President Trump says US Navy will begin blockade of Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. and Iran failed to reach a peace deal after 21 hours of negotiations.

Last Updated: April 12, 2026, 10:22 PM EDT

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military and government sites.

Trump set a deadline for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face broad strikes on its critical infrastructure. Hours before the deadline expired, Trump said he had agreed to suspend planned bombing for two weeks if Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi then said that "safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supported the ceasefire with Iran, but that Lebanon -- where intense Israeli strikes continued -- was not covered by the agreement, despite Iranian protests.

Apr 08, 2026, 6:31 AM EDT

Vance says some Iranian officials are 'lying,' risking 'fragile' truce

Vice President JD Vance said the nascent ceasefire with Iran is "fragile" during his visit to Hungary on Wednesday.

"The Iranians have agreed to open up the Strait [of Hormuz]. The United States has agreed to stop attacking, and that not just the United States, but also our allies, have agreed to stop attacking. And that is the basis of this fragile truce that we have."

"You have some people on social media within their system who are basically lying about what we've accomplished militarily. They're lying about the nature of the agreement. They're lying about the nature of the ceasefire," Vance said of some Iranian officials.

Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Budapest, Hungary, on April 8, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

"You have people who clearly want to come to the negotiating table and work with us to find a good deal, and then you have people who are lying about even the fragile truce that we've already struck," Vance added.

"If the Iranians are willing, in good faith, to work with us, I think we can make an agreement," Vance said. "If they're going to lie, if they're going to cheat, if they're going to try to prevent even the fragile truce that we've set up from taking place, then they're not going to be happy."

-ABC News' Chad Murray

Apr 08, 2026, 6:12 AM EDT

Israeli strikes continue in Lebanon despite ceasefire

The Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday that it was continuing "combat and ground operations" against Hezbollah in Lebanon, while at least one Israeli airstrike was reported in the southern city of Tyre.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said overnight that the two-week ceasefire with Iran "does not include Lebanon," though Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the country was covered by the ceasefire announced on Tuesday.

The IDF issued multiple evacuation warnings in Lebanon on Wednesday morning, including in the city of Tyre and for all residents of Beirut's southern suburbs.

A fireball rises from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in the area of Abbasiyeh, on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, on April 8, 2026.
Kawnat Haju/AFP via Getty Images
Apr 08, 2026, 5:24 AM EDT

Netanyahu and Trump spoke about Iran ceasefire before it was announced

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone overnight about the Iran ceasefire, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

In a statement overnight, Netanyahu said that "Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the U.S., Israel and countries in the region."

"Israel also supports the U.S. effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbors and the world," Netanyahu continued.

"The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shares by the U.S., Israel and Israel's regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations. The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon,” added Netanyahu.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Apr 08, 2026, 4:05 AM EDT

China welcomes ceasefire announcement, official says

In Beijing's first official comments since the two-week ceasefire was announced by President Donald Trump and Iranian officials, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday that China "welcomes the ceasefire agreement."

China, Mao said, will "support the mediation efforts" by Pakistan and other parties.

China "made its own efforts," Mao said, noting that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held 26 phone calls with counterparts from relevant countries. Beijing's special Middle East envoy also shuttled between Gulf nations to build support for a five-point Chinese-Pakistani peace proposal, Mao said.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer military aircraft stand parked at RAF Fairford airbase in Fairford, Gloucestershire, U.K., on April 8, 2026.
Toby Melville/Reuters

-ABC News' Karson Yiu

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