Trump Halts Iran Strikes Again as Gulf Allies Push for a Deal

A Last-Minute Reversal, Again

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he would order American forces to hold off on new strikes against Iran, claiming Mideast allies had reached the parameters of a deal to end the now five-month-old war. It was a dramatic reversal — and a familiar one. Since April, there have been five, six, perhaps even ten moments when war appeared imminent, only for Trump to step back at the last minute.

Trump, in his Truth Social post Saturday night, said the U.S. "is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran" but based on the request from Tehran and others had agreed to "cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL." He said Israel was part of that commitment, and that the deal would include the "Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat."

Saudi Arabia's Pivotal Role

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto leader, spoke with Trump by phone Saturday and raised concerns about the U.S. potentially escalating the conflict with Iran. The Saudis, according to a person briefed on the substance of the call, are concerned that Tehran could respond with attacks on the energy infrastructure of the kingdom and other Gulf countries. That fear is not abstract — the entire Gulf region sits within range of Iranian missiles and drones.

Trump said he had canceled planned strikes at the request of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar — in addition to Iran — and they urged him instead to pursue talks with Tehran. On Sunday, Trump said on Air Force One that he called off the weekend attack at the request of Gulf allies, claiming again that a deal is "imminent," and that negotiations between the parties are set to commence on Monday. Those talks are now underway as of today, August 3.

What a Deal Would Actually Look Like

The Strait of Hormuz has been impassable since fighting resumed between the U.S. and Iran on July 8 — weeks after the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire. Roughly 20 million barrels of oil transited the strait before the war began, and shipping traffic had increased following the earlier ceasefire, resulting in the release of 200 million barrels during that pause in hostilities. The economic stakes of reopening the waterway are enormous — for global energy markets and everyday consumers alike.

Oil futures dropped Sunday after Trump announced the pause in strikes, signaling that negotiations were progressing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell about 5.6% to about $83 a barrel, and U.S. crude fell about 5.5% to about $80 a barrel. Markets, in other words, are cautiously optimistic — even if diplomats have reason to be more guarded.

The Shadow of Iran's Proxy Strategy

A critical piece of context hangs over these negotiations. The IRGC reportedly used the U.S.-Iran ceasefire in April 2026 to coordinate with the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Iraqi militias to expand the conflict and increase the costs of U.S. military operations. Two senior IRGC officers told the New York Times on August 1 that senior IRGC Quds Force officers held virtual conference calls with Hezbollah, Houthi, and Iraqi militia commanders during the ceasefire to coordinate efforts to expand the conflict with the United States.

The objective, according to the officials, was to make the war as costly as possible for President Donald Trump without drawing Iran into a direct confrontation it could not control. That revelation adds a layer of urgency — and skepticism — to the current pause. Trump said that Israel is joining his commitment to end the war by implementing the ceasefire deal, though Israel did not publicly comment on the announcement. Whether this latest attempt holds where previous ones have failed will depend not just on what happens at the negotiating table, but on whether Iran's network of proxy forces stays quiet long enough to give diplomacy a real chance.