President Trump canceled planned military strikes against Iran on Thursday, saying discussions with Iranian leadership had reached the highest levels and shown progress. Trump announced the decision in a statement, writing that he had canceled "the forthcoming strikes and bombings" based on developments in talks with Tehran.
The cancellation came hours after Trump had threatened to hit Iran "very hard" following a second night of military exchanges between the two countries. The U.S. military had launched 49 Tomahawk missiles at Iranian targets the previous night. Trump claimed in his announcement that Iran's leadership had "approved" a draft agreement, though Tehran has not confirmed this claim.
Three sources briefed on the negotiations told one news outlet that key gaps in the talks were narrowed during meetings between Iranian officials and Qatari mediators on Wednesday. The discussions reportedly focus on extending a ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and beginning 60 days of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. Qatar has been serving as a mediator between Washington and Tehran.
Trump has previously claimed that a deal with Iran was near, only for negotiations to stall or break down. Iran's top negotiator issued a warning Thursday, saying that "wrong strategies and impulsive decisions will reset the entire board for the worse, explode energy infrastructure and markets and create an endless quagmire." The statement came after Trump had threatened to seize Kharg Island, a central hub for Iran's oil exports.
The situation follows escalating tensions between the two nations, with military strikes exchanged over consecutive nights before the sudden diplomatic shift. The potential agreement under discussion would mark a significant de-escalation if finalized, though details remain subject to confirmation from both governments.