Trump halts planned Iran strike as Hormuz deal framework emerges

President Donald Trump said he canceled a planned US attack on Iran after what he described as agreement on the outlines of a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end Iran's nuclear threat. He said Israel backed the pause and warned the US remained ready to strike if talks failed. Iran pushed back, with Mehr calling Trump's account "a new lie" and Fars describing his terms as a "wish list." The shift followed calls involving Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and contacts between Tehran, Riyadh, Pakistan and Turkey. The war began Feb. 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Tehran. As tensions persisted, US embassies in Iraq, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates urged Americans to prepare for possible departures.