Bangkok: U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a temporary halt to new military attacks against Iran, citing a preliminary agreement reached by Middle Eastern allies aimed at ending the conflict that has persisted for over five months.
According to Thai News Agency, Trump made the announcement via social media, stating that the decision to cancel the planned major military strike came after requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern countries for a delay to allow peace negotiations. The suspension is contingent upon a swift agreement, which includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping and halting Iran's nuclear weapons programs. Trump noted that Israel has agreed to collaborate with the U.S. to finalize the deal. Despite the pause in military actions, Trump warned that the U.S. military remains ready to respond with unprecedented force if negotiations collapse.
The decision marks a stark reversal from Trump's previous threats of military action against Tehran, intended to coerce Iran into negotiations. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly contacted Trump, expressing concerns that escalation could lead to Iranian attacks on Saudi and Gulf energy infrastructure, affecting global energy markets. Prior to Trump's announcement, Iran had issued a warning about potential severe retaliation to any aggression, indicating that their response would extend beyond the Persian Gulf.
The U.S. State Department continues to issue security alerts for U.S. citizens in 10 Middle Eastern countries, advising them to prepare for possible flight cancellations and airspace closures. Meanwhile, Iran's Tasnim news agency has reported that Iran is planning retaliatory attacks targeting Israeli and U.S. energy infrastructure.