Trump Says He Canceled the Strike, Hopes a Deal Will Be Signed Soon

President Donald Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Thursday evening (Israel time) that he had ordered the planned strike on Iran to be canceled.

Trump wrote: "Based on the fact that the discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran were elevated to the highest leadership level in Iran and approved, I, as President of the United States, canceled the planned strikes and bombings against Iran this evening."

"The discussions and final points, both in principle and at the full detailed level, were approved by all parties involved, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others. The naval blockade will remain fully in effect until the deal is completed. The time and place of the signing will be announced soon."

Iranian news agency Tasnim quoted an Iranian source: "Trump has said 38 times that a deal is near. In just three days, he 'sent in his imagination' his vice president to Pakistan four times. As long as Iran does not itself announce the existence of an understanding or possible agreement, Trump’s reports on the matter should be treated as part of his previous string of messages."

Earlier today, Trump said that the U.S. military would strike Iran and was even considering taking control of Iran’s Kharg oil island. In response to the threat, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the National Security Committee in the Iranian parliament, said: "Trump will receive an even stronger and more painful response. He has no real cards of power. Trump has delivered almost no achievements. He has incurred enormous costs without the American people reaping any tangible benefit. Any miscalculated step will be met with a far more painful response than before. Trump’s threats are illusions. He knows that any possible Iranian response could have unbearable consequences for him."

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, added: "Mistaken strategies and impulsive decisions have created an endless swamp that you will remain stuck in for years." Saudi channel "Al-Hadath" reported that Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey sent a message to the U.S. urging it to avoid a strike, and said they would work to achieve an agreement.