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US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has cancelled a planned military strike on Iran, claiming that the “perimeters of a deal” have been agreed upon. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had agreed to cancel the attack “for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran,” subject to being able to rapidly make a deal. He added that the decision came in response to requests from Iran and other Middle East countries to “hold off any attack.”

Trump said any agreement would include the “immediate, complete, and total opening of the Hormuz Strait” and an end to what he called Iran’s nuclear threat.

The announcement came after days of escalating rhetoric and reports of planned US strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure.

Coverage Comparison

The cancellation was reported across multiple outlets, with consistent details about Trump’s announcement and the potential deal. The BBC reported that the decision had been taken alongside Israel, while Al Jazeera noted that US media had reported Washington and Israel were preparing to strike Iran’s energy infrastructure. The Guardian reported that the US and Israel were planning joint strikes, possibly throughout the weekend, with oil refineries and power plants among possible targets.

A key element in the timeline was a phone call between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump, reported by multiple outlets. TASS, citing The Associated Press, reported that the crown prince warned Trump against resuming large-scale military operations against Iran, saying such a move would hurt the global economy. The Guardian reported that the crown prince had “urged Trump to de-escalate and refrain from launching the strikes,” citing a source with knowledge of the call. The call was described as “candid and constructive” by a source quoted by AP, according to TASS.

The Guardian also reported that Iran had threatened to retaliate decisively against its neighbours in the event of US strikes, and that Kuwait reported being hit by Iranian drones on Saturday. Two ships were also attacked off Oman in the Strait of Hormuz.

Before the cancellation, Trump had said on Friday that the US would hit Iran “very hard,” and on Thursday he told the Axios news site that he was considering “a massive attack” on Iran, “bigger than ever before.” Oil prices had surged past $100 a barrel for Brent crude amid the tensions.

Key Claims

  • Trump announced he was cancelling a planned attack on Iran with the “perimeters of a deal” agreed to, as reported by Al Jazeera, the BBC, The Guardian, and TASS.
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned Trump against resuming large-scale military operations against Iran during a phone call, according to TASS (citing AP) and The Guardian.
  • The potential deal between the US and Iran would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Hormuz Strait and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat, as stated by Trump and reported by Al Jazeera, the BBC, The Guardian, and TASS.
  • Israel was involved in the planned strike on Iran, as reported by the BBC and The Guardian.
  • Kuwait is vulnerable to Iranian attacks, according to the crown prince’s warning as reported by TASS (citing AP).
  • Trump considered a massive attack on Iran, a claim reported by The Guardian in an interview with Axios.

Perspectives

  • US President Donald Trump: Trump framed the cancellation as a step toward a deal, saying he had agreed to hold off on an attack because the “perimeters of a deal” had been agreed. He stressed the deal would open the Strait of Hormuz and end Iran’s nuclear threat.
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: The crown prince urged Trump to de-escalate and refrain from launching strikes, warning that large-scale military operations would hurt the global economy and that further escalation could severely damage the global economy while failing to achieve its intended objectives. He noted that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar were prepared to defend against potential Iranian strikes, but Kuwait could be more vulnerable.
  • Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: Earlier on Saturday, Araghchi told his Saudi counterpart that any US or Israeli attack would meet a “proportionate response.” Iran also warned against any “adventurous action” by the US and said it would retaliate decisively.
  • UN Secretary General António Guterres: Guterres told the UN Security Council that the Middle East was being pushed to the “edge of the unimaginable,” saying “The situation is getting out of control. It is teetering on the edge of the unimaginable. The region is being pulled into an ever-widening circle of confrontation.”