President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military and government sites.
After initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan failed to reach a peace deal, Trump announced Sunday, April 19, that U.S. negotiators would head back to Islamabad Monday for a new round.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Vice President JD Vance would accompany special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, to Islamabad for the talks.
Iran's continuing blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and their alleged refusal to abandon their nuclear program remain key sticking points in negotiations, according to Trump.
Trump says he thinks Hezbollah will abide by ceasefire
President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House that the ceasefire agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel includes Hezbollah. Hezbollah was not part of negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli leaders.
Asked whether he thinks Hezbollah will abide by the ceasefire agreement reached, Trump said, "I think they will."
Apr 16, 2026, 12:21 PM EDT
House fails to adopt Iran war powers resolution
The Republican-led House on Thursday narrowly failed to adopt a war powers resolution that attempted to curtail President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran.
The final vote was: 213-214 with Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, voting present.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the only Republican to vote in favor. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, was the only Democrat to vote against the resolution.
On March 5, the House failed to adopt an Iran war powers resolution by a vote of 212-219.
The Senate on Wednesday also failed to advance a similar Iran war powers resolution.
Apr 16, 2026, 11:51 AM EDT
Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, Trump says
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, President Donald Trump announced in a post on social media.
"These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST," Trump wrote in the post.
This comes after Lebanon and Israel met in Washington, D.C. for talks earlier this week.
An airstrike is seen, April 16, 2026 in Nabatieh, Lebanon.
Adri Salido/Getty Images
Trump added that he will invite Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for "the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago."
"Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly," Trump said.
Apr 16, 2026, 11:29 AM EDT
US will now target any Iranian ships around the world
In a major expansion targeting Iran’s shipping network beyond the ongoing blockade, the U.S. Navy will now intercept any Iranian ships anywhere in the world, according to a CENTCOM advisory shared with the United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Organization and comments made by Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at Thursday's Pentagon briefing.
Caine’s comments indicate that the focus will be on potentially targeting ships linked to Iran’s “dark fleet” of illicit oil transported to China setting up the potential for high seas activity involving the U.S. and ships going to or having left China.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth takes part in a press briefing with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, center, and Adm. Brad Cooper at the Pentagon, April 16, 2026 in Washington.
Kevin Wolf/AP
"In addition to enforcing the blockade, all Iranian vessels, vessels with active OFAC sanctions, and vessels suspected of carrying contraband, are subject to belligerent right to visit and search. These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure," according to a Joint Maritime Information Center update on the blockade.