Dubai, UAE — U.S. President Donald Trump said he had cancelled airstrikes scheduled against Iran on Thursday night, saying negotiations had advanced to the highest levels of Iran’s leadership and received approval.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had called off the strikes and bombing operations that had been planned for the evening, adding that a naval blockade would remain in place until an agreement is finalised.
He said the date and location for signing the accord would be announced later but provided no further details on the proposed deal.
Abrupt shift from escalation to diplomacy
The announcement marked a dramatic reversal from earlier in the day when Trump threatened to strike Iran “very hard” and seize control of the country’s oil and gas industry.
Speaking at an Oval Office event, Trump said Washington had achieved a “great settlement” and expressed confidence that an agreement extending the fragile ceasefire established in April could be finalised within days.
The latest shift underscores Trump’s often unpredictable approach to the conflict, oscillating between threats of military action and declarations that a diplomatic breakthrough is imminent.
Iran says talks advancing
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said negotiations were progressing and that the text of an agreement was largely complete.
However, he cautioned that contradictions in Washington’s positions had created uncertainty in the process.
Mediators remained active and no final agreement had yet been reached, Iranian officials said.
Nuclear dispute remains central
The negotiations continue to be dominated by disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Washington and Israel say Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium could eventually be used to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful civilian purposes.
Another major point of contention remains the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil and gas shipments passes.
Iran’s disruption of shipping through the waterway in recent months has strained energy markets and contributed to higher fuel and commodity prices worldwide.
Regional tensions persist
Despite renewed diplomatic efforts, military tensions remain elevated.
Iran has insisted that any broader settlement should also address fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, a condition that appears unlikely to be accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
The conflict intensified this week after exchanges involving Iran, Israel and the United States raised fears of a return to full-scale regional warfare.
Maritime blockade draws scrutiny
The United States said its forces disabled another tanker allegedly transporting Iranian oil in violation of the blockade, bringing to nine the number of vessels intercepted under the operation.
The International Maritime Organization criticised a separate U.S. strike on a tanker earlier this week that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors, according to Indian authorities.
The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
