Trump says he called off threatened third night of airstrikes on Iranian targets, reiterates nuclear deal talks near completion

President Donald Trump said he called off a threatened third night of airstrikes on Iranian targets after remarks from the Oval Office late Tuesday, as U.S.-Iran negotiations reportedly approached a potential end point. Trump framed the decision as connected to his claim that a deal was close and could be signed this weekend, a timeline he repeated while addressing reporters.

The president’s comments were made against the backdrop of multiple nights of U.S. statements and planning related to military action toward Iran. According to the PBS NewsHour report, Trump said he had stopped what would have been the third consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets, shifting the immediate focus from the use of force to diplomacy.

Trump also said the United States and Iran were nearing a long-term agreement. He again suggested that signing could occur this weekend, reiterating that a deal was close. The remarks did not provide new technical details of any draft terms, but they tied the near-term military posture to the status of negotiations.

Iran, in response, denied movement toward a longer-term agreement. The PBS NewsHour account described Iran’s denial as running counter to Trump’s public message that an accord was near, underscoring the gap between U.S. public statements and Iran’s characterization of the negotiating status.

The reported decision to call off the threatened strikes highlights the sensitivity of U.S. operational planning during periods of fast-moving diplomacy. With a possible weekend signing timeline mentioned publicly, U.S. officials would be expected to weigh how military readiness affects negotiations, while also managing the risk of escalation if negotiations fail or misunderstandings persist.

Diplomatic back-and-forth over the same window could also influence regional security assessments, as public threats of strikes typically raise concern among governments and civilian populations in nearby countries. While no specific casualty figures or target list were included in the PBS account, the decision to pause a planned third night of strikes would, if sustained, reduce the immediate risk of further kinetic action tied to the U.S.-Iran standoff.

Under normal practice, any agreement would still require formal review and implementation steps before taking effect, including internal U.S. processes and corresponding Iranian measures. In the meantime, Iran’s denial suggests that negotiations could remain contested, and the next measurable development would likely be whether both sides confirm the existence of agreed terms and whether any weekend timeline holds up.