• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Trump halted Iran strikes, citing desire to avoid casualties.
  2. He claimed allies requested a deal on Hormuz, nuclear issues.
  3. Iranian media denied request, mocking Trump's decision as retreat.

US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran will happen on Monday but declined to set a deadline for an agreement after earlier saying he had called off an imminent attack in hopes of quickly reaching a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resolve the impasse over Tehran's nuclear capabilities.

"I'm not looking to kill people"

“"...I'm not looking to kill people because people die... we don't want that... I asked Saudi Arabia's king and crown prince. I said, would you rather have us do this or not? They said, we would much prefer a deal... Because you don't know where these attacks lead. I mean, they will be flooded with people pouring into their country, and it will be a disaster. A lot of bad things can happen,” Trump said while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.

Trump had said late on Saturday on his Truth Social platform that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked for time to complete a deal that would lead to "the Immediate, Complete and Total" reopening of the strait and "an end to Iran's nuclear threat" but that Tehran must "rapidly make a DEAL.”

ALSO READ: 'There Is No Agreement': Iran Denies Asking US To Halt Strikes, Refutes Strait Of Hormuz Deal 

No deadline

As he returned to Washington from a weekend in New Jersey, Trump told reporters on Sunday that a negotiation would begin on Monday afternoon but did not provide details of where it would take place or who would be involved. Asked if there was a deadline for Iran to come to an agreement, Trump declined to answer. "Would I rather make a deal? I'm not looking to kill people because people die, a lot of people die, and we don't want that," Trump said in response.

“This is asked by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Iran. We're all set to go... It would have been a massive attack. But when the allies ask to throw it off, you got to start saying, let's see. And the reason they ask is they think there's a deal. There's a deal on Hormuz, and then there will be a deal on the nuclear...,” added Trump.

'Fool has run out of steam': Iranian media trolls Trump

However, Iranian media outlets have targeted Trump with sharp criticism and mockery after he announced a temporary hold on potential military strikes against Iran. Trump claimed in a Truth Social post that the decision followed requests from regional actors, stating, "We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the parameters of a deal have been agreed to." He added that the understanding "would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT."

ALSO READ: Trump Cancels 'Power Never Seen Since World War II' Strike On Iran; What Forced Massive Airstrike To Be Called Off?

However, Iranian state media carried no reports confirming any request to pause military operations or indicating any shift in Tehran's stance regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Instead, Iranian news agencies depicted the development as a retreat by Washington. The semi-official news agency Fars posted, while reporting on the development, "Trump the fool has run out of steam!" Simultaneously, the semi-official news agency Mehr rejected assertions that Tehran had sought a cessation of strikes, reporting that "Trump once again backed away from his hollow threats and presented his retreat to the world as a favour."

(With inputs from agencies)

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