Trump says hits on Iran could be 'five times bigger' than previous US attacks

President Donald Trump has opted to cease further military strikes on Iran after urging from Gulf allies to prevent another escalation, while retaining a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters. The US leader affirmed that his administration remains prepared to resume military action if necessary, but expressed no immediate reason to deploy its troops.

Trump's decision to halt additional strikes came after consultations with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who serves as Qatar's foreign minister. The Qatari leader has been instrumental in diplomatic negotiations to end the conflict, particularly following the recent US midterm elections.

During his meeting with Trump at the White House, Al-Thani described their discussions as positive, expressing gratitude for the progress made in seeking peace in the region. However, Trump's administration has rejected Iran's proposed conditions for ending the conflict, which include lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports, easing sanctions, and halting bombing.

In return, Iran sought to stop its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and negotiate its nuclear program along with other sanctions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed Iran's conditions as unrealistic, while Iranian security council chief Mohsen Rezaei urged Washington to accept Tehran's demands. The proposed deal remains far from a comprehensive political settlement, with both the US and Iran still far from reaching an agreement.