Trump Cancels Planned Strikes on Iran Amid Reported Peace Deal Progress

US President Donald Trump has announced that he will hold off on a threatened fresh round of strikes against Iran, stating that “the perimeters of a deal [have] been agreed to” by Tehran and America’s Middle East allies. Trump indicated that the strikes were cancelled “subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL”, and that Israel had agreed to support the move.

Earlier, Trump had told a cabinet meeting that new strikes would take place as soon as this weekend, saying: “We will be hitting them very hard. At some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.’”

In a call with the White House, the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, stressed the "necessity of prioritising dialogue to de-escalate tensions" in the Middle East. This call preceded Trump's announcement. The Saudis are concerned that Tehran could respond to potential escalation with attacks on the energy infrastructure of the kingdom and other Gulf countries.

Tehran had previously warned against any further “aggression,” with Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stating on Saturday that any such “adventurous action” by the US or Israel would be met with a “decisive and proportional response.” Araghchi communicated this warning in phone calls to his Saudi, Turkish, and Pakistani counterparts.

Both the US and Iran had resumed direct strikes after a brief truce collapsed last month, with negotiations to secure a ceasefire failing to make significant progress. Iran has repeatedly attacked vessels attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz without its authorisation as part of its ongoing conflict with the US.

Chancellor John Healey has stated he will be “watching closely” to protect the public from price gouging at the petrol pump and in supermarkets as the war in Iran continues to impact prices. Healey conceded that “we can’t completely stop the squeeze” on families and businesses, but signaled readiness to intervene against unfair price rises.

Despite Trump's announcement of a potential breakthrough, Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza for a second straight day on Sunday, killing at least nine Palestinians. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated there was no deal to halt attacks and that Israel should take full control of the Strip. Palestinian health officials reported strikes across Gaza, including in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis, resulting in multiple fatalities, including children.

President Trump has also issued threats to bomb a secretive, under-construction Iranian nuclear site known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, located near the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. The United Nations' nuclear watchdog has not gained access to this specific location.

The State Department issued new security alerts urging US citizens in the region to prepare for potential travel disruptions, including flight cancellations and temporary airspace closures across several Middle Eastern countries.

Iran's acting defence minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, said on Sunday that Tehran views every threat from adversaries as "real and credible," even if part of psychological warfare, and that Iran would not be caught off guard, using threats to increase military readiness and capabilities.

President Trump's apparent U-turn on Iran follows earlier warnings of unprecedented force after Iran's attack on a US base in Jordan. This shift comes as the war remains unpopular with many Americans and threatens to become a major political issue ahead of the November US midterm elections, with recent polls showing Trump's approval rating at 34 percent.

The latest casualties in Gaza were reported after an Israeli strike on the town of al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis, bringing the total number of deaths from Israeli strikes that morning to eight, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.