Trump Halts Strikes on Iran to Pursue Peace Deal and Reopen Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has suspended planned military strikes against Iran with citing an emerging peace deal brokered by Middle Eastern allies aimed at reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz and neutralizing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Taking to his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump announced that Iran and regional allies had requested time to finalize a framework for peace. He claimed the tentative agreement would ensure the "immediate, complete and total" reopening of the Strait of Hormuz a crucial waterway that traditionally handles 20 percent of global oil and gas shipments. Trump added that Israel has also agreed to pause military actions to allow negotiations, though he warned the US remains "locked and loaded" should talks collapse.

The sudden de-escalation followed a phone call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to diplomatic sources, the Crown Prince urged dialogue also warning that renewed US bombardment could provoke Iranian retaliation against Gulf energy hubs and severely impacting the global economy.

However, Tehran offered a starkly different narrative regarding the negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei dismissed Trump’s social media claims as "psychological warfare." While confirming ongoing bilateral maritime talks with neighboring Oman, Baghaei firmly stated that the Strait of Hormuz "will in no way return to the status it was before February 28" the day the five-month conflict began.

Rather than reopening previous shipping lanes, Iran and Oman are negotiating an entirely new maritime route that ensures Iran’s sovereign rights. Baghaei emphasized that Iran would not bow to media pressure and warned that any nation providing military bases or logistical support for US or Israeli aggression would face severe retaliatory consequences.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen maintained that Tel Aviv is coordinating closely with Washington. He warned that regardless of any diplomatic pauses, Israel will launch immediate military strikes if Iran attempts to advance its nuclear or ballistic missile programs.