Trump Cancels Iran Strikes, Opens Talks Instead
President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that the U.S. would not launch a “massive” strike on Iran, instead preparing for diplomatic talks scheduled to commence Monday afternoon.
He stressed that the decision followed input from allies in the Middle East and was based on emerging “perimeters” of a negotiated deal. Trump said he remains prepared to act quickly if talks fail, but added that he was “not looking to kill people.”
The announcement triggered an immediate drop in global oil prices, with Brent Crude falling 4.5% to $83.98 and U.S. oil dipping 4.6% to $80.74 as traders reacted to the new diplomatic outlook.
Iran has yet to respond, but its officials have denied any pressure on the U.S. to hold off. Tehran’s semi‑official news agency Mehr labelled Trump’s claims “a new lie.”
Opposition politicians in the U.S. caution that the war’s impact on the economy remains deeply unpopular, even among conservatives ahead of the upcoming mid‑term elections.
Trump’s statement comes after a brief pause this week that allowed for a round of talks in Pakistan, led by Vice‑President JD Vance, which unfortunately ended without a formal agreement.
The U.S. administration has repeatedly stressed that it seeks a negotiated end to the conflict, but has also warned of possible large‑scale military action. Whether the new talks will lead to a lasting ceasefire remains uncertain.
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