WASHINGTON July 25, 2026 – President Donald Trump canceled planned U.S. military strikes on Iran that had been set for Friday night, according to multiple reports circulating Saturday. The U.S. military had prepared operations following what sources described as 13 consecutive nights of American attacks, but the president ordered them halted amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The development was first widely flagged by the geopolitics-focused account @BRICSinfo, which posted: “JUST IN: 🇺🇸🇮🇷 US military originally planned strikes on Iran last night before President Trump canceled them.”
Reports attributing the decision to Axios indicated Trump acted after determining the strikes had reached the “limit of their effectiveness.” Iran had demonstrated an ability to strike U.S. bases and disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Cumulative costs were cited in some accounts at roughly $37.5 billion with 18 American troops killed, and no indication of Iranian capitulation. Pentagon planners reportedly continue preparing options for larger combat operations even as the immediate strikes were paused.
No U.S. strikes were reported overnight into Saturday. In public remarks, Trump stated that talks with Tehran continue, asserting that Iran would “love to make a deal” and that the overall campaign “is going extremely well,” while dismissing contrary reporting as “fake news.” Oman-mediated discussions aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and salvaging a ceasefire were noted as a concurrent factor.
The pause fits a pattern seen throughout the 2026 conflict, in which Trump has alternated between authorizing strikes and announcing diplomatic openings. Earlier in June, he similarly called off planned attacks while claiming progress toward a broader agreement involving regional partners. Fighting has since resumed and paused multiple times, with both sides exchanging fire around the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal targets.
As of Saturday evening, the situation remained fluid. Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the coming days, while military preparations for potential further action continue in parallel with talks.
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