Trump pauses planned Iran attack, cites progress toward peace deal

Cairo: US President Donald Trump said Saturday that he would halt planned military strikes against Iran after what he described as an agreement on the framework of a deal aimed at ending the five-month conflict.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the emerging agreement would pave the way for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and address concerns over Iran's nuclear programme.

“would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” Trump wrote.

He added that the United States would suspend the military action it had been considering, provided negotiations continued to move forward.

“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 said.

Trump also said Israel had agreed to work alongside the United States to finalise an agreement with Iran that could bring the war to an end.

Before Trump's announcement, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly spoke with the US president to express concern over the possibility of further escalation. According to a person familiar with the discussion, Saudi Arabia fears Iran could retaliate by targeting energy infrastructure in the kingdom and other Gulf states.

The White House confirmed that Trump and the Saudi crown prince spoke by phone but did not disclose details of the conversation.

The diplomatic developments came as regional tensions remained high.

Kuwait said its military intercepted another wave of Iranian drone attacks targeting strategic locations, with debris damaging government property but causing no reported casualties.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported two separate maritime security incidents near the Strait of Hormuz. One tanker suffered engine-room damage after being struck by an unidentified projectile, while another vessel reported an explosion nearby without sustaining damage.

Meanwhile, the US State Department issued fresh security alerts for American citizens in Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, warning of possible flight disruptions and heightened regional security risks.

In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes continued despite signs of diplomatic progress after Hamas confirmed it was willing to disarm under a proposed US-backed ceasefire framework. Palestinian health officials said strikes overnight killed at least four people and injured dozens.

Israel has not officially commented on the reported Hamas disarmament agreement, which forms part of a broader ceasefire proposal.