On August 1, U.S. President Trump took to social media to announce he would cancel the military strike against Iran, provided that “a deal can be reached quickly.” He stated that the agreement would include the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the elimination of “Iran’s nuclear threat.” According to Reuters on August 2, over the weekend, Iran sent a warning to the U.S., cautioning against any “adventurous moves” and making it clear that if American forces followed through on Trump’s strike threat and targeted Iranian interests, Tehran would respond decisively.
Trump claimed that the U.S. was fully prepared to take action against Iran, describing the military deterrence and combat scale as “unprecedented since World War II.” However, he said that Iran and other Middle Eastern nations had just asked Washington to hold off on the attack, as the parties involved had initially reached a framework for an agreement. The deal would include the immediate, comprehensive, and thorough reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, along with addressing the nuclear threat posed by Iran. “Based on this request, I have agreed to call off the military strike, but only if all parties can quickly finalize the agreement. Israel is with me on this commitment. Everyone needs to move immediately to make this deal happen,” Trump said.
Reuters reported on August 2 that during a cabinet meeting held at Camp David last Friday, Trump expressed confidence that his negotiating team—including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—still had a chance to reach an agreement with Iran.
Just one day before Trump’s post, the U.S. had signaled a major escalation against Iran. On July 31, U.S. media quoted officials as saying Trump was “seriously considering” launching strikes on Iranian energy facilities within days, potentially starting as early as that weekend and spanning several days. But Trump had not yet given the final order. The U.S. government urged American citizens in the Middle East to stay vigilant and be prepared to evacuate in case of “an escalation in the region.” U.S. embassies across the Middle East—including Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—forwarded security alerts warning of possible “unexpected escalations.” Earlier that day, CBS News, citing multiple sources, reported that the U.S. and Israel were planning “the most intense bombing campaign yet” against Iran’s energy infrastructure, potentially lasting the entire weekend.
According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency on the night of August 1, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone calls with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to exchange views on the regional situation and U.S.-Israeli actions. In his calls with Munir and Fidan, Araghchi warned the U.S. against any “adventurous moves,” stressing that Iran was fully prepared to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security, and would respond firmly to any act of aggression. Reuters later reported on August 2 that Araghchi also called Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal, warning that if the U.S. and Israel launched strikes—or if regional nations cooperated with such actions—Iran would respond with proportionate countermeasures.
According to Axios on August 1, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump by phone that day, expressing concerns over the new large-scale strike plan against Iran and urging Washington to hold off. Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, Pakistan, and others also called for de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran to avoid a broader conflict. Qatari mediators held talks with Araghchi, U.S. special envoy Witkoff, and Omani officials on August 1, seeking to broker a deal that would restore normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters reported on August 2 that Iran’s Nour News, affiliated with the country’s top security body, put out a message on August 1: if the U.S. struck Iran’s energy infrastructure, Iran would immediately attack Saudi and Emirati oil fields, Qatari gas facilities, and Israeli targets, warning that “everything will turn to scorched earth.”
The rapidly shifting U.S.-Iran situation has also rattled the Strait of Hormuz. Since the U.S.-Israeli coalition launched strikes on February 28 and opened hostilities with Iran, international oil prices have stayed elevated. Reuters noted that Trump has said preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is the core objective, and while short-term fuel price hikes are unavoidable, the economic pressure from high prices is pushing him to find a way to end the conflict.
Reuters reported on August 2 that after the conflict broke out, shipping companies largely avoided the Strait of Hormuz for fear of Iranian attacks. The disruption of this critical global energy artery continues to weigh on the world economy. Iran’s Fars News Agency, citing sources on August 2, reported that the plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is pure rumor. One source said no agreement has been reached on reopening the strait, and reports to that effect are entirely false. Another informed military source stressed that as long as the U.S. continues hostile actions, the strait will remain closed, with vessels only allowed to transit via announced routes and only with permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. Earlier that day, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi had overnight agreed to a U.S.- and Qatari-proposed plan to “reopen the Strait of Hormuz,” which it said prompted President Trump to cancel the planned strike on Iran.
