US-Iran war: Trump announces halting strikes on Iran, says Gulf allies called for a deal; what we know
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) announced that he had decided to call off ordering American forces to carry out new strikes against
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) announced that he had decided to call off ordering American forces to carry out new strikes against Iran following requests from Gulf allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Trump says regional allies backed calling off strikes Trump made these remarks while addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew back to the capital after spending the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The US President said, “I'm not looking to kill people because people die... we don't want that... I asked Saudi Arabia's king and crown prince. I said, would you rather have us do this or not? They said, we would much prefer a deal... Because you don't know where these attacks lead. I mean, they will be flooded with people pouring into their country, and it will be a disaster. A lot of bad things can happen.” Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What prompted Trump to call off strikes against Iran? ⌵ Trump decided to halt strikes on Iran following requests from Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, who emphasized the importance of diplomacy to prevent regional conflict.
2 Why did Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urge Trump to prioritize diplomacy with Iran? ⌵ The Crown Prince warned that any military escalation could widen the conflict, endangering regional and global security, and advocated for a negotiated settlement instead. 3 How did Iran respond to Trump's claim that they requested a pause in military action? ⌵ Iran denied Trump's assertion, calling it a 'new lie,' and stated that their armed forces were prepared for any potential U.S. military action. 4 What key topics will the upcoming negotiations between the U.S. and Iran focus on? ⌵ The negotiations will focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane, and addressing Iran's nuclear program. 5 What factors contributed to the U.S. decision to shift focus from military action to negotiations regarding Iran? ⌵ Concerns over escalating violence, the depletion of U.S. military resources, and pressure from regional allies influenced the decision to pursue diplomatic solutions. His remarks marked a sharp turnaround from a day earlier, when he said he was “losing faith” in negotiations with Iran and warned that the US military "will be hitting them very hard." The comments came after he spoke with the Saudi crown prince on 1 August, before announcing that Middle East allies had reached the "perimeters" of a deal to end the five-month-old war.
The BriefWire