Iran live updates: US shoots down 2 Iranian drones

However, Trump says an Iran agreement could be signed as soon as this weekend.

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.

Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal.

Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations are concluded "one way or the other."

U.S. forces shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones, according to a U.S. official.

"It appears Iran has attempted to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz tonight," the official said.

"Traffic flow through the Strait continues," the official said.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Thursday that the U.S. and Iran could sign a deal in days.

"We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran. And we're going to be subject to finalization of documents we should get done over the next few days and probably have a signing, maybe in Europe. And it's a great thing," Trump said.

The president indicated that he would not be present but that Vice President JD Vance and other administration officials would go.

Trump also claimed that the Strait of Hormuz will "officially open" the moment a deal is signed, later affirming that the U.S. will lift the naval blockade in the waterway as "part of the deal" that is currently being considered.

Later, when asked if the U.S. will immediately lift the blockade, Trump answered, "Yes, that’s part of the deal, and you’ll have oil prices dropping like a rock."

President Donald Trump said Thursday the U.S. and Iran are close to reaching a deal -- claims he has often repeated in the past.

Asked by ABC News' Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott why this time is different, Trump replied, "Because they've taken a pounding. They've taken a pounding like very few people could take. And they want to make the deal a lot more than I do. "

The president also said a deal with Iran could be signed as early as this weekend calling it a "very strong memorandum of understanding that is a little conceptual."

President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday about the memorandum of understanding being formed between the U.S. and Iran, acknowledging that Israel was not a party to it.

"Although Israel is not a party to the memorandum of understanding, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for President Trump's comm