Senior advisers to President Donald Trump were prepared for him to authorize military action against Iran during a period of heightened tensions. The expectation changed abruptly when Steve Witkoff, acting as an envoy, relayed a message from Iran's foreign minister indicating that Iran had stopped the planned executions of around 800 people. This message prompted the president to pause and reconsider the strike, leading to a delay in any decision. The situation left military forces on high alert as the administration weighed its next steps, according to reports from The Washington Post.