President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has cancelled planned military strikes on Iran, stating that the perimeters of a deal have been agreed upon. The decision comes after Iran and other Middle Eastern countries reportedly asked the US to hold off any attack. Trump's announcement, made on Truth Social, marks a significant shift from his earlier threats to hit Iran very hard, and follows diplomatic pressure from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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President Trump announced on Saturday that he has cancelled a planned large-scale military attack on Iran, claiming that the perimeters of a deal have been agreed upon. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked the US to hold off any attack because the perimeters of a deal had been agreed to. He agreed on the condition that the deal be concluded quickly, adding that it would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what he called Iran's nuclear threat.

The announcement came a day after US media reported that Washington and Israel were preparing to strike Iran's energy infrastructure. Multiple sources told CBS News that the US and Israel had planned what would be one of the harshest bombing campaigns to date against energy infrastructure targets in Iran, with strikes possible as soon as this weekend. On Friday, Trump had said at Camp David that the US would be hitting Iran very hard, and that at some point they would say they just can't take it anymore.

Why It Matters

The cancellation of strikes marks a dramatic reversal in US policy towards Iran, which has been the subject of escalating tensions and threats of military action. The potential deal, if finalized, could have significant implications for global oil markets, given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of the world's oil passes. The reopening of the strait and an end to Iran's nuclear threat would be major diplomatic achievements, but the details of the framework remain unclear, and there has been no immediate response from Tehran.

Political Context

The decision comes amid intense diplomatic pressure from Saudi Arabia. According to CBS News, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump on Saturday and cautioned him against conducting a fresh round of strikes on Iran. A source told CBS News that bin Salman's outreach was all about concern over the targets. Axios reported that bin Salman called Trump urging him to cancel the strikes and return to negotiations, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Earlier on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Saudi counterpart that any US or Israeli attack would meet a proportionate response. This warning came as the US State Department issued security alerts for Americans in 10 countries in the region, urging them to exercise increased caution and consider leaving due to escalating tensions. Several US embassies, including in Amman, Jerusalem, and Baghdad, issued security alerts on Saturday due to heightened tensions.

What Officials and Groups Are Saying

Trump's announcement on Truth Social was the primary source of the news. He stated that the US has agreed to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a deal, and that Israel joins in this commitment. The post emphasized the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of a proportionate response to any US or Israeli attack, according to Al Jazeera. The Saudi Crown Prince's call to Trump was reported by CBS News and Axios, with a source describing it as all about concern over the targets.

Timeline

  • Friday, July 31: Trump says the US will hit Iran very hard, speaking at Camp David.
  • Saturday, August 1: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman calls Trump, urging him to cancel strikes.
  • Saturday, August 1: Iran's Foreign Minister warns of a proportionate response to any attack.
  • Saturday, August 1: Trump announces cancellation of strikes on Truth Social, citing agreed deal perimeters.
  • Saturday, August 1: US State Department issues security alerts for Americans in 10 countries in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Trump cancel the strikes on Iran?

Trump said that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries asked the US to hold off any attack because the perimeters of a deal had been agreed to. He agreed on the condition that the deal be concluded quickly.

What does the deal include?

According to Trump, the deal would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.

What role did Saudi Arabia play?

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump on Saturday and urged him to cancel the strikes and return to negotiations, according to reports.

What was Iran's response?

There was no immediate response from Tehran, but earlier on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Minister warned of a proportionate response to any US or Israeli attack.

What are the security alerts?

The US State Department issued security alerts for Americans in 10 countries in the region, urging them to exercise increased caution and consider leaving due to escalating tensions.

What Happens Next

The cancellation of strikes on Iran marks a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict. The next steps will depend on the speed and success of negotiations to finalize a deal. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat are ambitious goals, and the coming days will reveal whether the framework can be translated into a formal agreement. The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic efforts and regional tensions continuing to evolve. Readers should follow this story closely as the details of the deal and the reactions from all parties unfold.