Trump backs down on Iran strikes in expectation of ‘rapidly’ reaching a deal

What Happened

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday night that he would delay new strikes on Iran, provided a deal is quickly reached to end the months-long conflict. The climbdown followed a phone call from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who urged Trump to de-escalate and refrain from launching strikes, citing concerns that attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure could provoke retaliatory strikes on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Trump's reversal also came after Iran threatened a 'proportionate response' to any U.S. or Israeli strikes, with state-affiliated Nournews warning that U.S. attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure would prompt Iranian strikes on oilfields in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as gasfields in Qatar and Israel. Hours earlier, Kuwait reported that Iranian drones had hit a government facility on Bubiyan Island and civilian property, causing material damage but no casualties. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported two incidents off Oman, including a tanker struck by an unknown projectile that damaged its engine room and another vessel reporting a large splash and explosion nearby.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The episode underscores the fragility of the standoff between the U.S. and Iran, with Saudi Arabia acting as a wary intermediary seeking to avert a wider regional war. Trump's oscillation between maximalist threats and diplomatic off-ramps—combined with direct Iranian drone attacks on Kuwait and suspected maritime strikes off Oman—demonstrates how rapidly proxy and direct actions can escalate, threatening global energy markets and the security of the Strait of Hormuz. Gulf states' vulnerability to Iranian retaliation is now a critical factor in U.S. decision-making.

Watch For

Whether Trump's offer leads to substantive negotiations or if strikes resume absent a deal. Monitor Iranian compliance with demands on the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear program, as well as any further drone or maritime attacks. Also watch for joint U.S.-Israeli military coordination or divergent Israeli actions, given past disagreements between the Netanyahu government and the Trump administration.