US President Donald Trump said he would hold off on launching a new military attack against Iran, provided that a proposed agreement to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is completed quickly.
Trump’s announcement came after hours of heightened tensions and reports suggesting Washington was preparing for a major escalation against Iran.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Iran and several Middle Eastern countries had requested additional time to finalise an agreement whose broad terms had already been discussed.
He stressed, however, that the suspension of military action was conditional on reaching a deal without delay.
“The United States is fully prepared for battle and can act against Iran,” Trump said, making clear that the military option remained available if negotiations failed.
Trump added that Israel had joined Washington in agreeing to refrain from launching a new attack, provided that the emerging agreement was concluded quickly.
According to the US president, the proposed deal would include the immediate and complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and measures to bring an end to what he described as the Iranian nuclear threat.
Reuters reported that Trump had decided to delay further military action in the hope that negotiations could rapidly produce an agreement. His remarks stopped short of ruling out future strikes if the diplomatic effort collapsed.
The announcement followed Israeli media reports that security agencies had been placed on heightened alert amid expectations of a potentially large US attack on Iran that could draw Israel directly into renewed fighting.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that consultations had been conducted across the country’s security establishment as officials assessed the consequences of a possible major strike.
The report said Israel was on maximum alert on Saturday night because of the latest escalation in the Middle East and the possibility that any extensive US operation could trigger Iranian retaliation against Israeli targets.
Despite the heightened readiness, the report said Israel’s security cabinet had not formally convened and had not received a full briefing on the latest developments.
Trump’s decision offers a potential opening for diplomacy, but tensions remain high as Washington continues to demand unrestricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz and limits on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Iran has warned that any further US attack would be met with a proportionate response, leaving the possibility of renewed military confrontation if the proposed agreement is not finalised.
