Trump suspends new attacks on Iran, citing agreed parameters for deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz and end nuclear threat

Trump's announcement

On Saturday evening, President Donald Trump announced he was postponing planned new attacks on Iran, saying that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had requested time to finalize an agreement. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the deal would include the immediate, complete and total reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the elimination of Iran's nuclear threat.

On the basis of this request, I have accepted, in the interest of the future of the WORLD and also the survival of a prosperous and successful Iran, to cancel the attack, with the condition that we can quickly reach an AGREEMENT.

Trump added that Israel had joined the commitment to try to finalize the accord. Israeli officials have not commented publicly. The US president also stated that "the parameters of an agreement have been agreed upon," without providing further details. Iran has not yet issued an official response to Trump's claims.

The proposed deal and military posture

The announcement followed reports that the US was weighing a large-scale strike on Iran's energy infrastructure, discussed during a government meeting on Friday. Trump later said the US had been prepared to launch military operations "at a level of force not seen since World War II." The State Department issued a security alert for Americans in the Middle East, warning of possible flight disruptions, airspace closures and other fallout from a potential escalation.

The framework Trump described would require the immediate, complete and total opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments that Iran has targeted in recent months. It would also require ending Iran's nuclear threat, though no specifics on verification or timelines were offered.

Iran's warnings and regional diplomacy

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned the US against any "adventurous action" and said Tehran would respond decisively to American strikes. In separate phone calls on Saturday with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Araqchi said Iran would deliver a "proportional response" to any US or Israeli attacks, and that any regional country participating in such actions would face consequences.

Kuwait's military said it destroyed hostile drones launched by Iran against several vital installations on Saturday, hours before Trump's announcement.

Saudi concerns and the call with MBS

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump on Saturday and expressed concern about a possible US escalation, according to a person familiar with the discussion. The call, first reported by Axios, came as Trump was weighing new strikes. The Saudi leader asked for clarifications on US plans, the source said. A White House official confirmed the call but gave no details.

Saudi officials fear that if the US targets Iran's energy infrastructure, Tehran could retaliate by striking the kingdom's energy facilities and those of other Gulf states. Earlier in the week, Saudi Arabia had joined the US in strikes on logistics and arming sites used by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, while urging both sides to return to negotiations.

Five months of conflict

The current hostilities began after a truce collapsed in April 2026. Over five months, the US has bombed Iranian targets and blocked Iranian ports, while Iran has launched missiles and drones at American positions in the Middle East and attacked commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict has raised fears of a wider regional war and disrupted global oil markets.