On the 11th, U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a fishing industry proclamation signing ceremony held in the Oval Office of the White House. AP-Yonhap News
A report has emerged that when U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly announced on the 11th (local time) that an agreement had been reached with Iran, the U.S. military was already in a hair-trigger situation, having completed all preparations to launch missiles at Iran.
NBC News, citing two U.S. military officials, reported that the U.S. military had received an attack order from the president and had been in a state of readiness since that evening, and that an airstrike was scheduled to begin about three hours after Trump's announcement.
It is known that the U.S. military, upon the president's order, adjusted its air operations plan that day and prepared attack munitions. However, these officials stated that despite Trump's threat against Kharg Island, Kharg Island was not on the target list. Several U.S. officials explained that the planned airstrike that night was at a level very similar to the airstrike carried out by the U.S. military the previous evening on the 10th.
NBC reported that the U.S. military was shocked by Trump's post announcing the cancellation of the airstrike.
President Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that day, "Discussions with Iran have been conveyed to the supreme leadership and received approval," and canceled the planned additional airstrikes on Iran. He then claimed that the United States, Israel, and key Middle Eastern countries including mediators Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar had approved the terms of the negotiations.
Later, at a fishing-related event held at the White House, he said, "We have just reached a great agreement regarding the war with Iran, and we are now left with only final paperwork," adding that a signing ceremony could be held in Europe as early as this weekend.
This announcement came just one day after Trump warned that the United States would strike Iran very strongly.
According to two other U.S. officials, Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine visited the White House that day to discuss Iran with President Trump, and Trump announced the cancellation of the airstrike on social media immediately after the meeting.
