By Reuters, August 2, 2026, 8:41:10 AM IST
U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Saturday he would delay a new military strike on Iran so long as a quick deal can be reached to curb Tehran’s nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump said Iran and “other Middle Eastern Countries” had asked for time to finalize an agreement that would result in the “Immediate, Complete and Total” reopening of the Strait and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.” He added: “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.” He also wrote that Israel “joins me in this commitment.”
Iran warned Washington against any “adventurous action,” saying it would retaliate decisively if American forces carried out threats of fresh attacks on Iranian targets.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke by phone on Saturday with senior officials in Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, warning that Tehran would respond firmly to any “aggression” and discussing the consequences of destabilizing U.S. actions and the risk of increased regional insecurity, according to Araqchi’s Telegram account. Araqchi later told Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan that any U.S. or Israeli strikes, or participation by regional states, would be met with a “proportionate response.”
Kuwait’s army said it had shot down hostile drones launched by Iran against several vital facilities on Saturday. Kuwaiti authorities reported a government facility in northern Kuwait and civilian property on Bubiyan Island were hit by falling shrapnel; there were material damages but no casualties.
A media outlet linked to Iran’s top security body, Nournews, warned that U.S. strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure would prompt attacks on oil fields in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and on gas fields in Qatar and Israel, saying “all will be burned to ashes.”
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump on Saturday and “expressed concern and asked for clarity” about U.S. plans for Iran, a U.S. official told Axios. A White House official confirmed the crown prince had spoken with the president but provided no further details.
At a cabinet meeting Friday at the Camp David retreat, Trump said he believed U.S. negotiators — including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — could still secure a deal with Iran. He also said he was losing faith in Tehran, asserting, “They break their word so often,” and added that he would be “hitting them” if necessary.
The conflict has unsettled global energy markets. Oil prices have remained elevated since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28. Benchmark Brent crude futures rose 24% in July, and Reuters polling shows analysts expect prices to climb further this year. The threat of Iranian attacks has discouraged most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy exports, amplifying economic concerns.
Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen have also threatened the Bab el-Mandeb strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, another vital corridor for oil shipments. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported two maritime incidents off Oman on Saturday: one tanker suffered engine-room damage after being struck by an unknown projectile, and another vessel’s master reported a large splash and explosion nearby, though no damage was confirmed.
Tensions remain high across the region, with both military actions and diplomatic contacts ongoing as leaders weigh the prospects of a rapid deal against the risks of further escalation.