唐纳德·特朗普总统于2月28日宣布对伊朗采取“重大作战行动”，美国和以色列联合大规模打击军事、政府和基础设施场所。
在宣布为期两周的停火后，美国和伊朗4月份在巴基斯坦的首次会谈未能达成和平协议。
特朗普后来宣布无限期延长停火，并继续美国的封锁，直到谈判“以某种方式”结束。
特朗普详述美国军队在伊朗收集“核尘埃”的高风险、被拒绝的计划
美国总统唐纳德·特朗普(Donald Trump)周四在椭圆形办公室对记者发表讲话时，首次详细阐述了一项风险很大的计划，他选择不批准这项计划，该计划将派遣美国军队进入伊朗收集浓缩铀，即他所说的“核尘埃”。
总统说，考虑到危险，他决定不推进这项计划。
特朗普表示，该行动至少需要两周时间，还谈到了需要空运进来的“大量设备”。
总统补充说，美国仍然可以进行这样的行动，但也说“没有理由这样做”，因为核材料已经“埋葬”
“我们现在就可以拿到，”特朗普说。“我不认为他们可以阻止我们，如果我们想，但没有理由这样做。它被埋葬了。”
特朗普表示，伊朗杀害美军将是恢复冲突的理由，并愿意与阿亚图拉会面
当被问及他重启对伊朗战争军事行动的红线是什么，以及对他来说这条线是否是杀害美国军队时，唐纳德·特朗普总统表示，这样的行动将是重启战争的“非常好的理由”。
特朗普还表示，他将对会见伊朗最高领袖哈梅内伊持开放态度，并声称有人建议举行这样的会议。
“我不想见面。但如果我真的见到了，我会很荣幸见到他，”特朗普说。“我想看看我们是否达成交易。但如果我们达成协议，我可能会见到他。我不会介意的。”
以色列称真主党需要被解除武装
以色列外交部对真主党指责以色列和黎巴嫩停火做出回应，称真主党需要解除武装。
“真主党领导人纳伊姆·卡萨姆拒绝停火和在Kiryat Shmona上空拦截火箭的行为说明了问题:真主党继续攻击以色列，破坏该地区的稳定。该部周四在一份声明中说:“根据联合国安理会第1701号决议，伊朗代理人真主党必须被解除武装，其在黎巴嫩南部的恐怖主义基础设施必须被拆除。”。
真主党领导人拒绝以色列-黎巴嫩停火
真主党领导人纳伊姆·卡西姆周四在电视上发表声明，拒绝以色列和黎巴嫩之间的停火，称“只要占领存在，抵抗就将继续。”
卡西姆说，黎巴嫩当局和以色列方面之间的谈判是“荒谬的、屈辱的和可耻的”，谈判“被黎巴嫩广大人民完全拒绝”
他补充说，该协议要求真主党在受到攻击时离开黎巴嫩南部，这将意味着“投降、失败和实现敌人的目标”
“停火必须是全面的，不能将南部和黎巴嫩其他地区分割开来，以色列敌人不能在黎巴嫩自由杀戮。只要占领持续，抵抗就会继续，”卡西姆说。
“《华盛顿宣言》是消灭一部分黎巴嫩人民和奴役其余人民的路线图。在虚构的停火的幌子下追求安全轨道就像是魔鬼进入天堂的梦想，”他说。
他感谢伊朗帮助黎巴嫩收回它的“土地和权利”,尽管它自己也有冲突。
特朗普说共和党支持战争权力决议是“哗众取宠”
美国总统唐纳德·特朗普(Donald Trump)周四将众议院批准的战争权力决议称为“无意义的投票”，四名跨越党派界限推进立法的共和党人是“哗众取宠者”，称他们的行为“不爱国”。
“昨天，在一次毫无意义的投票中，众议院，4个坏共和党人和所有的杜马议员，投票限制我的战争权力，就在我结束与伊朗伊斯兰共和国战争的最后谈判进行中。谁会做这种不爱国的事情，”特朗普周四早上在他的社交媒体平台上写道。
特朗普声称，四名共和党人知道美国和伊朗之间的谈判现状，“应该为自己感到羞耻。”
卡茨说，以色列在黎巴嫩保持“行动自由”
以色列国防部长伊斯雷尔·卡茨周四表示，尽管周三达成了在黎巴嫩实施停火的协议，但以色列对黎巴嫩南部真主党的袭击将继续进行，流离失所的黎巴嫩居民将不得返回。
卡茨说，以色列国防军保持“行动自由”，包括在贝鲁特。在贝鲁特，以色列恢复打击的威胁导致以色列总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡和白宫之间的紧张关系。
卡茨将以色列和黎巴嫩领导人本周在华盛顿达成的协议描述为“停火，将真主党恐怖分子从利塔尼河以南的所有地区清除，并建立一个非军事区，以色列国防军继续在该地区开火和活动。”
卡茨说，以色列国防军将继续留在黎巴嫩南部，“包括在博福特地区，不会有人口返回，”他指的是战略博福特岭地区——历史上十字军设防的博福特城堡所在地——就在Nabetieh市以南。
卡茨还表示，对黎巴嫩南部财产的破坏不会停止，他说，军队将继续“挫败该地区的恐怖主义基础设施，并在美国的支持下自由行动，以攻击贝鲁特，作为对以色列定居点和领土开火的回应。”
卡茨说，军事行动为本周达成协议创造了条件，“这可能会导致与黎巴嫩国达成政治和平协议，最重要的是，为北部居民带来50年来的第一次真正和永久的安全，这取决于当地的事态发展和我们对以色列国利益的持续不妥协立场。”
哈梅内伊称美国在新声明中遭受“沉重打击”
伊朗国家电视台周四播放了据称是伊朗最高领袖莫杰塔巴·哈梅内伊(Mojtaba Khamenei)撰写的一份新声明，哈梅内伊自3月份被任命为最高领袖以来一直没有公开露面，他的父亲阿亚图拉·阿里·哈梅内伊(Ayatollah Ali Khamenei)在美国-以色列与伊朗的战争中丧生。
在伊朗伊斯兰共和国的领袖和创始人阿亚图拉·鲁霍拉·霍梅尼逝世37周年之际，一名伊朗神职人员在他的陵墓里向公众宣读了这份声明。
“保护被压迫者不仅是伊斯兰的责任，也是人类和伊朗的责任。哈梅内伊的信息写道:“华盛顿的统治机构对这个国家的身份、独立和拒绝投降有问题。”。
“伴随着抵抗阵线的新使命，伊朗国家已经成为自由国家的骄傲，”它补充道。
“近80年前建立以色列的[美国领导的]霸权体系没有在空虚和虚假的‘大以色列’的东部边界承受一个强大、独立和享有特权的伊朗，”声明继续说。
哈梅内伊声称，美国和以色列在与伊朗的冲突中遭受了“沉重的打击”。
联合国驻黎巴嫩维和人员在迫击炮袭击中丧生
一名联合国驻黎巴嫩临时部队维和人员在周三晚上对黎巴嫩东南部Marjayoun附近的一个阵地的迫击炮袭击中受伤后于周四早上死亡。
该部队在社交媒体上发布的帖子中说，另有两名维和人员在袭击中受伤，正在联黎部队基地接受治疗。
“联黎部队已经展开调查，以确定导致这一悲剧事件的确切情况，”该部队写道。
“联黎部队在黎巴嫩南部探测到越来越多的轨迹和撞击。暴力必须结束，”它补充说。
Iran live updates: Trump details risky, rejected plan to collect 'nuclear dust'
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.
Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire,initial U.S.-Iran talksin Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal.
Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations are concluded "one way or the other."
Trump details risky, rejected plan for US troops to collect 'nuclear dust' in Iran
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Thursday, President Donald Trump, for the first time, detailed a risky plan that he opted not to greenlight that would have sent U.S. troops into Iran to collect enriched uranium, or "nuclear dust" as he calls it.
The president said he decided not to go forward with the plan given the dangers.
Trump said the operation would have taken at least two weeks and also talked about the "massive equipment" that would need to be airlifted in.
The president added that the U.S. could still carry out such an operation, but also said that there's "no reason to" because the nuclear material is "entombed."
"We could get it right now," Trump said. "I don't think they could stop us if we wanted, but there's no reason to. It's entombed."
Trump say Iran killing US troops would be reason to resume conflict, open to meeting ayatollah
When asked what his red line for restarting military action with the war with Iran and whether that line for him is the killing of American troops, President Donald Trump said that such an action would be a "very good reason" to restart the war.
Trump also said he would be open to meeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, claiming that some have suggested such a meeting.
"I don't want to meet. But if I did meet, I'd be honored to meet him," Trump said. "I'd like to see if we make a deal. But if we make a deal, it's possible that I would meet him. I'd be OK with that."
Israel says Hezbollah needs to be disarmed
Israel's Foreign Ministry responded to Hezbollah's rebuke of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, saying that Hezbollah needs to be disarmed.
"Hezbollah leader Na'im Qassem's rejection of the ceasefire and rocket interceptions over Kiryat Shmona tell the story: Hezbollah continues to attack Israel and destabilize the region. The Iranian proxy Hezbollah must be disarmed and its terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon must be dismantled according to UN Security Council Resolution 1701," the ministry said in a statement Thursday.
Hezbollah leader rejects Israel-Lebanon ceasefire
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon in a statement read on TV on Thursday, saying "as long as the occupation exists, the resistance will continue."
Describing the negotiations between Lebanese authorities and Israeli part as "absurd, humiliating, and shameful" Qassem said that the negotiations are "completely rejected by broad segments of the Lebanese people."
He added that the agreement's demand that Hezbollah should leave southern Lebanon while it is under fire would mean "surrender, defeat and achieving the enemy's goals."
"The ceasefire must be comprehensive, with no separation between the south and the rest of Lebanon, and no freedom for the Israeli enemy to kill in Lebanon. As long as the occupation persists, the resistance will continue," Qassem said.
"The Washington Declaration is a roadmap for the annihilation of a segment of the Lebanese people and the enslavement of the rest. To pursue a security track under the guise of a fictitious ceasefire is like the devil's dream of entering paradise," he said.
He thanked Iran for helping Lebanon to reclaim its "land and rights" despite its own confrontations.
Trump says GOP backers of war powers resolution are 'grandstanders'
President Donald Trump on Thursday called the House-approved war powers resolution a "meaningless vote," and the four Republicans who crossed party lines to advance the legislation "grandstanders" -- saying their actions were "unpatriotic."
"Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Who would do such an unpatriotic thing," Trump wrote Thursday morning in a post to his social media platform.
Trump claimed that the four Republicans know where negotiations stand between the U.S. and Iran and "should be ashamed of themselves."
Israel maintains 'freedom of action' in Lebanon, Katz says
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Israeli attacks on Hezbollah will continue in southern Lebanon and that displaced Lebanese residents will not be allowed to return, despite Wednesday's agreement to implement a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Katz said that the Israel Defense Forces maintains "freedom of action," including in Beirut, where the threat of resumed Israeli strikes has caused tension between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the White House.
Katz described the agreement brokered between Israeli and Lebanese leaders in Washington this week as "a ceasefire for the removal of Hezbollah terrorists from all areas south of the Litani and the creation of a demilitarized zone, the IDF continuing its fire and activity in the area."
Katz said the IDF would remain in southern Lebanon, "including in the Beaufort area and without the return of the population," referring to the strategic Beaufort Ridge area -- where the Beaufort Castle, a historic Crusader fortification, is located -- just south of the city of Nabetieh.
Katz also indicated that the destruction of property in southern Lebanon would not stop, saying the military will continue the "thwarting of terrorist infrastructures in the area, and freedom of action for Israel with American backing to attack Beirut in response to firing on Israeli settlements and territory."
Katz said the military campaign created the conditions for this week's agreement to be reached, and "that may lead, depending on developments on the ground and our continued uncompromising stand on the interests of the state of Israel, to a political peace agreement with the state of Lebanon and, above all, to achieving real and permanent security for the residents of the north for the first time in 50 years."
Khamenei says US suffered 'heavy blows' in new statement
Iranian state television on Thursday broadcast the reading of a new statement purportedly written by Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since he was appointed supreme leader in March, succeeding his father -- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- who was killed in the opening hours of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
The statement was read by an Iranian cleric to the public in the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini -- the leader and founder of the Islamic Republic -- in Tehran, on the 37th anniversary of his death.
"Defending the oppressed is not only an Islamic duty, but a human and Iranian one as well. And the ruling establishment in Washington has a problem with this nation's identity, independence, and refusal to surrender," Khamenei's message read.
"The Iranian nation, with its new mission alongside the resistance front, has become a source of pride for free nations," it added.
"The [U.S.-led] hegemonic system which established Israel nearly 80 years ago does not bear a strong, independent and privileged Iran on the eastern borders of the void and fake 'Greater Israel,'" the statement continued.
Khamenei claimed that the U.S. and Israel had sustained "heavy blows" in its conflict with Iran.
UN Lebanon peacekeeper killed in mortar attack
A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon peacekeeper died on Thursday morning after sustaining injuries in a Wednesday night mortar attack on a position near Marjayoun in southeastern Lebanon, the force reported.
Two other peacekeepers were injured in the attack and are undergoing treatment at a UNIFIL base, the force said in posts to social media.
"UNIFIL has launched an investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to this tragic incident," the force wrote.
"UNIFIL has detected an increasingly high number of trajectories and impacts in South Lebanon. The violence must end," it added.
