Trump cancels fresh strikes on Iran, hints at possible peace deal

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday, June 11, that he was calling off planned strikes on Iran, stating that discussions with the Islamic Republic had reached the highest level and been approved. Trump wrote on his Truth Social network that based on this, he had cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran. He added that "final points" had been approved by all parties involved but gave no further details. Trump said the time and place of the signing would be announced shortly, and that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in force until the transaction is finalized. In his statement, Trump said, "We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran." He indicated that the deal means Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, but did not provide specifics on how this would be achieved.

This announcement marks a sharp shift from an earlier social media post in which Trump vowed fresh strikes and threatened to seize key Iranian oil infrastructure, including Kharg Island, which is central to Iran's oil exports. Earlier Thursday, Trump wrote that the US military would hit Iran "VERY HARD TONIGHT" and that in the near future they would be taking Kharg Island and other oil infrastructure points. Kharg Island handles about 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, and an attack there could have serious consequences for global oil markets already under strain.

Prior to Trump's statement, the US and Iran had exchanged strikes for a third day, pushing the Middle East closer to a full-scale war. The US attack, which lasted into Thursday morning in Iran, appeared more intense and wider than the day before. Iran responded by firing at Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The US military continued enforcing its blockade, firing missiles to disable a tanker attempting to transport Iranian oil. An Indian official said a US strike on another merchant ship earlier this week killed three Indian sailors.

Negotiations to end the war had seemed stalled, with Trump warning Tehran would pay for lack of progress. Iran's Foreign Ministry said the US attacks had rendered the ceasefire meaningless but did not abandon it. Central to talks is Iran's stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted global energy supplies and driven up fuel prices. Iran announced the strait was closed on Thursday, but the US Central Command disputed this. The two sides also remain at odds over Iran's nuclear program.