US President Donald Trump has claimed that a preliminary outline for a deal to end the war with Iran has been agreed upon, indicating that there will be no new military attacks for the time being.
In a social media post, Trump stated that the proposed deal includes keeping the Strait of Hormuz fully open and ending Iran’s nuclear threat. "If a deal is possible, I am willing to cancel the attack for the sake of a great future for the world and a prosperous Iran," Trump wrote.
According to Trump, Israel has also supported the US efforts to reach a deal with Iran to end the war. However, there has been no immediate response from Iran to Trump’s announcement. This is the latest development in the conflict, which has been ongoing for five months.
The US and Israel launched military action against Iran on February 28. At the time, Trump stated that the goals were to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, stop its nuclear weapons development, and end support for Iran-backed armed groups.
However, the objectives and strategies of the war have changed over time. After a temporary ceasefire in June, there were expectations of a permanent agreement, but the ceasefire was broken after ships were attacked again in the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia’s concerns arose after a phone conversation between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to sources familiar with the conversation, the crown prince expressed concerns that the US-Iran conflict could escalate further.
The source stated that if the US were to launch a major attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure, bridges, or power plants, Iran could retaliate by targeting Saudi Arabia’s and other Gulf countries’ energy infrastructure, resulting in significant revenue losses.
The crown prince had asked Trump for clarification on potential US actions against Iran. A White House official confirmed that the conversation took place but did not provide further details.
Earlier in the week, Saudi Arabia supported a US operation against an Iran-backed group in Iraq. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has been urging the US and Iran to engage in dialogue.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had sent his brother and Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman to Washington to discuss Iran strategy. Khalid bin Salman met separately with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
Meanwhile, Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. This was their first in-person meeting since the war began in February. Netanyahu urged the US to continue its military campaign against Iran.
As the US midterm elections approach in November, the war is becoming increasingly challenging for the Trump administration politically. The conflict, which has affected the global economy, is also unpopular among the American public.
Earlier in the week, Trump warned of a strong response after an Iranian missile attack on a US military base in Jordan was thwarted by American forces. On Friday, he stated that the US is "ready to win" and would take "very tough" action if necessary.
The White House press secretary, Carolyn Levitt, accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by targeting commercial ships and American troops. Before Trump’s latest announcement, US officials were on high alert. Trump stated that the US military is fully prepared and capable of taking immediate action if needed.
In the meantime, the US State Department has issued a high-security alert for American citizens in 10 countries in the Middle East due to the escalating tensions with Iran.
Replies
No replies yet. Log in to be the first to reply!