US denies Iran's claims of American aircraft being shot down as Trump says talks rely on ‘good deal’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is meeting Friday with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Washington, D.C.

Pakistan has served as a key mediator in talks between the U.S. and Iran. The two sides are trying to reach a deal to end the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Rubio said last week that "the primary interlocutor on this has been Pakistan, and it continues to be. 

"And they’ve done, I think, an admirable job, and that’s who we continue to work through. Obviously, other countries have interests because -- especially Gulf countries that are in the middle of all this may have their own situation going, and we talk to all of them.  But I would just say that the primary country we’ve been working with on all of this is Pakistan, and that remains the case," he added.

U.S. Central Command said Friday that 115 commercial vessels have now been redirected during the U.S. military’s blockade of Iranian ports. 

“U.S. forces continue to enforce the blockade against Iran. As of May 29, 115 commercial vessels have been redirected to ensure no commerce enters or leaves Iranian ports,” CENTCOM wrote on X. 

The blockade went into effect on April 13. 

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the free flow of maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf remains a key issue in the U.S.-Iran negotiations. 

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Friday that “No action will be taken before the other side acts” as the U.S. and Iran are trying to reach a deal to end the conflict. 

“We seize concessions not through dialogue, but with missiles; in negotiations, we merely make them understand,” Ghalibaf wrote in a message on X. 

“We have no trust in guarantees or words — only actions are the measure. No action will be taken before the other side acts,” he continued. “The winner of any agreement is the one who is better prepared for war from the day after.” 

The United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police announced Friday that a man has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service linked to Iran in a case surrounding the targeting of a UK-based journalist. 

The agency said Ioannis Aidinidis, 46, a Greek national residing in Munich, Germany, was charged on Friday with assisting a foreign intelligence service under the UK’s National Security Act.  

“The country to which the allegations relate is believed to be Iran and the allegations relate to the targeting of a UK-based journalist working for Iran International,” Metropolitan Police said, noting that Aidinidis is set to make a court appearance later Friday. 

Police said Aidinidis was taken into custody southwest of London, in West Sussex, on May 16. Iran International, which is headquartered in the U.K., is described by Reuters as being critical of the regime in Tehran. 

“We know this may cause concern for many people here in the U.K., and particularly those working in Persian-language media,” Helen Flanagan, the commander of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said in a statement. “We continue to work closely with a number of organizations and individuals to provide them with advice and support around their safety and security and this includes the specific individual and organization linked to this investigation.” 

IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen Eyal Zamir said Friday that 2,500 Hezbollah terrorists have been eliminated since the start of Operation Roaring Lion against Iran on Feb. 28. 

"The cumulative and multi-systemic impact on Hezbollah is severe and unprecedented, with more than 7,500 terrorists eliminated since the start of the war, 2,500 of them just since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion. We will continue to strike the enemy wherever we can and deepen our achievements,” Zamir said in a statement released by the IDF.  

"Our goal is clear — to deepen the impact on Hezbollah, to push back the threats, and to strengthen the defense of the northern settlements,” Zamir added regarding the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group. “This is the central objective guiding us in every action and every decision. Even at this moment, our forces are advancing and operating with force in the air and on the ground.” 

Shortly before the statement was released, the IDF said the Israeli Air Force “intercepted an unmanned aircraft that was identified in the airspace where IDF forces are operating in southern Lebanon.” 

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told U.S. troops onboard the USS Boxer in Singapore on Friday that “I know that you're ready, and that gives me confidence” when it comes to future potential military action against Iran. 

“So right now, hey, Iran has a choice to meet at the table with the president to give up their nuclear program. And as the president said... in the Cabinet meeting... well, Iran can either do it the right way, with a deal, across the table, or they can deal with my guy on the left. It happened to be me, but it's not me, it's you guys,” Hegseth said after joining the U.S. military personel for drills. 

“It's what you're ready to do, it’s what the world knows you are prepared to do,” Hegseth added. “When I talked to the commanders, when I talked all you this morning, I know that you're ready, and that gives me confidence. That gives the president confidence. And it should give the American people confidence.” 

President Donald Trump, speaking during the Cabinet meeting this week, said Iran "very much" wants to reach an agreement. 

"So far they haven't gotten there. We're not satisfied with it, but we will be, we will be. Either that or we'll have to just finish the job," the president warned.  

"But their navy has gone, as I've said a thousand times, their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Everything's gone and they're negotiating on fumes. But we'll see what happens. Maybe we have to go back and finish it. Maybe we don't," he continued. 

U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a memorandum of understanding at extending the ceasefire for 60 days and launching Iranian nuclear negotiations, but the plan needs Trump's final approval, U.S. sources told Fox News. 

President Donald Trump said any agreement with Iran would depend on securing a “good deal” for the United States as negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program intensify alongside continued military tensions in the Persian Gulf.

“A deal that wasn’t going to be good for us is the line,” Trump told Fox News host Lara Trump in an interview set to air this weekend. “I negotiate. They negotiate. They’re very good negotiators.”

The comments come as U.S. and Iranian negotiators reportedly reached a tentative 60-day memorandum of understanding extending the current ceasefire and launching broader nuclear talks, though the agreement still requires Trump’s final approval.

An All-Star Panel on Fox News' 'Special Report' said the administration appears to be balancing pressure for a diplomatic breakthrough with ongoing military readiness as clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces continue near the Strait of Hormuz.

“We do not have unlimited patience,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday, warning that if Trump determines a peace agreement is no longer possible, “kinetic is back on the table.”

The discussion comes after Iranian forces launched a missile toward Kuwait this week and Iranian state media falsely claimed Tehran had shot down a U.S. aircraft, a report later denied by U.S. officials and CENTCOM.

Panelists also debated whether a temporary ceasefire deal would sufficiently prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear capabilities, with concerns remaining over Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpiles and the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC).

Be sure to watch the entire interview on "My View with Lara Trump" at 9 p.m. ET Saturday on Fox News Channel.

Two U.S. officials told Fox News on Thursday that no American assets were shot down by Iran, pushing back on Iranian state media reports claiming a U.S. aircraft had been downed.

“Not true,” one U.S. official told Fox News when asked about the report.

The denial comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following recent drone interceptions near the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

Yesterday's Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage of Iran conflict.

Fox News' Liz Friden contributed to this report.