Trump says he called off strikes, new talks with Iran due this afternoon
Trump says he postponed planned strikes and that talks with Iran will start this afternoon; allies reportedly asked for a delay
US President Donald Trump announced that new talks with Iran are due to begin “this afternoon” after he said he had called off planned large-scale strikes against the country.
Speaking to reporters aboard the presidential plane, Trump said the other side had known preparations were underway and that Washington is now engaging “in the form of negotiations.”
Allies requested a pause, markets reacted
On his social network, Truth Social, Trump wrote that Iran and American partners in the Middle East had asked for a postponement because a deal might be possible. He also said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and partners from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, asked the United States not to strike over the weekend.
Trump added in his remarks that “There is a deal on Hormuz, and there will be one on the nuclear program,” and he emphasised: “I don’t want to kill people.” He did not disclose where the talks would be held or who would take part.
Tehran has not issued an official response to Trump’s comments. The semi-official Mehr news agency said Iran did not request a delay and described Trump’s statements as “nothing but a new lie.”
After Trump’s remarks oil prices fell in Asian trading: Brent crude dropped 4.5 percent and US crude fell 4.6 percent.
Photo: press material from the event
