WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Sunday ruled out an immediate military strike on Iran, saying that Washington has no plans to launch attacks today, while indicating that Washington was weighing a diplomatic agreement against further military action.
Asked whether US strikes could resume as soon as Sunday, Trump told reporters as he left the White House for Michigan: “Would I tell you that? The answer is no, there will not be a strike today.”
Trump on Iran: There will be no attack today https://t.co/LbOnwCW7hL
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 25, 2026
The remarks follow statements earlier Sunday in which Trump presented an ultimatum regarding Tehran, questioning whether Washington should finalise a diplomatic agreement or pursue total military destruction against Iran.
“Do I make a deal with them, or do I finish them off? That’s the only question,” Trump told Fox News, framing future action as a binary choice between diplomacy and escalated military operations.
Asserting that American forces exert full maritime dominance over the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said: “Remember, we now control the Hormuz Strait. They get nothing. Yes, we get everything.”
He maintained that commercial activity through the waterway exceeds pre-war levels, calling the US Navy’s enforcement of the blockade on Iranian ports and shipping “unbelievable.”
Trump on Saturday suggested Washington could launch fresh military strikes or secure a comprehensive deal, questioning whether Tehran would honour potential commitments while asserting that either outcome delivers an American victory.
Control over the Strait of Hormuz remains a central friction point in the Iran war, which erupted in late February following joint US-Israeli strikes, despite a ceasefire and a memorandum to conclude a final peace deal.
US Central Command said Admiral Brad Cooper flew over the Strait of Hormuz in a helicopter and met with the US service members.
US forces have assisted Gulf partners in exporting more than 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil since the summer, CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.
https://t.co/nkXeQtMfrY
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 25, 2026
“We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Gulf partners and the shipping industry,” Cooper said. “This visit underscores our strong commitment to continued freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran claims control over the waterway. The US military has been escorting vessels through the strait, as Washington maintains that Hormuz is “open”.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for global energy supplies, making any escalation a concern for regional shipping and energy markets.
