Trump Halts Iran Strikes as Talks Open on Hormuz Deal
US pauses military action while Iran, Gulf states, and Washington pursue a broader ceasefire agreement.
US President Donald Trump announced that he has called off military strikes on Iran. This decision comes after Iran and other Middle East nations asked Washington to delay any military action because a basic deal has been agreed upon.
In a social media post, Trump explained that the US was ready to launch a major military operation against Iran but decided to wait while negotiations continue.
"We were locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of military terror, strength, and power not seen since World War II," he wrote.
"Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to. This would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Hormuz strait, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat."
Trump added that he agreed to stop the planned attack with the hope that negotiations will lead to a broader agreement.
"Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the world and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a deal," he said.
"The country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it done."
However, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied this claim. They called Trump's statement "another lie" and said the US is using these claims to put pressure on Gulf countries.
The IRGC-affiliated Sepahnews Telegram channel quoted unnamed military officials saying that Iranian forces remain highly prepared, whether the US escalates the situation or pulls back.
They warned that if a conflict starts, the final result will be decided "on the battlefield", where everyone will see who holds the power.
On Sunday, a senior Iranian defence official said Tehran takes every threat seriously and will keep improving its military readiness.
"Although the enemy's recent statements are part of a psychological and cognitive warfare campaign, we consider every threat to be real and take it seriously," Majid Ibn Reza, Iran's Acting Defence Minister, said.
"We will neither be taken by surprise nor remain passive," he posted on social media. "Rather, we use such threats to raise our level of preparedness, strengthen our deterrence, and further enhance our capabilities."
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also spoke with Trump over the phone. He urged the US President to focus on dialogue and support a ceasefire in the Middle East.
The Crown Prince emphasized the importance of lowering tensions through talks to find diplomatic solutions. He also warned that a wider conflict in the region would harm global security and stability.
Negotiating from a Position of Strength
Speaking to US media, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the recent military actions made Iran more open to talks. The US government is facing pressure at home over the rising costs of the conflict. Additionally, Gulf allies are concerned about their economies due to tension in the region and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
“They still have missiles and they still have drones, and they can still do damage,” Rubio said.
However, he added that Iran can no longer hide behind its usual defenses.
“And that’s changed the whole dynamic. It’s the only reason why they are now willing and in some cases, seem eager, to do a deal on denuclearisation, to do a deal on the straits. Because we are now approaching them from a position of strength, not from a position of weakness."
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AI contributed to the creation of this article.