ABC News – Iran live updates: US-Iran-Pakistan trilateral talks ongoing, White House says
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.
Trump says it ‘makes no difference to him’ if US, Iran make a deal or not
Speaking to reporters at the White House before leaving for Miami, President Donald Trump said he doesn’t “care” what happens with Iran negotiations because “regardless what happens, we win.”
“Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me,” Trump said.
Throughout the gaggle, Trump repeatedly asserted that the United States emerges victorious, no matter the result of the ongoing negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan.
“We’ll see what happens. Look, regardless we win. Regardless what happens, we win. We totally defeated that country. And so let’s see what happens. Maybe they make a deal. Maybe they don’t. From the standpoint of America, we win,” Trump said.
While claiming that the U.S. will open the Strait of Hormuz, the president repeated his usual criticism against other countries for their lack of assistance with the critical waterway.
Guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) sails in the Arabian Sea during Operation Epic Fury, on March 18, 2026.
U.S. Navy
“Now all we do is we’ll open up the strait even though we don’t use it, because we have a lot of other countries in the world that do use it, that are either afraid or weak or cheap,” he said.
Asked about Iran’s assets, which is a key point in the Iranian’s proposal, the president sidestepped and said the U.S. is in “very deep negotiations with Iran” before repeating the assertions that the U.S. will “win regardless.”
The president also repeated his claims from this morning that other countries are sending oil tankers to the U.S. to be filled with oil and gas, calling this a “beautiful thing.”
“One of the things that’s happening is that boats are sailing up and heading out to our country – big, beautiful tankers, and we’re loading them up with oil and gas and everything else and it’s pretty, beautiful thing to see,” he said.
Trump also acknowledged that Iran “probably [has] a couple of mines” in the Strait of Hormuz but emphasized that the U.S. has minesweepers to combat this.
“They probably have a couple of mines in the water. We have mine sweepers out there. We’re sweeping these straight. In addition to that, we’re negotiating,” Trump said.
Iran denies claims that US vessels entered Strait of Hormuz
A spokesperson for Iran’s joint military command denied a claim by the United States that two Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz, saying “the initiative for the passage and movement of any vessel is in the hands of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.
Trilateral meetings ‘ongoing,’ White House says
The White House confirmed that trilateral meetings between the U.S., Iran and Pakistan are ongoing on Saturday.
“Trilateral in-person negotiations are ongoing,” a senior White House official said in a statement to ABC News.
Lebanon’s death toll tops 2,000, health ministry says
Israeli forces have killed at least 2,020 people and wounded another 6,436 in Lebanon since March 2, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.
Over the past 24 hours alone, 97 people were killed and 133 others were injured, the health ministry said Saturday.
Among those killed since March 2 were 165 children and 85 health care workers. Another 641 children and 188 health care workers were among the injured, according to the health ministry.
2 US Navy destroyers transit Strait of Hormuz as mine-clearing operations begin: US CENTCOM
Two U.S. Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday in what appears to be a first since the war began, according to U.S. Central Command.
CENTCOM confirmed President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. military had begun mine-clearing operations to ensure safe passage through the strait.
The USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy “conducted operations” as part of “a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps,” according to the statement. Additional U.S. forces — including underwater drones — will join mine-clearing operations “in the coming days,” according to CENTCOM.
“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also confirmed the ships’ movement in a post on X.
“USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps,” Hegseth wrote.
Iran-US talks enter technical phase with extension possible, Iranian state media says
Negotiators have moved beyond general discussions and entered a more detailed, technical phase of negotiations in the U.S., Iran and Pakistan trilateral face-to-face meeting Saturday, according to Iran’s semiofficial news agencies Fars and Tasnim.
While the negotiations were initially planned as a one-day meeting, there is a possibility they could be extended for an additional day to allow further technical discussions. However, no final decision has been confirmed, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Specialized teams have joined Iran’s main negotiating delegation in Islamabad, according to Fars. If progress is made, there is a possibility the Iranian delegation’s stay in Islamabad could be extended, according to Fars.
Trump dodges question about oil tankers to US, insists Strait of Hormuz will be open ‘soon’
During the phone interview with NewsNation this morning, President Donald Trump was asked about his social media posts in which he claimed that empty oil tankers will be coming to the United States to be filled with oil.
Trump sidestepped the question, instead repeating that “many of them” are on their way to the U.S. to “load up” with oil.
“Just take a look out at the great seas of our world, they’re all, many of them are heading to the United States to load up with oil. We have plenty of it,” Trump reportedly said.
The NewsNation reporter pressed him, asking: “So is this because you’re saying that Iran isn’t opening up the Strait of Hormuz?”
The president pushed back, insisting that the strait will be open in the “not-too-distant future.”
“No, it’s not because they are going to be open in the not-too-distant future. Iran’s a failing nation. A very failing nation … And it’s gonna be opened up. But I think people are seeing that there are other alternatives to going through the Strait.”
In another social media post this morning, Trump repeated his belief that the strait will be open “soon.”
“The Strait of Hormuz will soon be open, and the empty ships are rushing to the United States to ‘load up,’” Trump wrote.
US, Pakistan and Iran holding trilateral meeting Saturday
A senior White House official confirms that the United States, Pakistan and Iran are holding a trilateral face-to-face meeting Saturday, per the press pool traveling with the vice president.
The “core” U.S. delegation includes Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Dr. Andrew Baker, deputy national security adviser to the president and national security adviser to the vice president, and Michael Vance, special advisor to the vice president for Asian affairs, will also be in attendance as the broader U.S. delegation, according to a U.S. official.
“A full suite of U.S. experts on relevant subject areas are present in Islamabad. Additional experts are supporting from Washington,” the U.S. official said, per the pool.
At least 10 killed by Israeli military action in Lebanon, ministry says
At least 10 people were killed and 9 others injured by Israeli military action in three incidents in the Nabatieh district, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
The Israel Defense Forces said more than 200 Hezbollah terrorists were hit in the past 24 hours.
Paramedics and members of the Lebanese Health Authority are among the dead and injured, the ministry of health said.
“It has become clear that the Israeli enemy adopts a systematic method based on making health workers a military target, as they fall martyrs in every rescue action they carry out, which constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law,” the ministry said.
“The Israeli Air Force continues to strike Hezbollah infrastructure and aid the ground forces operating in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said Saturday.
Four people were killed and four others wounded in an Israeli raid in the town of Kfarsir, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said in statement Saturday. Among the dead was a paramedic with the Lebanese Health Authority, the statement said.
Three people were killed and two others injured in an Israeli airstrike, the Ministry of Health said in a separate statement. One member of the Lebanese Civil Defense was among the dead, the ministry said.
An Israeli airstrike also killed three people, including a member of the Health Authority in the town of Tul, the ministry said. Three others including a paramedic were wounded in the incident, the statement said.
Trump said US is in the ‘process of clearing out’ Strait, says this is a ‘favor’ to other countries
President Donald Trump said the U.S. is “starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” adding that this is a “favor” to other countries that don’t have the “courage” or “will” to do this themselves.
“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves,” he wrote on social media Saturday morning.
ABC News has asked the White House for more details on what the “process of clearing out” the Strait entails.
Very interestingly, however, empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil,” Trump added, repeating his earlier claim that empty oil tankers are currently on their way to the U.S.
The president continued to insist that Iran is “LOSING, and LOSING BIG!” and also repeated: “praise be to Allah” which he has previously written in a Truth Social post referring to Iran.
“Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves and, most importantly, their longtime “Leaders” are no longer with us, praise be to Allah!” Trump said.
Trump says US-Iran peace talks have begun, says he has ‘no idea’ how they will go
Talks between the U.S. and Iran have begin in Islamabad, Pakistan, President Donald Trump said in an interview with NewsNation Saturday morning.
Trump was asked if he believes the Iranians are negotiating in good faith, responding: “I’ll let you know that in a very short period of time, won’t take long.”
The president was also asked whether or not he is hopeful about the outcome of the talks, to which he replied “whatever,” and reiterated his previous statements about the U.S. military being able to “reset.”
“Whatever, otherwise we’ll reset. We’re ready to go,” Trump reportedly said.
US-Iran negotiations set to begin after delays over Iranian preconditions, Iranian news outlets say
Talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to begin after delays over Iran’s preconditions — a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets — Iran’s semi official news agencies Fars and Tasnim said Saturday.
Progress has been made and intensive consultations in Islamabad “along with a reported reduction in Israeli strikes shifting from Beirut to southern Lebanon” — are being seen by Iran as signs of partial progress toward a ceasefire, Fars reported.
Fars also reported that the U.S. agreed in principle to the release of Iranian assets, but further discussions are needed to finalize the release.
The U.S. has denied that it has agreed to unblock Iranian assets.
Iranian delegation meets with Pakistani prime minister
Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Iranian negotiators on Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan.
“Appreciating Iran’s engagement in the Islamabad Talks, the Prime Minister affirmed Pakistan’s sincere resolve to continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum towards achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
Vance and Pakistani prime minister hold bilateral meeting in Islamabad
Vice President JD Vance held a bilateral meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, according to the White House.
The press pool traveling with Vance was not brought into the meeting, but there is video of the meeting via the Ministry of Information of Pakistan.
The American Delegation included Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Pakistan Delegation included Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Minister for the Interior Mohsin Naqvi and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
The White House is working to provide a list of all the participants. No additional details are available at this time, per the White House.
A senior U.S. official is also denying a Reuters report that the U.S. has agreed to release Iran’s frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks.
“False. The meetings have not even started yet,” the senior U.S. official said.
Iran says US talks timing to follow review of its preconditions with Pakistan mediators
Iranian state television reported Saturday that the timing of talks with the U.S. delegation will be determined after preconditions are clarified.
The state TV reporter from Islamabad said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will first meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, adding that the Iranian team will need to assess the status of its preconditions during the meeting with the Pakistani mediators.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and members of technical teams will also take part in the meeting. The Iranian delegation includes economic, legal and military teams led by senior officials in those fields, the state TV added.
Pakistan says US delegation has arrived in Islamabad for Iran talks
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry shared a statement and video announcing the arrival of the U.S. delegation in Islamabad ahead of the Iran talks.
“A high-powered U.S. delegation led by U.S. Vice President H.E. J.D. Vance along with Special Envoy Mr. Steve Witkoff and Mr. Jared Kushner arrived in Islamabad today to participate in Islamabad Talks,” Pakistan said.
The delegation was received by senior Pakistani officials on their arrival, Pakistan said, expressing “hope that parties would engage constructively, and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching lasting and durable solution to the conflict.”
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