Donald Trump has announced that a planned U.S. military strike on Iran has been temporarily put on hold as what he described as “serious negotiations” continue to unfold.
Speaking at the White House on Monday evening, Trump said the decision followed indications that diplomatic progress was being made to end the ongoing conflict.
“There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I’d be very happy,” he said.
Trump revealed that he had initially approved “a very major attack” scheduled for Tuesday but decided to delay it “for a little while, hopefully, maybe forever,” citing diplomatic momentum and requests from Gulf allies.
He said leaders from countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates urged Washington to pause military action for two to three days to allow negotiations to progress.
The president has repeatedly warned Tehran in recent weeks that the ceasefire reached in mid-April could collapse if a diplomatic agreement is not reached, though deadlines have shifted multiple times.
He also reiterated that the United States remains prepared for military action if talks fail.
“I instructed the U.S. military to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable deal is not reached,” Trump said in a social media post.
The announcement triggered immediate reactions in global energy markets, with crude oil prices briefly dropping by more than $2 per barrel before stabilising later in the day.
The volatility came amid fears that a prolonged conflict could disrupt oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
Iranian state media described Trump’s decision as a “retreat,” while tensions remained high in the region following reports of drone activity near key infrastructure in the Gulf.
Military developments also included claims of continued drone and missile activity involving Iran and allied forces, though details remain unverified by independent sources.
United States Central Command reported that commercial shipping movements in the region have been adjusted, with dozens of vessels reportedly redirected due to security concerns.
The situation has drawn in several global actors, with diplomatic contacts reported between Washington and leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu and Xi Jinping.
Energy markets reacted swiftly to the uncertainty, reflecting concerns that any escalation could further destabilise global oil supply chains.
Despite the pause in military action, officials stressed that negotiations remain fragile and that the risk of renewed escalation has not been ruled out.
