US President Donald Trump has announced that fresh negotiations with Iran will begin on Monday after Gulf allies persuaded Washington to pause planned military strikes, saying a framework for a deal is now in place.
Trump told reporters on Air Force One that Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar had asked the US to hold off the attacks because “they think there’s a deal.” He claimed there is already an understanding on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with a separate agreement to follow on Iran’s nuclear programme.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US remains militarily ready but chose to suspend the strike to allow diplomacy to move forward. He said the proposed deal would ensure the “immediate, complete and total opening” of the Hormuz Strait and end what he described as Iran’s nuclear threat, adding that Israel backed the diplomatic push.
Gulf mediation has been intense. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Trump over the weekend, seeking clarity on the proposed plan of action against Iran, while Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE and Türkiye have all called for de-escalation.
Iran has not confirmed Trump’s claim of a ready-made deal. Iranian officials say talks with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages, focused on designating a new shipping route that protects both sides’ sovereign rights and Iran’s security. Iran’s acting defence minister warned that Tehran treats every “enemy” threat as real and will use it to boost preparedness and deterrence.
The latest push for talks follows weeks of escalating strikes and counter-strikes between the US and Iran, with global powers worried about the impact on energy supplies and regional stability.
