Trump Cancels Planned Military Strike on Iran After Regional Request, Awaits Agreement

US President Donald Trump announced that he has agreed to cancel a planned military strike against Iran following requests from Tehran and several Middle Eastern countries to postpone the operation. Trump confirmed that US forces remain at the highest state of readiness for the attack, describing their preparedness as unprecedented since World War II. He explained that Iran and other regional states proposed preliminary terms for a potential agreement, including the immediate and complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat. Trump said he canceled the strike for the benefit of global stability and Iran's future prosperity, contingent on quickly reaching a final deal. He also noted that Israel agreed to refrain from action at this time and called on all parties to finalize the agreement.

The announcement follows media reports that the US and Israel were coordinating extensive strikes targeting Iran's energy infrastructure. CBS cited American sources saying Washington and Jerusalem had planned a military operation potentially damaging Iran's energy facilities while Trump consulted senior officials on military options. Meanwhile, regional countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation between the US and Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any new US or Israeli military action would be met with "decisive and proportionate" retaliation, with Tehran prepared to defend its national security interests by all means.

According to Axios, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a key role behind the scenes in halting the strike, expressing concerns to Trump that US attacks on Iranian energy sites could provoke retaliatory strikes on Saudi and Gulf oil and gas infrastructure. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that Iran has built a vast arsenal of ballistic missiles and drones over years to shield its nuclear program and deter attacks. Rubio emphasized that military actions aim to eliminate Iran's missile production capabilities to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons under missile cover. He noted Iran is now willing to discuss disarmament only because the US is approaching the issue from a position of military strength rather than weakness.