Trump says US Navy attacked and seized Iranian-flagged cargo ship

The leader of Hezbollah said in an address Monday that they "reject" the negotiations set to take place between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

"We reject negotiations with the usurping entity," Naim Qassem said. "These negotiations are futile and require Lebanese consensus to change the direction from non-negotiation to direct negotiation."

Qassem also vowed that the militant group won't surrender.

"We will not surrender and will remain in the field until our last breath," he said. "We will confront and demand justice, and we want to set an example for the entire world that Lebanon, with its army, people, and resistance, is unyielding against the enemy."

Mediators have launched into a flurry of activity aimed at getting negotiations between the U.S. and Iran back on track as they hope to arrange another round of talks between the parties before the two-week ceasefire expires, according to two U.S. officials and another source with knowledge of the situation.

Even though the U.S. and Iran have been accusing each other of violating the truce since its implementation, mediators see its looming end as a potentially useful tool for ramping up pressure on both sides to come to the table, according to the officials and source.

The officials and other source say mediators are trying to stave off a resumption of attacks on Iran from the U.S. and push Tehran to reconsider a proposal put forward by the Trump administration during the Islamabad talks.

When asked at the White House Monday about the negotiations with Iran, President Donald Trump said "we've been called by the other side," and that "they'd like to make a deal very badly, very badly.”

Both the U.S. and Iran have expressed interest in continuing to work toward a diplomatic settlement, the officials and source said.

-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston

President Donald Trump touted U.S. military action against Iran’s Navy on Monday, moments after the 10 a.m. ET deadline he set for when he said American troops would start enforcing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran’s Navy is laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated - 158 ships,” Trump wrote on social media, claiming that he hadn’t ordered strikes on “fast attack ships” because they aren’t a threat.

On Saturday, CENTCOM confirmed Trump's announcement that the U.S. military had begun mine-clearing operations to ensure safe passage through the Strait.

Trump threatened in his post on Monday, “If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea. It is quick and brutal.”

-ABC News’ Isabella Murray

Pope Leo XIV on Monday responded to criticism from President Donald Trump, telling reporters while traveling to Algeria that he has "no fear" of the White House.

"I have no fear of the Trump administration, nor speaking out loudly about the message of the gospel. That's what I believe in. I am called to do what the church is called to do," Pope Leo said.

The pope on Saturday addressed world leaders and called for an end to conflict, without explicitly mentioning the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. "Enough of war," Pope Leo said during an address in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Trump then posted on social media calling the pope "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy."

On Monday, Pope Leo said that his comments "are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone and the message of the gospel is very clear, 'Blessed are the peacemakers.'"

"I will not shy away from pronouncing the message of the gospel, of inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges for peace and reconciliation, of looking for ways to avoid war any time that's possible," Pope Leo continued. "To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here I think is not understanding what the message of the gospel is and I'm sorry to hear that."

Responding to another question from reporters, Pope Leo said of the apparent tensions with Trump, "I do not look at my role as being political ... I don't want to get into a debate with him. I don't think that the message of the gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing."

"I will continue to speak out loud against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue, multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems," he said. "Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say, 'There's a better way to do this.'"

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned Trump's comments about Pope Leo, saying on social media on Monday, “Desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person."

-ABC News' Melissa Adan and Victoria Beaule