President Donald Trump announced that the United States has temporarily halted an expanded military campaign against Iran to allow diplomatic negotiations to proceed. He cautioned, however, that the pause would be brief if talks do not yield results.
Speaking to Axios, Trump stated he ordered a suspension of escalated U.S. Strikes to enable continued discussions with Tehran. The talks focus on reaching an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart broader nuclear negotiations.
"We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don't work out, we will go back to very strong military action," The President said.
When asked about the timeframe for diplomacy, Trump indicated limited patience. "Not much time. Either it goes fast or not at all," He said.
Trump said he made the decision on Friday following requests from countries involved in mediating the negotiations, who asked him to refrain from further military strikes and allow diplomacy another opportunity.
"All of the people that deal with Iran asked me: 'Don't fire,'" Trump said. He expressed belief that Iran is interested in reaching a deal.
Describing his reasoning for the pause, Trump said, "Nothing gained, nothing lost." He also noted market movements following the decision, pointing out that oil prices fell while stock prices rose after the suspension of additional military operations.
Trump is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, with Iran expected to be a primary subject of discussion. Trump said he planned to discuss Iran's nuclear capabilities and regional implications with Netanyahu.