Trump Cancels Strikes on Iran After Deal Parameters Were Agreed
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of a new strike on Iran after Tehran and several unspecified Middle Eastern countries requested the U.S. to postpone attacks, as "parameters of a deal" were agreed upon.
"This includes the immediate, complete, and absolute OPENING OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ and the cessation of Iran's nuclear threat," Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social.
He added that he canceled the strikes on the condition that an agreement could be reached "in the shortest possible time," but warned that U.S. forces remain "charged and ready to strike."
"I agreed, for the future good of PEACE and the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack on the condition that a DEAL can be quickly concluded," he stated. "The State of Israel joins me in this commitment."
The statement followed a warning from the U.S. State Department advising Americans in the Middle East to be vigilant amid potential escalation in the region.
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"Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance, and be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and possible travel disruptions," the updated security warning stated.
On Friday, Trump expressed that he was "losing faith" in the prospects of a peaceful agreement and threatened to deliver a "very powerful" strike on Iran.
Strikes Resumed This Week
Washington and Tehran have been in conflict since late February, when the U.S. and Israel launched a series of strikes against Iran, after which Iranian military effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial transit energy corridor through which about a quarter of the world's oil trade passes.
After a brief pause in hostilities, the U.S. and Iran resumed strikes earlier this week when Tehran launched ballistic missiles at U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East.
In response, Washington struck dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities in Iran, including missile and drone complexes and command posts, U.S. armed forces reported.
"The goal of the strikes is to further reduce threats from Iran and its proxies against U.S. military, commercial shipping, and neighboring Gulf states," U.S. Central Command stated.
It seemed that in June the two countries were moving towards a peaceful agreement, signing a "memorandum of understanding." The temporary agreement included a cessation of hostilities, lifting the U.S. maritime blockade on Iran, and commitments from Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and confirm that it would "not acquire or develop nuclear weapons."
The document allotted Washington and Tehran 60 days to reach a final deal, but ongoing strikes cast doubt on the negotiations for the agreement's fulfillment.
