Trump says Gulf leaders' advice shaped decision to pause Iran strikes
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (August 2, 2026) that he decided to hold off on ordering new strikes against Iran after Gulf allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates urged him to give diplomacy more time. He said a plan for what he called “the biggest attack since World War II” was ready, but was scrapped following conversations with key Gulf leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One while returning from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Mr. Trump said he asked the Crown Prince directly: “What would you rather do? Would you rather us do this or not?” The Prince reportedly said they would much prefer a deal, as attacks carry unpredictable consequences. The conversation took place on Saturday, before Mr. Trump announced on social media that West Asian allies had reached the “perimeters” of a deal to end the five-month-old war.
This marks another turnabout for Mr. Trump, who a day earlier said he was “losing faith” in negotiations and warned that the U.S. military “will be hitting them very hard”. On Sunday, he reiterated that the emerging deal includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which about a fifth of the world’s energy flowed before the war, and would address U.S. concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran has repeatedly attacked vessels trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz without its authorisation during the conflict. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Sunday that the Strait “will in no way return to the status it was before February 28”, the day the war started. He added, in a call with Iranian state TV, that Iran is discussing shipping through the strait with Oman, but there is currently no talk about reopening the crucial waterway.
Mr. Trump has announced halts to strikes on Iran several times since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, only for fighting to resume. Iran’s Defence Minister said on X that the country was “neither surprised nor passive” following Mr. Trump’s announcement and remains alert to threats from the United States.
While Iran’s leaders appear united in a war strategy of strength and endurance, a struggle for control seems to be brewing within the theocracy’s leadership between those who oppose all negotiations with the U.S. and others who believe military pressure can strengthen their negotiating position.
Mr. Trump said he expected negotiations to resume “tomorrow afternoon”, but did not specify who would take part. A regional official involved in mediation efforts said the proposal announced over the weekend calls for the U.S. and Iran to return to negotiations and work on issues that have impeded progress. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the proposal includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and halting attacks across the region, including by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on Arab Gulf countries and Jordan. In exchange, the U.S. would end its naval blockade on Iran and permit Tehran to export oil, as outlined in a tentative ceasefire deal.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum consumption passed through it. Its closure or disruption has raised concerns about global oil prices and energy security. No deal has been reached yet, and mediation efforts are ongoing, the official said. The announcement follows a period of heightened tensions and repeated failures to sustain a ceasefire, with the international community closely watching for a possible breakthrough.
