Iran live updates: US plans to use Iranian assets to rebuild Gulf allies, source says

In his appearance before Congress on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the tempo of what he called "kinetic actions" between the U.S. and Iran in recent days, which he characterized as a U.S. response to Iranian provocations.

"That is some commercial ship that didn't pay a toll and starts to move. That ship comes under attack by a drone. We shoot down the drone. In some cases, not only do we shoot down the drone, but we hit the launcher of the drone, so they can't hit the ship a second time," Rubio said.

"The Iranians then respond by launching two missiles or three at some base in the region as their response. And that's what you've seen play out three of the last four nights with regards to this," he added.

Rubio also discussed the nuclear element of the ongoing negotiations with Iran, saying that any new nuclear agreement would invoke legislation that would put the pact before Congress.

In response to a question from Sen. Lindsey Graham, Rubio said the administration wants a deal that would allow the U.S. to punish Iran for its continued support for the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, but stressed that the "primary threat here is the nuclear weapons ... they can never have a nuclear weapon."

Uranium enrichment monitoring, Rubio added, will be "critical for any deal to be successful."

Rubio also told senators that the ongoing talks with Tehran are being complicated as the Iranian government is "fractured." He estimated it takes some between seven and 10 Iranian negotiators to pass proposals.

Rubio said this week that it often takes "three to five days to get a response" from the Iranian leadership.

ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston and Christopher Boccia

Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement on the implementation of a ceasefire, according to a joint statement from the two countries and the U.S.

This comes after two days of negotiations in Washington.

The ceasefire is contingent on a "complete cessation" of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all its operatives from the South Litani Sector, according to the statement.

"The two sides agreed with the guidance of the United States to swiftly advance the creation of pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors," the statement said. "These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement."

Israel and Lebanon agreed to reconvene  the week of June 22 "with a view toward reaching a comprehensive agreement," the statement said.

-ABC News' Shannon Kingston

In response to the House passage of the war powers resolution, a White House official reiterated their view that the resolution is unconstitutional and said even if it passed the Senate -- which the official said is unlikely -- it would have "no force or effect."

"President Trump will continue to protect our national security using his constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief while being transparent with Congress," the official added.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

President Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday that the U.S.-Iranian ceasefire remains intact despite another exchange of fire between the two countries' militaries overnight.

The exchange saw an Iranian strike on Kuwait's international airport that killed at least one person and wounded at least 60 others, Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Trump acknowledged the exchange of fire in remarks with reporters on Wednesday and said ceasefires are defined differently there.

"I'd say that part of the world, ceasefire is when you're shooting in a more moderate manner," he said. "A ceasefire there is much different than a ceasefire in other parts of the world."

He also seemed optimistic that Iran was "pretty close" to signing a deal, claiming it could happen over the weekend.

"I hear the negotiation itself is going very well, actually. Very well," he said. "I mean if it happens -- I mean it might not happen, you know, who knows? -- but if it happens, it could happen, like, over the weekend."

-ABC News' Justin Fishel, Sarah Kolinovsky, Nicolas Kerr and Michelle Stoddart