US President Donald Trump on the surface of the photo belongs to Times of Israel

WASHINGTON, United States, Aug 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - President Donald Trump 
said Saturday that the United States and Israel had agreed to hold off on new 
strikes on Iran -- provided that a deal to end the months-long conflict is 
reached rapidly.

Fears had been mounting that the fighting could escalate once again after 
Trump threatened to hit Iran "very hard" and was reportedly considering 
renewed heavy attacks, including against energy infrastructure.

But the US leader appeared to have changed course after speaking with Saudi 
Arabia's crown prince and after Tehran also spoke to Riyadh, and to mediators 
Pakistan and Turkey.

Trump insisted the US was "locked and loaded and ready to go against the 
Islamic Republic of Iran," but added that "we have just been asked by Iran, 
and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack".

"Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD 
and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel 
the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL," Trump posted on 
his Truth Social platform.

Iran's Mehr news agency, citing military officials, called Trump's claim that 
Tehran asked him to refrain "nothing but a new lie" and said Iran's military 
was "on high alert and ready for any eventuality".

Iranian state media said the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers held a call 
and that Tehran also spoke with Pakistan and Turkey, which have acted as 
mediators in the talks, about "the risk of escalating tensions and insecurity 
in the region".

Saudi Arabia's official SPA press agency said Crown Prince Mohammed Bin 
Salman had a call with Trump where he "emphasised the necessity of 
prioritising dialogue to reduce tensions and the importance of exerting all 
possible efforts to achieve a truce that paves the way for diplomatic 
solutions".

The US president said the deal would have to include the "Immediate, Complete 
and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat."

"The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment," he added.

After more than five months of war, which began on February 28 when the 
United States and Israel launched strikes on Tehran, there is seemingly no 
end to the conflict in sight.

A previous ceasefire deal with similar terms, including the reopening of the 
Strait of Hormuz, fell through, and Iran has since tightened its control over 
the vital waterway as the two countries resumed attacks against each other in 
recent weeks.

Iran's Fars news agency, citing a source close to Iranian negotiators, said 
Hormuz will remain closed "as long as the United States maintains its hostile 
actions".

The resumption of hostilities has caused global oil prices, which had dipped 
during the initial ceasefire, to rise once more.

And the back-and-forth comes just three months before midterm elections in 
the United States that could pose a challenge for Trump's Republican Party.

- 'Eager to do a deal' -

US embassies in capitals across the Middle East had warned their citizens on 
Saturday to beware of "unforeseen escalation" in the regional conflict and 
urged them to be ready to leave.

Iran and the US resumed exchanges of fire last month after a days-long lull 
in fighting, although there were no reported strikes between Friday and 
Sunday.

On Wednesday, a drone struck a US-owned gas vessel moored in an Egyptian 
port, causing a fire. Egypt is investigating but has not yet accused any 
group of launching the attack.

Meanwhile, an "unknown projectile" struck a tanker off the coast of Oman, a 
British maritime agency said on Saturday.

Iran has effectively maintained control over navigation through Hormuz since 
the outbreak of the war on February 28, requiring vessels to obtain 
permission and pay transit fees before using the waterway.

Maritime trade tracking firm Kpler said Friday that traffic through the 
Hormuz strait has dropped sharply.

On the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another waterway that has gained increasing 
importance as a transit route for Saudi Arabian oil, the Iran-backed Houthi 
rebels in Yemen on Saturday denied seeking to charge ships for passage 
through it.

The narrow waterway connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and, via the 
Suez Canal, the Mediterranean.