Donald Trump cancels strikes against Iran as President makes humiliating climbdown | World | News
US President Donald Trump has cancelled planned strikes against Iran tonight. It comes hours after he threatened more bombings on the Middle East.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “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. 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. 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 two previous nights have seen back-and-forth strikes between the US and Iran as the conflict continues. Trump said he intends to take Kharg Island, a five-mile-long coral island located north of the Strait of Hormuz, “at some point in the not too distant future”.
The island is significant as it accounts for more than 90% of Iran’s oil exports. In the week before the war broke out, Kharg Island, which has storage tanks and housing for thousands of workers, shipped 37.9 million barrels per day.
However, Trump has now called off strikes against Iran and claimed he is close to striking a new deal with Tehran. He added that the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would remain in effect.
The US has launched extensive bombing campaigns and missile strikes on Iran this week. Trump previously ordered immediate “self-defence” strikes after an American military helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz.
They launched Tomahawk cruise missile attacks on targets located along Iran’s southern coast on Tuesday (June 9) before hitting inland targets on Wednesday. They went on to target areas near Tehran and southern locations such as Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas.
Trump said: “We hit them hard yesterday and we’re going to hit them hard again today.” He then threatened further attacks as Iranian leaders had “taken too long to negotiate a deal”.
While the US said they targeted Iranian air defence systems and communication systems, officials in Iran reported that two drinking-water reservoirs were destroyed in the strikes. They also confirmed that three cargo and oil vessels were struck in the Gulf of Oman.
Iran also launched drone and missile attacks on US military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. Trump’s decision to cancel further strikes came amid further threats of escalation.
The US and Iran agreed a ceasefire deal in April that was meant to last for two weeks. However, a potential peace agreement has stalled in recent weeks with increasing strikes.
