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
Kuwait reports injuries in drone attack, Iran denies involvement
Kuwait's armed forces reported seven hostile drones were "handled" over the last 24 hours, the Army General Staff Headquarters said in a post Friday.
Kuwait is blaming Iran and militias backed by Iran for the Thursday evening drone attack that resulted in injuries. The post said several National Guard facilities were targeted.
"The Iranian aggression resulted in targeting several vital facilities affiliated with the National Guard, leading to injuries among some of its members, who are currently receiving treatment with stable conditions, in addition to significant material damage," the post said.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement on Friday that Iran’s armed forces have not carried out any airstrikes against other countries since the ceasefire began.
Release of blocked Iranian assets must come before talks, Ghalibaf says
The speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said that "the release of Iran’s blocked assets" has been one of the "measures mutually agreed upon between the parties," but is yet to be implemented prior to the commencement of negotiations, in a post on X on Friday.
He said a ceasefire in Lebanon is another measure that must be implemented before the talks.
-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian
Iran warns of 'crushing response' if Israel continues strikes on Lebanon
Israel will receive a “crushing and painful response” if it continues its attacks on Lebanon, the Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of Iran’s armed forces warned in a statement on Friday.
Iran will take the management of the Strait of Hormuz “to a new stage” and “maintain the initiative to dominate the strait," the Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters added.
"We will not give up our legitimate rights in any way," the statement said.
Hezbollah’s leader warns Lebanese officials against making 'free concessions'
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem said in a statement Friday that the "resistance" would not accept a return to the previous status quo, adding that the group would continue fighting “until the last breath."
Listing Israeli attacks across several areas in Lebanon on Wednesday, Qassem said Israel had failed to stop Hezbollah’s missiles and warned Lebanese officials against making “free concessions” in negotiations.
"We will not accept a return to the previous situation, and we call on officials to stop making free concessions," he said.