President Donald Trump said that he will give the order to attack Iran for the third consecutive night. He said the US would soon invade an Iranian island. The President later reversed and said that a deal with Iran had been signed.
“The United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT,” the President wrote on Truth Social Thursday. “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, much like we have with Venezuela.”
The US bombed Iran on Tuesday after Trump claimed an Iranian drone downed an Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has retaliated with attacks on US bases in the region.
US officials speaking with Axios said the President believes strikes on Iran will push Tehran to sign a peace deal to end the war. However, Iranian officials say they will respond to all US attacks.
The President has previously considered taking Kharg Island, but has not ordered an operation. Analysts have noted how difficult it will be for the US to secure the island, which is deep in the Persian Gulf and close to the Iranian mainland.
Later in the day, Trump posted he had called off the planned strikes as a deal with Iran had been reached. “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, canceled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” he wrote.
“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.” The post continued, “The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized — Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly.”
