President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he is canceling planned military strikes against Iran, saying the Islamic Republic and other Middle Eastern countries had asked the United States to hold off while the perimeters of a deal are finalized.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran and regional partners requested the pause because “the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that has been effectively closed to unauthorized traffic since the start of the war on February 28.
The announcement came after weeks of escalating military operations, including U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian provinces, drone attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait, and retaliatory Iranian missile launches targeting military installations across the Gulf. Trump had been weighing an extensive wave of attacks against Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including power plants and petrochemical facilities, according to multiple U.S. media reports.
Iranian state media said Tehran has shown no signs of changing its stance on the Strait of Hormuz and has yet to formally acknowledge talks with Washington. However, Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had signaled in recent days that a negotiated resolution could formalize perceived gains from military action.
Saudi Arabia played a key role in persuading Trump to pause the operation, with the kingdom calling on the president to prioritize dialogue over further escalation. The Gulf kingdom has been attempting to form an international coalition to counter disruptions in the Red Sea caused by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries around 20 percent of global oil shipments. Its closure since February has contributed to oil prices surging above $100 a barrel and created significant disruptions to global energy supplies. The U.S. military said it had redirected 24 commercial vessels since restarting a blockade on Iranian ports earlier this month.
The Pentagon’s inventory of missile interceptors has been reduced by persistent combat operations, with Patriot stocks now under 1,000 and THAAD systems at approximately 250, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The reduction in interceptor supplies was cited as a factor in the decision to hold off on further strikes.
A separate vote in the U.S. Senate to limit Trump’s war powers failed 49 to 50 on Saturday, with three Republicans voting in favor and one Democrat opposing the resolution. The vote will likely be the last before Congress recesses on August 10.
Sources: NPR, The New York Times, CBS News
Author: Middle East Desk
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