Live updates: Iran war ceasefire begins, though some new attacks hit Gulf; Trump and Netanyahu say Lebanon not included in ceasefire
Catch up with NBC News Clone on today's hot topic: Israel Says Lebanon Not Included Ceasefire Rcna267209 - World News | NBC News Clone. Our editorial team reformatted this story for clarity and speed.
Iran said passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be allowed if vessels coordinate with its armed forces.
What to know
- FRAGILE CEASEFIRE BEGINS: The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, hours before President Donald Trump's deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or see a “whole civilization” die.
- ISRAELI STRIKES IN LEBANON: Lebanon came under intense attack after Israel said it was not covered by the agreement, contradicting mediator Pakistan. Lebanon's health ministry said hundreds had been killed or wounded in the new round of strikes.
- HORMUZ UNCERTAINTY: An Iranian news agency reported that oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was halted again, hours after the first tankers were allowed to pass, citing Israel's Lebanon strikes. Trump earlier said the U.S. “will be helping with the traffic buildup” in the strait.
- IRANIAN ATTACKS: Persian Gulf states Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait reported new Iranian attacks this morning after blasts were reported at oil sites in Iran.
- MARKETS SURGE: The price of oil dropped and stock prices soared this morning in response to the ceasefire, despite uncertainty over the deal and the potential for long-term economic scars from the five weeks of war.
- WHAT'S NEXT? Trump said Iran’s 10-point peace proposal was “a workable basis on which to negotiate” a fuller deal, with Pakistan saying talks would begin Friday.
- DEATH TOLL: Over 1,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, and 23 have died in Israel. Iranian officials have not released a recent death toll, but the U.S.-based rights group HRANA put the total killed at almost 3,400, including more than 1,600 civilians. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed, and two more died of noncombat causes.
- INSIGHTS AND ANALYSIS: Get exclusive analysis and insight into the Middle East conflict by becoming an NBC News subscriber.
Macron says ceasefire must be extended to Lebanon
French President Emmanuel Macron applauded the U.S and Iran for agreeing to a ceasefire, but stressed that all parties must abide by its terms, "including in Lebanon," he said after speaking with Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
"I expressed my hope that the ceasefire will be fully respected by each of the belligerents, across all areas of confrontation, including in Lebanon. This is a necessary condition for the ceasefire to be credible and lasting," he posted on X.
"It must open the way to comprehensive negotiations capable of ensuring security for all in the Middle East," he added.
Any agreement between the warring nations must also address concerns about Iran's nuclear and ballistics programs, and control of the Strait of Hormuz, he said.
"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.
French and Iranian presidents agree attacks on Lebanon should stop
In a phone call today, the presidents of France and Iran spoke of their shared desire to end Israel's attacks on Lebanon.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said ending hostilities there is a core of its 10-point ceasefire plan, putting him at odds with both Trump and Netanyahu.
He said Iran's agreement to a deal is a clear indication of the country's serious commitment to diplomacy.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron expressed appreciation for Iran’s release of two French citizens and described the ceasefire as an important step toward fully ending the war and establishing lasting peace.
Macron also said Paris is ready to cooperate with international efforts to establish peace and security in the region.
Vance says U.S. won't stick to ceasefire if Iran violates terms
Vance warned today that if Iran does not follow through on promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the ceasefire will end.
“The president is very, very clear the deal is a ceasefire, a negotiation," he told reporters on the tarmac in Hungary. "That’s what we give, and what they give is that straits are going to be reopened. If we don’t see that happening, the president is not going to abide by our terms if the Iranians are not abiding by their terms."
Asked when the Strait of Hormuz will reopen, Vance said traffic in the waterway has already increased but stopped short of providing a clear timeline.
Continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon could jeopardize the ceasefire. Vance said Iran had misunderstood about Lebanon's inclusion in the ceasefire.
"I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t. We never made that promise. We never indicated that was going to be the case," he said. "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."
Iran needs to show its commitment to negotiating, Vance said.
“The Iranians have got to take the next step or the president has a lot of options to go back to the war," he said, adding that there could be "serious consequences" for Iran if the deal falls apart.
Iran shoots down drone in southern town, semiofficial Iranian news agency says
A drone has been downed over Iran's Fars province, the semiofficial Iranian Students’ News Agency reported.
"A short while ago, an advanced Hermes-900 drone was detected in the skies over Lar in Fars province and was tracked and destroyed by a modern aerospace air defence system of the IRGC under the country’s integrated air defence network," the statement said.
Any entry into Iran's airspace, "even without conducting military operations, will be considered a violation of the ceasefire and will receive a decisive response," it added.
U.S. has violated terms of negotiation framework, Iran parliament speaker says
The U.S. has already violated three clauses of the 10-point plan that Iran has submitted for negotiations less than a day after the warring countries agreed to a ceasefire, according to Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
They include continued attacks on Lebanon, the discovery of a drone in Iranian airspace and attempts to ban Iran's uranium enrichment program.
"The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments a pattern that has regrettably been repeated once again," he posted on X.
Both the U.S and Israel doubled down on Lebanon today, with Trump and Netanyahu asserting that the besieged country was never part of the agreement. The White House today also said Iran's enrichment program would end, a key stipulation that Iran has said it does not find acceptable.
"Now, the very 'workable basis on which to negotiate' has been openly and clearly violated, even before the negotiations began," Ghalibaf wrote, referring to Trump's assertion that Iran's 10-point plan was a document that could be negotiated. "In such situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable."
Ghalibaf did not provide any additional details to explain whether he considered the ceasefire to be over or whether there were any changes in Iran's plans to hold talks with the U.S. this week in Pakistan.
Qatar says its forces intercepted seven missiles and drones today
Qatar's armed forces intercepted seven ballistic missiles and several drones from Iran, the Qatari defense ministry posted on X.
The attacks came after a ceasefire deal was agreed between Iran and the U.S. and Israel.
Internet blackout in Iran enters 40th day despite ceasefire
The internet blackout in Iran has entered its 40th day, according to NetBlocks, a British-Turkish nonprofit group that monitors cybersecurity developments.
That has amounted to 936 hours of "near-total disconnection from the outside world," it said.
"The wartime censorship measure continues even as the U.S. and Iran regimes each declare victory, with the Iranian people once again left in the dark," the group said on X.
Trump: Lebanon not part of ceasefire deal
Trump told PBS this morning that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire deal “because of Hezbollah” but that that will “get taken care of.”
Asked whether he is OK with Israel's continuing to bomb Lebanon, he said it was "part of the deal."
"That's a separate skirmish," he said. The U.S. has not joined Israel’s strikes on Lebanon during the current conflict.
Pakistani mediators have said the ceasefire deal Iran, the U.S. and Israel agreed to includes Lebanon, and Iran's IRGC earlier threatened a response if attacks there continue.
Iran: U.S. must choose between ceasefire or 'war via Israel'
Iran's foreign minister today called on the U.S. to choose between the ceasefire agreed to yesterday or a "continued war via Israel."
"The Iran–U.S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose—ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both," Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on X after heavy bombardment in Beirut today.
"The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments," Araghchi added.
The post included an image of the ceasefire announcement posted by the mediator, Pakistan's prime minister, which said U.S. allies had agreed to a truce that included Lebanon. Trump and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu maintain that the ceasefire does not cover Lebanon.
'This is not the end,' Netanyahu says as he denies being surprised by Trump on ceasefire
The ceasefire will not be the end of the Iran conflict, and Israel is ready to resume strikes if necessary, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today.
“This is not the end of the campaign,” he said at a news conference. "We still have some goals to accomplish, and we will achieve these goals, either from agreement and consensus or from renewal of the war, because we are ready to do so whenever necessary. Our finger is on the trigger."
Netanyahu denied the U.S. had "surprised us at the last moment" with the deal and denied reports of a rift with Trump over the war, adding: "We speak every day. We smile as we hear these comments."
Netanyahu doubled down on continued attacks in Lebanon, asserting that strikes there are not covered by the ceasefire deal, as Iran's IRGC threatened a response to the continued attacks.
"We have changed the face of the Middle East in a way which is dramatically favorable for the state of Israel, and we will continue to do so because we are the ones who are taking the initiative, or proactive, and fighting and, God willing, the winning side," he said.
Iranian ambassador to U.N. says his government will approach peace talks with caution
Iran's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said today that his government will approach peace negotiations with the U.S. with greater caution than previously.
“We are not putting any trust in the other side. Our military forces are keeping their preparedness ... but meanwhile, we will go for negotiations to see how serious the other side is,” Bahreini told Reuters.
Bahreini noted that the nuclear talks in February, before the war began, produced no deal. “Because of that reason, everything is now temporary. Even the arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz is temporary," he said.
Trump says there is 'only one' ceasefire plan that works for the U.S.
Trump has rejected reports about the contents of an Iranian ceasefire plan that he described yesterday as a "workable basis on which to negotiate" in upcoming talks.
State media has reported that Iran's proposal includes withdrawing all U.S. combat forces from bases in the region, ending sanctions against Iran and continuing "Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz” — objectives that contradict objectives the U.S. put forward in its own 15-point plan.
Trump said today on Truth Social that the plan currently on the table is "reasonable" and easily achievable.
"There is only one group of meaningful ‘POINTS’ that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations," he wrote. "These are the POINTS that are the basis on which we agreed to a CEASEFIRE. It is something that is reasonable, and can easily be dispensed with."
European leaders, Canada say ceasefire should include Lebanon
A number of European and world leaders welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. as they called for a “swift and lasting end to the war” within the coming days.
In a joint statement released earlier today, the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, the U.K., Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands and Canada, as well as E.U. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, urged quick progress toward a “substantive negotiated settlement,” crucial to protect the civilian population of Iran and ensure security in the region. “It can avert a severe global energy crisis,” the statement added.
“We call upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon,” it said, adding that the respective governments will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked by Tehran since the start of the U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran.
A woman is assisted at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck an apartment building in Beirut today. Bilal Hussein / AP
IRGC threatens ‘regret-inducing response’ over Israel's continued Lebanon strikes
Less than 24 hours after a ceasefire was agreed, Iran's Revolutionary Guard has threatened a "regret-inducing response" if Israeli strikes on Lebanon do not immediately end.
In a Telegram post, the IRGC decried a "savage attack in Beirut" as Israel continued to strike Lebanon today despite the ceasefire deal announced last night. Israeli officials and Trump have both said that Lebanon is not covered by the current ceasefire between Iran, the U.S. and Israel, contradicting Pakistani mediators.
"We strongly warn the United States, which has broken its commitments and is a partner to this brutal regime, that if the aggression against Lebanon is not immediately halted, we will act upon our duty and deliver a regret-inducing response to the malicious aggressors in the region," the post warned.
Stocks roar higher on U.S.-Iran ceasefire news, but plenty of questions remain
Despite the unanswered questions, markets traded higher in an overwhelmingly positive response to the news on what the future of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will look like.
The S&P 500 was surging 2.3%, as of 12:30 p.m. ET. The Nasdaq Composite soared 2.8%, the Dow spiked 1,200 points and the Russell 2000 rose 3%.
Strategists on JPMorgan Chase’s trading desk said that it “feels likely” that the S&P 500 could rise even further “as euphoria returns to markets.”
“Assuming that this is not a feint from any of the parties, the market is likely to treat this as a de facto end of the conflict despite the economic damage that is still coming across all regions,” they wrote.
Other experts cautioned that the market could be getting ahead of itself.
“We are not out of the woods yet,” Krishna Guha, Evercore vice chairman and head of economics, wrote in a memo this morning. “The ceasefire could fall apart. There will still be an initial inflation shock.”
U.S. crude oil prices had plunged 15% by early afternoon trading Wednesday, to around $95 per barrel. International Brent crude oil also tumbled 13% to around $95. If the move in U.S. crude oil holds through the afternoon, it would mark its biggest one-day percentage drop since 2020.
Tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz halted over Lebanon strikes, Iranian news agency reports
Iran has suspended traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, an Iranian semiofficial news agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard has reported.
The Fars news agency reported that two oil tankers were allowed to pass through the strait this morning "after obtaining permission from Iran," but the passage of further tankers "was halted" because of Israel's fresh strikes on Lebanon, which the Israeli military described as the heaviest bombardment yet.
Israeli officials and Trump have said that the current ceasefire does not apply to the ongoing strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, contradicting a key mediator, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as well as the ceasefire plan outlined by Iranian state media. The U.S. is not directly participating in Israel's invasion of Lebanon.
Iranian foreign minister raises Israeli ‘ceasefire violations’ in call with Pakistani mediators
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised alleged "ceasefire violations in Iran and Lebanon" by Israel during a phone call with the commander of Pakistan's army, according to a statement from the foreign ministry.
Araghchi "expressed appreciation for the constructive and responsible role of the Pakistani government and his continued and effective efforts to end the war and strengthen peace and security in the region," the statement said.
Zelenskyy welcomes Iran de-escalation, reiterates call for ceasefire with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. “the right decision that leads to ending the war,” as he said a ceasefire in Ukraine could also pave the way to diplomatic efforts.
“It means saving lives, abandoning the destruction of cities and villages, and allowing power plants and other infrastructure to operate normally — and thus provides the time and conditions necessary for diplomacy to deliver results,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X about the Iran de-escalation earlier today.
Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia, Zelenskyy said, adding: “Ukraine tells Russia once again: we are ready to respond in kind if the Russians stop their strikes. It is obvious to everyone that a ceasefire can create the right preconditions for agreements.”
The trilateral talks between Kyiv, Moscow and Washington to end the war in Ukraine have yet to resume since the Iran war started, with Trump's attention now focused on the Middle East. Russia had previously said it is not interested in a ceasefire unless it leads to a lasting peace.
Vance may attend ceasefire talks in Pakistan, Trump says
Trump said that Vice President JD Vance might participate in negotiations with Iran that are set to take place in Pakistan.
“We’ll have Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, JD — maybe JD, I don’t know. There’s a question of safety, security," Trump told the New York Post when asked who would represent the administration in the talks.
When asked this morning about Vance’s plans, the vice president's office pointed NBC News to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's statement from yesterday: “There are discussions about in person talks, but nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House.”
Vance has been in Hungary campaigning for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a far-right nationalist.
Pakistan’s PM warns ceasefire violations could undermine peace process
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said ceasefire violations have been reported at a few places across the conflict zone, undermining the spirit of the peace process.
“I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict,” Sharif said in a post on X.
The post tagged Trump, Rubio, Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Pakistan has emerged as an important mediator in the conflict, with peace talks expected in Islamabad later this week.
Analysis: Trump says Iran's 10-point plan is 'workable' — but it conflicts with his own objectives
For now, an uneasy ceasefire is in place, but upcoming negotiations for a more enduring peace will come down to a battle of bullet points between two sets of dueling proposals that appear almost impossible to reconcile.
President Trump has called Iran’s 10-point proposal “a workable basis on which to negotiate” in upcoming talks, but many of Iran’s demands conflict directly with the Trump administration’s own offer, while some fly in the face of long-standing American policy and will likely be nonstarters for U.S. negotiators.
Among Iran’s more eye-popping requests, spelled out by Iranian state media outlets, is the withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces from bases in the region and the ending of sanctions against Iran. The 10-point plan also calls for “continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz” — a statement that, while not expressly rejected by the U.S. side, is likely to remain a major point of contention during negotiations.
The details of the rival 15-point plan put forward by the Trump administration haven't been publicly disclosed, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said it stipulates that Iran “can never have nuclear weapons, and they need to stop sponsoring terrorism, and they need to stop building weapons that can threaten their neighbors.”
Trump posted on Truth Social this morning that “many of the 15 points” from the U.S. plan have already been agreed to, reiterating that “there will be no enrichment of Uranium” in Iran.
Meanwhile, Israel has already rejected a stipulation in Iran's plan that the war must halt “on all fronts,” including against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The U.S. has not directly struck Lebanon during the conflict, but heavy Israeli bombardment continued there today amid its invasion of southern Lebanon.
Iranian state media organizations were portraying the advancement of the 10-point plan as an Iranian triumph. Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency listed “10 signs of the great defeat of the enemy and Iran’s victory.”
“The enemy claimed Iran must accept limitations on its missile capabilities either diplomatically or by force,” the agency said. “There is no trace of this in the 10-point plan that Trump was forced to accept.”
'Total chaos' in Beirut with 'no warnings' of strikes, aid worker says
An aid worker in Beirut has described "total chaos" in Lebanon's capital today, with bombs raining down over the city, striking what she described as civilian areas with "no warning."
"I can't believe what is happening. These are not targeted attacks," Dr. Tania Baban, the Lebanon country director for the Chicago-based nonprofit MedGlobal, told NBC News just now, describing dozens of strikes across the city. She said her ears were "still ringing" after a building right by her was hit.
First responders stand amid rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's Corniche al-Mazraa neighborhood today. AFP - Getty Images
It comes after the Israeli military said it was carrying out its largest wave of strikes across Lebanon since the start of its invasion. It said it had struck more than 100 command centers and military sites belonging to Iran-backed Hezbollah. It said many were located "within the heart of the civilian population," accusing the militant group of using Lebanese civilians as human shields, an assertion frequently repeated in its devastating assault in Gaza.
Baban said the strikes in Beirut were hitting densely populated "civilian areas" and with "no warning." She added that hospitals were full of casualties, dead and injured, with civilians being urged to clear the street for ambulances and calls for blood donations.
"It's insane," she said. "This is an open war crime with a clear violation of any international law possible — and no one is stopping this."
Pakistan's PM thanks China, others for support in achieving truce
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has credited China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Qatar with extending "invaluable" support in the effort to achieve a temporary ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, with Israel also agreeing to cease strikes against the Islamic Republic.
With talks for a fuller truce set to begin as early as Friday, Sharif said in a post on X that he wanted to extend "our deepest and sincere gratitude to our brother countries," including China and others, "for extending invaluable and all out support towards reaching the ceasefire.
He said they had given "peaceful diplomatic efforts a chance to seek a comprehensive and conclusive end to the conflict."
It comes after Trump told the Agence France-Presse news agency that he believed China had played a pivotal role in persuading Iran to negotiate toward a temporary truce.
Photos: Israeli airstrike on Lebanese capital
Press agency images show the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s Corniche al-Mazraa neighborhood this afternoon.
Israel launched a series of strikes on Beirut today, causing panic among residents in the most violent attack on the capital since the start of the war with Hezbollah.
AFP via Getty Images
Ibrahim Amro / AFP via Getty Images
Ibrahim Amro / AFP via Getty Images
The Israeli military said it carried out its “largest coordinated strike across Lebanon”. Israel has insisted the two-week truce in its war with Iran does not apply to Lebanon.
Trump says any countries supplying Iran with weapons could face 50% tariff
Hours after agreeing to advance a two-week ceasefire with Iran, Trump threatened to impose new tariffs against its allies.
In a post on Truth Social, he said: "A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately."
He said there "will be no exclusions or exemptions" from the tariff rate.
Trump did not specify any countries that the proposed tariffs would apply to, or under what law they would be applied after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff regime.
Iran has a long-standing defense partnership with Russia, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously acknowledged providing "military equipment" to the country.
Last month, sanctions on Russian oil were temporarily eased by the Trump administration amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Iran’s army remains 'on the trigger,’ former IRGC commander says
A senior official and former IRGC commander said the hands of Iran’s armed forces remain on the trigger despite the ceasefire until the country’s interests are secured.
The semi-official Fars News Agency, linked to the IRGC, reported that Major General Mohsen Rezaei, said in a post on X that “the blustering President of the United States” was forced to accept Iran’s 10-point plan as the basis on negotiations after what he called “the resistance of the proud Iranian people, the brave armed forces and the firm leadership of the Supreme Leader.”
It comes as attacks on some Gulf states have continued this morning after blasts were reported at oil sites in Iran.
Trump ‘chose mercy’ with Iran ceasefire, Hegseth says
In a press briefing at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Hegseth said President Trump “chose mercy” in Iran, adding that Iran’s leadership accepted a two-week ceasefire “under overwhelming pressure.”
Hegseth says he 'would love to see the Iranian people take advantage of this opportunity'
Asked whether the administration was still encouraging Iranians to rise up against their government, Hegseth said he wanted to see Iranians "take advantage of this opportunity."
"I would love to see the Iranian people take advantage of this opportunity, they have been oppressed by the previous regime, and they'll have a new opportunity with this regime that remains to be seen," he said.
Trump has claimed that there has already been regime change in Iran. However, the former supreme leader was killed and replaced with his son, and the government system remains the same.
Before the war started, Trump told Iranian protesters in January that "help is on its way." When the war began, the president called on Iranians to "take over your government."
Trump suggests a Strait of Hormuz 'joint venture' with Iran
Trump, in a phone interview with ABC News, said that the U.S. is "thinking of" controlling the Strait of Hormuz "as a joint venture" with Iran.
"It's a way of securing it — also securing it from lots of other people," Trump said, according to the ABC News report. "It's a beautiful thing," he added.
Controlling the freedom of navigation would undermine international sea law, many experts believe. However the U.N.'s Law of the Sea treaty has never been ratified by the U.S. or Iran.
In recent weeks, Iran has been believed to be charging a toll to shipowners in order to pass through. Ships from countries such as China, Greece, Pakistan, India and France have reportedly paid the toll, according to reports in The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News.
Hegseth says Iran will either give the U.S. its uranium, or the military could target it again
Hegseth was asked at the press conference if a future U.S. deal with Iran would involve its government handing over all of its enriched uranium.
The defense secretary said that that material is currently "buried" and the U.S. is "watching it."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon today. Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images
"We know exactly what they have, and they know that, and they will either give it to us, which the president has laid out — they'll give it to us voluntarily, we'll get it, we'll take it, we'll take it out — or if we have to do something else ourselves, like we did Midnight Hammer or something like that, we reserve that opportunity," Hegseth said, referring to the U.S. targeting Iran's nuclear facilities in June 2025.
Hegseth: 'We’ll be hanging around, we’re not going anywhere'
Hegseth said that the military was "hanging around" as the ceasefire is underway.
"We'll be hanging around, we're not going anywhere," he said.
One of Iran's demands in order to end the war is the removal of all U.S. military forces from "all bases and positions in the region." That demand would almost certainly be a nonstarter for the U.S.
Israel announces largest wave of strikes across Lebanon since start of invasion
The Israeli military said it has undertaken the largest wave of strikes across Lebanon since the start of its invasion, striking more than a hundred command centers and military sites belonging to Iran-backed Hezbollah.
In a post shared on Telegram, the Israel Defense Forces said the strikes, planned meticulously over weeks to “deepen the damage,” involved areas of Beirut, Beqaa and southern Lebanon, and were conducted within 10 minutes and across multiple areas simultaneously.
Most of the infrastructure that was struck was located “within the heart of the civilian population,” the IDF said, accusing Hezbollah of using Lebanese civilians as human shields. It added that “steps were taken to mitigate harm to uninvolved individuals as much as possible” prior to the strikes, without elaborating.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declares victory
The Pentagon press conference has begun and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared victory.
"Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, a capital V military victory," he said in his opening remarks.
Hegseth said that the operation rendered Iran's military "combat ineffective for years to come."
Hegseth is the first senior administration official to face reporters directly since the ceasefire was announced last night.
L.A.’s Iranian community expresses relief over Iran ceasefire
People in Los Angeles' Iranian community are feeling some relief after President Donald Trump’s two-week pause on bombings. KNBC’s Keenan Willard reports.
Ceasefire ‘result of blood of martyred leader’ Khamenei, Iran's president says
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the ceasefire agreed between the U.S. and Iran was “achieved through acceptance of Iran’s core principles” and “was the result of the blood of our martyred leader, the great Khamenei.”
A woman holds a portrait of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, last month. Majid Saeedi / Getty Images
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on Feb. 28, and was among many of Iran’s top leadership to have been wiped out by the strikes.
Pezeshkian also thanked the people of Iran, saying in a post on X: “From today, we will continue to stand together — whether in diplomacy, in defense, in the streets, or in service.”
Pete Hegesth to give Pentagon press briefing shortly
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine will hold a press briefing at the Pentagon at 8 a.m.
It will be the first time top administration officials have appeared before reporters after the two-week ceasefire was announced last night.
Trump says U.S. will work with Iran to 'dig up and remove' uranium; Tehran yet to comment
The president said this morning that the U.S. will work with Iran to "dig up and remove" what he referred to as "nuclear dust," likely a reference to the country's enriched uranium that was buried in U.S.-Israeli strikes last year.
Tehran has not immediately commented on the president's claims, made in a Truth Social post.
Trump also said that “there will be no enrichment of uranium” by Iran, though Iran has publicly insisted it will retain the right to enrich uranium in any peace deal.
Here's what Trump said: "The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change! There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear “Dust.” It is now, and has been, under very exacting Satellite Surveillance (Space Force!). Nothing has been touched from the date of attack."
He added that "We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran. Many of the 15 points have already been been agreed to."
Jet fuel supplies ‘will take months’ to recover, says aviation industry body
Recovery of jet fuel prices could take months, the global aviation body said today, amid hopes that the ceasefire could ease the pressure on airfare.
"If it were to reopen and remain open, I think it will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be," said Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association.
Virtually every major airline around the world has raised prices, either in the form of a higher base fare, additional luggage charges, or higher fuel surcharges.
Walsh said the Middle East's refining capacity is a critical part of the global supply chain, including jet fuel.
Iranian state media signals attacks in Gulf are in response to attacks on Iranian oil fields
The missile and drone interceptions over the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait appear to be in response to the attacks that have hit Iranian oil fields, threatening a fragile ceasefire.
The drone attacks "took place hours after the targeting of oil facilities on Lavan Island in Iran," Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported. The official student news agency, SNN, said to note that the attacks were carried out in response to the "clear violation of the ceasefire."
The semi-official news agency Tasnim also reported on the missile and drone attacks over the Gulf, saying they took place hours after attacks on Iran.
UAE says it ‘emerged victorious’ from war it ‘sought to avoid’
The United Arab Emirates has said that it has “emerged victorious” from a war that it “sought to avoid” following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement in the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.
“The UAE emerged victorious from a war we sincerely sought to avoid, achieving a triumphant national defense that safeguarded our sovereignty and dignity and protected our achievements against a brutal aggression,” presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said in a post on X.
Although the UAE was not directly involved in the conflict, it was a frequent target of retaliatory attacks from Iran.
Shipping giant Maersk says ceasefire 'does not yet provide full maritime certainty'
Maersk, one of the world's largest shipping companies, said today that it welcomed the announced ceasefire overnight from the U.S. and Iran. But it warned that shipping traffic was unlikely to resume quickly.
Maersk shipping containers. Sergei Gapon / AFP - Getty Images file
"Information and details available remain very limited and we are working with urgency to obtain further clarity," the company said in an email to NBC News. "The ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty and we need to understand all potential conditions attached."
The company said the safety of its ship operators and vessels in the region remained its highest priority at this time. "Any decision to transit the Strait of Hormuz will be based on continuous risk assessments, close monitoring of the security situation, and available guidance from relevant authorities and partners," the company's statement read.
Early signs of vessel movement in the Strait of Hormuz, MarineTraffic data shows
Shipping vessels stranded in and around the Persian Gulf have begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil flows.
"Initial movements are now being recorded," ship-tracking website, MarineTraffic said in a post on X. It said a Greek-owned bulk carrier and a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier had transited the waterway this morning.
According to the site's data, nearly 500 oil vessels remain stuck in the region, but that's on top of the many more untrackable ships that are believed to be stranded there.
Kuwait and UAE say Iranian attacks are continuing, despite ceasefire
Iranian attacks on Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have continued despite the announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreement, the two Gulf nations said today.
Kuwait's military said in a statement on social media that it has been “engaging with hostile Iranian attacks” and intercepted 28 drones targeting the country.
According to the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, the drones were aimed at “vital oil installations and power stations” in the southern part of the country.
“These attacks resulted in significant material damage to oil infrastructure facilities, power plants, and water desalination plants,” it said in a statement.
The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, has also reported missile and drone attacks from Iran.
“UAE Air Defenses system are actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats,” the country’s ministry of defense said in a statement posted on X.
Iran agrees to talks in Pakistan, Pakistan's prime minister says
Iran has agreed to take part in negotiations in Pakistan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said today in a post on X.
Sharif said he had spoken to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had accepted Pakistan's offer to hold peace talks in Islamabad later this week.
"President Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s participation in the upcoming negotiations and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts," he said.
It is unclear if any U.S. officials will be present and the U.S. has yet to comment on the proposal.
Photos: Israeli projectile strikes building in southern Lebanon
An Israeli projectile was captured in the sky moments before striking a building in Abbasiyeh, on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, today. The images that followed showed a fireball and smoke rising from the building after it was hit.
Lebanon’s army warned people against returning to the country’s south today, where the Israeli military is still launching attacks. Israel said the ceasefire with Iran did not include its conflict with Hezbollah.
Kawnat Haju / AFP via Getty Images
Kawnat Haju / AFP via Getty Images
Kawnat Haju / AFP via Getty Images
Explosions reported at Iranian oil sites amid ceasefire, cause unknown
Iranian media has reported explosions in the last hour at two sites linked to the country's oil industry.
"This morning after the ceasefire was established several explosions occurred at the Lavan Island refinery. The source of these explosions is still unknown," the semiofficial Mehr news agency reported.
Meanwhile several explosions occurred on Sirri Island, which is home to several oil sites, according to Nour News, an outlet linked to the Revolutionary Guard. It said the cause of the blasts was unknown.
"Given the necessity for both sides to adhere to the declared ceasefire and according to the armed forces any aggression against the country will be met with a firm response," it said.
It was not immediately clear what might have caused the blasts. Israel has said that it stopped attacks on Iran as part of the ceasefire, which Trump announced last night.
Shipping won't fully resume despite ceasefire, insurers say
Despite the ceasefire, trade is unlikely to resume just yet, shipping insurers have said, as the region remains at heightened risk and the terms and longevity of the pause in fighting remain unclear.
"It is highly unlikely that trade into the Gulf will simply resume. The region remains at heightened risk with none of the underlying tensions resolved," Neil Roberts, Head of Marine and Aviation at the London-based Lloyd's Market Association, said in a statement.
Roberts said the ships that have previously been stranded due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz "will now try to do so as soon as the owners and master deem it is safe to do so," he added.
Even if the ship owners feel comfortable moving their ships around, it is unlikely that many third-party shipping managers and the crew of these ships, who have the final say, will agree to transit the waterway right away.
VP Vance says ceasefire is 'fragile truce,' Trump 'impatient to make progress'
Vice President JD Vance called the ceasefire with Iran a “fragile truce” while speaking in Budapest this morning.
The vice president said talks had taught him a lot about the Iranian system, and warned Tehran would discover Trump was "not one to mess around" if there is a lack of progress in peace talks.
Vice President JD Vance in Budapest, Hungary today. Jonathan Ernst / Getty Images
Vance said the response from Iran had varied depending on the group. He said the foreign minister had responded favorably to the agreement, but that others had been “lying” about the country's military achievements.
“This is why I say this is a fragile truce,” he said. “You have people who clearly want to come to the negotiating table and work with us to find a good deal and then you have people who are lying about even the fragile truths that we’ve already struck.”
“If the Iranians are willing in good faith to work with us, I think we can make an agreement,” Vance said. “If they’re going to lie, if they’re going to cheat, if they’re trying to going to try to prevent even the fragile truce that we’ve set up from taking place, that they’re not going to be happy,” Vance added.
“What the President has also shown is that we still have clear military, diplomatic and, maybe most importantly, we have extraordinary economic leverage,” Vance said. “So the President has told us not to use those tools. He’s told us to come to negotiating table. But if the Iranians don’t do the exact same thing, they’re going to find out that the President of the United States is not one to mess around. He’s impatient. He’s impatient to make progress.”
Trump says he thinks China got Iran to negotiate
Trump told the AFP news agency today that he believes China got Iran to negotiate the ceasefire, which came as Beijing said it had made efforts towards peace in the region.
"China has also made its own efforts toward this end," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said today at a regular news briefing. "China has consistently advocated for an immediate ceasefire and end to the fighting, resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means," she said.
She did not elaborate on the specifics of those efforts but said that safeguarding smooth passage through the Strait of Hormuz "serves the common interests of the international community."
China and Russia yesterday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that called on states to coordinate efforts to protect shipping through the waterway. China called the measure biased against Iran.
Global markets rebound on ceasefire news
Stock markets across the world rebounded as wary traders react to the news of a ceasefire in Iran and the likely easing of the global energy market due to the planned opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
European stocks rose 4% in early trading on the STOXX 600 index today, while Wall Street futures indicated gains of 2.5% to 3.2%. Markets also rose in China and Hong Kong.
The price of crude oil fell by more than 15% after a two-week ceasefire was announced in the war in Iran, but analysts warn that prices remain inflated compared to their pre-war levels and will take more time to return to normality.
Brent crude, the global benchmark fell towards nearly $90 per barrel, while U.S. crude oil fell from a high of $109 per barrel to $94. Consumer gas prices have rocketed as a result of the war, with diesel approaching its record price of $5.82 per gallon.
Pope Leo welcomes ceasefire with ‘satisfaction’ after criticizing Trump's threats
Pope Leo has welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire with “satisfaction.”
"Following these past hours of great tension in the Middle East and throughout the world, I welcome with satisfaction and as a sign of living hope, the announcement of an immediate two week truce," the pope said in his weekly audience.
Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd during the weekly general audience at St Peter's Square in The Vatican today. Tiziana Fabi / AFP via Getty Images
"Only through a return to negotiations can an end to the war be achieved. I urge that this period of delicate diplomatic work be accompanied by prayer, in the hope that a willingness for dialogue may become the means to resolve other situations of conflict around the world," he added.
The pope had earlier criticized Trump’s social media threats against Iran as “truly unacceptable,” adding that “people want peace,” while speaking to reporters in Italy yesterday.
More than 15 countries planning to facilitate Strait of Hormuz access, Macron says
More than 15 nations are working with Iran to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Led by France, the initiative includes countries from Asia, Europe and the Middle East, he said.
“Around 15 countries are currently mobilized and participating in the planning, led by France, to enable the implementation of a strictly defensive mission in coordination with Iran, when the conditions are right, to facilitate the resumption of maritime traffic,” Macron said.
Macron also welcomed the ceasefire announcement and expressed optimism that it would be respected on the ground.
Israeli opposition leader Lapid criticizes ‘political disaster’
Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid said the country has never faced such a “political disaster” in its history.
“Israel was not even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security,” Lapid wrote in a post on X.
Lapid also said that Netanyahu had “failed politically, failed strategically, [and] failed to meet any of the goals he himself set.”
“It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage Netanyahu has caused due to arrogance, negligence, and lack of strategic planning,” he added.
Israel is due to hold elections later this year.
IAEA says it stands ready to support U.S.-Iran peace efforts
The U.N. atomic watchdog welcomes the ceasefire and stands ready to support efforts to find a lasting solution covering Tehran’s nuclear program, Director General Rafael Grossi said this morning.
“IAEA DG Grossi welcomes ... a return to diplomacy aimed at negotiating a settlement on key issues including Iran’s nuclear programme,” the IAEA said in a statement. “The IAEA stands ready to support these efforts through its indispensable safeguards and verification role.”
'The era of Iran has begun': Tehran claims victory after ceasefire
Iranian officials are declaring victory after Trump backed away from his threats and announced the ceasefire.
"Today, history turned a new page, the world greeted a new pole of power and the era of Iran has begun," Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said in a post on X.
Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, a senior official and former commander of the IRGC, boasted that "after three rounds of retreat, in the end the blustering President of the United States was forced, due to the resistance of the proud Iranian people, the brave armed forces and the firm leadership of the Supreme Leader to accept the Islamic Republic of Iran’s 10-point plan as the basis for negotiations."
People gather in front of a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in downtown Tehran yesterday. Majid Saeedi / Getty Images
"Nevertheless, the armed forces hands will remain on the trigger until complete assurance of securing the country’s interests is achieved.," he said in a post on X.
New Israeli strikes and evacuation orders hit southern Lebanon
Amid uncertainty over whether the two-week ceasefire agreement covers Lebanon, the Israeli military issued new calls for residents in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre to flee their homes.
"The battle in Lebanon continues," the military's Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a video posted on X.
At least 8 people were killed in an aerial raid on Sidon, which is halfway between Tyre and the capital, Beirut, the Lebanese health ministry said today. Plumes of thick black smoke were seen rising from a cafe, which was on fire, a video circulating on social media and geolocated by NBC News showed.
Local authorities also reported that 4 people were killed in Israeli shelling of Jal Al-Bahr.
Operations suspended at Abu Dhabi gas complex after attack
Operations at Abu Dhabi’s Habshan gas complex have been suspended after falling debris injured three people, authorities said.
The incident occurred following an interception by air defense systems, which led to multiple fires at the site, it said. Two Emirati nationals and one Indian national sustained minor injuries.
European leaders call for end to war
The leaders of France, Spain and Finland and top European Union leaders all issued statements welcoming the two-week pause in fighting but urging swift negotiations to bring the war to a permanent end.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the planned pause in fighting between Iran, the United States and Iran as “a very good thing” and said he hopes it “will be fully respected in the whole region and permit negotiations to be held.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has been Europe’s loudest critic of the U.S. and Israel’s military actions in the Middle East, criticized the threats of violence that preceded the ceasefire announcement.
“The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket,” Sánchez wrote on X, adding, “What’s needed now: diplomacy, international legality, and PEACE.”
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, and Antonio Costa, the head of the European Council, praised Pakistani mediation efforts in social media posts Wednesday.
The Turkish and Austrian foreign ministries issued statements welcoming the deal and calling for further negotiations. Austria also offered to host talks.
Israeli military says it has stopped attacking Iran but will keep fighting in Lebanon
Israel’s military said it had ceased fire against Iran but would keep fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The IDF said in a statement that it carried out a final wave of strikes overnight targeting Iran’s “launching capabilities” and infrastructure.
"In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF has ceased fire in the operation against Iran, and is highly prepared to respond defensively against any violation," it said.
Mediator Pakistan said Lebanon was included in the ceasefire agreement, but Netanyahu's office said earlier it was not. Now the IDF also says its operations there will continue.
“In Lebanon, the IDF is continuing to conduct targeted ground operations against the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” the statement said.
Saudi Arabia welcomes 2-week ceasefire agreement, backs Pakistan-led mediation efforts
Saudi Arabia welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the war, the country’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.
The kingdom said it supports mediation efforts led by Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of reaching a “permanent agreement” that would bring stability to the region.
“At the same time, the Kingdom emphasizes the necessity of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for navigation,” the statement said.
Iran had been hitting its Gulf rival with missiles and drones as part of its response to the U.S.-Israeli assault.
EU’s Kallas says ceasefire agreement will ‘create space for diplomacy’
The ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran offers a much-needed opportunity to “tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping and create space for diplomacy,” European Commission foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.
“The U.S.–Iran agreement on a ceasefire is a step back from the brink after weeks of escalation,” Kallas wrote in a post on X.
An Iranian resident looks out the window of his damaged home after Israeli-U.S. strikes, in Tehran yesterday. AFP via Getty Images
“It creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement,” she added, noting that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened.
Kallas said that although the underlying issues that drove the war remain “unresolved,” she had spoken with Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, to thank him for “securing this initial deal.”
“The EU stands ready to support those efforts and is in touch with partners in the region,” she added.
British PM Starmer welcomes 2-week ceasefire
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is among a slate of world leaders to welcome the two-week ceasefire this morning.
Starmer said he would be visiting the Gulf in the coming days.
“Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz,” Starmer wrote in a post on X.
Photos: Iranians react after ceasefire announcement
Majid Asgaripour / WANA via Reuters
AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images
Some Iranians gathered in Enqelab Square in Tehran overnight after news of the ceasefire.
Iran says truce deal includes right of enrichment
The ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran includes "acceptance of enrichment" for Tehran's nuclear program, Iranian state news outlets have reported.
Iranian networks PressTV and IRIB both reported that the U.S. had accepted Iran's 10-point conditions for the truce deal, including the continuation of Tehran's control over the Strait of Hormuz and acceptance of enrichment. Iran's Supreme National Security Council also reported that Tehran's right of enrichment had been included in the deal.
The Associated Press reported that a Farsi version of the plan did include the right to enrichment, but it noted that the line appeared to be missing from some English versions of the deal shared with journalists.
NBC News was not immediately able to independently confirm whether an agreement on Iran's right of enrichment was included as part of the deal.
Trump says it's 'a big day for world peace' after ceasefire announcement
Trump struck an optimistic tone following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, calling it a “big day for world peace.”
Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. would help ease the “traffic buildup” in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane that carries about 20% of the world’s daily oil supply.
“Big money will be made,” he wrote. “Iran can start the reconstruction process.”
“We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will,” he added.
He finished off by saying, “This could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!”
Israeli PM’s office says ceasefire doesn’t include Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said overnight the ceasefire in the Iran war does not include Lebanon, where Tehran-backed Hezbollah militants have been striking Israel and which Israel has invaded.
“Israel supports President Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement on X.
The office said it supports negotiations, but it added: “The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon.”
Pakistan's prime minister had said the ceasefire did include Lebanon.
Smoke rises following Israeli bombardment on the village of Qlaile as pictured from nearby Tyre in southern Lebanon yesterday. Kawnat Haju / AFP via Getty Images
Israel has attacked what it said are Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, and it has invaded the southern part of the country in what it said was a bid to ensure the security of residents in Israel's north.
Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran, has periodically launched attacks against Israel, including retaliatory attacks after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, setting off the current war.
