- US president Donald Trump has called off planned strikes against Iran. The decision was made at the request of Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE who believe they are "very close" to reaching a peace deal with Iran.
- Trump wrote on Truth Social: “I've put it off for a little while, hopefully maybe forever, but possibly for a little while, because we've had very big discussions with Iran, and we'll see what they amount to.”
- However, Trump stated the US military remains prepared for a "full, large scale assault" if an acceptable agreement is not achieved.
- It comes after Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran is continuing to “pursue diplomacy with seriousness," but that the Islamic Republic "will not be subdued by contradictory behavior and threats from the opposing side.”
- Meanwhile, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent announced another 30-day extension of a sanctions waiver allowing purchases of Russian seaborne oil to aid “energy-vulnerable” countries hit by the Iran war.
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