Iran-US War Highlights: Vance calls on Iran to take next step or risk return to war

Vice President JD Vance addressed confusion surrounding the multiple 10-point proposals forming the basis of US-Iran negotiations.

“The first 10-point proposal was something that was submitted, and we think, frankly, was probably written by ChatGPT, that was submitted to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that immediately went in the garbage and was rejected,” Vance told reporters as he left Hungary.

He added that a second proposal, developed through back-and-forth discussions involving the U.S., Pakistan, and Iran, is the one President Trump referenced in his recent Truth Social post. Vance criticized a third proposal circulating on social media as “even more maximalist” than the first.

“That initial proposal was put forward by ‘little more than a random yahoo in Iran,’” he said, dismissing media reports that suggested Iran had forced the US to accept its terms.

US Vice President JD Vance issued a series of stern warnings to Tehran on Wednesday, saying Iran must engage seriously in negotiations or face the possibility that Washington will shift back to a more confrontational posture — including military options — if talks falter.

US VP JD Vance confirmed that Israel had agreed to show restraint in Lebanon to support successful negotiations, though he did not provide further operational details.

“The Israelis, as I understand it ... have actually offered to, frankly, to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon, because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful,” he said in Budapest.

US Vice President JD Vance addressed confusion over the scope of the ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran on Tuesday, emphasizing that Lebanon was not included in the truce.

“I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn't,” Vance told reporters in Budapest.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue, emphasizing that the recent ceasefire with Iran does not apply to the Lebanese armed group.

"We continue to strike it with force," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel remains prepared to confront Iran if necessary, despite a temporary two-week ceasefire agreed upon between the United States and Iran.

"Let me be clear: We still have objectives to complete, and we will achieve them -- either through agreement or through renewed fighting," Netanyahu said in a televised statement. "We are prepared to return to combat at any moment required. Our finger remains on the trigger. This is not the end of the campaign, but a step along the way to achieving all our objectives."

"The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments -- a pattern that has regrettably been repeated once again," Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a statement posted on X, listing three violations of the Iranian proposal.

"Now, the very 'workable basis on which to negotiate' has been openly and clearly violated, even before the negotiations began. In such (a) situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable."

US President Donald Trump will discuss the possibility of leaving NATO when he meets with the alliance's chief Mark Rutte on Wednesday, the White House said, accusing Washington's partners of "turning their back" on the American people, AFP reported.

UAE foreign ministry spokesperson says addressing Iranian threats must be comprehensive and complete, including nuclear and military capabilities and its proxies in the region.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday (local time) said that the US President will continue to discuss Lebanon with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including it in the ceasefire deal.

"This will continue to be discussed, I am sure, between the president and Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu, the United States and Israel, and all of the parties involved," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon today, despite the ceasefire, Iranian state media reports, with Iran’s authorities said to be treating the strait as still closed.

White House on Wednesday said that US President Donald Trump is against the idea of imposing tolls for ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his support for U.S. President Donald Trump's approach to Iran during a call on Tuesday.

After the US and Iran announced a ceasefire, Israel's transport ministry said on Wednesday that Ben Gurion airport, near Tel Aviv, will resume full operations at midnight.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday told PBS News that Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement with Iran “because of Hezbollah”, but added that it “get taken care of.”

Amid the ongoing disruptions in the Middle East, Hyundai Motor on Wednesday said that it is rerouting ships around Africa to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, hindering the company's global supply lines, Bloomberg reported.

Following the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran to halt the hostilities in the region for two weeks, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported a defiant joint message from the commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace and Navy branches.

Italy on Wednesday summoned the Israeli ambassador to demand explanation after shots were fired at an Italian convey in a UN mission in Lebanon, Reuters reported.

On Wednesday, hours after the US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire, Egypt's foreign ministry remarked that Israel's attacks on Lebanon reflect ‘premeditated intent’ by Tel Aviv to undermine regional and international efforts to reduce escalation.

Pakistan on Wednesday announced a two-day holiday in the national capital ahead of the planned peace talks between the US and Iran on Friday.

The Islamabad district administration announced local holidays in the capital on April 9 (Thursday) and 10 (Friday), Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said.

According to a Reuters report, US President Donald Trump's two-week ceasefire with Iran is unlikely to bring quick relief to the global aviation industry, despite airline shares surging on hopes the deal could ease the worst crisis airlines have faced in years.

Hours after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, a large wave of strikes was reported by the Israeli military across Lebanon. This came after Israel reportedly backed US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause attacks on Iran for two weeks, but made it clear the understanding does not apply to Lebanon.

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In a Truth Social post, US President Donald Trump said, “Numerous Agreements, Lists, and Letters are being sent out by people that have absolutely nothing to do with the U.S.A. / Iran Negotiation, in many cases, they are total Fraudsters, Charlatans, and WORSE. They will be rapidly exposed after our Federal Investigation is completed. There is only one group of meaningful “POINTS” that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations. These are the POINTS that are the basis on which we agreed to a CEASEFIRE. It is something that is reasonable and can easily be dispensed with. It’s very much like Fake News CNN last night, headlining a “source” that had no power or authority to write a Letter claiming great authority.”

Iran is reportedly finalizing plans for deterrent operations against Israeli military positions, Fars news agency reported, citing a source.

In a post on X, Tasnim news agency wrote, “The chief of the Israeli terrorist army’s general staff, Eyal Zamir, declared that the Zionist regime will continue its relentless airstrikes on Lebanon without pause.”

Speaking to Al Jazeera, a senior Iranian official on Wednesday said that the Islamic Republic “will punish Israel for the crime it committed in Lebanon and for violating the ceasefire terms.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday said that USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 74), USS Tripoli (LHA7) were targeted, forced to retreat to the Indian Ocean, Fars news agency reported.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday announced that it destructed of an advanced Israeli Hermes 900 drone in the skies over Lar, Fars Province, Tasnim news agency reported.

IRGC declares any Zionist airspace breach a ceasefire violation, vowing immediate retaliation.

Iran will exit the ceasefire agreement if Israel persists in violating the truce by continuing its attacks on Lebanon, an informed source told Tasnim News Agency.

Oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz have been stopped after Israel's ceasefire breach, as per a report by Iran's Fars News Agency

Kuwait's Interior Ministry reported "severe material damage" at several vital facilities of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and the energy and water resources ministry after an Iranian drone attack on Wednesday, reported Reuters. The report came hours after US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire

Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement the US has with Iran, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday arrived in Saudi Arabia, on the first stop of a Gulf tour aimed at bolstering the ceasefire in the Middle East.

Israeli forces fired warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on Wednesday, damaging a vehicle but causing no injuries, the Italian government said, AFP reported.

“Violations of the ceasefire have been reported at a few places across the conflict zone, which undermine the spirit of the peace process. 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 the peaceful settlement of the conflict,” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X.

Hours after the ceasefire was announced, an Iranian navy message says ship owners need to receive permission from Tehran to transit, or they will be targeted, Reuters reported, citing shipping sources.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday (local time) said Washington had prepared to strike multiple targets in Tehran, including bridges and power plants, as part of US President Donald Trump's plan to kill "a whole civilisation" in Iran if a ceasefire deal was not reached on Tuesday.

Lebanon’s Health Minister announced that hundreds of civilians have been martyred & wounded across the country as a result of Israel’s brutal military aggression, with initial reports suggesting the death toll exceeds 300.

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has denounced Israel’s “brutal attacks” on residential areas in Beirut and across Lebanon as “clear war crimes”, emphasizing the deliberate targeting of civilian populations, Tasnim news agency reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised "ceasefire violations" by Israel in a call with the commander of the armed forces of Pakistan, which mediated the fragile US-Iran truce, an Iranian ministry statement said, AFP reported.

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

Shia cleric Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad Naqvi on Wednesday said the US-Iran ceasefire is "a victory of the people's and leadership's resolve. Despite losing top leaders, generals, and ministers, they remained steadfast and continued to face a superpower like the United States. Even after heavy losses, the country (Iran) neither surrendered nor bowed, it refused to accept defeat. This reflects the strength of its people and shows that courage, not weapons, determines outcomes... When threats were made to destroy infrastructure, civilians gathered in large numbers, forming human shields and declaring readiness to die rather than yield..."

The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's personal envoy has arrived in Iran as part of a regional tour aimed at backing "a comprehensive and durable resolution" to the Iran war.

Iran's Siri Island oil facilities came under attack on Wednesday, hours after a ceasefire was announced.

Iran's ambassador to the UN in Geneva said that the Islamic Republic will approach peace talks with the US with greater caution than in the past due to lack of trust. The ambassador added that the war will affect the future of the legal regime of the Strait of Hormuz.

Hours after a ceasefire was announced, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said the country is now being recognised as a ‘credible and trusted’ mediator both in the region and globally.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday he hoped the Iranian people would take advantage of what he described as a new opportunity, while stressing it was not a US objective to drive internal change.

“I would love to see the Iranian people take advantage of this opportunity,” he said at a Pentagon briefing.

He said Iranians had been “oppressed” and subjected to “horrible things,” adding that internal change “was not our objective in this effort.”

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said that Tehran will have to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium or the US will “get it”. However, he did not clarify how that would be done.

Saudi Arabia's East-West ​oil pipeline ‌was hit in an ​Iranian ​attack and damage was ⁠being ​assessed, while ​other facilities were also targeted, Reuters reported.

The Israeli Defense Forces on Wednesday said that it targeted over 100 plus targets in Lebanon since the war started in late February.