Trump Announces Talks With Iran, Pauses Planned Military Action

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States will begin talks with Iran on Monday afternoon, opting for diplomacy after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar urged Washington to halt a planned military operation. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Trump said the discussions will focus on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear disarmament, expressing optimism that an agreement can be reached. Trump also claimed that Iran had appealed to the United States to abandon the planned military action, adding that Washington chose negotiations over force in response to requests from regional partners and Tehran. The announcement follows a phone conversation on Saturday between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during which concerns were raised over the proposed military plan. Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE and Türkiye have also called on both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation in the region.