Trump says US, Israel to hold off on Iran strikes

President Donald Trump said on 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 "rapidly" reached.

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

Trump said the US was "locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran," but added that Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked him to hold off on fresh strikes.

"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," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

The US 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 Tehran, there is seemingly no end to the conflict in sight.

A previous ceasefire deal with similar terms, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, fell through, and Iran has since tightened its control over the vital waterway as the two countries resumed attacks against each other in recent weeks.
The resumption of hostilities has caused global oil prices, which had dipped during the initial ceasefire, to again rise.
And the back-and-forth comes just three months before midterm elections in the United States that could pose a challenge for Trump's Republican Party.

Agence France-Presse