Washington: US President, Donald Trump, has reversed course and called off major US strikes on Iran that he had announced just hours before for Thursday evening. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that since discussions with Iran 'have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved,' he has cancelled the planned strikes for Thursday evening. There was no immediate reaction from high-ranking Iranian officials.
According to Ghana News Agency, just hours earlier, Trump had announced major strikes on Iran for Thursday night, indicating that the US would hit Iran 'very hard.' He also threatened to take over Kharg Island, a significant site for Iran's oil industry, as well as other oil infrastructure locations. Almost all of Iran's oil exports are handled there, making it of great strategic importance.
Trump also mentioned that '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.' Despite calling off the strikes, Trump stated that the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would remain in place until the deal is finalized, which he said would 'be announced shortly.'
For weeks, there have been efforts to reach a framework agreement to end the conflict, but there had been no significant signs of rapprochement on the main points of contention between the US and Iran. The US and Iran exchanged heavy shelling overnight, following mutual attacks on the previous night. A ceasefire had been in place between the warring parties for two months. Iranian media reported three injuries in Tehran province from these exchanges. The Mehr portal, citing official sources, reported that a boat carrying basic foodstuffs was hit by a US projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, though the crew was rescued.
The US military reported attacks on military surveillance, communications facilities, and air defense sites in Iran. Meanwhile, Iran launched attacks on the Gulf states of Bahrain and Kuwait overnight. Local authorities reported an 11-year-old girl injured in Bahrain, with several vehicles catching fire and residential buildings damaged by falling debris from intercepted Iranian drone attacks.
Jordan also reported intercepting 20 rockets fired from Iran overnight. In the country's east, the US military has stationed fighter jets at a base, indicating ongoing military readiness in the region.