United States President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has called off a planned major military offensive against the Islamic Republic of Iran, asserting that Tehran and other regional states requested a pause after the “parameters of a deal” had been tentatively agreed upon.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump revealed that the U.S. military was “locked and loaded” and fully prepared to execute strikes against Iranian targets, describing the contemplated operation as involving a scale of firepower “not seen since World War II.” Despite the heightened state of readiness, Trump stated that he acquiesced to pleas from Iran and Middle Eastern allies to hold off pending final negotiations.
“Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters [parameters] of a deal has been agreed to,” Trump wrote. He specified that the emerging understanding would mandate the “immediate, complete, and total opening” of the Strait of Hormuz and a comprehensive halt to Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities. The president confirmed he agreed “to cancel the attack” contingent upon the swift conclusion of a formal accord, adding, “The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment,” while urging negotiators to “get it done.”
Saudi Intervention and Regional Pushback
The abrupt reversal follows reports that Washington had been weighing extensive strikes targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, including critical power plants and refineries. Axios reported that Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman directly raised concerns with Trump during a phone call on Saturday, citing two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the exchange. According to the report, Saudi officials sought urgent clarification regarding the scope of the proposed action. One U.S. official noted, “The Saudis expressed concern and asked for clarity about the plan of action,” with a second source confirming that the Crown Prince explicitly urged Trump to de-escalate and refrain from launching the strikes.
Iran’s Firm Retaliation Pledge
Iranian officials have reiterated that any new military adventurism by the U.S. or Israel would be met with overwhelming force. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed to his Saudi counterpart that Tehran remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security. Araghchi issued a stark warning that any hostile action or regional complicity in such actions would be met with a “decisive and proportionate response” from Iran’s armed forces. In parallel diplomatic efforts, Araghchi held consultations with Turkish and Pakistani officials, including discussions with Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has been actively involved in mediation channels between Tehran and Washington.
Threat of Expanded Retaliation
Escalating the deterrent rhetoric, Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei warned that Tehran’s response to any aggression would not be confined to the Persian Gulf. “Our response to any potential enemy attack will not be limited to the Persian Gulf region,” Rezaei stated on X, asserting that Iran would strike “all enemy bases and the origin of the attacks from anywhere.” This warning comes amid reports from CBS News that U.S. and Israeli officials had discussed executing strikes before financial markets opened to mitigate economic disruption a move that would have represented one of the most significant escalations in the region’s modern history.
Multilateral Mediation Intensifies
Alongside Saudi-led interventions, a broader multilateral diplomatic push is underway to avert conflict. Qatari mediators have engaged in separate tracks with Foreign Minister Araghchi, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, and Omani officials in a concerted effort to reach a sustainable agreement to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz. While sources
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)