Trump calls off Iran strikes, says deal is close
Iran did not immediately respond to his claim that its leadership had approved a deal.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had canceled additional military strikes on Iran hours after threatening them, citing progress on a potential peace deal.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said that “discussions and final points” have been approved by all parties, including Israel and several regional countries.
“The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized — Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly,” Trump said, adding that the deal was approved by “the highest level of Iranian leadership.”
There was no immediate comment from Iran. Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, cited an informed source close to the negotiating team as denying that any text had been approved.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump vowed the US military would strike Iran “very hard” for the third straight night after it carried out a wave of retaliatory attacks against Gulf states. He also threatened that the United States would take control of Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub and “assume total control” of the country’s oil and gas production.
For several months, Trump has claimed that negotiators were close to an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin formal talks on Iran’s nuclear program. A number of sticking points have bogged down the talks, including the potential release of Iran’s frozen assets and sanctions relief.
On May 23, Trump said a deal had been “largely negotiated” and would be “announced shortly.”
This developing story has been updated since initial publication.
