Iran live updates: US intel assess Iran retains significant missile capability

U.S. intelligence has made assessments that Iran has retained significant missile launch capability and access to its stockpile of missiles according to a U.S. official.

That is in line with written testimony the Defense Intelligence Agency provided to Congress weeks ago that Iran still has a significant amount of missiles and drones in the wake of U.S. operations against Iran.

"Iran retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack UAVs that can threaten U.S. and partner forces throughout the region, despite degradations to its capabilities from both attrition and expenditure," Marine Lt. Gen. James Adams wrote in the testimony at the time.

He added that Iran's conventional military remains hampered by aging equipment and limited training, likely pushing Tehran to lean even harder into asymmetric tactics.

Separately, there are internal discussions underway that if the U.S. military resumes combat operations against Iran the name of the mission could shift from "Operation Epic Fury," to Operation Sledgehammer," according to a U.S. official. The Trump administration has previously announced that it considers Operation Epic Fury to have ended.

NBC News was first to report the potential of a name change for the operation should the U.S. resume combat operations against Iran.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran "is on massive life support."

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

The Senate did not pass an Iran War Powers Resolution introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., on Wednesday, marking the seventh time the Senate has failed to advance such a resolution in a vote of 49-50.

Another Republican has joined Democrats in voting to discharge the war powers resolution: Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. She joined Republican Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, along with all Democrats except Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., who once again voted with Republicans to block the resolution from advancing.

It comes as White House administration officials argue that the war in Iran is over given the April 8 ceasefire agreement, that President Donald Trump admitted was on massive life support, and congressional authorization is no longer necessary.

No Congress has ever used the War Powers Resolution to force the executive branch to end hostilities, so while these efforts will continue, they face uphill battles. Another avenue comes from Murkowski who has been working on an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) for weeks to kickstart the process on consideration over whether Congress should formally approve of military action against Iran.

Yet still, Republicans refusing to break with Trump appear to have little appetite for that method as well with Senate Majority Leader John Thune arguing earlier this week an AUMF is not necessary.

“I don't think it's necessary at the moment, offensive measures have been suspended now there for about a month…I don't think there will probably be a lot of support for an AUMF right now,” Thune said on Monday.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa and Allison Pecorin

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on Wednesday that it struck at least 40 alleged Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon across the previous 24 hours, as fighting there continues despite a ceasefire agreed between Israeli and Lebanese leaders last month.

IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued new evacuation orders for six villages in southern Lebanon on Wednesday morning, warning of imminent Israeli strikes there.

Hezbollah continued to target Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to statements it released on Telegram detailing its latest attacks.

The IDF said Hezbollah launched "several rockets" toward Israeli positions in southern Lebanon on Wednesday morning.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed on Tuesday that "America's lack of goodwill and dishonesty" is to blame for the failure of peace talks to date, as quoted in a readout by the semi-official ISNA agency on Tuesday.

During a meeting with the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Kravik in Tehran, Araghchi said the U.S. negotiating team had demonstrated an "overbearing approach, threatening and provocative rhetoric" in peace talks.

Araghchi also accused the U.S. of "repeated violations of the ceasefire with the continued blockade of Iranian seaports."

Iran, he said, is consulting on new regulations "related to the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law."

-ABC News' Will Gretsky