Trump Delays Iran Strikes as New Talks Set to Begin Monday

President Donald Trump said the United States will open new negotiations with Iran on Monday, holding off on planned strikes as he pursues a deal to end a nearly six-month war.

Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. He said the talks would begin Monday afternoon and cover the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s denuclearization, but gave no details.

Trump said the “parameters” of a deal were in place. He claimed the strikes he shelved would have been the biggest attack since World War II. Iranian media denied Tehran asked him to hold off.

Trump said the “parameters” of a deal were in place, and that the strikes he shelved would have been the biggest attack since World War II. — President Donald Trump

Oil prices fell after the announcement, with U.S. crude down about 5% to $80.79 a barrel, according to The Associated Press.

The war began Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran. Talks build on a memorandum of understanding signed in June.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said talks with Oman on a new Strait of Hormuz route are in their final stages. Any deal would not reopen the strait, spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.

A tanker off Oman reported an explosion nearby on Sunday, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center said. Its crew was safe.

What We Know

• President Trump said new U.S.–Iran negotiations will begin Monday and that he paused planned strikes.
• The war began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
• Oil prices fell about 5% after Trump’s announcement.
• A tanker off Oman reported an explosion Sunday, and its crew was reported safe.
• Iran says talks with Oman on a new Strait of Hormuz route are in their final stages, according to ANI.

What We Don’t Know

• The venue, participants or format of Monday’s talks.
• Whether any agreement will actually reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
• The cause of the tanker explosion off Oman.
• Whether Iran asked Trump to hold off; Iranian media denied it.

This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.