U.S. President Donald Trump called off additional strikes against Iran over the weekend, saying negotiations would begin Monday — though the announcement follows a pattern of delayed military action that has yet to produce a lasting deal to end the war.
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Trump said the strikes would have been the largest military action in over half a century.
"It was going to be a massive attack that would have been by far the biggest attack since World War II," Trump said. "But they have asked us not to do it — and their neighbors. So we are just going to see if we can make a deal."
Trump suggested the request from allies signals a deal may be within reach.
"When the allies ask you to call it off, you got to say 'well, the reason they asked is I think there is a deal,'" he said. "There is a deal on Hormuz and I think a deal on the nuclear."
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The announcement came hours after the State Department warned Americans in the Middle East to exercise caution and consider leaving — a step commonly taken before major military action. Trump confirmed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a role in convincing him to hold off on significant strikes, as did other Gulf states.
Still, skepticism remains. The Wall Street Journal editorial board noted Sunday that Trump "has already ended the Iran war eight times," raising questions about whether this latest round of diplomacy will yield a different result. The number of times Trump has delayed strikes in favor of diplomacy that ultimately failed to produce a deal gives reason for doubt.
