US President Donald Trump
BREAKING: Trump Cancels US Strikes on Iran at Last Minute
DUBAI/WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump called off plans for renewed US military strikes on Iran at the last minute on Thursday, saying negotiations with Tehran had advanced to the highest levels of Iran’s leadership and had been approved by a broad coalition of regional powers. The dramatic reversal came hours before the strikes were expected to be carried out. But details of the diplomatic breakthrough after more than three months of war — including how Iran’s leadership had signaled its approval — were not immediately clear in Trump’s post on Truth Social. In his announcement, Trump stated: “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, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening.” Trump added that “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 also stated: “The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized — Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly.” There was no immediate official comment from Iran. Trump has repeatedly claimed that a deal with Tehran was imminent in recent weeks, only to have Iranian officials deny such suggestions.
Earlier in the day, Trump had said the United States would hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and even added that he wanted at some point to take Iran’s oil infrastructure hub Kharg Island, after a second day of strikes by both sides in the Gulf appeared to threaten a return to all-out war. Trump claimed on Truth Social that “Iran’s Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!” Kharg Island processes approximately 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports and serves as a major revenue source for the Iranian economy. However, it remains heavily fortified by missile batteries, naval mines, and Revolutionary Guard units — meaning any ground invasion would require thousands of American troops.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since early April 2026, brokered by Pakistan, following the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, 2026, when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. The war has since killed thousands of people. According to Al Jazeera statistics, at least 7,129 people have died, including 3,593 in Lebanon, 3,468 in Iran, 29 in Gulf states, 26 Israelis, and 13 American soldiers killed in Iranian retaliatory attacks. The war has also pushed up global oil prices and disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil passed before the conflict. Oil prices fell sharply after Trump announced the cancellation of US plans to strike Iran, while stocks extended their gains as fears of immediate supply disruptions in the Gulf receded.
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Iranian sources and Western officials earlier said indirect US-Iranian talks on a preliminary peace deal had intensified in recent days, while the renewed hostilities this week undermined prospects for a swift end to the conflict. One Iranian source told Reuters: “This war, from a military standpoint, is a dead end. The Americans could not achieve their goals by attacking Iran. There has been progress in negotiations.” However, despite the latest hostilities, three Iranian sources and Western officials said the talks had not yet discussed in detail issues including a mechanism for the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds. Iran demands the release of $6-24 billion in frozen funds, while the US prefers staged humanitarian releases. Unresolved questions also remain over Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and uranium stockpile, as well as the temporary easing of Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz. The US naval blockade remains in force until final signing.
Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, had warned against any rash moves following Trump’s initial threats. He wrote on X: “Wrong strategies and impulsive decisions will reset the entire board for the worse, explode energy infrastructure and markets and create an endless quagmire that you will be stuck in for years. You will see a different Iran.” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on both sides to redouble their efforts “toward a peaceful, comprehensive, and durable agreement that advances regional and international peace and security,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. The framework of an interim deal would centre on a temporary easing of Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz and phased access through the waterway, while ending the US naval blockade on Iranian ports. Unresolved questions over Tehran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium would be left for future talks. However, a top Iranian official, Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, told CNN that the talks were “at a deadlock” over the release of $24 billion in frozen assets, warning that the US would “enter into a dark corridor” should it resume fighting.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously declared victory in the conflict, stating that Washington had achieved its objectives of destroying Iran’s defense industrial base and significantly reducing its missile and UAV capabilities. Meanwhile, Trump raised the possibility earlier this month of a direct meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, telling the New York Post that the Iranian leader had “certainly participated” in negotiations and that “I want to meet him.” The US and Iran traded air attacks on Thursday for a second straight day. The US launched fresh bombing raids overnight, the second round after Trump ordered retaliatory strikes on Tuesday following the shoot-down of a US Apache helicopter. Two US airmen were rescued from the Strait of Hormuz by an AI-powered drone vessel. Trump is seeking to push Iran into making a deal after months of stalemate since the ceasefire was declared at the start of April. The President has lost patience with Iran, telling reporters that “they keep playing us for suckers” and accusing Tehran’s negotiators of “stringing us along.”
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As the world awaits further details, Trump’s announcement suggests that a formal agreement could be imminent, though questions remain about specific provisions regarding Iran’s nuclear program, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and whether Iran’s Supreme Leader has indeed approved any deal. The war, now in its 100th day as of June 7, has not yielded a decisive military or diplomatic breakthrough. The casualty figures, energy prices, and economic impact continue to show the growing cost of the conflict for the Middle East and the global economy. Key events in this developing story include: on February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, beginning the war; in early April 2026, a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire took effect; on April 8, 2026, a two-week ceasefire was announced, but Israel launched strikes on Lebanon hours later; on April 11-12, 2026, talks in Pakistan failed over the nuclear issue; on June 7, 2026, the war reached 100 days with casualties exceeding 7,000; on June 9, 2026, a US Apache helicopter was shot down, and retaliatory strikes were launched; in the early hours of June 10, 2026, Trump threatened to hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and seize Kharg Island; later on June 10, 2026, Trump announced the cancellation of strikes, citing progress in talks; and a potential signing ceremony for an interim deal is to be announced. Key details to remember: Trump cancelled planned US military strikes against Iran hours before execution on June 10-11, 2026; the reason cited was progress in talks approved by Iran’s highest leadership and a regional coalition including the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others; the naval blockade remains in full force until final deal signing; earlier, Trump had threatened to hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and seize Kharg Island, which processes 90% of Iran’s oil exports; a fragile ceasefire has been in place since early April 2026 following the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, 2026; casualties after 100 days of war stand at least 7,129 killed; the Strait of Hormuz has seen traffic drop from 100 ships per day to about 7 ships per day; oil prices have risen from $70 to approximately $100 per barrel, affecting 146 countries; Iran demands the release of $6-24 billion in frozen funds; and the UN Secretary-General has called for a durable peace agreement. This is a developing story. More details will be provided as information becomes available from the White House, Iranian officials, and international mediators.
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