Trump pauses immediate Iran strikes, weighs diplomatic options

Responding to reporters outside the White House before departing for a campaign rally in Michigan, Trump firmly ruled out an immediate assault. When asked whether he was planning military action against Tehran, he responded, "There will not be a strike."

The statement came shortly after Trump gave an ultimatum-style interview to Fox News earlier on Sunday, raising concerns about imminent action. In the broadcast, he characterized his current strategy as a binary choice between diplomacy and military escalation: "I have a decision to make: Do I finish it off, which would be very easy to do, or do I make a deal? That's the decision."

Trump also asserted full control over maritime choke points in the Persian Gulf, claiming that US forces maintain complete dominance over the Strait of Hormuz and denying Tehran strategic movement in the area.

On Saturday (October 24), Trump signaled that Washington could engage in renewed military action or pursue a comprehensive agreement with Tehran, though he expressed skepticism over whether Iran would honor potential commitments.

Joint US-Israeli military operations against targets in Iran previously took place on February 28, followed by a brief, unsustainable ceasefire in June. Trump's announcement to delay strikes comes as political focus shifts toward the US midterm elections set for November 3.