President Donald Trump said on Saturday (August 1, 2026) that the United States and Israel had agreed to hold off on any new strikes on Iran, provided a deal to end the months-long conflict is quickly reached.

Fears had mounted that the fighting could escalate once again, after Mr. Trump threatened to hit Iran “very hard,” and was reportedly considering renewed heavy attacks, including against energy infrastructure targets.

CBS News reported that the United States and Israel were planning joint strikes, possibly throughout the weekend, with oil refineries and power plants among possible targets.

“The USA is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II,” Mr. Trump said late on Saturday (August 1) in a post on his Truth Social platform.

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But the Republican billionaire said he would hold fire for now.

“Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack,” he said.

“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” he said.

The U.S. President said the deal would have to include the “Immediate, Complete and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”

“The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE.”

After more than five months of war, which began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, there is seemingly no end to the conflict, with a resumption of tit-for-tat attacks in recent weeks.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman called Trump on Saturday (August 1) to express concerns about his strike plans, Axios reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials.

One source with knowledge of the call told Axios that the Saudi crown prince had “urged Trump to de-escalate and refrain from launching the strikes.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the report.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday (July 13, 2026) that the United States is “reinstating” a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and will charge ships for safe passage, after another heavy exchange of fire threatened negotiations aimed at ending the war.

He said on social media that Iranian ships will no longer be able to travel through the Strait and America would charge a 20% toll on eligible cargo, as the conflict with Iran has intensified after peace talks failed to deliver meaningful progress.

“We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving,” Mr. Trump said online. “All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.” The President said the toll would help cover “any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World.” A fifth of the world’s oil and gas passed through the strait before Iran asserted control over it after the start of the war.

The latest exchange of fire was sparked by an Iranian attack on a container ship on Sunday (July 12, 2026) in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has asserted control over the critical waterway for international oil and gas since the United States and Israel started the war on Feb. 28.

Iran says it has the right to manage traffic through the strait and potentially charge fees in accordance with an interim peace deal reached last month. The U.S. and others dispute that, citing international law on freedom of navigation, and the American military has tried to establish an alternative route outside of Iranian control.

Iran and the U.S. are nearly halfway through the 60-day period in which they were supposed to negotiate a permanent end to the war and an agreement on Iran’s disputed nuclear program. Instead, a series of attacks over the strait have raised fears of a return to all-out war and further disruption to the global economy.

Oil prices jumped nearly 5% on Monday (July 13, 2026) before falling back. U.S. benchmark crude, which had risen to nearly $120 a barrel at the height of the war, was trading at around $72.92. Markets were mixed.

Iran on Friday (June 12, 2026) said it had not reached a final decision on a deal with Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “great settlement” to end the war.

“So far, Iran has not reached a final conclusion on the agreement,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said, after Mr. Trump said he expected a deal to be signed in Europe in the coming days.

The Tasnim news agency noted that Mr. Trump had announced a deal was imminent 38 times in the previous two months.

“Until Iran announces the matter of a potential understanding, any news from Trump on this subject should be regarded the same as his previous messaging,” it warned.

Iran’s military command said on Thursday (June 11, 2026) it will target any ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, after it struck two vessels attempting to pass through the strategic waterway.

“Any vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted” the Khatam al-Anbiya command said, according to Tasnim news agency, adding that the strait is now “completely closed to all types of vessel”, following fresh U.S. airstrikes against Iran.

The Iranian navy, quoted by state television IRIB and the Mehr agency, said that “two ships attempting to illegally pass through the Strait of Hormuz were hit”.

New rounds of U.S. airstrikes against Iran

The U.S. military said on Wednesday (June 10, 2026) night that it has begun fresh round of strikes against Iran after President Donald Trump said more were coming. The escalating attacks threatened to derail efforts to end the war, with Mr. Trump warning that Tehran would “pay the price” for stalled negotiations.

U.S. Central Command said in a social media post that the military is striking “multiple targets in Iran” and that it’s being done “in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression”.

The strikes come a day after the U.S. struck Iran following the crash of an Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz that Mr. Trump blamed on the Islamic Republic.

Mr. Trump urged Iran to sign a deal to end the war.

Earlier on Wednesday (June 10), the U.S. military said it had fired on an oil tanker attempting to transport oil from Iran in violation of its blockade on Iranian ports.

Iran’s United Nations envoy said the U.S. should refrain from threats of force if it wants a deal.

“Iran has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit to pressure or question,” Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

(With inputs from AP, AFP)

The U.S. military said on Wednesday (June 10, 2026) night that it has begun fresh round of strikes against Iran after President Donald Trump said more were coming. The escalating attacks threatened to derail efforts to end the war, with Mr. Trump warning that Tehran would “pay the price” for stalled negotiations.

U.S. Central Command said in a social media post that the military is striking “multiple targets in Iran” and that it’s being done “in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression”.

The strikes come a day after the U.S. struck Iran following the crash of an Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz that Mr. Trump blamed on the Islamic Republic.

Mr. Trump urged Iran to sign a deal to end the war.

Earlier on Wednesday (June 10), the U.S. military said it had fired on an oil tanker attempting to transport oil from Iran in violation of its blockade on Iranian ports.

Iran’s United Nations envoy said the U.S. should refrain from threats of force if it wants a deal.

“Iran has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit to pressure or question,” Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the UN Security Council on Wednesday.