US President Donald Trump says he has called off planned military strikes against Iran. He says the decision depends on Tehran quickly reaching an agreement that would address its nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he had decided to “cancel the attack” if Iran could quickly reach a deal. He said the proposed deal would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end what he called Iran's nuclear threat.
Trump also said the move was in coordination with Israel. >His announcement followed reports in US media that Washington had been weighing another round of large-scale strikes against Iranian targets over the weekend.
Iran has accused the United States of escalating tensions in the region and warned that any country that provides military support to Washington will face consequences. Iranian officials had not responded to Trump's latest statement at time of publication.
In a post on social media, Trump said US forces were fully ready for military action but agreed to hold off on any strikes after Iran and several Middle Eastern nations sought a window of time for diplomacy. He also provided no supporting detail when he said a basic framework of a potential agreement was already in place.
In a separate development, the US government has issued a security alert urging American citizens in all regions of the Middle East to be vigilant and prepare for potential travel disruptions should the security situation in the region worsen.
This News, citing several sources, said U.S. and Israeli officials had discussed what could have been one of the most extensive bombing campaigns against Iranian energy infrastructure since the current conflict began. The proposed operation was said to have been discussed at a cabinet meeting on Friday.
At that meeting, Trump told reporters that the US would strike Iran hard if necessary and that persistent military pressure could eventually cause Tehran to shift its stance.
These also reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump on Saturday and expressed concern about the possibility of expanded military action.
Iran and the United States have been trading military attacks since a ceasefire agreed in April collapsed. Washington earlier this week said it launched a big wave of strikes on Iranian targets in retaliation for what it called an attempted ballistic missile attack on US forces in the region.
The conflict has also had an impact on maritime security. The U.S. has struck Iranian facilities and pressured Iranian ports, while Iran has fired missiles and drones at U.S.-affiliated sites and threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for world oil exports.
Fighting between the United States, Israel and Iran has continued since late February, adding to instability across the Middle East and volatility in global energy markets.
