Expert: Trump’s Trying to Exert Control With Claim He Canceled Iran Strikes Over Progress on Deal

Expert: Trump’s Trying to Exert Control With Claim He Canceled Iran Strikes Over Progress on Deal Jessica Corbett Common Dreams Trita Parsi, an expert on US-Iranian relations, cast doubt on President Donald Trump’s Saturday claims that he halted planned strikes on Iran due to progress in negotiations to end the illegal conflict, launched by the Republican and Israel in February. “The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to,” Trump wrote (truthsocial.com) on his Truth Social platform at 10:05 pm Eastern time. “This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” Trump declared—despite repeated conclusions from US intelligence agencies that the Iranian government was not aiming to build a nuclear weapon when the United States (commondreams.org › united states) and Israel began bombing Iran five months ago. “Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” Trump added. “The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE.” Sharing the post on the platform X, Parsi said (x.com), “Trump ‘cancels’ ‘planned’ ‘attack’ on Iran…” The expert struck a similarly skeptical tone during a Saturday on-air interview with CNN about the president’s announcement. Parsi, co-founder and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said that “I don’t believe there was an imminent attack. We’ve gone through this several times, in which Trump issues these threats, and then he backs off because the other side calls his bluff.” “Trump does not have an escalatory way out of this conflict, but what he is trying to do is to give the impression that he is in control—that he is in the driving seat,” Parsi suggested. “And I think it’s been quite clear for quite some time now he is not.” Told @cnn (x.com) that Trump's claim that he called off strikes because Iran "asked him to" is highly questionable. It's a narrative designed to give the impression that Trump is in the driving seat in this conflict. It's been clear for some time now: He isn't. pic.twitter.com/r33X0LS91n (t.co › r33X0LS91n)— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) August 2, 2026 (x.com) During Trump’s first term, he tore up the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear deal, and so far, he has been unable to negotiate a replacement. Since launching this war, without authorization from Congress and in violation of the United Nations (commondreams.org › united nations) Charter, the ceasefire agreement reached in April and a June memorandum of understanding ultimately have not stopped the bloodshed. Earlier this week, most US Senate (commondreams.org › us senate) Republicans (commondreams.org › republicans) and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman (commondreams.org › john fetterman) (Pa.) blocked yet another war powers resolution intended to prevent the Trump administration (commondreams.org › trump administration) from launching further attacks on Iran without congressional approval—a vote that came as polling showed (thehill.com › 5998807 us iran war worth risk ap norc survey) 64% of Americans disapprove of continuing the war, including 37% of Republicans.