President Donald Trump announced late Saturday that he canceled a planned military strike against Iran after progress toward a diplomatic agreement to end the five-month conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
In a social media post, Trump stated Middle Eastern allies had reached the “parameters of a deal” that would include the “Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT” and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. He noted Israel had agreed to join the U.S. in pursuing the 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,” Trump wrote.
Iran has not publicly responded to Trump’s statement. The announcement reversed his position from a day earlier, when he told reporters he was prepared to resume heavy airstrikes to pressure Iran into negotiations.
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War goals shift as fighting drags on
The conflict began on February 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iranian military sites. Trump initially aimed to destroy Tehran’s missile capabilities, prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and end its support for allied armed groups. But the stated goals and timelines for the conflict have repeatedly shifted.
An interim agreement reached in mid-June halted the fighting and was supposed to pave the way for a permanent deal, but it crumbled within weeks as Iran resumed attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s decision to pause military action comes as the war’s costs rise. Diplomacy now takes priority, though previous negotiations repeatedly failed.
It remains uncertain whether Iran views the proposed deal as a real opportunity or a delay.
No immediate Iranian response
By Sunday, Iran’s government had not commented on Trump’s announcement. The silence leaves doubts about whether Tehran will accept the proposed terms or use the pause to regroup.
The war has already altered regional security. The Strait of Hormuz, a long-standing flashpoint, remains critical.
The conflict’s next phase depends on whether the deal can bridge Washington’s demands and Tehran’s limits. If negotiations fail, strikes and counterstrikes could resume quickly.