Live Updates

Iran live updates: Trump says US is winning war, 'can leave right now'

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Park City, Kansas, a suburb of Wichita, October 19, 2026.

2:03

Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images

Rare access inside the combat center monitoring Iranian threats

Talks between the U.S. and Iran have stalled despite the two countries signing a memorandum of understanding in June, aimed at ending the war.

The two sides have since exchanged strikes. The U.S. says it is enforcing a blockade preventing any Iranian ships from entering or leaving the country, while Iran claims the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

The U.S. also continues to accuse Iran of targeting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a flashpoint in the war.

Meanwhile, the Iranian-backed Houthis repeatedly attacked Saudi Arabian military and oil infrastructure facilities. This lead to intensified fighting in Yemen between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces. Saudi Arabia has also gathered an international coalition to fight off the Houthis.

See the most recent developments below.

Oct 20, 2026 1:17 PM

Tanker interdicted off coast of Oman, UKMTO says

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre on Tuesday issued an advisory after it received a report of an incident involving a tanker and unspecified military forces off the coast of Oman.

“Reports indicate that the tanker was subject to interaction as part of ongoing military activity in the region,” the UKTMO said, describing the incident as "verified." The interdiction occurred approximately 121 nautical miles east of Duqm, Oman.

Separately, Iranian state-run media reported on Tuesday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that two oil tankers hit naval mines south of the Strait of Hormuz.

-ABC News’ Nasser Atta and Othon Leyva

Oct 20, 2026 1:17 PM

Hegseth met with Netanyahu in Israel, sources say

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, two Israeli sources told ABC News, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at an air base in the south of the country.

The meeting lasted for several hours and included Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the sources said. Both the Pentagon and Netanyahu's office declined to comment on the visit, which was first reported by Axios.

In a post to X on Monday night, Hegseth shared photos of a visit with troops in the Middle East, though did not disclose that he was undertaking a visit to Israel.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Luis Martinez

Oct 20, 2026 11:12 AM

UK says it will fly defensive missions over Saudi Arabia

The British Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that it will "provide additional defensive military support" to Saudi Arabia amid escalating attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

In a statement, the ministry said its forces "will fly defensive counter air missions to support the protection of Saudi cities and critical national infrastructure against aerial attack, using RAF Typhoon fighter jets."

The jets will operate defensively and "will not conduct offensive strikes against the Houthis," the ministry said. The Typhoons will be supported by an A400M military transport aircraft and British military advisers, the statement said.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting described the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as "despicable," adding that the recent Houthi strikes on the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh "shows the lengths the Houthis are going to escalate the situation in the region."

-ABC News' Zoe Magee

Oct 20, 2026 9:02 AM

Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missile fired toward Riyadh, military says

Saudi military spokesperson Col. Turki Al-Maliki said in a post to X on Tuesday morning that Saudi forces intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward the capital city Riyadh.

Oct 20, 2026 9:02 AM

Trump says US is winning war, 'can leave right now'

President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing conflict with Iran at his rally in Kansas on Monday night.

Trump said the U.S. military is winning the conflict with Iran, suggesting that American action has prevented Tehran's acquisition of a nuclear weapon -- an alleged ambition that Iranian leaders have repeatedly denied.

"By the way, somebody said you could leave right now. It's true. We can leave right now. They're not going to have a nuclear weapon," Trump said, calling the Iranians a "rough group."

"We have the greatest military," Trump said. "We rebuilt it in my first term. And if you have any questions about that, just ask Venezuela or ask Iran."