Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, an 11th-hour deal that headed off U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to unleash a bombing campaign that would destroy Iranian civilization. Hours after the announcement, Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks Wednesday, though it was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal.

All sides have presented vastly different versions of the terms. Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

Pakistan and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, which Israel has invaded to fight Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Wednesday that the deal doesn’t cover fighting against Hezbollah. Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut Wednesday afternoon without warning, killing dozens and wounding hundreds of people.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the Strait of Hormuz that Iran instituted — and give it a new source of revenue. Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

Here is the latest:

Kuwait says Iranian drones targeted power and water facilities

The country’s interior ministry said in a post on the social platform X that these strikes targeted oil facilities, three power and water desalination plants, resulting in “significant” material damage to generators, distilleries and fuel tanks.

Several fires also broke out at some locations, according to the ministry, which made no mention of whether there were casualties, but said that measures were taken to ensure the safety of workers and secure sites.

Arab League chief accuses Israel of undermining regional peace

Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned Israeli assaults on Lebanon, accusing Israel of “persistently seeking to sabotage” the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran.

Aboul Gheit said in a statement posted on the social platform X that the “barbaric” Israeli military’s attacks on Lebanon violate international law, adding that Israel “continues to play an obstructive role to any understandings that may contribute to restoring stability” in the region.

He also called for the international community to pressure Israel to immediately halt its attacks on Lebanon.

Trump says Vance may not participate in Iran talks because of security concerns

The president told The New York Post in a brief interview that in-person talks about the Iran ceasefire would happen “very soon,” but he did not appear to offer or confirm details about when and where.

Pakistan is expected to host talks.

“We’ll have Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, JD —maybe JD, I don’t know. There’s a question of safety, security,” Trump said.

Vance’s office has not commented on whether he would participate in talks.

Lebanon’s president strongly condemns Israel for series of strikes

Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, called the simultaneous attacks on Beirut and other areas “barbaric,” accusing Israel of committing a new massacre in the country.

In a message Wednesday, Aoun said Israel holds full responsibility, saying the continued pursuit of aggressive policies “will only lead to further tension and instability at a time when everyone is most in need of de-escalation.”

Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes during rush hour Wednesday that hit multiple residential areas in Beirut and other parts of the country.

Entire buildings were destroyed in neighborhoods in Beirut, while in other parts of the city dust and debris covered entire residential areas. Hours after the strikes, rescue workers continued combing through debris looking for survivors while hospitals were overwhelmed with the wounded, appealing for blood donations.

Iranian military says U.S. and Israel gave into Iran’s conditions

The Iranian military praised the country’s resilience against the U.S. and Israel, saying this ultimately “forced them to accept Iran’s proposed conditions and surrender” after the three sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

The Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement cited by Iranian state-TV on Wednesday that “extremely heavy losses and casualties” were inflicted, showing that Iran can “put any enemy in place” and “force them to surrender and retreat.”

“With distrust toward the American and Zionist enemies, we monitor all their movements in the region, and in the event of another mistake by them, we will respond in a more destructive and deadlier manner than before,” read the statement.

The Iranian military said it would “smartly” manage the Strait of Hormuz, insisted it poses no threat to regional countries, reaffirmed support for Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance” and urged anti-war protesters to remain in the streets opposing further escalation.

Trump says Lebanon was ‘not included’ in ceasefire deal

The president, in a brief telephone interview with PBS News Hour, said Wednesday that Lebanon was not included “because of Hezbollah. They were not included in the deal. That’ll get taken care of, too. It’s all right.”

When asked about Israel continuing its strikes in Lebanon, he said, “It’s part of the deal — everyone knows that. That’s a separate skirmish.”

‘Italian soldiers in southern Lebanon are not to be touched’

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed indignation on Wednesday after a group of Italian soldiers traveling from southern Lebanon toward Beirut was blocked by warning shots fired by the Israeli military.

The incident, which damaged an Italian vehicle, happened during a massive Israeli air attack on southern Lebanon. No injuries were reported, and the convoy was forced to turn back. Tajani said he would demand an explanation from the Israeli ambassador to Italy.

“To reiterate, the Italian soldiers in southern Lebanon are not to be touched,’’ Tajani said. “We are deeply concerned about the repercussions of the entire crisis.’’

Italian soldiers comprise the second-largest contingent in the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.

Pakistan’s prime minister urges restraint after reports of ceasefire violations

“I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on the social platform X.

Sharif said violations of the ceasefire had been reported in a few places.

The appeal came hours after Sharif said Iran, the United States, and all parties had agreed to a two-week ceasefire, and that Pakistan is preparing to host talks between the two countries later this week.

Ceasefire brings relief but little hope

Iranians are welcoming a pause in U.S.-Israeli strikes while also worrying the war will bring lasting economic damage, half a dozen residents of the capital, Tehran, told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity for their safety.

“Everyone I’ve spoken with, it’s given them a new life,” a university student said of the truce. Many people had begun taking sleeping and anti-anxiety pills to get through nightly bombardment, he added.

Another resident, a woman in her forties, said U.S.-Israeli strikes had already done extensive damage to Iran’s industries and infrastructure.

“It doesn’t give me any hope because it’s just a two-week pause, and it’s not clear what will happen,” she said.

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Associated Press journalist Amir-Hussein Radjy contributed to this report.

China touts diplomatic efforts after helping bring Iran on board for ceasefire

In a post on the social platform X, the Chinese mission to the U.N. detailed its diplomatic efforts over the past month and highlighted various phone calls its foreign minister had made with its counterparts in the region, including with Iran and Israel, since March 1.

Beijing, Iran’s biggest trading partner and the United States’ most significant economic competitor, has spent the past several weeks pushing for a more prominent role in global affairs, including the unexpected role of mediator as the war in the Middle East spiraled into chaos.

On Tuesday, China joined Pakistan to work feverishly to head off a further escalation of the conflict and quietly pulled strings with Iran to find a pathway toward a ceasefire, according to two officials briefed on the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

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Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.

Shipping firm cautious about prospects for strait transit

Danish shipping company Maersk says it’s “working with urgency” to obtain further clarity about prospects of commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The company said in a post on its website that “the ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty, and we need to understand all potential conditions attached.”

It added that “any decision to transit the Strait of Hormuz will be based on continuous risk assessments, close monitoring of the security situation, and available guidance from relevant authorities and partners.”

Graham seeks congressional review of any peace deal with Iran

Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the biggest proponents of Trump’s military action in Iran, says he prefers a diplomatic solution, but that the “supposed negotiating document” that led to a ceasefire had “some troubling aspects.”

Graham said in a post on the social platform X that he looks forward to the architects of the proposal, including Vice President JD Vance and others, coming to Congress and explaining how the deal meets America’s national security objectives.

He says that all highly enriched uranium must be removed from Iran and handed over to the United States as part of a peace agreement.

“Allowing this regime to enrich in the future would be an affront to all those murdered by the regime since this war started and would be inconsistent with denying Iran a pathway toward a bomb in the future,” Graham said. “That is why I strongly support President Trump’s statement today: no enrichment for Iran.”

Graham said he wants a thorough congressional review process.

Rescuers look for survivors in Beirut following Israeli airstrikes

Using forklifts, Lebanese rescue workers were removing burned cars and debris that blocked a major thoroughfare in Beirut following Israeli strikes in the area.

Dozens of charred vehicles mixed with concrete and twisted metal filled an entire residential block. More than two hours after the strikes, rescuers sifted through the debris looking for survivors, as smoke continued to rise.

Associated Press journalists on the scene saw some bodies in parked vehicles at a traffic light and on the ground.

The intersection in Corniche al-Mazraa is one of the busiest in Beirut, leading to the city center and airport, the coast and the suburbs.

Pakistan PM says US, Iran delegations to arrive for talks after ceasefire

In a televised address to his Cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan played a key role in securing the pause in fighting, crediting his team, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, for sustained diplomatic engagement with U.S. and Iranian leaders.

He described the truce as a “first step” toward broader peace and expressed hope that the talks being held Friday in Islamabad would help turn the fragile ceasefire into a lasting resolution.

“The war has only been temporarily averted, but this is an important beginning,” Sharif said.

He did not specify who would represent the U.S. or Iran or when the delegations would arrive.

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted several drones

Saudi Arabia said Wednesday afternoon that it intercepted nine drones over the past few hours as the Gulf nation continues to deal with Iranian air attacks despite the announcement of a ceasefire in Iran.

Gulf Arab diplomat: Gulf countries fear Iran could emerge stronger from war

The diplomat says Arab countries in the region fear that sanctions on Iran will soon be lifted and Iran will collect fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has offered a 10-point ceasefire plan that includes both of these steps. It’s unclear whether they will be part of a final ceasefire, but Trump has described the proposal as a “workable base” for negotiations.

The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss behind-the-scenes discussions between the Arab countries, says Gulf Arab countries are concerned a deal won’t take their security concerns into account, particularly freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait said Wednesday that movement through the strait must take place “without restrictions.”

The diplomat said the Gulf countries haven’t been invited to join ceasefire negotiations, even though they are touching “the core of our security.”

UN special envoy arrives in Iran as temporary ceasefire takes shape

Jean Arnault, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ personal envoy, landed in Iran hours after Washington and Tehran agreed to a temporary halt in hostilities despite contradicting views of what a final peace deal would look like.

“Acting on the Secretary-General’s instructions, he is visiting countries across the region to support all efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict,” a U.N. spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday.

The envoy is scheduled to meet with Iranian officials to “hear their perspective on the way forward.”

Israeli military accuses Hezbollah of ‘scattering’ into civilian areas

Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said Israel’s largest strike on Lebanon since March 1 came as the militant group attempts to “scatter” its operations to populated civilian areas.

“We are seeing them move in a more dispersed way and try to embed their operations behind civilians more and more,” Shoshani said Wednesday.

He added that Hezbollah was moving away from its traditional areas of influence, including southern Lebanon or the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut, and into areas deeper within civilian populations, including downtown Beirut.

The military said the operation on Wednesday included 50 fighter jets, which launched 160 munitions at 100 targets in 10 minutes, causing widespread panic across the Lebanese capital during rush hour.

Oil prices plunge toward $90 a barrel and US stocks surge 2.7%

Stock markets are surging worldwide, and oil prices are plunging back toward $90 per barrel after President Donald Trump pulled back from his threat to force a “whole civilization” to die in the war with Iran.

The S&P 500 leaped 2.7% after Trump, Iran and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire, just hours before a deadline the U.S. president had set for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and allow oil to flow freely again from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1,350 points, and the Nasdaq composite surged 3.4% following even bigger gains in European and Asian markets.

Morocco hopes US-Iran talks in Pakistan will bring durable peace and stability

Morocco on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire and backed upcoming negotiations in Pakistan, the foreign ministry said, adding it hopes the talks will serve “the higher interest of the brotherly Arab countries in the Gulf.”

The North African country, one of Washington’s closest allies in the region, also stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. Its closure has pushed fuel prices in the country up by more than 30%.

Hegseth says US could strike again if Iran does not hand over enriched uranium

The Pentagon chief did not offer any details about whether Iran had agreed to Trump’s statement that the U.S. would work with them to “dig up” the buried material.

However, Hegseth said Iran will “give it to us voluntarily,” or the U.S. might do “something like” its strikes last summer with Israel hitting Iran’s nuclear sites.

“We reserve that opportunity,” Hegseth said.

Drone attacks damage 3 power and water desalination plants in Kuwait

The defense ministry said 28 drones were fired at the oil-rich country on Wednesday morning, in what it described as a “large-scale series of Iranian attacks.”

Col. Saud Al-Atwan, the ministry spokesman, said the attacks, which came after the ceasefire announcement, reflect “clear determination to persist in targeting the country’s security and vital capabilities.”

US lays out stats of Iran strikes

Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 13,000 targets have been struck in operations against Iran, destroying 80% of Iran’s air defense systems and attacking 90% of its weapons factories.

Caine told reporters at a Pentagon briefing that more than 90% of Iran’s regular naval fleet has been sunk, “including all major surface combatants” with 150 ships now “at the bottom of the ocean.”

Caine added that the operation included the consumption of “more than 6 million meals, and by my estimate, more than 950,000 gallons of coffee, 2 million energy drinks and a lot of nicotine.”

Hegseth: Iran ‘got lucky one time in 40 days’

“We own their skies,” Hegseth told reporters Wednesday, even though Iranian forces shot down two U.S. military jets on Friday.

Largely repeating his claims that Iran had been badly defeated, Hegseth said the U.S. and Israel had achieved a “capital ‘V’ military victory” and said Iran’s military no longer poses a significant threat to U.S. forces or the region.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. strikes have significantly set back Iran’s military and defense industrial base, but also said the military would stand ready to resume strikes if the ceasefire fails.

Hegseth says US military has done its part ‘for now’

The Pentagon “for now, for now, has done its part,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday during a news conference. “We stand ready in the background to ensure Iran upholds every reasonable term.”

Hegseth praised the “bravery and sheer guts” of the U.S. military and said the operation had hobbled Iran’s regime. He said nobody makes a better deal than Trump.

Israel vows to continue striking Hezbollah

The Israeli military chief of staff said on Wednesday that Israel will continue to “utilize every operational opportunity” to strike Hezbollah after the military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue striking Hezbollah to protect Israel’s northern residents, who have come under heavy fire from Hezbollah. The Israeli strikes caused panic during Lebanon’s afternoon rush hour as plumes of black smoke rose over several neighborhoods across the capital.

Trump administration once again shifts the objectives for the war

Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a news conference at the Pentagon Wednesday that the U.S. military had three objectives in Iran: to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities, to destroy its navy, and to destroy its defense industrial base.

The president and members of his administration have offered varying objectives throughout the 5 1/2-week war and have shifted them throughout, despite claiming they have not changed.

Trump has at times named five objectives, but has changed them.

Other objectives have included eliminating Iran’s air force, blocking Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, cutting off support for its proxy groups and protecting allies in the Middle East.

Airstrikes repo

rted in Beirut

A series of Israeli airstrikes hit at least five different neighborhoods in the heart and along the coast of Beirut on Wednesday, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.

The simultaneous strikes during rush hour caused panic around the capital.

French ex-detainees recount ‘hell’ in Iran’s prison

Two French former detainees in Iran who were allowed to return to France on Wednesday described years “under constant threat” in Tehran’s Evin prison, where many dissidents are held.

Cécile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, had been staying in French diplomatic premises in Tehran since their release in November after more than three years in detention on spying charges, which Paris called unfounded.

The two were received by President Emmanuel Macron in Paris hours after arriving. French authorities said the pair left Iran by road into neighboring Azerbaijan on Tuesday before flying to Paris.

Kohler thanked those who helped secure their release “from the hell of Evin, where we experienced daily horror,” adding: “We realize how narrowly we escaped, because it could have been much worse.”

“We were under constant threat,” Paris said. “We had no right to read or write. Whenever we left our cell, we were blindfolded.”

“We are not broken,” he added. “We will bear witness … and we will enjoy life again.”

White House says nothing final in plans for talks

The White House says “nothing is final” over plans for in-person talks over Iran.

In response to questions about whether U.S. Vice President JD Vance would be participating in U.S.-Iran talks expected to be held later this week in Pakistan, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, “There are discussions about in person talks, but nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House.”

The vice president was in Hungary, where he was supporting. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of upcoming elections.

Iranians express cautious optimism about ceasefire

“As we have seen in Gaza and Lebanon, ceasefires have often been violated unilaterally. Hopefully, this time they will remain committed, the ceasefire will hold, and our people will stay steadfast until we achieve final results,” said Ezzat Papar, a Tehran resident.

“When dialogue and negotiation are possible, we should pursue our demands that way,” said Alireza Khoddami, a 60-year-old taxi driver in Tehran.

“How long have we been under sanctions, and what progress have we truly made? In my view, it is the people and the country who continue to suffer. This is a valuable opportunity. We are in a strong position and have the upper hand,” Khoddami said.

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