Trump Cancels Iran Strikes as Tehran Sets Long Negotiation Timeline

President Donald Trump agreed on Sunday to cancel planned military strikes against Iranian energy networks, provided a rapid deal can be reached. The decision followed a diplomatic campaign by Iran and a direct appeal from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who urged the U.S. president to pursue a ceasefire and return to negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had warned Saudi, Turkish, and Qatari counterparts, as well as Pakistan's army chief, that Tehran would retaliate against Gulf oil, power, and water infrastructure if the U.S. targeted Iranian energy networks. While Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman pushed for diplomacy to avoid regional destruction, Saudi Arabia maintained it would militarily respond to any attack on its own territory.

Following the ceasefire agreement, Iran established a protracted negotiating timetable designed to keep the U.S. administration embroiled in the conflict through the November midterm elections. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that the second phase of nuclear program negotiations could take two to four months after resolving commercial shipping issues in the strait of Hormuz.

Tehran is demanding the lifting of sanctions, the end of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, the unfreezing of assets, and non-belligerence commitments. While President Masoud Pezeshkian advocates for a June memorandum of understanding to avoid endless war, hardline factions and the newspaper Kayhan argue the U.S. cannot be trusted and oppose using the strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip.