Trump ‘cancels’ strikes on Iran, says deal could be signed soon

Shortly after President Donald Trump announced Thursday on Truth Social that the U.S. will be “hitting Iran,” he posted the strikes were “cancelled” due to agreements reached in negotiations.

In his earlier post, Trump also said the U.S. would assume control of Kharg Island as well as Iran’s oil and gas markets “at some point in the not too distant future.”

The announcement follows two consecutive nights of strikes.

Trump had compared taking control of Iran’s oil and gas markets to America’s actions in Venezuela. Kharg Island is a major oil terminal off the coast of Iran, and Trump emphasized again Thursday on Fox News that his preference has always been to take the land, but he is not sure if “America has the stomach for it.”

“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,” Trump wrote in his initial post. “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, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The administration has been saying that the U.S. is very close to striking a peace deal with Iran, even after an American helicopter was downed following an attack on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for international trade that Iran has been holding captive for months. U.S. Central Command announced Tuesday that both crewmen survived, then said Tuesday and Wednesday evening that it began launching “self-defense strikes” in response to Iran’s aggression.