A cautious calm was felt across the Middle East on Sunday morning following President Donald Trump’s announcement late Motzei Shabbos  that he had canceled the planned strike on Iran.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that the US was prepared to confront Iran with levels of military force “not seen since World War II,” but after being “asked by Iran and other Middle Eastern countries” has agreed to hold off on any attack and reach an agreement for “the future benefit of the world.”

The announcement came after heightened alert levels and escalating tensions reached their peak just hours earlier, with several warnings issued by U.S. embassies in Jerusalem and other Middle Eastern capitals urging American citizens to avoid travel to the region and recommending that those already there consider leaving or prepare to do so.

Iran quickly seized the opportunity to mock Trump, with regime-aligned media outlets portraying the move as yet another US retreat.

Mohammad Marandi, who served as an adviser to the Iranian negotiating team during talks with the US, wrote on X: “Everyone now knows it was fake news. Trump backed down.”

Iran’s Fars News Agency also mocked the announcement: “Trump’s familiar story: I canceled the attack for the good of the world and for Iran’s survival.”

The Iranian newspaper Kayhan, widely regarded as a mouthpiece for the Ayatollah regime, wrote: “The U.S. president backed down after a week of fabricated statements. The same repeated script.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)