Trump cancels planned strikes on Iran after high-level talks
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
United States President Donald Trump announced calling off planned military strikes on Iran after talks with the top Iranian leadership. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that, in his capacity as US president, he had ordered the cancellation of the strikes and bombing operations that had been scheduled for the evening. He said the decision followed high-level discussions with the Iranian leadership. According to Trump, both the broader framework and detailed aspects of the negotiations had been endorsed by all participating parties. He claimed the process had the backing of Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Türkiye, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and several other countries. Despite suspending the planned military action, Trump said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue until the agreement is formally completed. He added that details regarding the time and location of the signing ceremony would be announced soon. Trump vows to hit Iran very hard, threatens to seize Kharg Island