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
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
US-Iran negotiations set to begin after delays over Iranian preconditions, Iranian news outlets say
Talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to begin after delays over Iran’s preconditions -- a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets -- Iran's semi official news agencies Fars and Tasnim said Saturday.
Progress has been made and intensive consultations in Islamabad “along with a reported reduction in Israeli strikes shifting from Beirut to southern Lebanon” — are being seen by Iran as signs of partial progress toward a ceasefire, Fars reported.
Fars also reported that the U.S. agreed in principle to the release of Iranian assets, but further discussions are needed to finalize the release.
The U.S. has denied that it has agreed to unblock Iranian assets.
-ABC News' Rashid Haddou-Riffi
Iranian delegation meets with Pakistani prime minister
Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Iranian negotiators on Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan.
"Appreciating Iran’s engagement in the Islamabad Talks, the Prime Minister affirmed Pakistan’s sincere resolve to continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum towards achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability," the prime minister's office said in a statement.
Vance and Pakistani prime minister hold bilateral meeting in Islamabad
Vice President JD Vance held a bilateral meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, according to the White House.
The press pool traveling with Vance was not brought into the meeting, but there is video of the meeting via the Ministry of Information of Pakistan.
The American Delegation included Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Pakistan Delegation included Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Minister for the Interior Mohsin Naqvi and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
The White House is working to provide a list of all the participants. No additional details are available at this time, per the White House.
A senior U.S. official is also denying a Reuters report that the U.S. has agreed to release Iran's frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks.
“False. The meetings have not even started yet," the senior U.S. official said.
-ABC News' Mariam Khan