U.S. President Donald Trump called off new military strikes on Iran Thursday, reversing course just hours after threatening a major attack.
The president announced the change of plans in a social media post, saying he made the decision “based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved.”
Trump suggested the groups are making headway on extending a fragile ceasefire. He wrote that “discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail,” approved by the United States, Israel, and other regional allies. He did not offer any specific details on the terms of the agreement.
Over the last several weeks, Trump has stated on multiple occasions that a deal was close, though none of those previous claims have resulted in a finalized agreement.
The sudden cancellation comes on the heels of a much more aggressive message posted to Trump’s Truth Social account earlier Thursday. In that previous post, he warned that the U.S. would hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT.” He claimed that Iran’s military, including its navy, air force, and radar, along with its offensive capabilities, were completely “GONE!”
Before shifting his focus to the ceasefire talks, Trump had also outlined a plan to seize Kharg Island and other Iranian oil infrastructure. His stated goal was to “assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets.” In the earlier post, he compared the strategy to U.S. actions in South America, writing that the approach is “working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America.”
READ: Open Your Books Or Lose Your Funds: Florida Rep. Byron Donalds Targets Billions In State Fraud
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
