President Donald Trump declared on Saturday evening that he would halt new military strikes against Iran, citing that Mideast allies had agreed on the "perimeters of a deal" to end the ongoing five-month conflict. This decision was made based on requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to "hold off any attack" and is conditional on the swift finalization of the agreement. Trump emphasized that the deal would necessitate the "Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT" and a definitive end to what he described as "Iran's nuclear threat."
The announcement followed reports earlier in the day that the U.S. and Israel were preparing for potentially intense bombing campaigns targeting Iran's energy infrastructure. Sources indicated these strikes could have commenced as early as the upcoming weekend. The proposed deal, according to Trump, was for the "future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran," with Israel reportedly joining the U.S. in this commitment to finalize the agreement.
Prior to Trump's announcement, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, spoke with Trump via phone. During this conversation, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly raised concerns about the potential escalation of the conflict and the risk of Iranian retaliation, particularly against the energy infrastructure of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. There are also concerns that further escalation would significantly increase oil prices, impacting U.S. consumers and contributing to Trump's declining popularity, given that approximately 60% of Americans disapprove of the war with Iran according to Pew Research Center data.
