Trump says US 'locked and loaded' but will hold off on fresh Iran attack in hope of quick deal

President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that the United States remains "locked and loaded" but chose to postpone a fresh attack on Iran, pending the swift conclusion of a deal to dismantle Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, along with various Middle Eastern nations, requested a period to finalize a deal that would lead to the "Immediate, Complete and Total" opening of the Strait and put an end to Iran's nuclear threats.

In response, Trump agreed to halt the attack, provided a rapid deal could be reached. Notably, Israel aligned itself with this commitment. However, Iran issued a stern warning to the US against any aggressive action, vowing to retaliate decisively if American forces proceeded with Trump's threat of additional strikes on Iranian targets.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi engaged in phone discussions with senior officials from Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia on Saturday, emphasizing Iran's readiness to respond to any aggression and discussing the potential for heightened regional instability. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reached out to Trump on Saturday, expressing concern and requesting clarity on US intentions regarding Iran.

This diplomatic pressure, coupled with the ongoing attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, has fueled the spike in oil prices and has prompted concerns about potential retaliatory strikes from Iran against Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Israel. High oil prices since the onset of the war in February have exerted pressure on Trump to find a way to end the conflict, while also raising questions about the sustainability of the economic strain on the US populace.