President Trump’s ceasefire with Iran draws praise from world leaders
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he supports President Donald Trump’s two-week ceasefire with Iran. In a Truth Social post, Trump suggested Iran was ready to reach a peace agreement and said the U.S. would help manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
Hegseth: Iran’s new regime realized ceasefire deal was ‘far better than the fate that awaited them'
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that Iran’s new regime struck a ceasefire deal with President Donald Trump because they "understood that a deal was far better than the fate that awaited them.”
“You see, had Iran refused our terms, the next targets would have been their power plants, their bridges and oil and energy infrastructure. Targets they could not defend and could not realistically rebuild. It would have taken them decades. And we were locked and loaded. They couldn't defend against it,” Hegseth said.
“President Trump had the power to cripple Iran's entire economy in minutes. But he chose mercy. He spared those targets because Iran accepted the ceasefire under overwhelming pressure,” Hegseth added. “The new Iranian regime understood that a deal was far better than the fate that awaited them.”
“This new regime just happened to look at what happened to their predecessors. Their top leadership was systematically eliminated. The previous Iranian supreme leader, dead. The Supreme National Security Council secretary, dead. The supreme leader office advisor, dead. The supreme leader military office chief, dead. The defense minister no longer with us. The IRGC commander, dead. The armed forces general staff commander, dead. The intelligence minister, dead. The IRGC Navy commander, no longer here. The IRGC Intel chief, dead,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon, recalling U.S. military action during Operation Epic Fury.
“I skipped over a bunch, and I could go on and on and on to include the new so-called new supreme leader, wounded and disfigured. This new regime was out of options and out of time. So they cut a deal,” Hegseth added.
Iran was 'obsessed' with hitting US aircraft carrier, 'never got close': Hegseth
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth revealed Wednesday that Iran’s military was “obsessed” with trying to strike a U.S. aircraft carrier during Operation Epic Fury, but they “never got even close.”
“Iran shot hundreds and hundreds of missiles and one-way attack drones at our aircraft carrier. They were obsessed with it, and they never got even close,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon.
“Every single one of those shots, easily shot down miles and miles away from the [USS] Abe Lincoln. They were blowing ammo into Fantasyland,” Hegseth added.
Israeli Air Force says it launched its largest attack on Lebanon since Operation Roaring Lion began
The Israeli Air Force said on Wednesday it launched its “largest attack across Lebanon” since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion against Iran.
Israel’s military has been striking Hezbollah, a Lebanese terrorist group allied with Iran, in recent weeks.
“The Air Force completed a strike targeting approximately 100 command centers and military infrastructures of the Hezbollah terror organization across Beirut, the Bekaa, and southern Lebanon,” the Israeli Air Force said Wednesday.
The strikes took aim at “intelligence headquarters and central staffs used by the organization's terrorists to direct and plan terror attacks against IDF forces and civilians of the State of Israel,” as well as Hezbollah missile infrastructure, it added.
“The strike was based on precise intelligence information and was meticulously planned over long weeks by personnel from the Operations Directorate, the Intelligence Directorate, the Air Force, and Northern Command, in order to deepen the damage to the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” the Israeli Air Force said.
“Most of the infrastructures that were attacked were located in the heart of a civilian population, as part of the cynical exploitation that the Hezbollah terrorist organization carries out with Lebanese civilians as human shields to secure its activities. Prior to the strikes, measures were taken to minimize harm to non-involved parties as much as possible,” it also said.
Caine says US struck more than 13,000 targets during 38-day assault on Iran
The U.S. military struck more than 13,000 targets since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury against Iran on Feb. 28, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine announced Wednesday.
“Since the beginning of major combat operations, the United States Joint Force has struck more than 13,000 targets, including in that 13,000, more than 4,000 dynamic targets that popped up on the battlefield and were immediately addressed thanks to the exceptional command and control system and intelligence acumen and agility of our joint force,” Caine said.
“CENTCOM forces destroyed approximately 80% of Iran's air defense systems, striking more than 1,500 air defense targets, more than 450 ballistic missile storage facilities, 801 one-way attack drones storage facilities,” Caine added. “All of these systems are gone.”
"We've devastated Iran's command and control and logistical networks, destroying more than 2,000 command and control nodes and degrading their ability to target U.S. and friendly forces,” he also said. “It is, and we know this, incredibly frustrating right now to be a lower-level Iranian commander trying to fight your fight.”
Caine said at the Pentagon that the U.S. has sunk approximately 90% of the Iranian Navy’s regular fleet.
“It will take years for Iran to rebuild any major surface combatants, as more than 20 naval production and fabrication facilities have been damaged or destroyed, and nearly 80% of Iran's nuclear industrial base was hit, further degrading their attempts to attain a nuclear weapon,” Caine also said.
US forces 'not going anywhere' to ensure Iranian compliance, Hegseth says
American forces will remain in the Middle East to make sure Iran’s regime sticks with the terms of President Donald Trump’s new ceasefire deal, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
"We'll be hanging around. We're not going anywhere,” Hegseth said at the Pentagon. “We're going to make sure Iran complies with the ceasefire and then ultimately comes to the table and makes a deal.
“So we'll stay put, stay ready, stay vigilant,” he added. “As the chairman laid out, our troops are prepared to defend, prepared to go on offense, prepared to restart at a moment's notice with whatever target package would be needed in order to ensure that Iran complies.”
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine said earlier that U.S. military is ready to resume combat with the “same speed and precision as we've demonstrated over the last 38 days” if Iran doesn’t hold up to the terms of the ceasefire deal.
Caine says US ready to resume combat with 'same speed and precision' if ceasefire doesn't hold
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine said the U.S. military is ready to resume combat with the “same speed and precision as we've demonstrated over the last 38 days” if Iran doesn’t hold up to the terms of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire deal.
"Over the course of 38 days of major combat operation, the Joint Force achieved the military objectives as defined by the president. We welcome the ongoing ceasefire, and as the Secretary [of War Pete Hegseth] said, we hope that Iran chooses a lasting peace,” Caine said at the Pentagon.
“But as Secretary Hegseth said, let us be clear. A ceasefire is a pause and the joint force remains ready if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations with the same speed and precision as we've demonstrated over the last 38 days. And we hope that that is not the case," Caine added.
Hegseth says US achieved 'decisive military victory,' Iranian forces 'combat ineffective for years'
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the United States has achieved a “decisive military victory” against Iran in Operation Epic Fury.
"To the precision campaign that obliterated Iran's nuclear sites in Operation Midnight Hammer to the decisive military victory we just achieved in Operation Epic Fury --- no other president has shown the courage and resolve of this commander in chief,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon, a day after President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran.
“President Trump forged this moment,” Hegseth added. “Iran begged for this ceasefire, and we all know it.”
"As the president Truthed this morning, a big day for world peace. Iran wants it to happen, they've had enough,” Hegseth also said, referencing an earlier post by the president to Truth Social. “Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield. A capital V military victory. By any measure, Epic Fury decimated Iran's military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come.”
Hegseth, Caine to hold Pentagon press briefing following Trump ceasefire deal announcement
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine will hold a press briefing at 8 a.m. ET at the Pentagon.
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday a 2-week ceasefire deal with Iran.
Trump announces US-Iran cooperation on nuclear material removal, tariff and sanctions relief talks
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. will work with Iran on nuclear material removal and will be discussing potential tariffs and sanctions relief, assessing that the country has undergone regime change.
"The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!" Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday morning. "There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear 'Dust.'"
"It is now, and has been, under very exacting Satellite Surveillance (Space Force!)," Trump continued. "Nothing has been touched from the date of attack. We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran. Many of the 15 points have already been been agreed to. Thank you for your attention to this matter."
In June 2025, the U.S. launched its first major direct strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military infrastructure during what was known as Operation Midnight Hammer. Iran's Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites were the primary targets.
Operation Epic Fury, launched by the U.S. on Feb. 28 in coordination with Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion, targeted Iranian leadership, missile sites and some remaining nuclear-related facilities.
Ships begin crossing Strait of Hormuz following Trump ceasefire deal
Two ships were spotted transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday in the wake of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal.
The Liberia-flagged bulk carrier “Daytona Beach” first crossed around 2 a.m. ET, followed by the Greek-owned bulk carrier “NJ Earth” around 3:45 a.m. ET.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world’s most critical energy choke points. Before Operation Epic Fury began, it carried roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day, along with about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas.
The strait is also a key artery for refined fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Its recent blockade sent energy prices sharply higher worldwide.
Fox Business’ Lauren Simonetti and Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.
Kuwait, UAE report new attacks from Iran following Trump’s ceasefire deal
Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are reporting fresh attacks from the Iranian regime on Wednesday, just hours after President Donald Trump reached a 2-week ceasefire deal with Tehran.
A Kuwait defense ministry spokesperson said the country has been pushing back against “an intense wave of hostile Iranian criminal attacks”, intercepting 28 drones.
“The Kuwaiti Armed Forces succeeded in intercepting a large number of hostile drones, some of which targeted vital oil facilities and power stations in the south of the country, resulting in significant material damage to oil infrastructure facilities, power stations, and water desalination plants,” the spokesperson added.
Across the Strait of Hormuz, in the United Arab Emirates, its defense ministry said Wednesday that the UAE's “air defenses are currently engaging with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran.”
“The Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of the UAE air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones,” it also said.
UK's Starmer backs US-Iran ceasefire, pushes for long-term peace
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Wednesday he welcomed the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran.
In a post on X, Starmer said the deal will “bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.”
“Together with our partners, we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.
President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran on Tuesday.
Netanyahu backs Trump ceasefire with Iran, says deal excludes Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supports President Donald Trump’s two-week ceasefire with Iran, adding that the arrangement does not include Lebanon.
“Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the U.S., Israel and countries in the region,” Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
“Israel also supports the U.S. effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbors and the world,” he continued.
Netanyahu said the U.S. told Israel it is “committed to achieving these goals, shared by the U.S., Israel and Israel's regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations.”
He added that the two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon.
Trump predicts ‘Golden Age of the Middle East’ after Iran ceasefire
President Donald Trump said there will be “positive action” following the two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, predicting a “Golden Age of the Middle East.”
In a Truth Social post early Wednesday, Trump suggested Iran was ready to reach a peace agreement and said the U.S. would help manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
“A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote. “There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process.”
Trump said the U.S. will be “loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well.” He added, “I feel confident that it will.”
“Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!” Trump added.
Live Coverage begins here