Trump Calls Off Iran Strikes, Citing Progress in Peace Talks

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had called off his planned evening strikes against Iran as a deal appears to be near, based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved. I have cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening, the president posted on Truth Social. Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and others, he added, saying that the naval blockade of Iran-related vessels will continue. A fragile ceasefire was shattered in recent days after an Iranian drone shot down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter. The U.S. and Iran resumed direct missile and drone exchanges afterwards, escalating their high-stakes conflict. Trump said early Thursday that the U.S. would continue the strikes against Iran and threatened to seize Karg Island, Iran's major energy export hub.