President Donald Trump has announced that he is calling off planned military strikes against Iran, in a sudden move that points to a possible breakthrough in efforts to end the conflict. The decision came after days of escalating attacks between the two sides and repeated warnings from Washington that it was prepared to hit Iran even harder.
Trump set out his reasoning in a public statement. He said that, based on the fact that discussions with Iran had been brought to the highest level of the Iranian leadership and approved, he had, as president, canceled the strikes and bombings that had been scheduled against Iran for that evening. The wording suggested that the talks had reached a decisive stage.
The announcement framed the understanding as a broad, multinational one. Trump said that the final points had been approved by a long list of countries said to be involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt, among others.
Even as he pulled back from the strikes, Trump made clear that the pressure on Iran would not be lifted entirely. He said the naval blockade would remain in full force and effect until what he described as the transaction was finalized, signalling that the arrangement was not yet complete.
The reversal was striking given the tone of recent days. Only a short time earlier, Trump had warned that the United States would resume attacks on Iran very hard after what he called insufficient progress in negotiations, and fresh American strikes and Iranian retaliation had followed.
The backdrop to the announcement was a dangerous escalation around one of the world's most important waterways. Iran had moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil shipments, while the two sides traded strikes, including on targets in southern Iran and on shipping in the area.
For now, the cancellation of the strikes offers a moment of de-escalation in a confrontation that had appeared to be sliding toward a wider war. Much will depend on whether the understanding holds, particularly given how quickly the situation has shifted in recent days and the fact that, by Trump's own account, the deal still has to be finalized.