Donald Trump has called off a new round of strikes on Iran after Middle Eastern allies asked Washington to hold back, saying the outline of a deal to end the war, now in its sixth month, had been agreed. The pause follows a Tuesday missile attack on US bases and a Friday threat from Trump to keep hitting Iran hard.
Trump said on Saturday night that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked the US to withhold any new strikes, and that Israel joins him in that commitment. He said the outline of the deal includes the immediate and complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.
Trump keeps forces on standby
The US president said the military remains on standby and ready to act against Iran, even as he holds off. He added he had decided to cancel the threatened strike "subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL", tying the pause directly to how fast an agreement can be reached.
Six months of on-off strikes
The war has entered its sixth month, since the US and Israel first struck Iranian military assets and leadership on February 28. Iran retaliated by largely closing the Strait of Hormuz. Direct conflict resumed on Tuesday, when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at US military installations in the region, prompting retaliation from Washington.
A bombing report follows the Friday threat
Trump had reiterated his threat on Friday, warning that the US would keep hitting Iran until Tehran gave in. Hours later, CBS News reported that the US and Israel were preparing a joint bombing campaign against Iranian energy infrastructure. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not directly address that report, but said Iran had violated a memorandum of understanding signed in June that was meant to frame an end to the conflict.
Iran warns of a proportionate response
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi held calls with his counterparts in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Saturday night. He told Saudi Arabia's foreign minister that Iran would match any hostile US-Israeli action, or any participation and cooperation by regional states, with a proportionate response.
Source: Financial Times
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