Trump Halts Iran Strikes, Claims Tehran Deal ‘Approved’
President Donald Trump on Friday announced the cancellation of planned U.S. military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, stating that Tehran had “approved” a new de-escalation framework during backchannel negotiations. The sudden reversal came hours after Pentagon officials had briefed reporters about imminent operations targeting underground uranium enrichment sites near Natanz and Fordow.
Trump’s Truth Social Post Details Deal Terms
In a flurry of posts on Truth Social early Friday morning, Trump declared that “Iran has agreed to full, verifiable limits — the deal is approved, and there will be no strikes.” A White House spokesperson later confirmed the message but declined to share the text of any written agreement. The administration did not specify whether the deal requires any dismantling of centrifuges or caps on enrichment levels.
Trump’s communications intensified after a week of maritime skirmishes in the Strait of Hormuz and a suspected Iranian drone attack on a U.S. Navy destroyer. Officials, speaking on background, said the president was briefed on Thursday night and initially authorized a limited strike package before abruptly ordering a hold.
Canceled Strikes Were Set for Pre-Dawn Saturday
Three U.S. defense officials, who requested anonymity to discuss operational details, said F-35 squadrons at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar had received target packages and were on strip alert for a pre-dawn operation on June 13. Two destroyers in the Arabian Sea were also positioned to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles. Those orders have now been rescinded, the officials said.
The cancellation averted what would have been the largest U.S. military action in the Middle East since the 2020 assassination of General Qasem Soleimani. Crude oil prices, which had spiked above $112 per barrel in overnight trading, retreated sharply after Trump’s announcement.
Iran’s Response Remains Muted and Unclear
Iranian state media made no immediate mention of an approved agreement. A foreign ministry spokesperson in Tehran acknowledged “ongoing indirect talks” but said no final text had been ratified by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Analysts at the Washington Institute cautioned that the absence of a signed document raises doubts about the durability of any understanding.
The standoff had escalated since January 2026, when Iran resumed enrichment to 90% purity and expelled International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. Satellite imagery from Planet Labs showed rapid construction of new tunneling complexes at the Natanz site, triggering urgent consultations between Washington, Jerusalem, and Gulf capitals.
International Reaction and Congressional Pushback
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office issued a terse statement saying Israel “retains full freedom of action” against Iranian nuclear threats. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas welcomed the de-escalation but pressed for “concrete, verifiable steps” from Tehran within 90 days.
On Capitol Hill, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch demanded the administration provide the full text of any accord to Congress. “The American people deserve to know what commitments were made in their name,” Risch said in a statement. House Intelligence Committee members were scheduled to receive a classified briefing late Friday.
Trump, meanwhile, continued to communicate updates from his signature gold-plated smartphone, a device reviewed by Tech Nova X earlier this year for its flashy design and middling performance. Staffers said the president dictated his Truth Social messages directly from that handset while at Mar-a-Lago.
What Comes Next for U.S.-Iran Relations
The White House says technical teams will meet in Muscat, Oman, within ten days to finalize verification protocols. Pentagon planners have left open the option to reinsert forces if Iran does not honor the preliminary understanding. Defense Secretary Walt N. Slater told reporters that “no one is standing down — we are repositioning for maximum flexibility.”
Computational models run by intelligence agencies — with tools including AI-assisted coding platforms like OpenAI Codex — have been used to simulate escalation pathways, according to one defense contractor familiar with the work. Those models reportedly showed a high probability of regional war if airstrikes had proceeded without a diplomatic off‑ramp.