Live

Iran live updates: US is 'very close' to deal with Iran, Trump says

Israel and Lebanon met for talks in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.

ByDavid Brennan, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, and Kevin Shalvey
Last Updated: April 16, 2026, 6:03 PM EDT

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.

But subsequent U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan failed to reach a peace deal. Trump said that Iran's nuclear program was the key sticking point, and said the U.S. would respond with a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz starting at 10 a.m. ET on Monday.

Israel, meanwhile, has continued ground operations and intense strikes in Lebanon, where it is engaged with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supported the ceasefire with Iran, but that Lebanon was not covered by the agreement, despite Iranian protests.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Apr 16, 2026, 6:03 PM EDT

State Department releases 6-point agreement for Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

The U.S. State Department released a six-point memorandum of understanding underpinning the 10-day ceasefire agreed to by Lebanon and Israel on Thursday.

The agreement says the ceasefire may be extended by mutual agreement if there is progress in negotiations and Lebanon "effectively demonstrates its ability to assert its sovereignty."

The agreement also stipulates that "Israel shall preserve its right to take all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”

Under the agreement, Israel says it will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets and Lebanon says it will take "meaningful steps" to prevent Hezbollah from carrying out attacks on Israeli targets.

-ABC News' Shannon Kingston

Apr 16, 2026, 4:07 PM EDT

Israel says it is still striking Lebanon before the ceasefire goes into effect

The Israel Defense Forces said it is still striking Lebanon after what it says was a launch from Hezbollah a short time ago.

"The IDF is currently striking launchers from which the Hezbollah terrorist organization launched rockets to northern Israel a short while ago," the IDF said in a statement Thursday.

Apr 16, 2026, 3:20 PM EDT

At least 29 killed, 124 injured in Lebanon over past day, health ministry says

Israeli forces have killed at least 2,196 people and wounded another 7,185 in Lebanon since March 2, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

In the past 24 hours, 29 people were killed and 124 others were injured, the health ministry said Thursday.

A member of the Lebanese army and a man walk at the site of an Israeli strike on a vehicle in Dahr el Baydar, Lebanon April 16, 2026.
Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

Among those killed since March 2 were 172 children and 93 health care workers. Meanwhile, another 661 children and 225 health care workers were among the injured, according to the health ministry.

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz

Apr 16, 2026, 3:16 PM EDT

Hezbollah issues its conditions after ceasefire announced

Hezbollah commented on the ceasefire reached between Israel and Lebanon, saying conditions must return to what they were prior to March 2.

"A ceasefire must include a comprehensive halt to attacks across all Lebanese territory, with no freedom of movement for Israeli forces, and a return to the situation prior to March 2," Hezbollah's press office said in a statement.

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in Nabatieh, Lebanon, April 16, 2026.
Reuters

"The continued Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory grants Lebanon and its people the right to resist," Hezbollah said.

Sponsored Content by Taboola