United States President Donald Trump has announced that the US and Israel have agreed to suspend planned military strikes against Iran, provided a swift agreement is reached to end the months-long conflict.
The announcement comes amid growing fears that hostilities could intensify after Trump recently warned that Washington was prepared to launch powerful attacks against Iran, including possible strikes on its energy infrastructure.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said the United States remained fully prepared for military action but had decided to delay any operation following requests from Iran and several Middle Eastern countries.
According to him, the proposed agreement must include the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Trump added that Israel had also committed to the arrangement, saying the decision was aimed at promoting regional stability while creating an opportunity for Iran to achieve lasting prosperity.
However, Iran quickly rejected Trump’s account. State-run Mehr News Agency, quoting military officials, described the claim that Tehran requested a halt to US strikes as “another lie,” insisting that Iran’s armed forces remain on high alert and ready to respond to any threat.
Iranian state media reported that the country’s foreign minister had held discussions with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey as diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent further escalation.
Saudi Arabia also confirmed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump and stressed the importance of dialogue, de-escalation and pursuing a ceasefire that could pave the way for diplomatic solutions.
Despite the renewed diplomatic efforts, Iran maintained that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed for as long as the United States continued what it described as hostile actions.
The conflict, which began on February 28 after coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran, has entered its sixth month.
Previous ceasefire efforts collapsed, leading to renewed exchanges of attacks and tighter Iranian control over the strategic waterway.
The prolonged conflict has continued to affect global energy markets, with oil prices rising again following the latest round of hostilities.
Meanwhile, US embassies across the Middle East have advised American citizens to remain vigilant and be prepared to leave the region should tensions escalate further.
Additional incidents have heightened security concerns. Egypt is investigating a drone attack on a US-owned gas vessel in one of its ports, while British maritime authorities reported that an unidentified projectile struck a tanker off the coast of Oman.
Maritime tracking firm Kpler also reported a sharp decline in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting the growing impact of the regional crisis on international trade.
