Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington from New Jersey, Trump stated that the canceled operation would have constituted the largest attack since World War II. He added that the target nation was fully aware of the impending action because officials saw it forming.
The sudden diplomatic pivot follows a series of military tensions and fluctuating energy markets during the conflict, which officially started on February 28.
Allies Urge Restraint as Diplomacy Resumes
Trump stated on Truth Social and to the press corps that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, alongside partners in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, asked him to hold off on any attacks because the perimeters of a potential agreement had already been discussed.
Trump asserted that the region’s leaders requested restraint because they believed a breakthrough was imminent. Trump told reporters that an agreement had been reached regarding Hormuz and that a nuclear deal would follow, noting that he preferred a negotiated settlement over further bloodshed. Trump stated that he would rather make a deal and was not looking to kill people because people die, a lot of people die, and they did not want that.
Despite signaling a renewed push for diplomacy, Trump declined to set a firm deadline for reaching a comprehensive agreement with Tehran, noting that officials are ready to proceed whenever they want. He also did not disclose the specific venue for Monday’s talks or identify who would participate.
Disputed Claims and Regional Talks
The latest diplomatic opening has been met with conflicting accounts from regional actors. Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency denied that Tehran had asked the United States to hold off on military action, dismissing Trump’s assertions as nothing but a new lie.
Iranian state media reported that negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz were in their final stages, though an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson clarified that those particular talks centered on a proposed new shipping route rather than the official reopening or closure of the strait.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, warned that Israel would continue to act independently against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs regardless of any diplomatic outcomes. The warnings follow meetings in Washington last week between Trump and Netanyahu to discuss curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which Tehran continues to deny pursuing.
Energy Markets React to Halted Strikes
Global energy markets reacted swiftly to the sudden de-escalation of military tensions. Global oil prices fell more than 4% during early Asia trading on Monday as the renewed diplomatic efforts helped ease investor fears over potential supply disruptions.
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of the ongoing crisis, as roughly 20% of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally flows through the vital waterway. The waterway has faced heavy shipping restrictions since the conflict began, driving up global energy costs and exacerbating inflation concerns. Despite the drop in commodity prices, the U.S. administration maintains that its primary objective remains preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran’s acting Defence Minister Majid Ibn al-Reza warned that domestic forces view every adversary threat as real and credible.
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