Did Iran Just Blink? Trump Abruptly Cancels Thursday Night Strikes (but Keeps Iran's Ships Boxed In)

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It looks like a deal with Iran could at long last be happening. 

President Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday afternoon to say that he had cancelled plans for heavy duty military strikes on Iran that he had promised for Thursday evening, stating "the highest level of Iranian leadership" had "approved" a possible plan to end U.S. military operations in the Islamic Republic. The time and place for the signing of a deal, he wrote, will be "announced shortly."

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SEE ALSO: Trump Announces Bold New Kharg Island Move to Crush Iran Regime

New: Trump Launches More Strikes on Iran, Makes It Clear They Better Make a Deal - Or Else

The president was not backing down completely, however, saying that "[t]the Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized." He noted that other countries involved in this development include Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt.

Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening. Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others. The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized — Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly.

DONALD J. TRUMP

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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The president's latest announcement comes just hours after he posted that the U.S. military would be "hitting Iran ... VERY HARD TONIGHT." As RedState's Ward Clark reported earlier Thursday, Trump also teased the possibility of the U.S. military soon "taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assum[ing] total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela."

The U.S. military has been hammering Iran the past two days in what CENTCOM called "self-defense strikes" after Iran shot down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. The crew was rescued, but President Trump subsequently approved a new wave of strikes on Iran in response.

This is a developing story, and RedState will provide updates as warranted.

Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all. 

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