Trump confirms he ordered attack on Iran, then called it off

U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed reports that he ordered an attack on three sights in Iran last night but called the operation off when it was already underway.

In a series of tweets, Trump confirmed he called off strikes against  Iran in retaliation to the downing of a U.S. drone.

"We were cocked and loaded to retaliate last night on three different sights when I asked 'how many will die?' '150 people' was the answer from a General. Ten minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone," Trump wrote on Twitter on Friday.

Trump added the U.S. was "ready to go", and warned Iran would "never have nuclear weapons".