President Donald Trump announced Sunday that new talks with Iran would begin Monday, stating that the "perimeters" of a deal had been agreed upon and that he had been asked by Iran and U.S. allies in the Middle East to "hold off" on potential strikes.
"They knew the extent of the attack because they saw it forming," Trump told reporters on board Air Force One. "We're talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon."
Trump had previously stated that "massive" strikes on Iran were prepared but were called off. He did not specify the venue for the talks or potential attendees. The U.S. president has stated on previous occasions that a negotiated end to the conflict was nearing, only for retaliatory strikes to resume.
Trump declined to set a deadline for a potential deal with Tehran, adding, "We'll just see how it is. We're ready to go anytime we want... I'm not looking to kill people."
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, along with U.S. partners including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, had urged him against conducting strikes over the weekend, according to Trump. "We were all set to go," he said. "The reason they asked is [that] they think there's a deal. There's a deal on Hormuz, and there will be a deal on the nuclear."
Global oil prices saw a decrease on Monday morning in Asian trading following Trump's announcement. Brent Crude oil was down by 4.5% at $83.98, while U.S.-traded oil was 4.6% lower at $80.74. Energy prices have fluctuated since the conflict began on February 28, as traders reacted to disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which approximately 20% of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas typically flows.
Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency denied Trump's claims, calling them "nothing but a new lie" and stating that Tehran had not requested the U.S. to pause further military action. According to Iranian media, Iran's acting Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that negotiations with Oman regarding a deal on the Strait of Hormuz were "on track for finalisation."
Trump described the planned strikes as potentially "the biggest attack since World War II" and suggested they could have jeopardized prospects for a negotiated resolution to the months-long conflict. He declined to confirm whether the planned strikes targeted Iranian energy infrastructure, an action that international law experts have indicated could constitute a war crime.
Iran's acting Defense Minister Majid Ibn al-Reza previously stated that Tehran viewed threats from adversaries as "real and credible," even if part of psychological warfare. He added, "We will neither be caught off guard nor remain passive."