WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump announced Monday he had paused a planned military attack on Iran, allowing negotiations to proceed on ending the US-Israeli war. Trump said he instructed the military to cancel the strike but remain ready for a full-scale assault if a deal is not reached.
Trump cited requests from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to delay the strike because a deal was achievable. The announcement follows Iran’s submission of a new peace proposal to Washington, conveyed through Pakistan.
Iran’s offer focuses on ending the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and lifting maritime sanctions; nuclear issues would be deferred. An Iranian source noted the US agreed to release a quarter of Iran’s frozen foreign assets, while Washington has not confirmed any concessions.
A fragile ceasefire remains in place after six weeks of conflict that began with US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran.