Trump says US, Israel will hold off Iran strikes
US President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States and Israel had agreed to hold off on new strikes on Iran, provided a deal to end the months-long conflict is reached quickly.
Trump said on Truth Social that the United States was “locked and loaded” and ready to act against Iran, but that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked Washington to hold off any attack. He said he had agreed to cancel the attack “subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL”.
Trump said the deal would have to include the “Immediate, Complete and Total” opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what he called Iran's nuclear threat. He said Israel joined the commitment.
CBS News reported that the United States and Israel were planning joint strikes, possibly through the weekend, with oil refineries and power plants among possible targets.
Axios reported, citing unnamed US officials, that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump on Saturday to express concern about the strike plans. Axios cited a person with knowledge of the call as saying the crown prince urged Trump to de-escalate and refrain from launching the strikes. The White House did not immediately comment on that report.
The wider war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The conflict has included renewed exchanges in recent weeks, and Trump had threatened to hit Iran “very hard” before saying he would hold fire for now.
Update
Trump said any deal would need the immediate, complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what he called Iran's nuclear threat.
CBS News reported that the United States and Israel were planning joint strikes, possibly including oil refineries and power plants.
Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged Trump to de-escalate and refrain from launching strikes.
Trump said the United States was ready to act at levels of military power not seen since World War II, but had agreed to hold fire after a request from Iran and other Middle Eastern countries.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 02:42:41 UTC.
Update
Trump said the planned attack would be cancelled only if a deal could be made rapidly.
Trump said Iran and other Middle Eastern countries asked the United States to hold off.
Trump said Israel joined the commitment to hold off.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 02:21:31 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It is not clear whether a deal can be reached quickly.
The reported US-Israeli strike planning has not been independently confirmed in the supplied material.
The White House did not immediately respond to the Axios report about the Saudi crown prince's call.
Source
AFP news report published on .