Tuesday, July 28, 2026 -President Donald Trump stated that he decided to pause military strikes against Iran to allow diplomatic negotiations another opportunity, but cautioned that he is prepared to authorize a return to expanded military operations if discussions breakdown.
The current diplomatic efforts are centered on establishing a
new agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and reviving broader
negotiations regarding a comprehensive nuclear deal.
While discussions are primarily taking place between Iran and
Oman, key regional actors including Qatar, Pakistan, and Egypt, alongside
Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, remain actively involved in the
mediation process.
Speaking on the ongoing diplomatic push, Trump emphasized the
narrow window for reaching an accord:
“We are in very deep talks with
Iran. If they don't work out, we will go back to very strong military action.”
When questioned on how long he was prepared to allow
diplomatic efforts to continue, the president stressed that time was limited:
“Not much time. Either it goes fast
or not at all.”
Addressing the decision to halt military operations, Trump
explained that regional mediators and partner nations urged Washington to give
negotiations another chance:
“All of the people that deal with Iran asked me: 'Don't
fire.'”
Expressing confidence that Tehran seeks an agreement, Trump
framed the operational pause as a risk-free calculated choice:
“Nothing gained, nothing lost.”
He also observed that global oil prices declined while stock
markets saw gains immediately following the suspension of attacks.
For the first time in two weeks, military commanders were
instructed to hold fire and refrain from executing planned strikes targeting
Iranian assets along Iran's southern coast and around the Strait of Hormuz. The
command was issued following a high-level briefing where military officials
presented updated operational strike options. Although leaning toward major
combat operations earlier in the week, internal deliberations shifted toward a
temporary pause ahead of the decision.
Regional sources indicate that while Oman-mediated
discussions with Iran have made noticeable progress, a final agreement has yet
to be finalized.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi held consultative
calls with counterparts across Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Egypt.
Official statements confirmed that the dialogue focused on developing practical
and sustainable frameworks to guarantee maritime safety through the Strait of
Hormuz.
Among proposals under consideration is a model allowing
regional states—including Iran and Oman to collect reasonable service fees for
maritime security and environmental protection. The framework mirrors
mechanisms used in the Strait of Malacca, where coastal states charge passing
vessels for specific maritime services. Alternatively, collected revenues could
be directed into a joint fund overseen with participation from the
International Maritime Organization.
Looking ahead, Trump is scheduled to host Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Outlining his agenda for the
upcoming bilateral meeting, Trump noted:
“I am going to talk to Bibi about
the fact that if I weren't president, Iran would have had nuclear weapons by
now and Israel would have been destroyed.”
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