Trump Pauses Military Strike, Opens Talks with Iran on Nuclear Deal and Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump announced Monday that negotiations with Iran, to be conducted through intermediaries, are set to commence. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump stated: "We are talking to them in the form of a negotiation; it begins tomorrow afternoon, and we'll see how it goes."

Trump revealed he had called off a planned "massive attack" after requests from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Iran itself. He indicated that regional parties believe a deal is possible, particularly regarding management of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's denuclearisation.

Trump expressed his preference for a negotiated settlement over military action. "I'm not looking to kill people, because a lot of people die; we don't want that," he said. Regional intermediaries are working to revive diplomatic frameworks between Washington and Tehran.