Washington, August 3, 2026 — President Donald Trump said Sunday that he scrapped plans for what he described as the "biggest attack since World War II" on Iran, crediting intervention from Gulf allies for the reversal, just a day after warning that U.S. forces would "hit them very hard."
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump said he consulted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before calling off the strike. "I said to the Crown Prince, 'What would you rather do? Would you rather us do this or not?'" Trump recounted. "They said we would much prefer a deal as opposed to an attack, because you don't know where these attacks lead."
**A Familiar Pattern of Reversals**
This marks the latest in a series of on-again, off-again decisions from Trump since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering the ongoing conflict. Each previous halt in hostilities has eventually unraveled, with fighting resuming shortly after.
Trump said the emerging deal would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz — the vital corridor through which roughly a fifth of the world's energy supply once flowed — and would address U.S. concerns over Iran's nuclear program. He added that Israel has committed to honoring the ceasefire agreement reached in June, though Israeli officials have not publicly confirmed this.
**Iran Pushes Back**
Tehran offered a starkly different account. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the Strait of Hormuz "will in no way return to the status it was before February 28," clarifying that while Iran is in discussions with Oman about shipping through the strait, no active talks are underway to fully reopen it.
Iran's Defence Minister, writing on X, said the country remains "neither surprised nor passive" in response to Trump's announcement, adding that Iran stays alert to any concrete threats from the U.S.
**What the Proposal Entails**
According to a regional official involved in mediation efforts, the framework calls for:
- Resuming U.S.-Iran negotiations on outstanding disputes
- Reopening the Strait of Hormuz
- Halting attacks by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq against Gulf states and Jordan
- In exchange, the U.S. would lift its naval blockade and allow Iran to resume oil exports
The official cautioned that no agreement has been finalized, though talks are actively progressing. Trump said he expects negotiations to resume "tomorrow afternoon," without specifying participants.
**Saudi Concerns Take Center Stage**
A person briefed on Saturday's call between Trump and the Crown Prince described the exchange as "candid and constructive." The Crown Prince reportedly warned that renewed U.S. strikes could trigger severe global economic consequences if Iran retaliated against Gulf allies.
While Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are seen as well-positioned to defend against Iranian attacks, the source noted that Kuwait remains more exposed to strikes from Iranian-backed militias operating in Iraq.
"It would have been disastrous for them, and they didn't want us to do it," Trump said of the Saudis. "And frankly, Saudi Arabia didn't want it either. They thought that a deal is imminent."
**Internal Iranian Divisions**
Despite Iran's public posture of unity and defiance, analysts point to a brewing internal struggle within its leadership — between hardliners opposed to any negotiations and factions betting on military pressure to extract better terms at the table.
Markets reacted swiftly to the news, with oil prices tumbling following Trump's announcement that he was standing down from the planned attack.