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President Donald Trump said on Thursday, just hours after announcing U.S. plans to attack Iran and potentially seize control of its oil industries, that he was canceling American military attacks against the regime.
“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,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Early Thursday morning, President Trump fired off a threatening statement, promising to attack Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT.”
He had additionally vowed that, “in the not too distant future,” the United States would take control of Kharg Island – a key seaport for oil export in Iran – and “assume total control” of the Iranian gas and oil markets.
However, by Thursday afternoon, the president cited progress within the scope of ongoing negotiations with Iran and seemed willing to take a step back from wartime escalation.
“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 shared in his statement.
The president continued, “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.”
The president was referring to the U.S. Naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
Peace negotiations with Iran, amid an ongoing ceasefire, have been notoriously tricky. The situation escalated this week after a U.S. Army Apache helicopter was shot down by Iran, RSBN previously reported. The two crew members aboard the aircraft were safely rescued, but the incident sparked a series of reported blows between the U.S. and Iran.