President Donald Trump announced he halted authorized military strikes against Iran, reversing course after earlier threats of retaliation. The decision came just hours after Trump warned Iran of severe consequences for recent actions, though specifics were not detailed. Trump cited progress in ongoing discussions as the reason for standing down military action, suggesting a diplomatic path forward. The planned strikes were reportedly scheduled for Thursday, but were called off at the last minute. This follows a period of heightened tensions between the US and Iran, including the downing of an American drone. The White House has not released further details regarding the nature of the “progress” or the targets that were considered.