Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to hold a press conference at 8 a.m. ET on Thursday, according to the Department of Defense.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi voiced support for Iran and called for "maintaining the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiations."

Wang spoke on Wednesday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a readout posted by the Chinese ministry.

"Wang Yi stated that China, as always, supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and national dignity," the readout said.

Wang's office said the minister also told Araghchi that "freedom of navigation and safety in the international strait should be guaranteed, and efforts to restore normal navigation in the strait are the unanimous call of the international community."

The U.S. this week began a blockade of the strait. "U.S. service members continue to monitor and patrol regional waters in support of the U.S. blockade on ships entering or exiting Iranian ports," U.S. Central Command said early on Thursday.

-ABC News’ Karson Yiu

In a post on his social media platform, President Donald Trump said the leaders of Israel and Lebanon would be speaking on Thursday, following high-level talks between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats mediated by the U.S. earlier this week. 

"Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon," Trump said in the post. "It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice!"

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about who would be speaking from the Israeli and Lebanese sides.

Trump's announcement of additional talks between the two countries came after the State Department convened a trilateral meeting in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors.

The State Department on Tuesday called this week's talks "the first major high-level engagement between the governments of Israel and Lebanon since 1993."

-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr

Iran has suspended exports of petrochemical products until further notice, according to Iranian State run Mehr News. This does not include crude oil exports.

This is being done to "to meet domestic market needs," according to Mehr.

-ABC News' Cindy Smith

China has "agreed not to send weapons to Iran," is "very happy" that President Donald Trump is undertaking the operation in Iran to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is open in the future, Trump said in a post on social media Wednesday.

"President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well," Trump added.

The president is expected to travel to Beijing in May to meet with President Xi Jinping.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart