Donald Trump cancels planned attack on Iran , calls for immediate deal

What Happened

US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Saturday night that he had called off a planned "massive attack" against Iran, claiming the USA was "locked and loaded" for military strikes. Trump stated that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked the US to hold off because "the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to," and he conditioned the cancellation on rapidly reaching a deal that would include the complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. Earlier on Saturday, two Israeli sources told The Jerusalem Post that Israel had raised its alert and readiness levels amid assessments that Trump was close to resuming military strikes against Iran on a potentially larger scale; Israeli officials said "we are on high alert and awaiting the president’s final decision." Axios also reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked Trump to reconsider large military strikes during a phone call on Saturday.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The episode highlights volatile US-Iran tensions and the role of regional diplomacy in preventing a potentially devastating military escalation. Israel’s heightened alert underscores its direct exposure to any fallout, while Saudi Arabia’s intervention reveals Riyadh’s stake in avoiding a broader conflagration that could destabilize the Gulf and disrupt maritime security. Trump’s public link between a canceled strike and a prospective deal sets an immediate, high-stakes deadline for negotiations over Iran’s nuclear activities and the Strait of Hormuz.

Watch For

Confirmation or denial from Tehran regarding the claimed deal perimeter; any follow-up statements from the White House or Pentagon on the status of military options; changes in Israeli force posture or public warnings; further diplomatic contacts between Washington and Gulf capitals, particularly any announced visit or summit; and movement on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz or the nuclear file.