US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States and Israel have agreed to suspend new attacks on Iran, provided a deal to end the months-long conflict is reached 'rapidly'. The statement was made on his Truth Social platform early Sunday.
Trump claimed that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries asked him to hold off on the attacks because 'the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to'. However, Tehran has not confirmed this assertion, leaving the situation uncertain.
Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies, remains closed, and shipping in the Red Sea is disrupted by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The region remains on edge, fearing renewed escalation.
In his post, Trump said the US was 'locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran', but agreed to cancel the attack 'for the future benefit of the WORLD' and the survival of a successful Iran, subject to rapidly making a deal. He emphasized that the deal would include the 'Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT' and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.
The White House provided no further details on the deal's specifics or mediators. Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed concern over Trump's plans for large-scale attacks and urged de-escalation.
Another pressing issue for Washington is the depletion of munitions, particularly Patriot anti-missile interceptors. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that US Patriot interceptor inventories have fallen from about 2,300 before the war to fewer than 827.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen warned that 'we are depleting these every day, despite the fact that we could face other potential conflicts around the world'. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has raised concerns, but Trump dismissed them.
Tehran has not officially responded to Trump's announcement. Iran's acting defense minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, stated that every threat from adversaries is 'real and credible', but Iran will not be caught off guard and will enhance its military readiness.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone calls with Pakistani, Turkish, and Saudi officials to discuss risks of US escalation. He warned of a decisive response to any 'aggression' and 'destabilizing actions' by the US.
Nournews, affiliated with Iran's top security body, reported that US attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure would prompt Iranian strikes on oilfields in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Israel, saying 'All will be burned to ashes'.
Pakistani and Qatari mediators expressed 'cautious optimism' about resuming stalled US-Iran talks. Sources told Anadolu that positive developments were expected by the end of the week.
The last ceasefire, brokered in June, quickly unraveled over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's latest statement suggests the deal would reopen the strait, but Tehran has given no indication of changing its position.
Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen are also threatening the Bab al-Mandeb strait, another export route for Saudi crude, adding to energy industry concerns.
Al Jazeera's Mahmoud Abdelwahed reported that Iran's diplomatic efforts are accompanied by strong statements accusing the US of violating the ceasefire and using commercial vessels to conceal military movements.
Ross Harrison from the Middle East Institute noted that it is difficult to identify a clear US strategy, as Trump repeatedly signals escalation before pulling back. He suggested Iran might believe Trump 'blinked', but without a clear agreement on the strait, this is just another pause.
Harrison warned that decision-makers could lose control of the conflict as it intertwines with other files, including Lebanon, Israel-Palestine, Saudi-Houthi, and Iraq, making de-escalation increasingly difficult.
Source: www.aljazeera.com