🔸 TRUMP HOLDS OFF MASSIVE IRAN STRIKE AHEAD OF NEGOTIATIONS: President Trump said the United States had been prepared to launch an exceptionally large attack against Iran, but paused the operation following requests from Iran and several Gulf allies.
“We had an attack that would've been the biggest attack since World War II. It would have been disastrous for them,” Trump said.
“I was asked to by Saudi Arabia, by UAE, and by Qatar, and by Iran. We were all set to go, just about at this time right now, and it would've been a massive attack... The reason they asked [to call it off] is they ‘think‘ there's a deal. There's a deal on Hormuz and then there will be a deal on the denuclearization of Iran... So, we're holding it. We'll just see.”
Trump separately said: “When the allies asked to call it off, you gotta say, ‘Well, let's see.’ Allies think there is a deal. There is a deal on Hormuz, and it will be a deal on the nuclear.”
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that negotiations were scheduled for Monday afternoon and said a peace agreement would “save a lot of lives.”
Senator Rick Scott said Trump was “giving diplomacy a chance,” but expressed doubt that the negotiations would succeed.
“Do I think it's going to work? Probably not,” Scott said.
Scott argued that Iran would continue pursuing a nuclear weapon unless its capabilities were completely destroyed and said the United States must remain prepared to use military force.
♟️ AMIT SEGAL OFFERS MORE OPTIMISTIC INTERPRETATION FOR ISRAEL: Israeli commentator Amit Segal assessed that President Trump has been balancing two priorities since April: keeping the Strait of Hormuz as open as possible and maintaining low energy prices.
Segal argued that the current situation may serve Israeli interests. Iran has not received a single dollar for oil that has been cut off, while uncertainty over renewed American action is discouraging countries and companies from doing business with Tehran.
He contrasted the current situation with earlier concerns that Trump might reach a poor agreement that would quickly provide Iran with substantial funds.
Segal suggested there is more logic to Trump’s approach than initially appears and that he is deliberately buying time until the U.S. midterm elections. He said the internal polling Trump has received appears more optimistic than public polling.
📉 OIL PRICES FALL, BUT ATTACKS AND SHIPPING DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE: Oil prices fell by more than $4 per barrel after Trump delayed further strikes while seeking an agreement addressing Iran’s nuclear threat and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude fell 5.1% to $83.44 per barrel, while U.S. crude dropped 5.8% to $79.77. Both had risen by more than 20% during the previous month amid renewed U.S.-Iran fighting, tanker attacks near Oman and reduced Gulf shipping.
Analysts warned that negotiations could still collapse if Iran continues using control of the strait as leverage or if further attacks occur. Three additional tanker attacks have been reported since Saturday.
Two tankers carrying Saudi oil exited the Red Sea through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait over the weekend.
OPEC+ separately approved a September production increase of approximately 188,000 barrels per day, completing the rollback of one layer of voluntary production cuts. Continuing export disruptions connected to the Iran and Ukraine wars have limited the impact of recent increases.
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