Trump cancels strikes against Iran planned for Thursday evening

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he has canceled planned strikes against Iran on Thursday, hours after threatening more bombings and a desire to “take” oil export hub Kharg Island.

“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,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Trump said “discussions and final points” have been approved by the US, 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,” he said.

Donald Trump also said he believed Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had approved a deal with the US that would trigger the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of a US blockade on Iranian ports.

When asked by a reporter at the White House whether Khamenei had approved the deal, Trump said: “I understand the answer is yes.”

Trump described the deal as “a very strong memorandum of understanding,” adding it was “a little conceptual, but it’s something that’s going to get done”.