Updated

US President Donald Trump announced he had cancelled planned military strikes on Iran, conditional on a deal being reached "rapidly." Trump said Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked Washington to hold off on any attack, claiming the "perimeters" of an agreement had already been settled. The move marks a pause in the escalation that followed the US-Iran war footing of recent weeks. The announcement comes amid conflicting signals over how far negotiations have actually progressed, with US officials suggesting an accord could be signed within days. The stakes are high: a deal would potentially defuse a direct US military confrontation with Tehran and ease pressure on regional shipping and energy markets.