President Donald Trump announced that the United States was prepared to launch a major military strike against Iran but has agreed to pause the operation after receiving what he described as a request from Tehran and several Middle Eastern nations to allow negotiations to proceed.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the U.S. Military was fully prepared to carry out an attack on the Islamic Republic but said he has chosen to delay any operation in hopes that a diplomatic agreement can be reached.
"The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II," Trump wrote.
According to the president, Iranian officials and other countries in the Middle East appealed to Washington to postpone military action after what he said was an agreement on the framework of a potential deal.
"Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to."
Trump said the proposed agreement would require Iran to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz and eliminate its nuclear threat.
"This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat."
The president said he accepted the request to suspend military action, explaining that he believes doing so could benefit the international community and the Iranian people if a deal is reached quickly.
"Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL."
Trump also stated that Israel supports pursuing diplomacy rather than immediate military action.
"The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment."