You Lied, We Didn’t Ask US Not To Strike, Iran Fires Back At Trump

Iran has rejected President Donald Trump’s claim that it asked the United States to suspend planned military strikes, describing the assertion as false.

Iran’s Mehr news agency, citing military officials on Sunday said the allegation “was nothing but a new lie” and that the Iranian armed forces were “on high alert and ready for any eventuality”.

The response followed Trump’s announcement that he had called off a planned military strike on Iran after receiving what he described as a request from Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries to allow more time for diplomatic negotiations.

In a post shared on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said the United States had been fully prepared to launch the operation but decided to suspend it because the parties involved were close to reaching an agreement.

He said the proposed arrangement would provide for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and address Iran’s nuclear programme.

Trump also said Israel backed the decision, adding that the cancellation of the planned strike depended on the swift completion of the proposed agreement.

He wrote, “The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to. This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.

“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL. The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Trump’s statement came about two weeks after the United States conducted strikes on Iran for an 11th consecutive night after Tehran warned against attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the military operations were intended to reduce Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.