Trump suspends strikes against Iran and raises the possibility of a deal

Donald Trump Iran announced on Saturday the suspension of US military operations against Iran, claiming that the outlines of a peace agreement had been defined. Tehran immediately denied these statements, calling them "another lie."

It was via a message posted on Truth Social that the American president made the announcement: the United States is suspending its strikes against Iran. Trump claims to have made this decision at the request of Tehran and several Middle Eastern countries, specifying that the "broad outlines of an agreement" had been drawn up.

This agreement would include, according to him, "the immediate, full, and complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the end of the Iranian nuclear threat." The president conditioned this suspension on the "swift" conclusion of a formal agreement, while warning that American forces remained "ready to fire and ready to leave."

"I have agreed, in the future interest of the WORLD and, likewise, for the survival of a prosperous and flourishing Iran, to cancel the attack, on the condition that a DEAL can be concluded quickly," he wrote, adding that Israel joined in this commitment.

The Iranian news agency Mehr reported Tehran's reaction, which rejected the statements as "another lie." This direct contradiction immediately undermines the impact of Trump's announcement.

The previous day, Friday, Trump had hardened his tone, declaring that he was "losing confidence" in the prospect of an agreement and threatening to strike Iran "very hard." On Saturday, several American media outlets reported preparations for massive strikes targeting oil refineries and power plants, with possible Israeli participation.

The State Department had also issued a security update calling on American citizens in the Middle East to "exercise caution and heightened vigilance" and to prepare for possible air traffic disruptions and airspace closures.

The conflict began in late February when the United States and Israel launched a series of strikes against Iran. In retaliation, the Iranian military effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which approximately a quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade passes. This week, after a brief lull, hostilities resumed: Iran launched ballistic missiles at US positions in the region, and Washington retaliated by targeting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sites, including missile facilities, drones, and command centers.

"These strikes were aimed at further reducing the threats posed by Iran and its allies to U.S. forces, commercial shipping, and neighboring Gulf countries," U.S. Central Command said.

In June, the two countries appeared to have begun to resolve the crisis with the signing of a provisional memorandum of understanding that stipulated an end to hostilities, the lifting of the US naval blockade, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by Tehran, which reaffirmed that it was not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. This agreement granted both sides 60 days to reach a final settlement. The resumption of airstrikes this week now casts a shadow over the implementation of this timeline.