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.
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.
Key Headlines
- US blockade of Iranian ports to begin Monday, CENTCOM says
- Military vessels approaching Strait of Hormuz 'will be met with severe force,' IRGC says
- DOJ will 'vigorously prosecute' buyers or sellers of sanctioned Iranian oil, Blanche says
- Despite blockade announcement, Trump urges Iran to open Strait of Hormuz
- President Trump says US Navy will begin blockade of Strait of Hormuz
US, Pakistan and Iran holding trilateral meeting Saturday
A senior White House official confirms that the United States, Pakistan and Iran are holding a trilateral face-to-face meeting Saturday, per the press pool traveling with the vice president.
The "core" U.S. delegation includes Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Dr. Andrew Baker, deputy national security adviser to the president and national security adviser to the vice president, and Michael Vance, special advisor to the vice president for Asian affairs, will also be in attendance as the broader U.S. delegation, according to a U.S. official.
"A full suite of U.S. experts on relevant subject areas are present in Islamabad. Additional experts are supporting from Washington," the U.S. official said, per the pool.
-ABC News’ Emily Chang
At least 10 killed by Israeli military action in Lebanon, ministry says
At least 10 people were killed and 9 others injured by Israeli military action in three incidents in the Nabatieh district, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Health.
The Israel Defense Forces said more than 200 Hezbollah terrorists were hit in the past 24 hours.
Paramedics and members of the Lebanese Health Authority are among the dead and injured, the ministry of health said.
"It has become clear that the Israeli enemy adopts a systematic method based on making health workers a military target, as they fall martyrs in every rescue action they carry out, which constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law," the ministry said.
"The Israeli Air Force continues to strike Hezbollah infrastructure and aid the ground forces operating in southern Lebanon," the IDF said Saturday.
Four people were killed and four others wounded in an Israeli raid in the town of Kfarsir, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said in statement Saturday. Among the dead was a paramedic with the Lebanese Health Authority, the statement said.
Three people were killed and two others injured in an Israeli airstrike, the Ministry of Health said in a separate statement. One member of the Lebanese Civil Defense was among the dead, the ministry said.
An Israeli airstrike also killed three people, including a member of the Health Authority in the town of Tul, the ministry said. Three others including a paramedic were wounded in the incident, the statement said.
-ABC News' Guy Davies
Trump said US is in the 'process of clearing out' Strait, says this is a 'favor' to other countries
President Donald Trump said the U.S. is “starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” adding that this is a “favor” to other countries that don’t have the “courage” or “will” to do this themselves.
“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves,” he wrote on social media Saturday morning.
ABC News has asked the White House for more details on what the "process of clearing out" the Strait entails.
“Very interestingly, however, empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil,” Trump added, repeating his earlier claim that empty oil tankers are currently on their way to the U.S.
The president continued to insist that Iran is “LOSING, and LOSING BIG!” and also repeated: “praise be to Allah” which he has previously written in a Truth Social post referring to Iran.
“Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves and, most importantly, their longtime “Leaders” are no longer with us, praise be to Allah!” Trump said.
-ABC News' Emily Chang
Trump says US-Iran peace talks have begun, says he has ‘no idea’ how they will go
Talks between the U.S. and Iran have begin in Islamabad, Pakistan, President Donald Trump said in an interview with NewsNation Saturday morning.
Trump was asked if he believes the Iranians are negotiating in good faith, responding: “I’ll let you know that in a very short period of time, won’t take long.”
The president was also asked whether or not he is hopeful about the outcome of the talks, to which he replied “whatever," and reiterated his previous statements about the U.S. military being able to "reset."
“Whatever, otherwise we'll reset. We're ready to go,” Trump reportedly said.
-ABC News' Emily Chang