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
At least 182 killed in Lebanon on Wednesday, health ministry says
The preliminary toll from Israeli attacks across Lebanon on Wednesday is at least 182 people killed and 890 others wounded, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.
Earlier Wednesday, Lebanese Civil Defense spokesperson Elie Khairallah told ABC News that at least 254 people have been killed and another 1,165 have been injured in attacks across Lebanon.
UAE 'seeking further clarification' on ceasefire
The United Arab Emirates said it is "seeking further clarification" on the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
The UAE said in a statement Wednesday that it wants more clarity regarding the "provisions to ensure Iran’s full commitment to an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the region and the complete and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz."
UAE officials also said they want to ensure that Iran is "held accountable and fully liable for damages and reparations" for attacks on the country's energy facilities and infrastructure.
Macron says he spoke to US, Iranian presidents
French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke to both President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday.
"I expressed my hope that the ceasefire will be fully respected by each of the belligerents, across all areas of confrontation, including in Lebanon," he said in a statement. "This is a necessary condition for the ceasefire to be credible and lasting."
Macron said any agreement will also need to address Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
"This is how a strong and lasting peace can be built, with the support of all those who are able to contribute to it," he said, adding, "France will play its full part, in close coordination with its partners in the Middle East."
Vance says US 'never once' said Lebanon was part of ceasefire deal
Vice President J.D. Vance said that the United States has “never once” said that Lebanon was part of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal as Israel launched on Wednesday a barrage of attacks on the country.
“Look, if Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart in a conflict where they were getting hammered over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them, and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire ... that's ultimately their choice. We think that would be dumb, but that's their choice,” Vance said, speaking to reporters in Hungary.
“Neither us nor the Israelis said that that was going to be part of the ceasefire,” Vance said later.
Vance said that any confusion about whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire proposal comes from “a legitimate misunderstanding” from all sides.
“I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn't. We never made that promise,” Vance said. “We never indicated that was going to be the case. What we said is that the ceasefire would be focused on Iran, and the ceasefire would be focused on America's allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states.”
Vance also repeated his claim that ceasefires are “messy,” but that the White House has been clear to allies that bombing should stop.
“What we have been very clear about is that we want to stop the bombing. We want our allies to stop the bombing, and with the Iranians to do the same thing. We're seeing evidence that things are going in the right direction, but it's going to take a little time,” Vance said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also said on Wednesday that Lebanon was not part of any ceasefire agreement.
-ABC News’ Isabella Murray and Hannah Demissie