Diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran are expected to resume Monday afternoon after President Donald Trump halted plans for a major military strike against Iran that had been under consideration for the weekend.
The decision to cancel the operation reportedly came after appeals from several Gulf nations, along with messages from Iranian officials urging a return to negotiations. Among those involved was Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, who held a private conversation with Trump on Saturday to discuss the escalating tensions.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he decided against the attack after receiving requests from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Iran itself. He indicated that U.S. forces had already been prepared for action but ultimately chose diplomacy over military escalation.
“We were all set to go,” Trump said, explaining that regional leaders preferred a negotiated solution rather than an attack that could trigger unpredictable consequences.
According to Trump, the Saudi crown prince encouraged continued discussions, arguing that a diplomatic agreement would be preferable. Trump said Saudi officials believed Iranian leaders viewed a deal as achievable and that negotiations could address key issues, including security concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear activities.
The Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized two major objectives: keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for international shipping and preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capabilities.
However, Trump acknowledged uncertainty about whether Tehran would follow through on its commitments. He pointed to previous instances where Iranian officials expressed willingness to negotiate publicly before later changing their position. While he did not provide a deadline for reaching an agreement, he warned that military options remain available.
“We’re ready to go anytime we want,” Trump said, signaling that the possibility of military action had not been removed entirely.
The decision to abandon the planned strikes came after reports that U.S. and Israeli officials had been reviewing possible targets, including parts of Iran’s energy infrastructure. Trump did not confirm whether energy facilities were among the potential targets.
Iran had previously warned that attacks on its energy sector could lead to retaliation against oil and gas facilities in regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Israel.
U.S. officials said that any serious negotiations would require an immediate halt to hostilities. One administration official stressed that a cease-fire would be the starting point for any diplomatic process, adding that it would need to begin with Iran.
As talks resume, both sides face pressure to find a path toward de-escalation while addressing longstanding disputes over Iran’s nuclear program, regional security, and freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
