Trump Halts 'Massive Attack' on Iran, Announces Intermediary Talks

US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran will begin on Monday through intermediaries, signalling a renewed diplomatic push after he said he halted planned US military strikes following outreach by key Gulf nations. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said talks would begin on Monday afternoon and expressed hope for a negotiated settlement. "We are talking to them in the form of a negotiation; it begins tomorrow afternoon, and we'll see how it goes. I'd rather make a deal. I'm not looking to kill people because a lot of people die," he said.

Trump said diplomatic efforts involving Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran prompted him to call off what he described as a planned "massive attack" on Friday. He also said he expected an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz and expressed confidence that a deal could be reached on Iran's denuclearisation. The diplomatic push comes as regional mediators work to revive an understanding between Washington and Tehran. Israeli media reported that intermediaries are trying to restore a memorandum of understanding signed last month to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and free of transit fees for 60 days. Iranian state media also reported that talks between Iran and Oman on a joint mechanism to manage the strategic waterway were in their final stages. The earlier framework reportedly broke down over differing interpretations. Trump maintained the strait would remain permanently open, while Tehran said the arrangement preserved Iran's sovereign control over the shipping route.

According to reports, Qatari officials held intensive discussions with Iran, the US and Oman over the weekend before informing Trump that Tehran had accepted a proposal related to the strait. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also spoke to Trump, urging restraint. Trump later announced on Truth Social that he was pausing the planned strikes, citing progress in talks on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme. However, Iranian military officials rejected Trump's account, calling it false. A source linked to Iran's delegation also told the semi-official Fars News Agency that no formal agreement on the Strait of Hormuz had yet been reached. The Wall Street Journal reported that Gulf allies remain divided on Iran, with Saudi Arabia advocating restraint while the United Arab Emirates has urged Washington to take stronger military action against Tehran.