US President Donald Trump says he has called off a planned military strike against Iran after claiming Tehran requested a last-minute deal that could see the Strait of Hormuz reopened and its nuclear ambitions brought to an end.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump declared the United States was “locked and loaded” and ready to launch military action at a level “not seen since World War II”.
Despite that, he claimed Iran and other Middle Eastern nations had approached the US seeking a pause in hostilities after agreeing to the framework of a potential deal.
“The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II,” Mr Trump wrote.
“Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.”
Mr Trump said the proposed agreement would include the “immediate, complete, and total” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat”.
He said he had agreed to cancel the planned attack to give negotiations a chance to succeed.
“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” he wrote.
Mr Trump also claimed Israel had joined the US in supporting the diplomatic effort.
“The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment,” he said.
“Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE.”
The White House has not released additional details on the proposed agreement, and Iran has not publicly confirmed Mr Trump’s account of the negotiations.
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