US President Donald Trump said he called off a planned round of military strikes against Iran after several regional countries urged restraint, expressing hope that renewed negotiations could lead to a breakthrough.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday while returning to Washington from New Jersey, Trump said US forces had been prepared to launch attacks but the operation was halted at the last minute.
‘I was asked to by Saudi Arabia, by U.A.E., by Qatar and by Iran,’ Trump said. ‘We were all set to go. Just about at this time, right now. The reason they asked is they think there’s a deal.’
He added that talks with Iran are expected to begin on Monday and said he had been informed there could be an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, as well as progress on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Familiar pattern of threats and diplomacy
Trump has made similar statements several times since the conflict began five months ago, alternating between threatening military action and expressing optimism about negotiations with Tehran.
Just over a week earlier, he also decided against escalating military action after advisers reportedly raised concerns, including the potential impact on the US supply of Patriot missile interceptors.
Despite Trump’s latest announcement, the White House and the Pentagon have provided few details on whether Iran has formally agreed to return to the negotiating table.
The lack of official information has left lawmakers, analysts and Middle East experts debating whether the administration is steering the conflict towards a diplomatic resolution or continuing to cycle through limited strategic options.
Khaled Elgindy, a visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, suggested Trump’s shifting approach reflected the influence of the latest leaders he had spoken with.
According to former and current officials familiar with the discussions, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged Trump during a weekend call not to proceed with military escalation against Iran.
Earlier in the week, Trump had met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Netanyahu had previously encouraged the US president to become more directly involved in the conflict.
Regional concerns and political questions
Saudi Arabia, which has also been affected by the conflict, remains concerned about further regional escalation and continues to support a negotiated settlement.
Meanwhile, the US Navy continues enforcing a blockade on commercial vessels entering and leaving Iranian ports. No new US military strikes against Iran have been reported since multiple Iranian sites were targeted in the middle of last week.
Several Republican lawmakers acknowledged they remain uncertain about Trump’s next move.
Senator John Kennedy said he could not determine whether another bombing campaign was appropriate without access to military intelligence. He also warned that renewed military action could increase energy prices and fuel inflation.
Kennedy further questioned whether Iran was genuinely interested in negotiations, saying the Iranian government could not be easily trusted.
Representative Michael Turner also said lawmakers were dissatisfied with the amount of information being shared by the administration regarding the conflict.
The White House did not immediately provide further clarification on Trump’s latest announcement.
Critics question administration’s strategy
Some analysts argued Trump’s repeated shifts between military threats and diplomatic outreach appeared more political than strategic.
Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute, said the administration’s assumption that military pressure would force Iran into concessions had repeatedly failed.
Democrats also criticised the administration’s handling of the conflict, including its choice of negotiators.
Senator Mark Kelly questioned the decision to rely on Trump’s longtime associate Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner in diplomatic efforts, arguing that a different approach was needed to resolve the crisis.
While developments surrounding Iran dominated international attention, Trump spent part of Sunday at his golf club in New Jersey, later announcing on social media that he had won a golf tournament with a score of 70.
