WASHINGTON, 12 June (H.S.): Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that proposed military strikes and bombing operations against Iran have been put on hold for the time being. Trump said negotiations with Iran have reached a critical stage and meaningful progress has been made toward agreement on several key issues.

In a message posted on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that following discussions with Iran’s senior leadership, he decided to suspend the planned military action. According to him, extensive deliberations have already taken place among the concerned parties regarding the framework of a potential agreement and several important related matters.

Trump said the process has involved not only the United States but also several regional and international stakeholders, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Türkiye, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt.

However, Trump clarified that the naval blockade currently in place across the region will remain effective for now and that no relaxation will be granted until a final agreement is formally signed. He indicated that further announcements regarding the proposed deal could be made in the near future.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) made an important assertion regarding the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, the strategic waterway remains open to international commercial shipping and safe maritime transit routes continue to be available.

CENTCOM stated that vessels not violating U.S. sanctions related to Iran are free to navigate through the passage in the normal course of operations. The American military command further claimed that hundreds of commercial ships have safely transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past two months without disruption.

The developments come as diplomatic efforts continue alongside heightened regional tensions, with global attention focused on whether ongoing negotiations can prevent a wider conflict and lead to a sustainable agreement between Washington and Tehran.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar