US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the United States was an hour away from launching new military strikes against Iran but postponed the attack as Tehran is reportedly seeking a peace deal.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump warned that an attack could still occur within days if an agreement is not reached to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions. "I was an hour away from making the decision to go today," he said, adding that strikes could resume by the weekend or early next week if negotiations fail.
Following his remarks, global oil prices eased slightly, with Brent crude trading at $110.26 per barrel.
Vice President JD Vance offered a more optimistic tone, noting that Washington and Tehran have made significant progress in their talks and that neither side wishes to resume the military campaign that was paused in early April.
However, Iranian officials presented a contrasting narrative. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security committee, claimed Trump halted the attack due to the fear of a "decisive military response."
According to Iranian state media, Tehran’s latest peace proposal demands a complete end to US-Israeli hostilities, the withdrawal of US forces from areas surrounding Iran, reparations, the lifting of sanctions, and the release of frozen funds. These terms closely resemble a previous offer that Trump recently dismissed as "garbage."
Pakistan has been acting as a mediator between the two nations. A Pakistani source cautioned that time is running out, noting that both sides "keep changing their goalposts."
Meanwhile, concerns over global trade routes remain high. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently discussed efforts with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to prevent Iran from mining or taxing the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global oil artery.
The broader US-Israeli military campaign, launched in late February, aimed to dismantle Iran's nuclear and missile programs and curb its regional proxies. Despite heavy casualties across the region, Tehran's clerical leadership remains firmly in power.
Amid these delicate negotiations, the Trump administration on Tuesday escalated economic pressure by imposing fresh sanctions on an Iranian foreign currency exchange house and several associated front companies.
