Trump’s Frustration Grows Over Iran’s Delay Tactics

Live updates 21:26 - The head of the National Security Committee in Iran’s parliament threatens: “This time, the war will not be limited to the region alone.”

21:15 - Colombian President Gustavo Petro spoke at the UN Security Council about the war in Gaza and compared Israel to the Nazi regime.

20:58 - President Isaac Herzog, at the Israel Defense Prize ceremony: “No Hezbollah drone or UAV distinguishes between one Israeli and another, or between one opinion and another. Even now, as always, only together will we stand up to every challenge. Decision-makers must put the north at the top of the priorities.”

20:56 - Trump: “Last month, I directed the U.S. military to carry out a secret mission to help oil tankers and commercial ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz. More than 200 commercial ships passed safely through the strait. The U.S. controls the strait, not Iran.”

20:54 - Trump is waiting for Iran’s response and is becoming more and more frustrated: “They kept us waiting”

The trigger for the strikes against Iran that President Trump ordered was the downing of an American helicopter, but behind the scenes Trump had become increasingly frustrated by the nearly two-week wait for an Iranian response to his latest proposal, a response that never came, two senior U.S. officials said. According to one U.S. official, the strikes carried out last night were intended, on the one hand, to restore U.S. leverage in negotiations with Iran, but on the other hand to be measured and targeted so that no one would be killed and the path to an agreement would not be closed. Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran today in an effort to get the negotiations back on track and narrow the remaining gaps between the U.S. and Iran.

20:38 - Defense Minister Israel Katz at the Israel Defense Prize ceremony: “The campaign against Iran is far from over, the IDF is prepared to strike Iran with great force.”

20:01 - IDF: After the situation assessment, Home Front Command defensive policy remains unchanged and will remain in effect until Sunday at 20:00.

19:55 - The President of Iran, responding to U.S. President Trump on X: “Threats to target infrastructure are not a display of strength, but a sign of desperation. Iran will stand firm against any pressure or threat.”

19:53 - Netanyahu in a message to the Lebanese people: Israel wants peace, once Hezbollah is dismantled the possibilities will be endless.

19:33 - India summoned a senior U.S. diplomat in New Delhi following the attack on the tanker off the coast of Oman, in which three Indian citizens are still missing. The U.S. military released footage and said its forces “struck the engine room of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman with precision munitions and disabled it after the crew did not respond to instructions relayed by U.S. military forces.”

19:23 - In Tyre and southern Lebanon, the IDF continues to strike infrastructure and kill terrorists from the Hezbollah terror organization.

19:21 - Trump revealed: We seized 22 ships from Iran carrying millions of barrels of oil. The Iranians did not know about it until this very moment.

19:07 - Trump: I think the Iranians want to make a deal, but we will find out.

18:57 - Trump was asked about Erdogan’s threats against Israel and replied: “Erdogan is a good friend of mine. I haven’t heard those things, if I had heard them, I would call him.”

18:54 - Trump on Iran’s bombing of an American Apache helicopter: “The bomb got stuck in the helicopter and did not explode.”

18:51 - “We are going to strike them very hard, today”: Trump issues a sharp threat

U.S. President Donald Trump said this evening, Wednesday, that the United States is expected to strike Iran again, today. “We are going to strike them very hard today,” he said at the White House amid the mutual threats and continuing tensions with Tehran. “We were very close to a deal, but they keep stringing us along,” the president explained the reason for the planned strike. Earlier, Trump posted a harsh statement in which he wrote: “They took far too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!” He later referred to Iran’s military and claimed that “much of it, like their navy and air force, doesn’t even exist anymore, they have been totally defeated.” He also wrote that Iran was “just talking,” adding: “The Middle East bully is dead!!!” Trump also told Fox News that he is close to ordering additional strikes on power stations and bridges in Iran. The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, responded to the threats and said that “for any aggression against Iran, there will be a firm and immediate response.” According to him, “despite the deaths of commanders and scientists, the country’s defensive and deterrent capabilities have not diminished.”

18:37 - U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth: It would be “unwise” for Iran to continue challenging the United States.

18:25 - Panic at the Pentagon: CNN reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fostered a culture of suspicion and paranoia. Hegseth has fired more than 20 senior military officials after pledging to carry out a fundamental overhaul of the U.S. security system.

17:54 - An Iranian army spokesman, responding to Trump’s threats of strikes against Iranian infrastructure: “We have already proven that we will respond appropriately to threats.”

17:39 - Diplomats to Reuters: The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency approved a resolution stating that it is “essential and urgent” for Iran to report its remaining stockpile of enriched uranium and grant the agency full access needed to verify it. According to the diplomats, the resolution was approved by the IAEA Board of Governors by a vote of 21 in favor, 3 against and 10 abstentions. The Iranian mission in Vienna called the IAEA Board of Governors’ decision “political” and “unprofessional” and said Iran “will defend its inalienable rights, even in response to this flawed decision.”

16:50 - IDF confirms: Part of an Iranian missile hit an air force base. Four days after Iran’s attack against Israel, the IDF confirmed today, Wednesday, that part of a ballistic missile hit a hangar at the Ramat David Air Force Base. The IDF also allowed publication of the fact that the strike caused damage to buildings on the base and that the incident is under investigation. However, the army clarified that the strike did not disrupt operational activity and that no capability was harmed.

15:20 - Report in Al-Arabiya: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to visit CENTCOM headquarters in Florida today.

14:40 - Trump in a dramatic statement: “It took Iran too long to negotiate, now it will have to pay the price”

U.S. President Donald Trump posted a dramatic message today, Wednesday, on the social network Truth Social about the continuation of negotiations with Iran: “They took far too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!” In his statement, Trump referred to the state of the Iranian military: “They are in total disarray. Much of it, like their navy and air force, doesn’t even exist anymore, they have been totally defeated.” He later claimed that Iran only talks without acting and declared, “The Middle East bully is dead!!!” The president also told Fox News that he is close to ordering additional strikes on power stations and bridges in Iran.

14:37 - Trump: The blockade on Iran is a steel wall. Iran is doing no business, not paying its military or its bills. It is quickly becoming a failed state, praise be to Allah!

14:31 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “The antisemitic tyrant Erdogan, who is committing genocide against the Kurds, supports the Hamas terror organization, oppresses his own people and jails political rivals, is the last person who can preach morality to the State of Israel. The State of Israel and the IDF, the most moral army in the world, will continue to act with force against Iran and its proxies that threaten the Middle East and the entire world.”

14:30 - Reports in Lebanon: A vehicle was struck by an Israeli drone in Sidon.

14:11 - Speaker of the Iranian parliament Qalibaf responds to the American threat: “Despite the deaths of commanders and scientists, the progress of science and knowledge has not stopped, and the country’s defensive and deterrent capabilities have not diminished. For any aggression against Iran, there will be a firm and immediate response.”

14:08 - Reuters report: A Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran this morning in an effort to finalize the agreement, after consultations with the United States.

14:05 - Trump: “The Iranian military is in total disarray. Much of it, like their navy and air force, doesn’t even exist anymore, they have been totally defeated. Iran is all talk and no action. The Middle East bully is dead. They took far too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price.”

13:41 - The President of the State in an Arabic-language appeal to the President of Lebanon during his visit to northern Israel: “Denounce Hezbollah and Iran from among you. I extend a hand for peace to the President of Lebanon and the Lebanese people, but your duty is to ensure Lebanon’s freedom from the dictates of Hezbollah, Iran and terrorist organizations, so that it preserves its status as a sovereign and independent state.”

13:32 - Turkish President Erdogan in another threat: Israel’s aggression threatens the entire world and must stop. If the rights of Turks and Turkish Cypriots in the Middle East are harmed, our response will be decisive.

13:08 - The Turkish president also spoke about the exchange of blows between Israel and Hezbollah: “Israel’s strikes in Syria and Lebanon have reached a point where they threaten Turkey.”

Turkish President Erdogan sharply attacked Israel’s actions in the region today and warned of their implications for his country’s security. In his remarks, the Turkish president referred to tensions in the eastern Mediterranean and the fighting in the different arenas. “We are seeing mischievous initiatives led by Israel also in the Mediterranean Sea,” Erdogan said. “No one should be chasing adventures in this region.” He added that Israel’s strikes in Syria and Lebanon have reached a point where they directly threaten Turkey as well. The remarks came after additional sharp statements were heard on Saturday from senior figures in the Turkish government. Turkey’s Interior Minister, Mustafa Çiftçi, said last Saturday that he wishes for Jerusalem to return to Turkish rule. “These lands will be ours again,” said Minister Çiftçi. He said he believes the city will one day return to his country’s control, and compared the move to what he described as the “liberation” of other cities in the region, including Damascus, Aleppo and Karabakh.

12:54 - Erdogan on U.S. President Trump: “His participation in the NATO summit in Ankara is important for the unity of the alliances.”

12:42 - The British Maritime Trade Operations center reports a tanker damaged near the coast of Oman and before the Strait of Hormuz. At least one crew member was injured and two are missing, and the rest of the crew are evacuating the ship with a fire burning in the engine room.

12:21 - Under cover of an Israeli bombardment: a spy captured by Hezbollah escapes and disappears

While Israeli Air Force jets struck Beirut’s Dahieh district in March and many residents fled in panic, one person used the chaos to escape from the place where Hezbollah had imprisoned him. According to an AP report, the man managed to leave the facility where he was being held, reach the hills overlooking the Lebanese capital, and disappear inside the Ukrainian embassy compound in the Baabda area. The man, identified by the Lebanese authorities as Khaled al-Aidi, is a Palestinian refugee from Syria who also holds Ukrainian citizenship. He was held by Hezbollah after being accused of involvement in an alleged espionage network operating for Israel and planning attacks and assassinations in Lebanon.

11:30 - The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on the talks with the U.S.: “Tehran is required to reassess the situation following the exchange of fire overnight. The ongoing ceasefire violations by the U.S. are harming the diplomatic process.”

10:51 - Explosions reported near Qeshm Island in Iran, reason unclear. The Iranian Mehr news agency reported an explosion heard near Qeshm Island, the circumstances are unclear at this stage.

10:10 - Fearing Trump may halt it, the IDF is racing against time in Lebanon, Beirut remains out of range for now

Israel continues today, Wednesday, to operate extensively in southern Lebanon, while Beirut remains outside the operational range for now, as reported last night in the main edition. The strikes are being carried out under the new deterrence balance with Iran and Hezbollah, while the security establishment is working to destroy as many terror capabilities as possible before the U.S. administration decides to stop the activity. This morning’s strikes come after last night’s report about the unusual incident that took place near the community of Margaliot, in which a terrorist from Lebanon managed to infiltrate Israeli territory and was killed shortly after opening fire on an IDF force operating in the area. However, Israel has still not decided on the nature of its response. The Air Force struck targets throughout the past day in Tyre, Sidon, Saluki and south of the Litani River, focusing on destroying many Hezbollah infrastructure sites.

10:08 - Bahrain’s defense force on the Iranian attack overnight: Our air defense systems intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks. Its units are at the highest level of alert and operational readiness, and fully capable of defending the kingdom.

09:33 - Evacuation warning to villages in southern Lebanon. IDF Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee announced an evacuation warning for the villages of Ghassaniyeh, Khoumin al-Fawqa and Ansariyah in southern Lebanon. “Hezbollah’s violation of the ceasefire forces the IDF to act against it with force. The IDF does not want to harm you,” he said in his message to residents.

09:24 - Report: Exchange of fire in an attempted takeover of a ship off Yemen’s coast. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center announced an attempted takeover of a vessel in southwestern Lahj in Yemen. A ship reported the approach of another vessel with six armed men on board, and there was an exchange of fire between the ships. According to them, authorities are investigating the incident.

08:42 - The IDF continues striking Hezbollah infrastructure and killing terrorists.

08:19 - This morning, a surprise IDF command exercise began in the Eshkol Regional Council area. Throughout the day there will be increased presence of soldiers and military vehicles at intersections along Route 232. The exercise is expected to end at 18:00, and soldiers will not enter communities.

08:06 - Gallant: “We should have gone and brought the enriched uranium by force”

Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said: “We should have gone and brought the enriched uranium by military action during the campaign, that would have uprooted the nuclear program from Iran. I don’t want to go into what I know, but the capability of the U.S. military and the IDF was a capability that existed.” Gallant made the comments on Seven Nine with Gideon Oko and Amichai Attali on 103FM.

06:37 - The U.S. attacked 20 targets in Iran in three waves of strikes

The U.S. military attacked 20 targets in Iran overnight in three separate waves of strikes. Officials reported that almost all of the missiles and drones launched by Iran were intercepted, and there are no reports of casualties or damage. Among the targets struck in Iran were air defense and radar positions, as well as communications and command-and-control facilities.

06:22 - Trump did not initially think to strike in response to the helicopter downing, but was persuaded by Hegseth and Caine

The Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump initially thought the U.S. should not strike Iran in response to the downing of the helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, but was persuaded after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine recommended it.

06:10 - Iran fired missiles and drones at U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain

A senior U.S. official said at least four ballistic missiles and several drones were launched by Iran toward American bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, as part of the response to U.S. strikes on its territory. Later, the Jordanian army said it intercepted five ballistic missiles that Iran fired at the U.S. army’s Al-Azraq base in the kingdom. There is no damage and no casualties.

05:50 - Iran fired missiles and drones at U.S. bases in the Middle East

Senior U.S. official: At least 4 ballistic missiles and several drones were launched by Iran toward American bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, as part of the response to the American strikes.

05:14 - The Revolutionary Guards: We attacked the Ali Al-Salem base in Kuwait with drones.

04:54 - The Revolutionary Guards: We attacked an American base in Jordan.

04:43 - Bahrain: Air defense systems were activated following Iranian attacks.

04:16 - Iran: We attacked the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they attacked the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain with drones in response to the American strikes in southern Iran. In their statement, the Revolutionary Guards warned of a “more severe response.” Bahrain said its air defense systems were activated following the Iranian attacks.

04:04 - CENTCOM statement: We struck Iranian targets in response to the helicopter downing

CENTCOM said U.S. Central Command forces completed self-defense strikes against Iran under the order of the commander-in-chief in response to the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter yesterday. The forces struck Iranian air defense sites, ground control stations and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz with precision munitions from U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter jets. According to CENTCOM, the operation was a proportional response to recent attacks on American forces and international commercial ships crossing regional waters. U.S. forces remain vigilant and prepared to defend against unprovoked Iranian aggression.

03:06 - Iran: We attacked U.S. bases in the region in response to the American attacks in the south of the country.

03:06 - Senior U.S. official: Third wave of strikes has begun in Iran.

02:16 - Senior U.S. official: Second wave of strikes is underway now. The second wave also targets air defense batteries and radars.

01:34 - Araghchi: “We will not leave any attack unanswered”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the American strikes: “Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the U.S. chose to test our resolve. Our powerful armed forces will not leave any attack or threat unanswered. Leave our region if you want to be safe.”

01:05 - U.S. official to CNN: The strikes will not harm negotiations with Iran.

U.S. official to CNN: The strikes were intended as a warning signal to Iran, and it is assessed that they will not harm the negotiations to end the war.

01:03 - Senior U.S. official: The operation continues. We are prepared for a series of additional strikes.

00:54 - The U.S. attacked air defense systems around the Strait of Hormuz

Senior U.S. official: American forces struck several Iranian air defense and radar systems around the Strait of Hormuz.

00:44 - Tasnim news agency: Iran will respond to the U.S. strikes.

Iranian news agency Tasnim, close to the Revolutionary Guards: Iran will respond to the U.S. strikes.

00:44 - Trump: Our response is very powerful

U.S. President Donald Trump to ABC: We have to respond to the helicopter downing, and we are responding as we speak. I believe our response should be very strong, very powerful, and that is exactly what it is.

00:42 - Reports in Iran: Explosions heard in the south of the country

Fars news agency reports explosions in the cities of Kuhestak and Minab in southern Iran. Explosions were also reported on Qeshm Island and in the nearby city of Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iranian television, strikes were also carried out in the city of Jask and in the city of Kuh-e Mubarak.

00:21 - U.S. military announced: Striking in Iran in response to the helicopter downing

The U.S. military announced that it had begun “defensive and proportional” strikes in Iran in response to the downing of the Apache helicopter.