President Donald Trump announced on Saturday via his Truth Social platform that he has decided to pause planned military strikes against Iran. The president stated that the decision was made in anticipation of reaching a deal, while also noting that he was responding to requests from Iran and various countries within the region. Despite these claims, the prospects for a swift resolution appeared to dim on Sunday. Iran’s Mehr news agency dismissed Trump’s assertion that Tehran had requested a pause as a lie, maintaining that the Iranian armed forces remain on high alert and prepared for any eventuality. Furthermore, the Fars news agency, citing a source close to Iranian negotiators, warned that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed as long as the United States continues its hostile actions.
The shift in policy reportedly followed a phone conversation on Saturday between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sources familiar with the call indicated that the crown prince urged the U.S. president to de-escalate tensions and refrain from military intervention. Reports from the Associated Press and other outlets suggested that Saudi Arabia feared that any U.S. strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure or other key facilities could trigger retaliatory attacks against the kingdom and other Gulf nations. The crown prince sought clarification regarding the nature of the potential military actions Trump was considering. Saudi Arabia had previously joined the U.S. in striking logistics and weapons sites linked to Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, though the kingdom has recently advocated for a return to diplomatic negotiations.
Regional tensions remained elevated over the weekend. Kuwait reported that its army successfully destroyed hostile drones launched by Iran, which had targeted several vital facilities, including a government site in northern Kuwait and property on Bubiyan Island. While the incident caused material damage from falling shrapnel, no casualties were reported. Additionally, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed two maritime incidents off the coast of Oman, including a tanker that sustained engine room damage from an unknown projectile and another report of an explosion near a vessel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned regional counterparts that any U.S. or Israeli attacks, or the participation of regional states in such actions, would result in a proportionate response. Media outlets affiliated with Iran’s security apparatus further cautioned that strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure would prompt retaliatory measures against oil and gas fields in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Israel. Prior to the reversal, Trump had declared on Saturday night that the U.S. was locked and loaded to deploy military power on a scale not seen since World War II.
