US Halts Major Iran Strike After Regional Pressure and Diplomatic Talks Advance

Senior US officials revealed that President Donald Trump came close to launching a large-scale military strike against Iran but withdrew just one day before the planned operation. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) had prepared an extensive plan targeting Iran's energy and infrastructure facilities, with Israel expected to participate. The plan emerged shortly after a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump, amid stalled negotiations and a recent Iranian surprise attack on a US base in Jordan.

Israeli officials reportedly told the US that any strike must significantly damage Iran's economic and regime targets to be worthwhile. On Friday, Trump publicly hinted at imminent military action. However, ongoing negotiations involving the US, Iran, Oman, and Qatar over reopening the Strait of Hormuz led Qatar to request an additional 24 hours to continue talks. Qatar later claimed Iran had agreed to terms.

During this critical period, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey exerted pressure on Trump to avoid military escalation. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned that an attack could trigger widespread regional conflict and severely damage Gulf oil facilities. Following these warnings, Trump announced the cancellation of the strike.

Diplomatic discussions are progressing toward a deal that would include a ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days without tolls, establishing new shipping routes, and resuming US-Iran negotiations based on a memorandum of understanding. Despite these advances, Iran has yet to publicly confirm its acceptance of the agreement.