Ministers of Pakistan to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei regarding the current situation,” adding: “I think the message is very important.”
Hormuz News:
⚡️ Iraq Denied Paying Transit Fees to Iran in Strat
🔹 National Security Minister Adviser for Iraq, Qassim al-Araji, rejected reports claiming that Baghdad paid transit fees to Iran for oil shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz, calling the allegations ‘false and baseless.’
🔹 Al-Araji said Iran had previously stated that Iraq is exempt from regulations governing the waterway, and his comments came following reports cited by Al-Arabiya, alleging the US forces had stopped several vessels carrying Iraqi oil in the Strait over accusations that Baghdad was paying transit fees to Iran.
🔹 Separately, a source told Shafaq News that a Chinese oil tanker loaded with around two million barrels of crude at Basra ports on behalf of Iraq’s State Organisation for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) has completed loading and expected to depart after final and technical operational procedures are completed.
⚡️ IRIB News: Iran Warn Vessels To Observe Iranian Law In The Strait Of Hormuz
🔹 Observing the new Iranian law of the Strait of Hormuz is the only way to gain passage through the vital waterway, according to IRIB, otherwise, no passage would be safe, noting the Strait has currently been devoid of traffic as vessels were stationed on the horizon behind the reporter.
⚡️ Foreign Journalists Visit Strait Of Hormuz Authority Route In Iran
🔹 Seven foreign journalists, from Georgia, Russia, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Tunisia and Austria, all from the Al-Alam news network, were invited by the Persian Gulf Authority to visit the route in the Strait of Hormuz, to gather information for exclusive reports on the exercise of Iran’s sovereignty to ensure the security of vessels requesting passage in the waterway.
⚡️ MoloMonitor: Satellite Images Show IRGC Speedboats On Patrol
🔹 IRGC Navy have claimed for some weeks that their Fast Attack speedboats were armed and ready, patrolling the Strait of Hormuz in large numbers, searching for any movement of vessels without Iranian authorisation, while providing security to those vessels with permission from the Persian Gulf Authority, and MoloMonitor reported that Sentinel-2 satellite imagery showed there were approximately 80 speedboats patrolling the Strait on June 6.
⚡️ CENTCOMM: Two Iranian Drones Shot Down Over Strait Of Hormuz
🔹 US Central Command published a statement on X that said the US forces in the Middle East had shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the US forces remained postured and ready to continue ‘defending against Iranian aggression.’
Overnight Attack (June 5/6):
⚡️ Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry & MoD Statement
🔹 The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry published a statement on Saturday morning condemning the latest round of attacks, in disregard of international demands to cease the aggression, which represent a blatant violation of Kuwaiti sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and a breach of international law, affirming Kuwait’s right to take necessary measures to defend its territory against any aggression or threat.
🔹 Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence said air defences intercepted seven hostile ballistic missiles over the country early on Saturday morning, with debris falling across multiple residential areas causing material damage, according to an official military statement, which added there were no injuries resulting from the incident.
⚡️ Saudi Arabia condemned the overnight attacks by Iran
🔹 Condemnations came from the Saudi Foreign Ministry in a statement on Saturday, calling the Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait a violation of sovereignty.
🔹 “The Foreign Ministry reiterates the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s condemnation and disapproval of the wanton Iranian attacks and open breaches of the sovereignty of the brotherly Kingdom of Bahrain and the brotherly State of Kuwait in the strongest terms,” the statement said, adding: “These actions pose a threat to regional international security.
🔹 Saudi’s Ministry warned the strikes represented a further escalation which could drive the region towards tensions and a destabilisation of security and stability, stressing that such transgressions undermined ongoing international efforts to restore stability.
🔹 “The Kingdom reiterates its solidarity with the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Kuwait,” the statement said, while affirming support for all measures aimed at protecting the sovereignty, security and stability of both nations.
⚡️ Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Statement
🔹 Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a statement on Saturday condemning the attacks in the early hours of Saturday, June 6, against radar and coastal surveillance facilities in the Sirik region and Qeshm Island, whose mission is to protect the maritime security of the country’s borders and the international security of navigation in international waterways, as a clear violation of the ceasefire of April 8 and a military aggression against the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
🔹 The MFA said the action followed hostile and provocative behaviours of the US against Iran, demonstrating the complete disregard of the US ruling authorities for the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, stating the armed forces of Iran, as an inherent right of legitimate defence and with vigilance, decisiveness and full authority, have given a proportionate and effective response to the aggressive act, not allowing the malicious objectives of ‘the designers of the aggression’ to be realised.
🔹 According to the statement, the repeated violation of the ceasefire by the United States once again proved not only no will to reduce tensions or return to the path of stability but also, through adventurous actions, exposes regional security to serious risks, adding that the US government would bear responsibility for all consequences and repercussions arising from ‘these illegal actions, as well as any possible escalation of tensions.’
🔹 The MFA also called on the Secretary-General of the UN, the Security Council, and other responsible international bodies to respond immediately and effectively to the continued blatant violation of the ceasefire and the illegal action of the United States which prevents the increasing normalisation of violations of the UN Charter with actions that threaten international peace and security.
What The Media Have Said:
⚡️ Reuters: US Could Use Iranian Assets To Fund Gulf Repairs
🔹 The United States are exploring options to make Iranian assets available to help fund reconstruction and repairs for damage caused by Iranian attacks during the war, a source told Reuters, stating that Secretary Scott Bessent had directed Treasury officials to assess the extent of the damage suffered by US partners in the Gulf and estimate associate repair and recovery costs, adding that officials would consider whether Iranian assets could be used to support compensation or reconstruction efforts for both future and past damages linked to Iran.
⚡️ Tasnim News: Hanzala Claim Responsibility For Hacking PJAK
🔹 Iranian hacking group Hanzala claimed responsibility for infiltrating and hacking the electronic infrastructure of the PJAK organisation, claiming the group had obtained confidential documents on command, structures, communications, and operational centres.
⚡️ Reuters: Jet Fuel Prices Top Bill Of Annual Meeting Of Airline Chiefs
🔹 The war against Iran caused a sharp rise in fuel prices, along with disruptions in some flight routes, as airlines turn to ticket price increases and reducing capacities to offset the pressure, and is the primary topic on the agenda of the annual meeting of airline chiefs in Rio de Janeiro.
🔹 Airline chiefs are attending a three-day meeting which is being held while long delays by Boing and Airbus in delivering aircraft have forced companies to keep older and less efficient fleets past their expiry, a matter which has increased fuel and maintenance costs.
🔹 Spirit Airlines, with 17,000 employees, recently declared bankruptcy, while some companies such as Lufthansa have cancelled around 20,000 flights from their schedules due to high fuel prices.
⚡️ BBC: Clashes Erupted Between the US And Iran
🔹 Iran responded to attacks from the US and attempted movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz by firing seven missiles at two US airbases in Kuwait and the US naval facilities in Bahrain, noting CENTCOM claimed to have intercepted six missiles and one missile failed to hit its target, stating the clashes came after an alleged Iranian drone attack on Kuwait International Airport, which left one dead and more than 60 injured, but added that the IRGC emphasised the damage was caused by an ‘American missile interceptor error.’
⚡️ The Guardian: Attacks Targeted Bahrain and Kuwait
🔹 Bahrain and Kuwait were targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks as air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain on Saturday, while the Kuwaiti military reported intercepting attack drones and missiles, and The Guardian stated the IRGC had announced it had targeted the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain.
⚡️ Al Mayadeen: Washington Faces Two Difficult Options
🔹 The Trump administration has reached a critical point with Iran and faces two difficult options, which is to either accept an agreement that would be seen as a failure to achieve US war objectives, or continuing a war of attrition that could lead to a strategic defeat for Washington.
⚡️ Al Jazeera: Middle East Moving Toward A Layered And Complex Order
The region is moving from an ‘American security umbrella’ to a more layered and complex order, according to the report, stating that competition among major powers like the US, China and Russia had made the Persian Gulf a central knot in global geopolitics, while claiming that at the same time, some plans have allegedly aimed to integrate Israel as a security and intelligence actor within the regional security structure.
⚡️ Rai Al-Youm: Years Of Pressures Have Made Iran Resistant To Economic Sanctions
🔹 According to the report, after years of pressure, sanctions, direct and indirect conflicts, Iran has concluded that relying on limited agreements with the US was ineffective and that only thorough active deterrence and continued resistance can it defend its interests and security along with its allies, adding that the assassination of Soleimani and direct attacks on some Iranian targets were introduced as a turning point in Tehran’s strategy shift.
⚡️ China Daily: New Challenges To Negotiations
🔹 The renewed escalation of military tensions and political disputes posed new challenges to the negotiation process aimed at ending the war, while Iranian officials speak of no tangible process in the end of war talks, the report stated on Friday, noting President Trump remained optimistic about reaching an agreement.
USA News:
⚡️ EGYOSINT: New Satellite Imagery Shows Destruction To US Warehouse in Iraqi Kurdistan
🔹 American energy technology company Baker Hughes, located in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, was completely destroyed by Iranian attacks, according to new satellite images obtained by EGYOSINT, stating the facility was struck during a drone attack on April 1, and the images showed the structure had been entirely wiped out, with no visible remains of the warehouse left standing.
Iran News:
⚡️ Momeni Announced Agreement With Pakistan Increasing Trade To $10 Billion
🔹 Interior Minister Eskander Momeni announced an agreement with Pakistan to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion during a joint press conference in Tehran with Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while praising Pakistan’s role in efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Iran and the United States, as the pair discussed border security, counterterrorism cooperation and anti-narcotics cooperation.
⚡️ Gharibabadi: IAEA Needs To Remain Neutral
🔹 Deputy for Legal and International Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi responded to the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying that one cannot bomb safeguarded facilities, destroy the necessary access and safety for inspection, then use the consequences of the attack for ambiguity against Iran, adding that if the agency wants to be part of a diplomatic solution, it needs to refrain from turning the technical report into a tool of political pressure.
⚡️ US Respond To Visa Issuance Situation With Iranian Football Team
🔹 According to the US State Department, visas for the Iranian national football team to participate in the World Cup have only been issued to players and individuals whose presence is essential for the team, stating that despite visas being issued to the national team members, they wouldn’t not be allowed overnight stay in the US and must pass through immigration and entry gates on the same day as the match.
⚡️ Russia Ready To Rebuild Iran’s Infrastructure
🔹 Head of the International Affairs Centre of the Ministry of Energy, Mohammadvali Alaaeddini, said that following the damage to Iran’s vital infrastructure after the war, Marshavin, the Deputy Minister of Energy in the Russian Federation had announced readiness to cooperate in compensating for damages and rebuilding Iran’s infrastructure, with cooperation being pursued in a framework of the “Roadmap for Iran-Russia Electricity Corporation’ and through the development of joint projects.
⚡️ Kharg Island Explosions Caused Concern
🔹 Local residents near Kharg Island in Iran reported hearing the sound of a relatively large explosion just before midnight, but didn’t know the exact location, Fars News Agency reported, while Tasnim News said the explosion was the result of the neutralisation of ammunition in the Behrgan Oil area, which was controlled and planned.
🔹 Meanwhile, IRIB said the Political, Security and Social Deputy of Hormozgan Governor had announced an operation to conduct controlled explosions of unexploded ordnance remaining from the war on June 6 in Bandar Abbas, noting the operation is likely to continue until June 10th, during which time there is the possibility of explosion sounds through the day.
Other News:
⚡️ The New Region: Halbousi Visits Jordan On Official Invitation
🔹 Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi departed Baghdad on Saturday and headed to Jordan following in an invitation from Jordanian counterpart Mazen al-Qadi to meet King Abdullah II.
⚡️ Al-Zaidi To Travel To US With Iraqi Delegation To Boost Cooperation
🔹 Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced on Saturday that a delegation of Iraqi business officials are due to accompany him on an upcoming visit to the US in a bid to boost investment and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries: “We have an upcoming official visit to the United States, and we will take with us a number of business leaders to expand opportunities for joint investment and economic cooperation,” the PM said.
⚡️ Foreign Minister Hussein Warns Of Possible Iraqi Financial Disaster
🔹 Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warned this weekend that Iraq could face a ‘financial disaster’ and struggle to pay salaries if the Iranian war continued through 2026, stating Iraq had printed 25 trillion dinars (around $19 billion), raising nominal financial capacity to 125 trillion dinars from 100-104 trillion, as Hussein also noted that salaries were being financed through reserves, borrowing, and domestic debt due to insufficient revenues.
🔹 Hussein said Iraq was seeking to increase oil exports to 500,000-700,000 barrels per day and expand tanker shipments, but called these only partial solutions and said external support from Gulf and Western countries may be needed, adding that oil provides 90-95% of Iraq’s budget revenues, while salaries, pensions, and welfare payments require around 9 trillion dinars per month.
⚡️ Tasnim News: Covert Israeli Spy Operations Uncovered In UAE
🔹 One of the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed’s most influential advisors has been actively working with Israeli intelligence since 2015, according to a security source, who alleged the advisor first attracted the attention of Israeli security agencies in 2007 due to his political stances, then Israeli efforts to cultivate the official began a new phase in 2015.
🔹 The source alleged the potential value to Israel was first identified by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, where a security unit known as ‘Mamad’ took the lead and played a key role in identifying the advisor, cultivating ties with him, and influencing his positions, according tot he source, adding that Mossad took over the advisor’s file in 2018 and assumed responsibility for maintaining direct contact from that point forward.
⚡️ CNN: Israel Operated From Multiple Countries During The War
🔹 Israel conducted military and intelligence operations against Iran from multiple neighbouring countries, including Azerbaijan, Iraq, the UAE, and Somaliland, pointing to deep regional involvement in the US-Israeli war on Iran, but despite the multi-front coordination, Iran withstood the pressure, dismantling narratives of military dominance.
⚡️ NYT: Israel Crossed Red Lines Spying On US Officials
🔹 Israeli intelligence agencies have been increasing their efforts to monitor and gather information about US officials involved in negotiations with Iran, with individuals such as Steve Witkoff, Elbridge Colby, and Michael DiMino allegedly included on Israel’s target list, while an American official said Israeli spying during Trump’s second term ‘got out of control.’
⚡️ Financial Times: Italy Sees Surge In Gulf Investment And Military Contracts
🔹 Italian defence and engineering groups are reportedly benefiting from a surge in Gulf investment and military contacts while Italy looks to deepen economic and security ties with the region, the report said, noting that Italian defence giant Leonardo had secured major deals with Gulf states, including maritime patrol aircraft for Saudi Arabia and naval combat systems for Kuwait, while Gulf-based defence companies were investing in Italian military technology firms.
⚡️ Al Mayadeen: Araghchi Says Saudi Arabia Is A Key Player In The Persian Gulf
🔹 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen, saying that Saudi Arabia was a large country and a key player in the Persian Gulf region alongside Iran, stating that Tehran believed Iran and Saudi Arabia were capable of shaping the region’s security structures in a ‘proper way’ to bring peace, stability and progress to the region, adding that Iran has always placed great importance on its relationship with the Saudis.
⚡️ Houthis Accused Of Killing National Resistance Commander In Yemen
🔹 Commander of the pro-government First Division of the National Resistance, Yahya Wahish, was killed on Saturday after an IED struck his convoy, according to 2dec, stating the alleged Houthi device detonated as Wahish and his entourage passed through the area.
🔹 Wahish and several others were wounded in the blast and transported to the hospital, where Wahish and one of his companions later succumbed to their injuries, while two others continued to be treated for injuries, noting the commander had only been appointed to the role in May as part of a reorganisation of forces deployed along Yemen’s western coast.
Thank you everyone for taking the time to read. If you enjoyed and would like to support me, we can have a regular coffee morning at $3 per month, or you can buy me a one off coffee if you wish.
