President Donald Trump said he has agreed to cancel planned U.S. strikes on Iran, citing progress toward a deal, but a Wall Street Journal report says he ordered the military to launch a fresh assault as early as this weekend.
The New York Times reported that Trump said he agreed to requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to stand down, saying talks had reached what he called the perimeters of a deal. The Wall Street Journal, cited by NDTV, reported Friday that Trump had instructed the military to execute new strikes, a move he was reportedly considering over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Fortune reported that after Trump threatened further action, shipping in the Gulf of Hormuz and off Kuwait faced new attacks, and Israel struck Gaza despite a pledge by Hamas to disarm. Trump said the United States just wants to win and indicated military action could continue for some time.
The conflicting accounts leave uncertainty over the administration's next step as diplomatic efforts reportedly continue.