Trump Says US Has Put Planned Strikes on Iran on Hold to Allow Peace Deal
US President Donald Trump has announced that planned military strikes against Iran have been suspended, saying the attacks will remain off the table if a peace agreement is reached quickly.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Iran and several Middle Eastern countries had asked the United States to delay any military action, adding that the framework for a possible agreement had already been outlined.
However, Iran swiftly rejected the claim. The country’s semi-official Mehr News Agency described Trump’s statement as “another lie” and insisted Tehran had not requested any delay in military operations.
Iran’s acting Defence Minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, also said the country was treating every threat from its enemies as serious, even if some were intended as psychological warfare.
“We will neither be caught off guard nor remain passive,” he warned.
Trump’s latest remarks came after reports suggested the United States and Israel were considering a new wave of heavy airstrikes targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure. According to CBS News, the issue was discussed during a cabinet meeting on Friday.
The US government also advised American citizens across the Middle East to remain alert and be prepared to leave the region if tensions escalate further.
Despite earlier warnings, Trump said the United States had chosen to pause its military plans.
“We were locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran with military power not seen since World War II,” he wrote, adding that halting the strikes would benefit both the world and “the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran.”
The development follows months of rising hostilities between Washington and Tehran after a ceasefire collapsed in June. Since then, both countries have exchanged military strikes, while Iran has also targeted shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil corridor.
Trump has previously issued strong warnings to Iran before shifting back toward diplomacy. In April, he threatened devastating attacks if Tehran refused peace talks, a move that eventually led to high-level negotiations led by US Vice President JD Vance. Those discussions, however, ended without an agreement.
Regional leaders are also pushing for calm. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly spoke with Trump on Saturday, stressing the need for dialogue and renewed efforts toward a ceasefire that could lead to a diplomatic solution.
The ongoing tensions have also drawn concern within the United States. Recent polling by the Pew Research Center shows that around 60 percent of Americans oppose the conflict with Iran, while analysts warn that any further escalation could drive up global oil prices and increase costs for consumers worldwide.
