President Donald Trump has canceled a planned military attack on Iran, stating that Iran and other Middle Eastern nations requested a pause while they finalize a rough framework for a new agreement.
“We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, following reports that the U.S. was planning a major offensive against Iran.
The president said that “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.”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 2, 2026
The deal “would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” he added.
Tehran has accused the US of escalating tensions, saying any regional state co-operating with Washington would be “engulfed by the flames of war.”
Trump says Israel Joins US Decision
Trump noted in the statement that “The Country of Israel joins me” in the “commitment” to a peace deal.
“Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE,” the president wrote.
Over the weekend, Washington urged Americans across the Middle East to be alert and ready to leave “should there be escalation” in the region.
“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions,” the security alert said on Saturday
Tehran Warns of Retaliation
Tehran responded with clear warnings against the reported U.S. plans to launch a massive military operation against Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in separate phone calls Saturday with senior officials from Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia cautioned the United States against “adventurous action.”
Tehran warned that it would retaliate decisively if American forces carried out the threatened attacks on Iranian targets. The calls came just hours after Kuwait’s army reported it had destroyed hostile drones launched by Iran against several vital facilities.
According to Araqchi’s Telegram account, in conversations with Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the Iranian minister stated that Iran would respond decisively to any “aggression.”
The foreign minister later told Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan that any attacks by the United States and Israel, or participation by regional countries in such actions, would be met with a proportionate response.
Saudi Concerns and Calls for Dialogue
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump on Saturday.
A U.S. official told Axios that the crown prince “expressed concern and asked for clarity” about U.S. plans for Iran.
A White House official confirmed the call to Reuters but provided no further details.
The Saudi Press Agency later reported that the crown prince stressed the “necessity of prioritizing dialogue to de-escalate tensions” in the Middle East.
Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
