President Trump announced Thursday, he's canceling planned US military strikes on Iran tonight, claiming that progress has been made in the ongoing peace negotiations with the Persian nation. Iranian state-affiliated media however deny the claim, reportedly saying "no text for a preliminary memorandum of understanding with the United States has been approved."
"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 on Truth Social Thursday. "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."
Trump's announcement comes after U.S. launched "self-defense strikes" overnight, against multiple Iranian targets on Wednesday (June 10), starting at 2115 UTC (5:15 p.m. ET) Wednesday, following President Donald Trump's order to pressure Tehran into signing a peace deal. In retaliation, Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones at U.S. military assets in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain, marking the second consecutive day of exchanged fire that has severely strained an April ceasefire.
CENTCOM confirmed the strikes targeted military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across southern Iran, including areas near Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Minab.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the attacks were intended to "negotiate with bombs" by degrading Iranian capabilities and forcing a diplomatic breakthrough after negotiations stalled. The U.S. military described the operation as a response to "unwarranted and continued aggression," specifically citing the recent downing of a U.S. attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have struck 18 U.S. military targets, including air bases in Kuwait (Ali Al-Salem, Ahmed Al-Jaber) and Bahrain (Sheikh Isa), as well as a command center in Jordan. While Jordan claim intercepting all incoming missiles without casualties, Bahrain experienced falling shrapnel that caused minor injuries and property damage, and Kuwait temporarily closed its airspace** due to the threat. Iran also declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all vessels.
The escalation occurs amidst failed efforts to finalize a peace agreement, with Trump threatening to "bomb the shit out of them" if a deal is not signed immediately. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the U.S. strikes on civilian water infrastructure as a "calculated war crime," declaring the existing ceasefire "practically meaningless." Concurrently, the U.S. has intensified a naval blockade, recently striking oil tankers accused of violating restrictions, which has contributed to rising global oil prices.
Trump had earlier on Thursday threatened to conduct more devasting airstrikes on Iran, which he has now called of. Though both Iranian and Israeli sources deny any knowledge of a US-Iran agreement cited by the president.
Negotiations reportedly continued late into Wednesday night in Tehran as Qatari envoy Ali Al-Thawadi and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi worked to bridge the remaining gaps between the U.S. and Iran. And both parties believed on Wednesday that they had reached an agreed-upon text that the U.S. would also accept, pending approval by Iran's supreme leader.
