Trump Says US, Israel Agree to Pause Iran Strikes for Potential Deal
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States and Israel have agreed to hold off on planned strikes against Iran, citing a request from Tehran and other regional countries. He claimed that an emerging deal could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end Iran's nuclear threat.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the agreement would include the “immediate, complete, and total opening” of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments. He added that Iran and other Middle Eastern nations had asked for the pause, though he did not specify who made the request or provide details of any negotiations.
“The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to,” Trump wrote. He added that the deal would include the full opening of the Strait and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.
“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” he said.
Trump also said Israel had agreed to join the United States in pursuing the agreement. He did not elaborate on the status of any negotiations or the role of other parties.
Planned Strikes Had Been Reported
The announcement came a day after Trump threatened to hit Iran “very hard” during a cabinet meeting at Camp David. The Wall Street Journal reported that he had ordered a fresh strike aimed at convincing Iran to surrender, potentially beginning over the weekend. CBS News, citing unnamed sources, said the US and Israel were planning joint strikes on energy-related targets.
Had those strikes gone ahead, they would have marked the first time Israel joined US attacks on Iran since the initial phase of the war.
Background of Escalation
The US and Iran have been engaged in conflict since late February. In June, the two countries signed a preliminary deal aimed at ending hostilities, but the agreement collapsed in July. The US resumed attacks on Iran after accusing Tehran of targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran then attacked American military sites in Gulf countries.
Trump declared the deal “over” on July 8, and Iran later suspended the memorandum of understanding, accusing Washington of violating its commitments. The current pause in strikes, if it holds, would mark a shift in the conflict, though no formal agreement has been announced.
