Trump says US Navy attacked and seized Iranian-flagged cargo ship

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued on Thursday a new warning to the Iranian regime, telling them to "choose wisely" and to reach an agreement with the U.S. to permanently end the war.

"We prefer to do it the nice way, through a deal led by our great vice president and negotiating team, or we can do it the hard way," Hegseth said during a press briefing at the Pentagon. "We urge this new regime to choose wisely."

Hegseth issued a warning to the Iranian leadership, saying that, if an agreement isn't reached, "we're watching you. Our capabilities are not the same. Our military and yours. Remember, this is not a fair fight, and we know what military assets you are moving and where you are moving them to while you are digging out, which is exactly what you're doing, digging out of bombed out and devastated facilities. We are only getting stronger."

As Israeli strikes on Hezbollah continued on Thursday in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese president said a potential ceasefire would mark a "natural entry point" for direct negotiations between the two countries.

"Lebanon is keen to halt the escalation in the south and in all Lebanese regions so that the targeting of the innocent and the secure -- women, men, and children -- ceases, and the destruction of homes in Lebanese villages and towns stops," Joseph Aoun, the president, told a British minister, according to a statement from his office.

Auon said that only Lebanese authorities would lead potential talks, as he called for an Israeli withdrawal and for full state control over security.

The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday said it was dismantling targets it described as "terror infrastructure sites" in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army also issued a new evacuation warning to residents of southern Lebanon south of the Zahrani River, calling on them to move north and telling them that any movement south could endanger their life.

Lebanon's ministry of health said in a statement on Thursday that the Israeli army targeted ambulance teams in Nabatieh, in southern Lebanon, three times on Wednesday, killing four paramedics. An IDF spokesperson said the military was looking into the alleged strikes.

Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, launched six rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel early on Thursday, with no casualties reported. Hezbollah's press office said in a statement that they had launched rockets targeting settlements in several areas in northern Israel.

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian and Ghazi Balkiz

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to hold a press conference at 8 a.m. ET on Thursday, according to the Department of Defense.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi voiced support for Iran and called for "maintaining the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiations."

Wang spoke on Wednesday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a readout posted by the Chinese ministry.

"Wang Yi stated that China, as always, supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and national dignity," the readout said.

Wang's office said the minister also told Araghchi that "freedom of navigation and safety in the international strait should be guaranteed, and efforts to restore normal navigation in the strait are the unanimous call of the international community."

The U.S. this week began a blockade of the strait. "U.S. service members continue to monitor and patrol regional waters in support of the U.S. blockade on ships entering or exiting Iranian ports," U.S. Central Command said early on Thursday.

-ABC News’ Karson Yiu