US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, that negotiations with Iran are set to begin on Monday, August 3rd, after he decided to hold off on new military strikes against the Islamic republic in pursuit of a deal.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed that a plan was in place for the US to launch "the biggest attack since World War II" against Iran but that he halted it to give diplomacy a chance. He explained that Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, as well as Iran itself, urged him to delay the planned strikes.

Trump specifically mentioned that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned against the strikes, citing possible unintended consequences. The US president said, "When the allies asked to call it off, you’ve got to sort [of] say: ‘Well, let’s see.’ And the reason they ask is they think there’s a deal."

He added, "There’s a deal on (the Strait of) Hormuz and then there will be a deal on the nuclear, or you might call it the denuclearisation of Iran."

Trump did not provide further details about the venue or participants of the upcoming talks. The announcement came amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, including a recent phone call between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Sources