US President Donald Trump has said he is cancelling planned military strikes on Iran, on condition that a deal can be reached "rapidly". The announcement, made in a Truth Social post and taken jointly with Israel, comes amid reports that Washington had been preparing intense new strikes on Iran over the weekend, and follows warnings from Tehran that any regional state co-operating with the US would be "engulfed by the flames of war". The decision marks a significant, if provisional, de-escalation of tensions that had appeared to be building towards renewed conflict.

Trump said he had acted after being "asked" by Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to hold off on an attack to allow time for negotiations. He said any eventual agreement would need to include the "immediate, complete and total" reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat. The US had earlier issued a security alert urging Americans in the Middle East to remain vigilant and prepared for flight cancellations and travel disruption should the situation escalate. The story is still developing and further details are expected.