WASHINGTON, — U.S. President Donald Trump announced that negotiations with Iran will begin on Monday in an effort to finalize an agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, after he postponed a planned large-scale military strike against the Islamic Republic over the weekend.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said diplomacy would take priority over military action as both sides prepare to resume negotiations.
“We’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon, and we’ll see if it’s good. I’d love to do that. We’d save a lot of lives and a lot of unnecessary power,” Trump said.
Trump indicated that the immediate objective of the negotiations is to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes for global energy supplies.
The U.S. president had previously stated that the proposed agreement would also address Iran’s nuclear program. However, his latest remarks suggest that the negotiations will proceed in phases.
According to Trump, the first agreement will focus exclusively on restoring maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while discussions on Iran’s nuclear activities are expected to take place under a separate framework.
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Trump identified Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar as the regional partners that urged Washington to postpone the planned military operation against Iran.
“We were all set to go at this time right now, and it would have been a massive attack,” Trump said. “But the allies asked to call it off. The reason they asked is they think there’s a deal.”
His statement differs from earlier media reports suggesting that some Gulf allies favored a tougher U.S. response toward Tehran
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Trump’s comments also indicate that negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program may only begin after an initial agreement on the Strait of Hormuz is reached.
The proposed talks would effectively restore the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in June, which provided a 60-day window for Washington and Tehran to negotiate a broader nuclear agreement. With fewer than 30 days reportedly remaining before that deadline expires, the timeline for reaching a comprehensive accord remains uncertain.
Trump declined to provide a target date for concluding either the Hormuz agreement or subsequent nuclear negotiations but expressed optimism that diplomacy could prevent further escalation in the region.
The renewed diplomatic initiative comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf and growing international concerns over maritime security, regional stability, and Iran’s nuclear activities.
