Washington | President Donald Trump backed away from further military action against Iran and called for renewed diplomacy on Thursday (AEDT) as the bristling confrontation of the past six days eased in the aftermath of an Iranian missile strike that seemed intended to save face rather than inflict casualties.

"Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world," Trump said in a televised statement from the Grand Foyer of the White House, flanked by his vice-president, cabinet secretaries and senior military officers in their uniforms.