Trump Halts Iran Strikes as Hormuz Deal Looms

President Donald Trump announced a halt to planned military strikes against Iran, stating that the "perimeters of a deal" have been reached to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The decision followed discussions with the Saudi Crown Prince, who raised concerns over the scale of the proposed attacks. While Trump claimed that Iran and regional neighbors requested the cancellation, Iranian officials denied making such a request.

Despite the diplomatic shift, maritime tensions remained high. The United States redirected 35 commercial ships in response to an Iranian blockade of the strategic waterway, and reports emerged of projectiles hitting tankers near Oman. While Trump signaled that formal talks to end the war would begin on Monday, contradictory reports indicated that some strikes continued to land, prompting Iran to vow punishment for the "heavy wave" of attacks.

Regional volatility persisted as the Cabinet of Israel flagged serious security concerns regarding a proposed disarmament deal with Hamas. Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran and Oman were in the final stages of a deal to manage the Strait of Hormuz. To address other global tensions, Trump coordinated currency market interventions with Japan to stabilize the yen, describing the move as a "signal of friendship."