Trump blames global diesel shortages on Ukraine, says Tehran wants a deal
Trump again said Sunday the conflict will end after the midterm elections.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.
The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz as the primary flashpoint. Trump said in August that the U.S. would launch a "crushing economic operation" to force Tehran into submission.
Key Headlines
- Monday meeting between Iran, regional countries postponed, Omani FM says
- Iranian ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz, state media says
- Iraqi prime minister orders investigation into origin of strikes on Saudi pipeline, dismisses province commander
- Trump confirms call with MBS, says everything will 'work out fine and dandy'
Hegseth says US controls Strait of Hormuz, says 'we will finish the fight'
Secretary of State Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is ensuring Iran "will never have a nuclear weapon," saying the U.S. controls the Strait of Hormuz and will finish the fight.
"The economic pressure tightens every day. We control the strait. We will finish this fight," Hegseth said during a 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday.
"The United States has killed their leaders, destroyed their air force and their navy rests at the bottom of the sea," Hegseth said.
Trump says 'no chance' Iran war will last rest of his term
President Donald Trump dismissed reports Thursday night that his advisors have warned him the Iran war could last through the end of his term.
"No there's not even a chance of that," the president said.
The president's timeline has shifted repeatedly. He initially said the war would last four to six weeks.
The president was also asked about oil prices increasing as the war with Iran continues. Trump repeated his claims that prices will drop once the war ends.
“When that ends, I think it'll end very shortly after the election -- could end before the election -- but I think it'll end very shortly after the election, the prices will go down to less than $2 a barrel, $2 a gallon for oil,” he said.
-ABC News' Rachel Scott
Several US warplanes damaged in Iranian attack on airbase in Jordan earlier this week: Sources
Several U.S. warplanes were damaged in Iran’s attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan earlier this week, two sources with knowledge of the incident told ABC News Thursday.
One A-10 attack aircraft was hit and lost a wing, while about eight F-15 fighter jets sustained light damage and were put back into service, they said.
The president had denied reports about U.S. aircraft damage during a news interview earlier Thursday.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez and Shannon Kingston
Iran producing limited number of ballistic missiles: US official
Iran has resumed producing limited numbers of ballistic missiles at underground sites, relying on components that were stored before the war began, a U.S. official familiar with the latest intelligence assessments on the matter told ABC News.
According to the official, Iran is manufacturing the weapons at a significantly slower rate than it was before the conflict.
It’s unclear whether Iran will be able to continue manufacturing the missiles after its stockpiles run dry, as damage to the country’s production sites and the ongoing U.S. blockade have complicated its ability to make or procure the necessary parts, they said.
The intelligence findings were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
-ABC News' Shannon Kingston