U.S. President Donald Trump said he had cancelled planned military strikes against Iran after high-level talks with Iranian leadership, raising cautious hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough even as tensions remain dangerously high, according to The Express Tribune.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump announced that “scheduled strikes and bombings” set for the evening had been called off. He said discussions had reached the “highest level” of Iran’s leadership and that key terms of a possible agreement had been approved in principle by all sides.
According to Trump, the emerging deal involves not only the United States and Iran but also several regional and international players, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt. He added that the time and place for signing the agreement would be announced soon.
Despite the pause in military action, Trump made clear that pressure on Iran would continue. The U.S. naval blockade will remain in place until the agreement is finalized, signaling that diplomacy is unfolding under the shadow of force.
Earlier, Trump had warned of possible escalation, saying the United States could strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges. However, he later struck a more cautious tone, saying he would “rather not” target such sites because of the human cost.
He also suggested that Washington could, in the future, take control of key Iranian oil facilities, including Kharg Island, as part of a broader strategy to influence global energy markets. The claim drew attention, though he offered no details on how such a move would be carried out.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials responded with strong warnings. The country’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said any U.S. attack would trigger a more severe response and could widen the conflict across the region. It warned that threats to Iran’s oil exports could disrupt energy flows for all countries.
Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf also cautioned that further escalation would destabilize global energy markets and entangle the United States in a prolonged crisis.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, diplomatic efforts appear to be continuing. Reports suggest that talks between Washington and Tehran remain on track, even after recent exchanges of military strikes.
Those clashes have already strained relations. The U.S. said it carried out strikes on Iranian military targets in what it described as self-defense after a U.S. helicopter was downed near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran, however, condemned the attacks as violations of international law and declared that the April ceasefire between the two countries had effectively collapsed. Tehran warned that it would defend itself and called on the international community to respond.
As the region stands on edge, Trump’s decision to halt strikes offers a brief pause in a fast-moving crisis—one where diplomacy and conflict continue to move side by side.
