Iran live updates: US, Iran continue technical talks after 2 days of strikes, US official says

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 last month aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.

The U.S. and Iran nonetheless exchanged limited strikes in late June despite the signing of the memorandum and amid the continuation of peace talks.

Technical talks between Iran and U.S. continue: U.S. official

The U.S. and Iran continue to engage in technical negotiations on nuclear issues, a U.S. official said Thursday, following two days of retaliatory strikes against Tehran this week.

"The United States is still committed to finding a resolution, and technical talks continue. Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, the official said.

The 60-day ceasefire and memorandum of understanding, the official added, are "performance-based" and Iran’s actions "constitute failed performance at an unacceptable level."

"Iran’s attacks on these innocent vessels are acts of terrorism" the official added.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan

Iran says damaged railway line rebuilt within 15 hours after US strikes

The head of Iran's railway company said Thursday that one of Mashhad railway lines that was damaged in the overnight U.S. strikes has already been reconstructed "in less than 15 hours" after it was hit, and train traffic has resumed on the line.

According to Iranian state TV, the head of the railway company added that the second damaged line will be reconstructed within the next few hours.

Netanyahu says Israel will remain in Lebanon 'as long as necessary'

Israeli Prime Minister Benajmin Netanyhau said the country will remain in southern Lebanon for "as long as necessary to ensure the security of our communities in the north."

"If we had not acted at the time we did, and with the intensity with which we did – Iran would have armed itself with nuclear weapons to destroy Israel, that is their plan, and the citizens of Israel would have been in danger of mass death," Netanyahu said while speaking at a pilots' graduation ceremony on Thursday.

"That is why we embarked on these operations with our American friends – to ward off the threat of immediate annihilation, and also a great danger to the entire Western world," Netanyahu said.

14 killed in attacks across Iran in last 2 days

Fourteen people were killed in attacks on Iran on Wednesday and Thursday, Hossein Kermanpour, head of public relations at Iran's Health Ministry, wrote in a post on X.

Another 78 people were injured in the attacks, of whom 47 remain hospitalized, Kermanpour said.

Ship fleet executive says company doesn't 'feel secure' moving ships

A ship fleet company executive who has a ship waiting to cross the Strait told ABC News the company doesn't "feel secure" moving ships amid the uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz.

"The situation is very sensitive right now," the executive said.

The executive said the company used the shipping route approved by U.S. Central Command, which Iran said it is opposed to.

"With the U.S. cover we are more certain so we take the Omani route that hugs the coast," the executive said.

But, several ships using that route have now been struck with Iran pushing for ships to use its route.

"It's more uncertain now and we don't know if we should take the [U.S. route or the] other route. We don't feel secure enough for it," the executive said.

"Especially today, at this moment we are asking -- do we have a ceasefire or not,? its very tough to go via the Iranian route and registering with them, so far we are working with the Omanis to take that route," the executive said Thursday.

"Its a day by day situation. We aren't working in a vacuum; we speak with U.S. naval forces and security agencies that are giving us guidance, we make a call based on that," the executive said.

-ABC News' Desiree Adib

Dozens' of Iranian drones, missiles intercepted, official says

"Dozens" of Iranian drones and missiles have been intercepted since last night, according to a U.S. official.

-ABC News' Steven Beynon

Israel says it would return 'with even greater force' if it needs to

Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israel Defence Forces are “alert and prepared for the resumption of the campaign” in Iran.

Katz said the military is prepared to “regain air superiority and carry out ‘blue-and-white’ [independent Israeli] strikes in Iran to remove threats — even for a third time," while speaking at a pilots' graduation ceremony.

“If we need to return, we will return with even greater force,” Katz adds.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Map: Strikes hit at least 9 towns in Iran overnight

Targets in at least nine different towns and cities were struck across Iran overnight, according to local officials, Iranian state media and verified videos.

Several more locations were reported to have been hit. Several explosions were reported on the island of Abu Musa at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. The island has a small airport and town.

Explosions were also reported in the port cities of Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Jask, Sirik and the military facilities around Konarak near Chabahar.

In Sirik, a local official said three people were killed and 15 injured after a strike on a commercial fishing pier.