Trump delays planned Iran attacks but warns of 'full, large-scale assault' if no deal reached
The US President backed off from threats to strike the Islamic Republic on Tuesday, but threatened a new offensive if a peace deal is not reached
Donald Trump has said he will hold off launching a planned attack against Iran at the request of Gulf allies, but warned he could launch a "full, large scale assault" at a "moment's notice".
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The US president claimed renewed military strikes were due to take place on Tuesday.
He said he had been told the agreement would be “very acceptable” to the US and would mean “no nuclear weapons for Iran”.
But he warned that he had instructed US forces to prepare for “a full, large-scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice” in case a deal was not struck.
Mr Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform.
He warned Iran over the weekend that “the clock is ticking” on making a deal and had better act quickly “or there won’t be anything left of them”.
Read more: Iran to vote on €50m bounties on Trump and Netanyahu
It follows an ongoing stand-off between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz waterway, which has tested the fragile Middle East ceasefire.
Writing on social media, the president said he had been asked by the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates “to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond”.
He added: “This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!
“Based on my respect for the above mentioned Leaders, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large-scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”
It comes amid reports Iran is discussing placing bounties on Mr Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran’s parliament is preparing to vote on a bill that would offer rewards for the assassination of the US and Israeli leaders, in the wake of February’s strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ebrahim Azizi, chair of Iran’s national security commission, said on Monday that the body was drafting legislation entitled Reciprocal Action by the Military and Security Forces of the Islamic Republic.
It comes after Mr Trump threatened to issue "very strict orders" to “wipe [Iran] off the face of the Earth” if they attempted to act on death threats against him.