Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said negotiations between the US and Iran were due to resume on Monday, with a peace agreement "on Hormuz" and "on the nuclear" allegedly to follow. The president said he had called off a planned strike against Iran after being asked to do so by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iran.
Peace deal "on Hormuz" and denuclearisation
Trump told the press pack that Iran is on the brink of signing an agreement with the US that would reportedly see the stripping of Iran's nuclear assets and capabilities. He said: "I was asked to by Saudi Arabia, by [the] UAE, and by Qatar, and by Iran. We were all set to go, just about at this time right now, and it would have been a massive attack."
He went on: "We were all set to go, but when the allies asked to call it off, you gotta sort of say, "Well, let's see. " And the reason they asked is I think there's a deal. There's a deal on Hormuz, and then there will be a deal on the nuclear-or, you might call it the denuclearisation of Iran."
Trump's Truth Social post
Hours earlier, Trump took to Truth Social to praise himself for scrapping the attack in the interests of peace. His post declared: "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. This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat."
Trump said he had agreed to cancel the attack "for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran", subject to being able to rapidly make a deal, adding: "The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment."
Saudi crown prince's reservations
The development comes as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman conveyed his reservations to Trump during a phone call regarding the possibility of the US intensifying the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders' discussion. The Saudis are worried that if the US targets Iran's energy infrastructure or launches substantial strikes on other critical installations, Tehran could retaliate by attacking the kingdom's and other Gulf nations' energy infrastructure.
The crown prince sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he was weighing against Iran, the person said. A White House official, who was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed the leaders spoke on Saturday but did not offer detail about the substance of their conversation.
