(NewsNation) — Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, a move that comes less than 24 hours after an temporary ceasefire agreement that included reopening the critical passage.
At a press briefing following the news, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the closure was “completely unacceptable” but still called the ceasefire a victory.
“The United States has achieved and exceeded those core military objectives in just 38 days,” she said.
Leavitt also pushed back on questions about Trump’s rhetoric about destroying the entire Iranian civilization, stating that the president “still has the moral high ground.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said Iran is no longer a threat to the United States and called the U.S. military operation in the Middle East a “capital-V military victory.”
Sirens rang out in the Middle East overnight, hours after a two-week ceasefire deal was reached between the U.S., Israel and Iran.
In a Pentagon briefing, Joint Chiefs of Staff chair Gen. Dan Caine said U.S. military objectives in Iran have been met but that the ceasefire is a pause — and forces remain ready to resume combat.
President Donald Trump had previously cautioned that “a whole civilization will die” if Iran did not reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war.
A senior White House official told NewsNation that Trump and Vice President JD Vance led “tough negotiations” that have resulted in what they call “a roadmap to a diplomatic solution for long-term peace with Iran.”
Pakistan’s prime minister invited U.S. and Iranian leaders to Islamabad on Friday for in-person talks. The White House says they’re in discussions on that front, but nothing is final.
Trump says US military still ‘in place’
In a post to Truth Social late Wednesday night, the president said: “All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with,” Trump wrote.
“If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the “Shootin’ Starts,” bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before. It was agreed, a long time ago, and despite all of the fake rhetoric to the contrary – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE. In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest. AMERICA IS BACK!”
Vance ‘optimistic’ on Iran negotiations
Speaking to reporters, Vance said the Strait of Hormuz has started to reopen and believes there is a path to a deal.
“I’m optimisticthe Iranians are going to be smart and negotiate in good faith,” he said.
Vance referenced multiple versions of a ceasefire plan circulating online, saying one looked like it had been “written by ChatGPT.”
He suggested fringe elements in Iran were leaking things because they did not like the fact that negotiations were happening.
The vice president said there was legitimate confusion over whether Lebanon was part of the agreement, but reiterated that the U.S. and Israel did not include it in the ceasefire.
Vance also dismissed a plan that included Iran’s right to enrichment, stating that the administration was less concerned over that and more focused on Iran’s actions.
White House says negotiations to begin Saturday
Leavitt said Trump has dispatched Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad this weekend.
Negotiations are expected to begin Saturday.
White House says circulating version of plan outdated
A White House official told NewsNation that there is an “updated plan” and that Iran has already conceded to many of the old points.
The previous 10-point plan being circulated is not the latest framework, the official said.
Leavitt reiterated the point, accusing the press of reporting on a false version of the plan and said Iran’s public and private positions on a ceasefire were different.
“”What they’re saying publicly is different privately,” she said.
The president has repeatedly suggested Iran was begging for a deal, something that Iran has refuted.
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz
Less than 24-hours after a two-week ceasefire agreement that included a pause in attacks and an agreement to allow ships to transit the critical strait, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media says the closure is due to Israel’s continued bombing of Lebanon.
“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. 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,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on social media.
In Wednesday’s press briefing, Leavitt said Lebanon is not part of the deal. She would not answer questions about who currently controls the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump says Vance may not participate in Iran talks, citing safety concerns
Trump told the New York Post that in-person talks about the Iran ceasefire would happen “very soon” but did not offer details about when and where the negotiations would take place.
Pakistan is expected to host the talks.
“We’ll have Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, JD —maybe JD, I don’t know,” Trump said. “There’s a question of safety, security.”
Vance’s office has not commented on whether he would participate in talks.
Lebanon condemns Israel for series of strikes
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the simultaneous attacks on Beirut and other areas “barbaric,” accusing Israel of committing a new massacre in the country.
Aoun said Israel holds full responsibility and that its continued pursuit of aggressive policies “will only lead to further tension and instability at a time when everyone is most in need of de-escalation.”
Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes Wednesday that hit multiple residential areas in Beirut and other parts of the country. Entire buildings were destroyed, while in other parts of the city, dust and debris covered entire residential areas.
Hours after the strikes, rescue workers continued combing through debris looking for survivors while hospitals were overwhelmed with the wounded, appealing for blood donations.
Iranian military says US and Israel gave into Iran’s conditions
The Iranian military praised the country’s resilience against the U.S. and Israel, saying this ultimately “forced them to accept Iran’s proposed conditions and surrender” after the three sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
The Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement cited by Iranian state TV on Wednesday that “extremely heavy losses and casualties” were inflicted, showing that Iran can “put any enemy in place” and “force them to surrender and retreat.”
“With distrust toward the American and Zionist enemies, we monitor all their movements in the region, and in the event of another mistake by them, we will respond in a more destructive and deadlier manner than before,” the statement reads.
The Iranian military said it would “smartly” manage the Strait of Hormuz, insisted it poses no threat to regional countries, reaffirmed support for Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance” and urged anti-war protesters to remain in the streets opposing further escalation.
Trump says Lebanon was ‘not included’ in ceasefire deal
In a brief telephone interview with PBS News Hour, Trump said Wednesday that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire “because of Hezbollah. They were not included in the deal. That’ll get taken care of, too. It’s all right.”
When asked about Israel continuing its strikes in Lebanon, he said, “It’s part of the deal — everyone knows that. That’s a separate skirmish.”
Pakistan’s prime minister reports ceasefire violations
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said ceasefire violations have been reported at several locations “across the conflict zone,” undermining the “spirit of the peace process.”
He urged the parties to adhere to the ceasefire.
“I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon,” he wrote on social media. “So that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict.”
Iran threatens ships attempting Strait of Hormuz transit: Report
The Iranian navy on Wednesday threatened ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Tehran’s permission with destruction, adding that transit through the waterway remained shut, according to several shipping sources cited by Reuters.
“Any vessel trying to travel into the sea … will be targeted and destroyed…” a message read.
UN special envoy arrives in Iran
Jean Arnault, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ personal envoy, landed in Iran hours after Washington and Tehran agreed to a temporary halt in hostilities despite contradicting views of what a final peace deal would look like.
“Acting on the Secretary-General’s instructions, he is visiting countries across the region to support all efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict,” a U.N. spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday.
Arnault is scheduled to meet with Iranian officials to “hear their perspective on the way forward.”
Israel vows to continue striking Hezbollah
The Israeli military chief of staff said on Wednesday that Israel would continue to “utilize every operational opportunity” to strike Hezbollah after the military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.
Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel would continue striking Hezbollah to protect Israel’s northern residents, who have come under heavy fire from Hezbollah. The Israeli strikes caused panic during Lebanon’s afternoon rush hour as plumes of black smoke rose over several neighborhoods across the capital.
Hegseth: US could strike again if Iran doesn’t hand over uranium
Hegseth did not offer any details about whether Iran had agreed to Trump’s statement that the U.S. would work with the country to “dig up” the buried material.
However, Hegseth said Iran would “give it to us voluntarily,” or the U.S. might do “something like” its strikes last summer with Israel hitting Iran’s nuclear sites.
“We reserve that opportunity,” Hegseth said.
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