Trump Cancels Iran Strikes After Saudi Prince Urges De-escalation

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with President Donald Trump by phone on Saturday, expressing concerns about planned U.S. military strikes against Iran and urging him to pursue diplomatic negotiations instead. During the call, the crown prince sought clarity on Trump's intended actions and warned that massive strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure could prompt Tehran to retaliate against Saudi and other Gulf states' energy facilities.

Shortly after the reported conversation, Trump announced via social media that he had agreed to cancel the planned attacks, conditional on the ability to rapidly reach a deal. Trump stated that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had requested a delay in military action due to "limitations of an agreement that has been approved," which he said would include full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear weapons threat. Earlier, Trump had said the U.S. would strike Iran "very hard" in response to Iranian missile attacks on a U.S. base in Jordan and ongoing disruptions to shipping lanes.

The exchange reflects broader regional anxiety over the five-month conflict. Saudi Arabia had previously participated in joint U.S. strikes against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq but has been consistently urging both the U.S. and Iran to return to negotiations. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman visited Washington earlier in the week for separate meetings with Trump and Vice President JD Vance to discuss de-escalation strategy. Qatar also engaged in mediation efforts Saturday, with Qatari officials holding separate talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Omani officials regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi warned the U.S. against "adventurous" actions, stating those responsible would face consequences. He also conveyed to Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister that any hostile U.S. or Israeli action, or regional support for it, would draw a firm and proportionate response from Iran's armed forces.

The U.S. State Department issued new security alerts on Saturday for Americans in 10 regional countries—Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—warning of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions due to escalating tensions.