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Iran live updates: As war nears 6 months, Trump continues to say Iran is 'failing'
The Trump administration is trying to ramp up economic pressure on Iran.
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.
Key Headlines
- CENTCOM commander says sea mines in Strait of Hormuz cleared
- As war approaches 6-month mark, Trump says Iran is 'failing' and claims they want to meet
- Tehran faces 'devastating' economic situation, Leavitt says
- Tanker attacked in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says
- Iranian nuclear sites have not been secured for inspection, nuclear chief says
- Trump says he’s 'not in a hurry' to end Iran war
Iranian nuclear sites have not been secured for inspection, nuclear chief says
The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, said Iran remains in a wartime situation and its nuclear sites have not been secured for inspection.
Eslami also said the International Atomic Energy Agency cannot request inspections until it draws up a protocol.
"The facilities that have now been subjected to military strikes were all registered with the IAEA, and the Agency has been conducting continuous inspections of them. The fact that the Agency does not protest or condemn these attacks calls its competence and independence into question," he said.
"In a situation where the Agency has no such protocol and also takes no stance, it is only the U.S. and Israel that are exerting pressure for the Agency to visit and inspect the destroyed sites. The reason for this pressure is that they want to see what has happened to these sites as a result of the military operation they conducted," Eslami said.
-ABC News' Desiree Adib
Trump says he’s 'not in a hurry' to end Iran war
President Donald Trump said he was in “no rush” to negotiate the end of the Iran war, even as the conflict nears its six-month mark.
“I have no time schedule, none,” Trump reportedly told Al Jazeera in a brief interview on Wednesday.
When asked by the reporter whether economic sanctions or military strikes are more effective in his campaign against Iran, Trump said they are "both effective."
The U.S. announced that they are upping economic pressure on Iran and possibly Iran's trading partners.
Iran, Oman ministers hold 'constructive' Strait of Hormuz talks
The foreign ministers of both Iran and Oman on Tuesday commented on continuing bilateral talks regarding the future management of the Strait of Hormuz.
Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said in a post to X that he and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a "constructive dialogue in Tehran."
"I am hopeful we will soon announce a temporary corridor for the Strait of Hormuz and practical arrangements to restore safe navigation," Busaidi wrote. "Future management of the Strait and a permanent solution will follow in due course, as per article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum."
"Discussions with regional partners will be conducted in support of peace and cooperation, stability and freedom of navigation," Busaidi added.
Araghchi, meanwhile, said in a post to X that Tehran's "commitment to peace and stability is matched by steadfast diplomacy with our neighbors. In talks with Pakistani and Omani guests, regional solutions were stressed."
"Proposed framework for new corridor, joint mine-clearing, and future management of Hormuz is case in point," he added.
-ABC News' Will Gretsky
Trump says all mines have been cleared from Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy informed him that all mines "have been removed and/or detonated" from the Strait of Hormuz.
"Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed. Through Space Force, we are watching every square inch of the Strait, as we are, also, with Pickaxe Mountain and the already destroyed three other Nuclear sites. There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect," Trump said in a post on social media Tuesday.