Trump said late Wednesday that U.S. forces deployed in the Middle East will “remain in place” until an agreement is reached with Iran, and its implementation takes hold.

His comments followed a shaky start to a two-week ceasefire. Israel continued its strikes in Lebanon, killing hundreds on Wednesday, Gulf Arab countries also reported some drone and missile attacks on oil refineries and power plants, and according to reports Iran had shut down the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, largely blocked during the war, is a key shipping route for about 20 % of the world’s oil and gas.