Iran live updates: Trump says Iran's highly enriched uranium 'not very valuable'

During a phone interview with Hugh Hewitt on Monday afternoon, President Donald Trump refused to say whether the ceasefire with Iran was over after Iran fired at the United Arab Emirates and projected that the war could continue for another two or three weeks.

"Well, I can't tell you that," Trump said when pressed on whether the ceasefire is over. When asked if Monday's hostilities meant the beginning of a renewed conflict with Iran, Trump said that "one way or the other, we win."

"We either make the right deal or we win very easily. From the military standpoint, we've already won that. You know, you've heard me say it a million times, and other people say it. They had 159 ships. Hugh, now they have none. They're all at the bottom of the sea," Trump said.

The president stopped short of confirming whether Iran violated the ceasefire, saying "we'll see what happens" and instead touting the U.S. military capabilities.

Trump said the conflict could continue for "probably another two weeks" or "maybe three weeks," and emphasized that he is not operating under any time constraints. "Time is not of the essence for us," Trump said, while claiming significant public support for the war.

The president said the U.S. has "control" over the Strait of Hormuz amid the launch of the "Project Freedom" operation. "They said they were going to take over the Homruz Strait, and then we thought they might have. We took it over from them," Trump said of Iran.

On concerns over spiking oil prices, Trump said he thought prices might rise higher than they have -- perhaps as high as $250 -- claiming that the "genius" thing happening was ships were now heading to the U.S. for oil.

Asked about the future of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile -- Tehran's surrendering of which has been a key sticking point for the U.S. -- Trump downplayed its importance.

"From a standpoint of value, it's not very valuable. Probably can't be used. They may not be able to get it," Trump said, before touting the June military operation -- Operation Midnight Hammer -- to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities. "I'd like to get it back so that they can't be tempted," Trump said of the enriched uranium.

Trump also said he is "convinced" that if the Iranian people had sufficient weapons, they would "fight back" against the regime.

-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr, Emily Chang and Michelle Stoddart

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post to X on Monday that there can be "no military solution to a political crisis" in the Strait of Hormuz.

"As talks are making progress with Pakistan's gracious effort, the U.S. should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers. So should the UAE," Araghchi wrote.

"Project Freedom is Project Deadlock," the foreign minister said, referring to the U.S. military mission to escort stranded shipping out of the strategic waterway that began on Monday.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- colloquially known as MBS -- spoke with United Arab Emirates counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday after the UAE reported fresh Iranian drone and missile attacks, according to a readout from the Saudi Foreign Ministry.

MBS "expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strong condemnation and denunciation of the unjustified Iranian attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates," the readout said. "He reaffirmed the Kingdom's support for the UAE in its defense of its security and stability."

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

The U.S. mission to the United Arab Emirates issued a security alert moments ago advising Americans in the country of "potential aerial threats."

This marks the first notice from the embassy since the country's government issued warnings about incoming attacks from Iran more than five hours ago.

"On May 4, 2026, the UAE Ministry of Interior issued several public alerts via mobile phone that warned of potential aerial threats," the alert from the U.S. embassy reads. "The U.S. Mission to the UAE is monitoring the situation and urges Americans to please follow instructions from UAE authorities and be prepared to take shelter if instructed."

The alert makes no mention of Iran or the specifics of those aerial threats.

-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston