{
  "id": 23118,
  "title": "Trump says he is cancelling strikes on Iran subject to 'rapidly' making deal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/trump-says-he-is-cancelling-strikes-on-iran-subject-to-rapidly-making",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T02:44:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjwx74qgld2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Donald Trump announced on social media that he has cancelled planned strikes against Iran, provided a successful deal is reached swiftly with the nation. The president mentioned receiving requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to refrain from attacking as a deal's terms have been agreed upon. This revelation follows reports suggesting the US and Israel might have been plotting intense strikes on Iran. It is not Trump's first instance of issuing apocalyptic warnings, only to later insist on diplomacy. Iran's semi-official news agency, Mehr, refuted Trump's claim, deeming it a new lie. Iran's acting Defense Minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, stated that Tehran perceives every threat from adversaries as real and credible, even if it's a part of psychological warfare. They affirmed they would neither be caught off guard nor remain passive. The heightened tensions stemmed from reports of the US and Israel planning a severe bombing campaign targeting Iran's energy infrastructure. The US government cautioned Americans in the Middle East to stay alert and be prepared to leave if the situation escalates. Trump, on Saturday, declared that the US was \"locked and loaded\" and ready to engage Iran at levels of military terror, strength, and power not seen since World War II, but he chose to cancel the attack for the future benefit of the world and the survival of a successful Iran. In April, Trump had warned of a \"whole civilization dying tonight\" if Iran refused peace talks, threatening to destroy civilian infrastructure and power plants, which many deemed a war crime. This threat led to face-to-face talks in Pakistan, led by Vice-President JD Vance. While Trump's supporters viewed it as vindication, it ended without a deal, as the competing red lines were too difficult to reconcile, even with the threat of civilization's end. During the Friday meeting, Trump reportedly said, \"We'll be hitting them [Iranians] very hard. At some point, they're going to say, 'We just can't take it anymore.'\" A day later, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman called Trump to reduce regional tensions, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and exerting all efforts for a truce leading to diplomatic solutions. US Gulf allies were concerned that while the American mainland is out of reach for Iranian missiles, countries like Bahrain, Jordan, and the UAE are not, with their critical infrastructure such as water desalination plans being prime targets. Washington and Tehran have been engaged in escalating strikes and counter-strikes since April, when a ceasefire fell apart. The US has blockaded Iranian ports and bombed Iranian sites, while Iran has fired missiles and drones at US assets in the Middle East and targeted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. There have been significant fluctuations in oil prices due to the ongoing tensions. Trump faces not only international pressure but also a disapproval rate of around 60% among Americans for the war with Iran, contributing to his falling popularity. Any escalation would likely increase oil prices, further squeezing US consumers, and with crucial US midterm elections approaching, Trump is aware of the domestic consequences his international decisions might have.",
  "summary": "The US president's message came amid media reports that he was planning new, intense strikes on Iran over the weekend.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Trump says he is cancelling strikes on Iran subject to 'rapidly' making deal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/trump-says-he-is-cancelling-strikes-on-iran-subject-to-rapidly-making-23441",
        "published": "2026-08-02T02:44:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}