U.S. President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of a planned attack on Iran, expressing optimism for a rapid agreement with the country. Writing on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that the attack was called off exactly when the prospects for a swift deal became apparent. According to him, the agreement would include immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the elimination of “Iran’s nuclear threat.” Trump also noted that this decision was made with Israel’s support.
American media outlets had revealed that Washington was preparing new and tougher attacks against Tehran. Earlier, Tehran accused the U.S. of escalating tensions and warned allied nations they would be “consumed by the fire of war.” Trump had stated that the U.S. was ready to execute the most powerful military strike against the Islamic Republic of Iran since World War II. However, following requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to halt the attacks for the sake of negotiations, Trump said those attacks had been postponed for now.
Trump indicated progress was being made towards an agreement, with some parts already agreed upon. “The deal will include immediate and full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and neutralizing Iran’s nuclear threat,” he wrote. Following Trump’s announcement, Iran has so far not issued any response. The U.S. government has already warned its citizens in the Middle East to stay alert and be prepared to leave the region should tensions escalate.
Security alerts released on Saturday advised, “Americans in the Middle East should remain vigilant and be prepared for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions.” Multiple sources told CBS News that the U.S. and Israel had plans for the most severe bombing ever on Iran’s energy infrastructure. These plans were reportedly discussed in a cabinet meeting on Friday, during which journalists were present and Trump stated, “We will respond harshly to the Iranians whenever they say ‘enough is enough.'”
Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shared his concerns about a potential attack with Trump on Saturday. Reuters also published news of the phone conversation. The situation between Washington and Tehran has deteriorated into intense back-and-forth attacks since the April ceasefire was broken. This week, the U.S. increased bombing following attempts to launch ballistic missiles at its military bases. The U.S. has imposed naval blockades and airstrikes on Iranian ports, while Iran continues missile and drone attacks on American positions across the Middle East and has targeted vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Since February 28, clashes between the U.S. and Iran have been ongoing, causing significant fluctuations in global oil markets.
