Trump calls Strait of Hormuz 'something that we don't need'

Trump told reporters that he is talking to countries about policing the Strait.

Last Updated: March 15, 2026, 9:09 PM EDT

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israel strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed in Tehran on the first day of strikes. His son Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen on Sunday to succeed him.

Iran is responding to the operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and multiple Gulf nations. Israel is also intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

(Read previous Iran live updates here.)

Watch special coverage on Nightline, "War with Iran," each night on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Mar 13, 2026, 11:42 AM EDT

More Israeli troops heading north, IDF says

The Israeli military is moving more troops to the north ahead of a planned expansion of operations in Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces announced Friday.

The troop movement described as, "part of strengthening readiness for various offensive and defensive scenarios," the statement said.

"The buildup and deployment of troops along the northern border will be conducted using additional regular units, including a division, brigades, and engineering battalions," the statement said.

-ABC News' Dorit Long

Mar 13, 2026, 9:18 AM EDT

US has 'range of options' to deal with nuclear materials, Hegseth says

Denying Iran nuclear weapons remains a "core mission" for the U.S. in its military operation and it has a "range of options," Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon press briefing Friday.

"The president's kept his eye focused on nuclear capabilities. And I will say we have a range of options, up to and including Iran deciding that they will give those up, which of course, we would welcome," Hegseth said.

"I would never tell this group or the world what we're willing to do or how far we're willing to go, but we have options for sure," Hegseth said.

Mar 13, 2026, 9:07 AM EDT

Command investigation launched into strike on Iranian school

Asked about reports that a preliminary inquiry determined that the airstrike on an Iranian school was carried out by the U.S., Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declined to comment.

"We're not going to let reporting lead us or force our hand into indicating what happened in a particular situation because the truth matters," Hegseth said.

"I can report that CENTCOM has designated an investigating officer to complete a command investigation. The command investigation will take as long as necessary to address all the matters surrounding this incident. And the investigating officer is from outside CENTCOM and is a general officer," Hegseth said.

Mar 13, 2026, 8:52 AM EDT

New Iranian supreme leader 'wounded and likely disfigured,' Hegseth says

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khameini is "wounded and likely disfigured," Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Friday.

"His father: dead, he's scared, he's injured, he's on the run and he lacks legitimacy. It's a mess for them. Who's in charge? Iran may not even know," Hegseth said, commenting on why the new supreme leader put out a written statement on Thursday.

"With every passing hour, we know and we know they know, that the military capabilities of their evil regime are crumbling. They can barely communicate, let alone coordinate," Hegseth said.

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