Why the US Paused Strikes on Iran and What 'Deal' Trump Referenced

President Donald Trump said the US and Israel have agreed to postpone further strikes on Iran, provided that a deal to end the months-long conflict is reached “quickly.” The announcement came as regional tensions remain high, with Washington and Tehran trading threats of retaliation, including against energy infrastructure.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked him to hold off on strikes because “the main outlines of a deal have been approved.” However, Tehran has not confirmed the statement. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy supplies, remains closed, while shipping in the Red Sea has been disrupted by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen.

Why did Trump delay the strikes?

In his post, Trump said the US was “ready” to attack Iran but that Tehran and Middle Eastern nations requested a postponement. He said he agreed to cancel the attack “for the sake of the future of the WORLD and the survival of a prosperous Iran,” on the condition that a deal is reached quickly. The deal is reported to include “full opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the end of Iran's nuclear threat,” and he stressed Israel's involvement.

The White House provided no further details on the agreement or mediators. Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump to express concern over plans for a major strike and urged de-escalation.

Another issue troubling Washington is its dwindling ammunition reserves, particularly Patriot interceptor missiles. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates the number of US Patriot interceptors has fallen from about 2,300 before the war to fewer than 827. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, warned that the US is depleting its arsenal daily, despite risks of other conflicts worldwide.

What is Iran's position?

Tehran has not officially responded to Trump's claim of postponing planned strikes or to discussions about a deal.

Iran's acting Defense Minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, said Tehran views all threats from adversaries as “real and credible,” adding that Iran will not be caught off guard or remain passive, but will use threats to boost military readiness and deterrence.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone calls with military and diplomatic officials from Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to discuss the risk of escalation from the US. He warned that Iran will respond decisively to any “act of aggression” and will react “appropriately” if the US and Israel attack or if regional countries join.

Nournews, a media outlet affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, warned that US strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure would trigger Iranian attacks on oil fields in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, gas fields in Qatar, and Israel, declaring “everything will go up in flames.”

What is the 'deal' Trump referenced?

There is no clear information about this deal from the US, Iran, or mediators. Regional powers like Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, and Pakistan have pressed both Washington and Tehran to de-escalate and return to diplomacy.

Sources from the Pakistani government said Pakistani and Qatari mediators are “cautiously optimistic” about resuming stalled US-Iran negotiations and expect “positive developments” by the end of the week. The sources said they persuaded Trump to postpone new strikes to restart talks.

The most recent ceasefire mediated by Islamabad and Doha in June collapsed quickly over disputes about control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Trump claims the new deal would reopen the strait immediately, but Tehran has shown no sign of changing its stance, insisting it will never return to the pre-war status quo and wants to manage maritime traffic there jointly with Oman—something the US and Gulf allies reject.

In addition, Iran's ally, the Houthis in Yemen, have begun threatening the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a route for Saudi crude exports at the other end of the Red Sea.

Is a breakthrough near?

After 156 days of conflict, an end still seems distant. Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tehran cited Iran's Foreign Ministry accusing the US of violating the ceasefire by ignoring navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing ships to take the southern route near Oman's coast—a route Tehran deems unauthorized. Tehran also accuses Washington of undermining the ceasefire by using commercial vessels to conceal military activities and by imposing new sanctions and a naval blockade.

Ross Harrison, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said it is hard to discern a clear US strategy in the war with Iran as Trump repeatedly signals escalation and then backs down. Iran may believe Trump “blinked” in the face of escalation. Harrison warned that the latest statement is just another pause unless the two sides reach a clear agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, because previous fighting resumed due to ambiguity in the June memorandum.

He also noted that as the conflict drags on, issues in Lebanon, Israel-Palestine, Saudi-Houthis, and Iraq could become entangled, making it harder for decision-makers in Tehran and Washington to control the situation, even if they want to de-escalate.