President Donald Trump announced Sunday that negotiations between the United States and Iran will resume Monday afternoon, one day after he halted what he described as a massive military strike in order to give diplomacy another chance.

Speaking with reporters, Trump confirmed that discussions with Tehran are set to restart following appeals from several Middle Eastern nations urging the United States to delay military action while negotiators pursue a broader agreement.

The president said he agreed to postpone the planned operation after receiving requests from regional allies as well as from Iran itself.

“I was asked to [call off the strikes] by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, by Qatar, and by Iran. We are all set to go, at about this time right now. It would have been a massive attack,” Trump said.

“When the allies asked to call it off, you gotta say, ‘Well, let’s see.’ The allies think there is a deal. There is a deal on Hormuz, and it will be a deal on the denuclearization of Iran.”

Asked what comes next, Trump said negotiations are expected to begin Monday and expressed hope that diplomacy can prevent further bloodshed.

Reporter: On Iran, what happens now?

Trump: We are talking to them. It begins tomorrow afternoon. It would save a lot of lives. pic.twitter.com/C29aQZBKLf

— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 2, 2026

“We are talking to them. It begins tomorrow afternoon. It would save a lot of lives.”

When questioned about whether Iran faces a deadline to reach an agreement, Trump declined to specify one.

“We will see. Would I rather make a deal? I am not looking to kill people. Because people die. A lot of people die. We don’t want that.”

Last night, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had decided to cancel a planned military operation against Iran after being informed that the outlines of a possible agreement had been reached. He stressed, however, that Tehran must move quickly to finalize the deal.

“The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to. This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” Trump wrote.

He added, “Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL. The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE.”

Trump’s announcement came shortly after Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with the president by telephone on Shabbos to voice serious concerns about launching a large-scale military operation against Iran.

“The Saudis expressed concern and asked for clarity about the plan of action,” one US official told Axios.

A second source familiar with the conversation said the Saudi crown prince personally urged Trump to pursue de-escalation and avoid authorizing the planned strikes.

Just one day earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials said Trump had approved preparations for a new military offensive against Iran that could begin as early as the weekend and continue for several days.