US President Donald Trump said Thursday he had halted plans for new military strikes on Iran, claiming negotiators were close to extending a fragile ceasefire, just hours after threatening to intensify…

Speaking after Monday's exchange of strikes — the biggest blow yet to the April ceasefire in the Iran war — Trump said bombing Iran further would keep the Strait of Hormuz closed…

It was the third time this week that back-and-forth strikes have rattled the Middle East.

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has called off impending strikes on Iran due to the state of negotiations.