APPLENEWS - STORY ADD
Iran live updates: US shoots down 2 Iranian drones attempting to strike ships in Strait of Hormuz
However, Trump says an Iran agreement could be signed as soon as this weekend.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal.
Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations are concluded "one way or the other."
Key Headlines
- US forces shoot down more Iranian attack drones in Strait of Hormuz
- Pakistani prime minister says final, agreed upon text of peace deal reached
- What the White House says Iran agreed to in a short-term agreement
- Israel will not withdraw from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, Katz says
- Iranian official says memorandum of understanding has never been closer
- US moving forward with signing ceremony plans, but deal still needs final approval from Iran, sources say
Bomb was 'lodged in the helicopter' downed by Iran, Trump says
President Donald Trump said that the U.S. is going to be attacking Iran "very hard, resuming bombing" on Wednesday, during remarks at the White House.
"Based on the helicopter, I guess we have the right to do," Trump said.
Trump said there was a bomb lodged in the helicopter that went down in the Middle East earlier this week that didn't explode.
"It was on fire, but it didn't explode. Those two [pilots], they knew how to fly, but they got very lucky," Trump said.
Trump promises more attacks against Iran on Wednesday
President Donald Trump promised more attacks against Iran on Wednesday saying the two sides were "really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along, they keep playing us for suckers."
"We have the strongest military anywhere in the world, and sometimes you'll have to use it," Trump said.
"Iran very simply cannot have a nuclear weapon and they won't," he said.
Trump says US naval blockade of Iran is 'the most successful' in history
President Donald Trump criticized media coverage of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in a post to social media on Wednesday, describing the measure as "the most successful Blockade in the history of Naval Warfare."
"NOTHING GETS THROUGH unless we want it to. IT IS A STEEL WALL! Iran is doing ZERO business, not paying their military, or any of their bills, and quickly becoming a FAILED NATION! Lots of oil is getting out. Praise be to Allah!" Trump wrote.
Iranian president calls for end to 'neither war nor peace' situation
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that the "neither war nor peace" situation must be resolved, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Pezeshkian said that state television occasionally broadcasts remarks of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei saying that Iran would not negotiate with the U.S., while the late leader had approved the talks to continue.
Pezeshkian added that in later discussions the former leader had emphasized the need to resolve the "neither war nor peace" situation.
"The children of this country should be able to live with hope and a clear vision of the future. The government must fulfill its responsibility by creating the necessary plans to empower the younger generation to build the country's future," he said.
-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian