Washington: US President Donald Trump said he decided against launching fresh military strikes on Iran after Gulf leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, urged him to give diplomacy another chance instead of escalating the conflict.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said American forces had prepared what he described as “the biggest attack since World War II,” but he chose to cancel the operation following consultations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, as well as messages from Iranian officials seeking negotiations.
Trump said he asked the Saudi Crown Prince whether military action or diplomacy would be the better course, adding that Gulf leaders strongly favoured a negotiated settlement over further conflict.
Trump Says Gulf Nations Backed Diplomacy Over Military Action
The US President said discussions were underway to revive negotiations aimed at ending the five month old conflict and addressing concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Trump also expressed optimism that any future agreement could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes, and help restore regional stability.
However, Iran signalled that the waterway would not immediately return to normal operations. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran was discussing maritime arrangements with Oman but denied that any decision had been taken to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Defence Ministry also said the country remained fully prepared to respond to any military action despite Trump’s announcement that planned strikes had been suspended.
According to regional officials involved in mediation efforts, the emerging proposal calls for the United States and Iran to resume negotiations while simultaneously reducing military tensions across the region.
The reported framework includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, ending attacks by Iranian backed groups across the region, and easing restrictions on Iranian oil exports in exchange for de-escalation. However, officials stressed that no final agreement has been reached and negotiations remain ongoing.
Trump said he expects formal talks to resume soon but did not disclose which countries or officials would participate.
Saudi officials reportedly warned Washington that any fresh US strikes could trigger Iranian retaliation against Gulf nations, potentially disrupting regional security and global energy supplies.
The latest developments mark another diplomatic effort to end the prolonged conflict, although previous ceasefire attempts have repeatedly collapsed amid renewed fighting.
