US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that he had cancelled planned military strikes against Iran, claiming that discussions with Tehran had reached the highest levels of the Iranian leadership and that the broad framework of a deal had been approved by all parties involved.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had called off airstrikes that were scheduled for later in the day after receiving indications that negotiations were moving toward a final agreement."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.
The announcement marked a dramatic shift in tone from just hours earlier, when the US president had warned that American forces would strike Iran "VERY HARD TONIGHT" amid renewed military exchanges between the two countries.Trump claims broad agreement reachedAccording to Trump, discussions and final points of a proposed settlement had been approved "in both concept and great detail" by a wide group of regional and international stakeholders.He named the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt among those backing the arrangement."Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved," Trump wrote.However, neither Iran nor the other countries named by Trump immediately confirmed his claims.The US president added that a naval blockade imposed during the conflict would remain in place until the agreement was formally completed."The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized," he said.Trump added that details regarding the signing ceremony would be announced shortly.Sharp turn after escalationThe latest development comes after days of escalating rhetoric and military exchanges that had threatened to derail already fragile negotiations.Earlier on Thursday, Iran warned Washington that further military action could drag the United States into what it described as an "endless quagmire" while triggering major disruptions in global energy markets.Iran's parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused Washington of pursuing dangerous policies that risked expanding the conflict."Wrong strategies and impulsive decisions will reset the entire board for the worse, explode energy infrastructure and markets and create an endless quagmire that you will be stuck in for years," Ghalibaf said.His warning came after Trump threatened additional military action and suggested the United States could seize Iran's key oil export facilities.In another Truth Social post, Trump said Washington could eventually take control of Kharg Island, Iran's most important oil export terminal."At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets," he wrote.
Source:Network18


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