Trump Delays Planned Strike on Iran, Orders Military Readiness for Large-Scale Assault if No Deal Reached

President Donald Trump announced he has canceled a scheduled U.S. military attack on Iran that was set for the following day, citing requests from various Middle East leaders and ongoing serious negotiations with Tehran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated the decision followed a weekend of discussions with his national security team. He has rejected Iran’s latest proposal and instructed top military officials to remain prepared to launch a full large-scale assault on Iran at a moment’s notice should an acceptable agreement not be reached. Trump told the New York Post he is not open to any concessions for Tehran.

Former CIA station chief Dan Hoffman, appearing as a guest analyst, expressed skepticism that military action could be avoided. “We have seen no evidence whatsoever that Iran is willing to come to the negotiating table and do so in good faith,” Hoffman said. He highlighted Iran’s nuclear program involving highly enriched uranium, its ballistic missile and drone programs, and its long-standing support for proxy terrorist groups as key issues.

Hoffman noted that the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal failed to address Iran’s ballistic missile program or its terrorism activities. He added that the Trump administration will ultimately be judged on whether it secures a better agreement than the JCPOA. While the president is giving Iran one more opportunity, Hoffman said he sees little evidence that additional U.S. military strikes can be avoided. Possible options under consideration, he suggested, include further decapitation strikes targeting leaders or more extensive operations against Iranian security and weapons facilities.

On the strategic front, Hoffman emphasized the need for the U.S. to reassert control over the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has used to disrupt the flow of oil, fertilizer, and other goods, impacting the global economy. “We need to own escalation dominance in the region,” he stated, noting that reopening the strait may ultimately require significant U.S. military assets if negotiations fail.

The discussion also touched on U.S. sanctions policy toward Russia. The United States has issued a third temporary waiver on Russian oil sanctions to maintain oil flows. Hoffman warned this benefits Russia and undermines U.S. interests both in Ukraine and the Middle East. He described an alignment of Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China against the United States and its Western allies. Russia and China, he said, seek to reduce U.S. influence in the Middle East, with Iran as their principal ally there. The sanctions waiver, according to Hoffman, provides Russia with additional revenue that can support its war in Ukraine and power projection elsewhere.