US President Donald Trump said he called off military strikes on Iran after the country and other nations in the Middle East urged Washington to delay any offensive because the ‘perimeters of a deal’ had been agreed.
In a post on social media, Trump said the US had been prepared to launch a major military operation against Iran but had decided to stand down while negotiations were under way.
“We were locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of military terror, strength and power not seen since the Second World War,” he 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. This would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Hormuz strait, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”
Trump said he had agreed to suspend the planned attack in the hope that the negotiations would lead to a broader agreement.
“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 said.
“The country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it done.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Trump held a call aimed at reducing regional tensions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Saudi Crown Prince urged Trump to prioritise dialogue and support efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Middle East.
He stressed the need to de-escalate tension through dialogue and to make every effort to achieve a ceasefire that could pave the way for diplomatic solutions.
He warned against the risk of the region being drawn into a broader conflict, saying such a scenario would have consequences for regional and global security.
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