U.S. President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of planned military strikes and bombings against Iran on Thursday evening, marking significant progress in diplomatic efforts between the two nations after weeks of tension and escalation.
Trump stated on the "Truth Social" platform that he decided to cancel the military operations after discussions with Iran reached the highest levels of leadership in Tehran and received necessary approvals, highlighting that negotiations have made substantial advances recently.
The U.S. President clarified that the final terms of the anticipated agreement have received approval from all involved parties, both at a general principle level and in terms of execution details, noting the involvement of several regional and international countries in supporting the negotiations and facilitating ongoing understandings.
Trump affirmed that the naval blockade imposed on Iran will remain in place for the current phase until the agreement's procedures are completed and officially signed, adding that the announcement of the signing's date and venue will be made at a later time.
The U.S. decision comes just hours after rising tensions between the parties, with Washington previously threatening to carry out new strikes inside Iran, while Tehran reiterated its readiness to respond to any potential attack.
In a related context, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had warned of the consequences of what he termed reckless decisions, affirming that his country is prepared to deal with any aggression in a way that could shift the balance of power in the region.
The announcement also coincided with growing international calls to contain the crisis, as Russia expressed concern over the recent escalation, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to intensify diplomatic efforts and reach an agreement ensuring regional security and stability.
Observers see the decision to cancel the strikes as an indicator of the crisis moving from a stage of mutual military threats to serious pursuit of a political settlement, as attention turns to the next steps that may define the future of U.S.-Iran relations and their impact on the entire region.