US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has halted planned military strikes against Iran, claiming a diplomatic breakthrough in efforts to extend the fragile ceasefire. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump declared, "We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," though he offered few details.

The ceasefire, in place since April, is seen as vital to preventing renewed hostilities and allowing talks over Iran's nuclear program to continue. Trump expressed confidence that an agreement would be finalized within days.

Iran, however, stopped short of confirming progress. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said mediators were still engaged and noted contradictions in the US position had complicated negotiations. Iranian media suggested Trump's announcement reflected a tactical retreat rather than a genuine breakthrough.

Earlier in the day, Trump had threatened to strike Iran "very hard" and seize control of strategic oil facilities, including Kharg Island. The nuclear program and Iran's influence over the Strait of Hormuz remain key sticking points in talks.

Despite uncertainty, global markets reacted positively, with stocks rising and oil prices falling after Trump's comments. Whether this marks a real step toward peace or another temporary pause in the volatile conflict remains unresolved.

The United States military launched a new wave of airstrikes early Thursday against Iranian military surveillance facilities, communication systems, and air defence sites. The attacks followed a day of Iranian fire directed at Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan — all of which host US troops.

US Central Command confirmed the strikes, stating they were carried out by the Air Force, Marines, and Navy. "The strikes are in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression. US forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready," the statement read.

Explosions were reported in southern Iran, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Minab. Missile sirens sounded in Bahrain as tensions escalated. This marks the third round of back‑and‑forth strikes in a week, testing a fragile two‑month ceasefire.

President Donald Trump warned Tehran it would "pay the price" if negotiations remained stalled, while urging Iran to sign a deal to end the conflict. Iran's UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, countered that the country "has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit."

Despite the heavy bombing campaign, Iran has remained resilient, leveraging its ability to threaten closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a vital global energy route — as a bargaining chip. Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled uncompromising goals, including dismantling Iran's nuclear program and weakening Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Both Washington and Tehran appear to be seeking a way to end the conflict, though each side is determined to frame any agreement as a domestic victory.