Trump calls off planned Iran strikes, says deal parameters reached

President Donald Trump announced early Sunday that he has called off planned military strikes against Iran, saying the parameters of a diplomatic deal have been reached that would require the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat. The decision marks a sharp reversal from just a day earlier, when Trump told a cabinet meeting at Camp David that the U.S. would hit Iran "very hard."allisraelnews+1

A Last-Minute Pivot

"The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II," Trump wrote on Truth Social ↘ 5.01% on Saturday evening. "Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to."newswav+1

Trump said the proposed deal would include the "Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat," and that he was canceling the strikes "subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL." He claimed Israel had joined the commitment, though as the New York Times reported, the Israeli government has not publicly verified this.nytimes+1

Saudi Pressure and Regional Fears

The announcement came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump on Saturday expressing concern that further U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure could trigger retaliatory attacks on Saudi and Gulf energy facilities, according to Axios, citing two senior U.S. officials. A White House official confirmed the call but declined to provide details.bloomberg+2

Israel's Channel 12 News reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi agreed to a compromise deal brokered by Qatar and the U.S. that would reopen Hormuz shipping lanes, with vessels entering via the northern, Iranian-controlled route and exiting via the southern, Omani route. However, Al Jazeera reported Sunday that no actual breakthrough on managing strait traffic has been reached.allisraelnews+1

Uncertain Path Forward

The five-month conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, has tested Washington's foreign policy amid concerns over depleted air-defense munitions, vulnerable Gulf allies, and a global economic downturn. Previous ceasefires have collapsed, and Iran's response to Trump's announcement was combative. Foreign Minister Araghchi warned that any U.S. or Israeli attack would be met with a "decisive and proportional response."nytimes+1

An Iranian lawmaker said Sunday that Tehran opposes the proposed southern Omani corridor, arguing it could be used to transport fuel and weapons for U.S. military operations, casting further doubt on whether a deal can be completed. Mohammad Marandi, a commentator affiliated with the Iranian regime, dismissed Trump's announcement as "fake news," writing on social media that the president had simply "backed down."newswav+1