Iran live updates: US service member killed, another wounded, CENTCOM 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 in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.

The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange relatively limited strikes despite the signing of the memorandum and amid the continuation of peace talks, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz the primary flashpoint.

Key Headlines

Fighter jets based in United Kingdom and Germany sent to Middle East

A U.S. official told ABC News that U.S. fighter jets stationed in the United Kingdom and Germany are being sent to the Middle East.

They include F-16’s stationed in Germany and F-35 fighters stationed in the U.K., according to the official.

Air & Space Forces Magazine was first to report the deployment of additional fighters to the Middle East.

There are currently 50,000 U.S. troops in the Middle East.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

US forces strike Iran for 9th consecutive night

United States forces conducted another wave of attacks against Iran Sunday evening, marking the ninth consecutive night of strikes, according to U.S. Central Command.

"The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said.

Strikes targeted "Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks," in an effort to weaken Iran's ability to control the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM said. 

US service member killed, another wounded, CENTCOM says

A U.S. service member was killed and another wounded Saturday during what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) called "a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone" in northern Iraq.

The wounded service member's injury was "minor," according to CENTCOM.

Saturday's death brings to 17 the total number of U.S. service members who have been killed since the war in Iran began.

CENTCOM also released an update on the U.S. service member who was reported missing on Friday.

"After a thorough search, U.S. military personnel found unidentified remains at the location earlier today. An examination process to verify the remains is ongoing," CENTCOM said.

-ABC News' Steven Beynon

Jordan's army says 3 Iranian missiles fell in several locations

Jordan’s army said in a statement posted online Sunday that three missiles launched from Iran fell in several locations in the country.

No casualties were reported, the 

'Mission will go on until the mission is done': Secretary Wright

After eight consecutive days of U.S. strikes on Iran, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that the United States’ “mission will go on” until President Donald Trump achieves his war goals.

“The president's mission is essential for peace in the Middle East and peace in the world, and that is to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons, and to degrade their ability to terrorize their neighbors and the world and global commerce. So yes, this mission will go on until the mission is done,” Wright said in an interview on ABC News' “This Week.”

The latest round of strikes came Saturday after U.S. Central Command announced that two American service members were killed, and one other was still missing, after an Iranian attack in Jordan.

“It's tragic to lose American lives, but this is a mission that will save countless lives going forward,” Wright said, when pressed on whether the president planned to retaliate further in response to those deaths.

Since the war started in late February, 16 U.S. troops have been killed, and hundreds have been wounded, according to the Department of Defense.

-ABC News' Quinn Scanlan

7:41 AM CST

IAEA 'looking into' reported attack on under-construction Iranian nuclear site

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Sunday that it was "looking into reports of an overnight attack on the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, Iran," after Iran's Atomic Energy Organization alleged a U.S. strike on the site.

"The facility is in the very early stages of construction and contained no nuclear material when last visited by the IAEA," the IAEA said in a statement posted to social media.

The reported attack "is not believed to pose any radiological risk," the IAEA said, adding that IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for "military restraint in the vicinity of all nuclear-related sites."

U.S. Central Command has not yet commented on the alleged overnight attack.

-ABC News' Guy Davies

6:47 AM CST

IDF says Iran fired at Aqaba in Jordan

The Israel Defense Forces said in a post to X on Sunday that it detected missile launches from Iran toward the Red Sea Jordanian city of Aqaba, which sits along the Jordanian-Israeli border.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Claire Bower

5:11 AM CST

US embassy reports evacuations in Jordan, government denies report

The U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, said in a post to X on Sunday morning that Jordanian authorities evacuated the international airport and seaport in the Red Sea city of Aqaba "due to a specific and credible threat."

"We strongly advise all Americans to refrain traveling to either the airport or seaport. Continue to follow all Jordanian authorities' security directives," the embassy wrote. "U.S. Embassy Amman continues to advise all Americans to avoid travel to military bases in Jordan."

But Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad Al-Momani said in a statement carried on Jordanian state media and social media on Sunday that no evacuation orders had been issued by the authorities at Aqaba airport or the port. No threats had been recorded, the spokesperson added.

-ABC News' Nasser Atta

News 🚨JUST IN: IRAN STUNS THE WORLD AND ANNOUNCES…

 

What’s Being Negotiated

Speaking during a visit to India, Rubio declared that the waterway “has to be open” and called its closure “unlawful, illegal, unsustainable for the world, and unacceptable.” President Donald Trump maintained that the United States wants “a good deal or no deal,” while acknowledging that completing the final document could require additional time.

According to a senior U.S. administration official, negotiators have made progress on a proposed framework requiring Iran to eliminate its highly enriched uranium stockpile, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and accept major limits on future uranium enrichment activities. In return, the United States would reportedly end its naval blockade and begin a phased reduction of economic sanctions.

Officials said major political issues have largely been resolved in principle, but technical details, verification procedures, and enforcement measures remain under discussion. Washington’s priority is securing a long-term and verifiable agreement with strong enforcement mechanisms considered central to any deal.

Military Operations Continue Alongside Diplomacy

While diplomacy moved forward, U.S. Central Command announced that American forces carried out “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran. Capt. Tim Hawkins said the operation targeted missile facilities and Iranian vessels allegedly involved in efforts to place naval mines near key maritime routes.

U.S. military officials said the strikes were designed to protect American personnel and assets while maintaining the broader cease-fire framework. A senior defense official said U.S. aircraft and naval forces operating near the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea had faced threats from Iranian surface-to-air missile systems, with strikes occurring near the Iranian naval hub of Bandar Abbas.

Iran’s Position

Despite the military escalation, negotiations continued in Qatar. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and Washington had reached areas of understanding on several issues but warned that a final agreement had not yet been achieved.

Baqaei also accused the United States of shifting its positions during negotiations. The administration believes recent military pressure has increased Iran’s willingness to negotiate.

Differences From Previous Accord

President Trump said any future agreement with Iran would be “good and proper,” while continuing to criticize the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated during the Obama administration. Trump argued that the previous agreement provided Iran with economic relief without creating permanent guarantees that Tehran would not pursue nuclear weapons capability.

If completed, the agreement would reportedly place stricter restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program than the 2015 accord, reflecting the Trump administration’s push for a broader and more enforceable settlement.

This story has been updated. CNN’s National Security desk contributed to this report.