Sunday 2 August 2026London --:--Frankfurt --:--Zurich --:--
France · News

Middle East live: Trump holds off on striking Iran, calls for 'rapid' deal to end the conflict

US President Donald Trump said 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. Iran's…

Middle East live: Trump holds off on striking Iran, calls for 'rapid' deal to end the conflict

Iran media calls Trump claim that Tehran asked US not to strike a 'new lie'

Iran's Mehr news agency denied US President Donald Trump's claim that the Islamic republic asked the United States to refrain from conducting new strikes.


Citing military officials, the agency said the allegation "was nothing but a new lie" and that the Iranian armed forces were "on high alert and ready for any eventuality".

Iran sees every threat from adversaries as 'real and credible', acting defence minister says

⁠Tehran ​views every threat ​from its adversaries as "real and credible" even ​if ‌made ⁠as part of psychological ‌warfare, Iran's acting ⁠defence minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, said ​on Sunday according ‌to state media.


"We will neither ‌be caught off ​guard nor remain passive," he said, adding that ​Iran would ​use threats ​as a basis ​to increase its military readiness, strengthen deterrence and enhance ⁠its military capabilities.


Saudi crown prince tells Trump dialogue needed to de-escalate Middle East tensions

⁠Saudi ⁠Crown ​Prince ​Mohammed bin Salman stressed in ​a ‌phone ⁠call ‌with US President ⁠Donald Trump the

"necessity ​of prioritising ‌dialogue to de-escalate ‌tensions" ​in the Middle East, according to ​Saudi ​Arabia's state ​news ​agency.



Saudi crown prince urged Trump not to escalate Iran war

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader, in a phone call with President Donald Trump on Saturday raised concerns about the US potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders’ discussion.


The Saudis, according to the person briefed on the substance of the call but not authorized to comment publicly, are concerned that if the US targets Iran’s energy infrastructure or carries out massive strikes on other key infrastructure that Tehran could respond by carrying out attacks on the kingdom’s and other Gulf countries’ energy infrastructure.

Trump's announcement on social media

The emerging deal “would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” Trump wrote in a Saturday evening social media post.


“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 said.


Israel agreed to join the U.S. in the commitment to try to complete the agreement with Iran that would bring about an end to the war, he added. Iran did not offer any immediate public reaction to the announcement.


Trump says US, Israel to hold off on Iran strikes

President Donald Trump said 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.


 

Yesterday's key developments:

  • The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said ​Saturday it had received reports of two maritime incidents off Oman, including one in which a tanker was ​struck ‌by an unknown projectile.

  •  ⁠Kuwait's ⁠army ​it had detected and destroyed hostile ​drones ‌in ⁠the country's airspace and that what ⁠it described as an Iranian ​attack had targeted ‌several vital facilities.

  •  US embassies in capitals across the Middle East on Saturday warned their citizens to beware of "unforeseen escalation" in the regional conflict and urged them to be ready to leave.

(the broadcaster with AFP, AP, Reuters)

Topics
FranceEurope

More from France

FranceThe week in pictures: European wildfires, a woolly mammoth and a migrant influx at Spain's CeutaFranceCapital One bank cites money-laundering probe to justify closing Trump Organization accountsFranceThe Dartmouth Workshop: The $7,500 investment that gave birth to AI (2/2)FranceFrance's fires are 'today under control', says PM Lecornu