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Iran live updates: Hegseth says Trump 'kicked their teeth in'

Hegseth said the U.S. remains "locked and loaded" for renewed strikes.

Talks between the U.S. and Iran remain stalled despite the two countries signing a memorandum of understanding in June, aimed at ending the war that began with joint American-Israeli strikes on the country in February. The opening strikes killed a host of top Iranian officials and commanders, among them Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The two sides have continued to exchange strikes, though have not returned to the intense fighting seen in the early stages of the conflict. The U.S. says it is enforcing a naval blockade of the country's Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman ports, while Iran claims control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz and continues to claim attacks on shipping transiting the waterway.

Meanwhile, intensified fighting between Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen has seen the latter repeatedly attack Saudi military, oil infrastructure and transport facilities.

See the most recent developments below.

3:27 AM EST

Trump says US will maintain 'status quo' with Iran

President Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. will maintain the "status quo" with Iran, indicating that he would do so "at the behest" of America's regional partners.

Trump spoke with reporters after meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, describing Iran as a "failing country."

The president also indicated that there are talks underway, adding that the conversations seem to be going well, saying there's a "good chance" that the war could end soon.

"And they're talking to us and they're talking very politely. Then we'll see what happens. But there's a good chance that that could get ended," Trump said.

"At the conclusion of the military engagement, the American people and the people of the world will be far safer and more secure than they've been in many, many years because Iran was killing many people," Trump said.

"We have some great allies there, and we have to make sure they're not hurt, and they would be hurt. They are right now a lot safer than they were six months ago, because Iran's been very much decapitated," Trump continued.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart and Nicholas Kerr

Nov 09, 2026, 5:32 PM EST

Trump says Hegseth has 'won the war in Iran'

President Donald Trump said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has "won the war in Iran" during a press briefing on Monday.

The remarks came hours after Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth.

"He certainly, I think, he's won the war in Iran, but he's certainly winning the war," Trump said of Hegseth. "Iran would love to make a deal. And they've been obliterated, their navy and their air force."

President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, November 9, 2026.
Alex Brandon/AP Photo

The president said that he doesn't believe military action is "a very necessary thing" in Iran at this time but that the U.S. is "locked and loaded."

"Should there be any change with respect to developments in the Middle East, the United States of America is fully locked and loaded with the best equipment ever made, and we don't think there's going to be any reason to use it, however," Trump said.

Nov 09, 2026, 6:37 AM EST

Nuclear weapon allegations a 'lie,' Iranian spokesperson says

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei addressed the ongoing efforts to reach a deal with the U.S. during his Monday press conference.

"We have made our position transparent. Iran's proposal, which has become known as Iran's two-day plan, is itself a demonstration of Iran's utmost goodwill. Could we have put it more reasonably than this?" he said to reporters.

"If the United States implements Iran's demands, positive developments will be witnessed across the region within two days and security in the Strait of Hormuz will be restored. Can the other side find or propose a plan more reasonable than this?" he said.

Baqaei denied continued U.S. allegations that Tehran is working toward a nuclear weapon. "Last year in June, they announced that they destroyed Iran's entire nuclear program," Baqaei said of the joint U.S.-Israeli 12-day war with Iran, which culminated with the American Midnight Hammer operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

"They claim to be monitoring all of the Iranians' movements and comings and goings, and at the same time, they spend money so generously to collect information regarding Iran's nuclear program," Baqaei added. "The goal is to keep alive the lie upon which they impose a war on the world."

-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

Nov 09, 2026, 5:50 AM EST

Any renewed attacks would have 'dire consequences,' Tehran says

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei warned on Monday that the U.S. should "realize the magnitude of the repercussions and dire consequences" of any renewed attacks on Iran.

Baqaei said during a press conference that Iran is still in talks with Qatar and Pakistan -- both of which have been acting as mediators -- but that it would only be party to an agreement "that fully secures the national interests" of Iran.

President Donald Trump is set to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

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