WASHINGTON- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had canceled planned military strikes against Iran, just hours after vowing to hit the country “VERY HARD” and threatening to take control of key Iranian oil infrastructure.
Earlier in the day, Trump announced that the United States would launch another round of military action against Iran and warned that Washington would eventually seize Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, along with other strategic energy facilities.
He said the U.S. would “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas markets as pressure mounted on Tehran to agree to a broader peace arrangement.
The threats came amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following several days of military exchanges that have heightened fears of a wider conflict across the Middle East.
Trump’s remarks also triggered a spike in global oil prices as markets reacted to the prospect of further military escalation in the region.
However, in a dramatic reversal later on Thursday, Trump announced that the planned strikes had been called off following what he described as high-level discussions with Iranian leaders and regional stakeholders.
“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The U.S. president said negotiations had received support from several regional countries, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait and Pakistan. He added that a U.S.-led naval blockade targeting Iran would remain in place until a final agreement is concluded.
Trump also claimed that Washington and Tehran were close to reaching a peace agreement, although Iranian officials publicly denied that a final deal had been concluded.
The latest developments mark another twist in the rapidly evolving U.S.-Iran standoff, with uncertainty remaining over whether ongoing talks will result in a lasting agreement or merely a temporary pause in hostilities.
