Iran halts US ceasefire/nuclear messaging on June 1, vows to 'completely' close Strait of Hormuz; oil jumps 7% as Witkoff-Kushner channel stalls

On June 1, 2026, Iran broke off the indirect, intermediary-relayed contacts that had underpinned US-Iran ceasefire and nuclear diplomacy, and threatened to 'completely' close the Strait of Hormuz, according to state-affiliated Tasnim. Tehran tied the rupture directly to Israel's military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, declaring 'No dialogue will take place' until Israel fully withdraws from occupied areas of Lebanon and halts all attacks in Lebanon and Gaza. Iran also threatened to 'activate other fronts including the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.' Oil prices leapt more than 7% on the report.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the ceasefire was 'unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon,' and that 'its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts,' placing responsibility on the US and Israel. The diplomacy at issue ran through Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who (with Vice President JD Vance) had engaged Iranian officials including Araghchi; the underlying ceasefire dated to an April 8 truce that President Trump extended indefinitely on April 21. Per the ceasefire framework Iran was to reopen Hormuz, but the waterway remained effectively closed, with Iran reportedly charging tolls exceeding $1 million per ship.

Trump dismissed the talks as 'very boring,' then claimed a 'very productive call' with Netanyahu to pause attacks and reopen the channel — illustrating the on-again, off-again mediation that defines the file.