Washington, August 3, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he called off a planned military strike on Iran after key Gulf allies — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — urged him to give diplomacy another chance. Trump revealed that a plan had been in place for what he described as "the biggest attack since World War II," but he shelved it following conversations with regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and at the request of unnamed Iranian officials.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump recounted his exchange with the Crown Prince: "I said to the Crown Prince, 'What would you rather do? Would you rather us do this or not?' They said we would much prefer a deal as opposed to an attack, because you don't know where these attacks lead."
The reversal marks yet another swing in Trump's stance. Just a day earlier, he had said he was "losing faith" in negotiations with Tehran and warned that the U.S. military "will be hitting them very hard."
**Strait of Hormuz remains a sticking point**
Trump reiterated that any emerging deal would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz — the vital waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil once flowed before the five-month-old war began — and would also address U.S. concerns over Iran's nuclear programme.
However, Iran pushed back sharply. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the Strait "will in no way return to the status it was before February 28," the day the conflict erupted. He added that while Iran is in talks with Oman regarding shipping through the strait, there is no active discussion about fully reopening it. Iran's Defence Ministry also stated on X that the country remains "neither surprised nor passive" and continues to stay alert against U.S. threats.
This is not the first time Trump has announced a halt to strikes only for tensions to flare up again since the U.S. and Israel first struck Iran on February 28.
**A fragile path back to talks**
Trump said he expects negotiations to resume "tomorrow afternoon," though he did not specify which officials would take part. A regional official involved in mediation efforts said the current proposal calls for both sides to return to talks, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and halt regional attacks — including those by Iran-backed militias targeting Gulf states and Jordan. In return, the U.S. would lift its naval blockade on Iran and allow it to resume oil exports, in line with the tentative ceasefire reached earlier.
The official cautioned that no final agreement has been reached, and talks are still ongoing. Trump also said Israel remains committed to the June ceasefire deal, though Israeli officials have not publicly commented.
**Saudi concerns over escalation**
According to a person familiar with the Saturday call between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the conversation was "candid and constructive." The Crown Prince reportedly warned that renewed U.S. strikes could trigger severe global economic consequences if Iran retaliated against Gulf allies. While Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar feel confident in their ability to defend against Iranian attacks, officials flagged that Kuwait could be more exposed to strikes by Iran-backed militias operating out of Iraq.
Trump acknowledged that this call significantly influenced his decision. "It would have been disastrous for them. And they didn't want us to do it," he said. "And frankly, Saudi Arabia didn't want it either. They thought that a deal is imminent."