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Iran live updates: Bessent blasts Iranian threats

The secretary attacked Iranian leadership after moving to a military base.

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.

1:01 PM EST

Iranian foreign minister calls US attacks violation of international law

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the U.S. attack on Iran saying if states were free to attack one another "based on their own assessments of possible future threats, what would be left of the international legal order?" in an opinion piece released in Japanese Outlet Kyodo News.

"Use of force is governed by law, and no state, however powerful, is entitled to place its own judgment above binding rules of international law," Araghchi wrote.

"The military attacks launched by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran constitute a clear violation of the prohibition on the use of force and an infringement of Iran's sovereignty. Their legality must be assessed against the U.N. Charter and established principles of international law, not against political arguments or justifications advanced after military operations have begun," Araghchi wrote.

11:47 AM EST

Bessent says economic campaign against Iran is working, he moved to military base due to Iranian threats

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sharply attacked Iranian leadership on Friday in response to his recent move to a military base because of Iranian threats.

"'F' the Iranian leadership," Bessent said on CNBC this morning, when asked about the recent news and his current safety.

"I'm not going to be cowered that they have initiated death threats against me. The other members of the cabinet were not going to be cowered," he said.

Bessent claimed that these threats against him mean the economic campaign Treasury launched in August against countries and entities that do business with Iran is "working."

Children stand on a surface-to-air missile system displayed at an exhibition of missiles and drones at the National Aerospace Park outside Tehran, November 12, 2026.
AFP via Getty Images

"The IRGC, they're like a dangerous, cornered animal. So I follow the Secret Service instructions and have moved from my home to a military base," Bessent said.

Bessent touted U.S. strength during the war through economic restrictions on Iran.

"We are squeezing the regime. I think that they are panicked. In what they're seeing for the first time since they began producing oil, they have no oil on the water. They have no revenues, and we have cut them off," Bessent said.

Asked about next steps in settling the war and if there is concern that Iran will ramp up aggression because they’re "cornered," Bessent claimed Iranians will "eventually want to make a deal."

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

9:23 AM EST

US denies Iran's claim that it destroyed US radar in Bahrain

The U.S. denied Iran's claim that it destroyed an American early warning radar in Bahrain.

"The IRGC launched two one-way attack drones toward Bahrain and both were shot down by U.S. forces. There were no injuries or damage," U.S. Central Command said Friday.

The IRGC claimed its the attack was carried out in response to a U.S. strike on a telecommunications tower in the southern Iranian port of Sirik, warning the U.S. to cease its hostilities, according to Iran's state-owned Press TV.

The IRGC also claimed a tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine while trying to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, Press TV reported.

Nov 12, 2026, 11:34 AM EST

White House won't say if talks with Iran have stopped

A White House official would not say whether U.S. talks with Iran have ended, after President Donald Trump posted on social media Thursday morning that "We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed."

When asked whether the president meant there are no more negotiations happening with the Iranians, the official provided a statement highlighting what Trump said this morning -- the U.S. naval blockade and economic pressure against Iran -- adding, "President Trump holds all the cards, will do what is best for the United States, and will make sure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon."

"The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing. The President has been clear that the greatest naval blockade in history, Operation Economic Outcast, and the new Operation Iron Gate will continue with full effect. President Trump holds all the cards, will do what is best for the United States, and will make sure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon," a White House official said in a statement.

The president's post came after he said the war with Iran would end "soon" on Wednesday during his Veteran's Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery.

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