Trump Says He Will Hold Off on Fresh Iran Attack in Hope of Quick Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said ​late yesterday he would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and "other Middle Eastern Countries" asked for a time to complete a deal that would lead to "the Immediate, Complete and Total" reopening of the Strait and "an end to Iran's nuclear threat," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. 

"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."

Israel "joins me in this commitment," Trump wrote. Israel did not immediately make a public statement on the issue.

Iran warned the U.S. this ​weekend against any “adventurous action” and said it would retaliate decisively if American forces followed through on Trump's threats of fresh attacks on Iranian targets.

Iranian ⁠Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi’s comments in separate phone calls on Saturday with senior Turkish, Pakistani and Saudi officials came just hours after Kuwait's army said it destroyed hostile drones launched by ​Iran against several vital facilities.

Speaking to Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Araqchi said Iran would respond decisively to any "aggression" and discussed the consequences ​of “destabilizing actions" by the U.S., as well as prospects for heightened regional insecurity, according to Araqchi's Telegram account.

Araqchi later told Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan that any attacks by the U.S. and Israel or participation by regional countries in such actions would be met with a “proportionate response.” 

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Trump yesterday and "expressed concern and asked for clarity" about U.S. plans for Iran, ​a U.S. official told Axios.

Source: Reuters