Trump: Talks with Iran to Begin Monday
Theo Al Jazeera English
US President Donald Trump says negotiations with Iran will begin Monday, following his decision to halt planned strikes to allow for diplomacy. He cited pressure from Gulf allies and a potential deal on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran are expected to begin Monday afternoon local time, after he decided to hold off on fresh strikes against Tehran to pursue a deal.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump revealed that the US had been preparing for the "biggest attack since World War II" on Iran but halted it to allow diplomacy to proceed. "Obviously, they don't want to be hit. They know the scale of the strike because they saw it taking shape," he said. "Now we are talking to them in the form of negotiations. It starts tomorrow afternoon."
Trump's remarks came a day after he withdrew his threat of an attack, citing an emerging "outline" of a deal. In his latest comments, he said Iran and Gulf partners including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar had urged him to delay the strikes.
"When allies ask for a cancellation, you have to say, 'OK, let's see.' The reason they asked is they think there's a deal," Trump said, adding that an agreement could be reached on the Strait of Hormuz and subsequently on Iran's nuclear program or denuclearization.
He also mentioned that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had warned of unforeseen consequences of conflict, such as a wave of refugees into neighboring countries. "A lot of bad things could happen," Trump said.
Trump's announcement came hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a second phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, with the participation of Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, to discuss recent diplomatic efforts. According to Araghchi's Telegram post, the officials exchanged views on the current situation and initiatives to maintain and enhance security and stability in West Asia, stressing the need for regional cooperation and political solutions.
Earlier on Sunday, Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted Araghchi as saying negotiations between Tehran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz were in their final stages. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the talks focus on agreeing a new route through the strait, emphasizing this is "unrelated to whether the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed. It's a separate discussion."
The conflict began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, despite months of intermittent diplomacy that had produced relatively quiet periods. An earlier ceasefire deal, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—a vital artery for global energy supplies—collapsed. Iran has since tightened its control over the waterway as the two sides resumed hostilities in recent weeks.
