President Donald Trump says Iran pleaded with the United States to cancel a massive military attack, but Tehran strongly disputes his account.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, August 2, Trump said American forces had prepared for an operation against Iran. He described it as an attack that would have been larger than any military assault since World War II.
Trump said Iranian officials and neighboring countries asked Washington to stop. However, he offered no public evidence showing that Tehran directly made such a request.
Trump describes a planned massive attack
Trump told reporters that the proposed operation was ready before diplomatic messages reached Washington.
“It was going to be a massive attack,” Trump said. He added that Iran and its neighbors had asked the United States not to proceed.
A transcript of Trump’s remarks published by Roll Call Factba.se confirms that he used the phrase “Please don’t do it” while describing the reported appeal.
The president said he would rather reach an agreement than order more military action. Still, he warned that the military option remained available if negotiations failed.
“I’m not looking to kill people,” Trump said. “We don’t want that.”
Iran disputes Trump’s version of events
Iranian officials did not immediately confirm that Tehran had asked Trump to cancel an attack. Iranian state and semi-official media instead portrayed the decision as an American retreat.
Fars News Agency, a semi-official Iranian outlet, called Trump a “fool” and claimed that he had lost momentum. Mehr News Agency also accused the president of presenting a retreat as an act of restraint.
Mehr cited Iranian military officials who called Trump’s account a lie. The outlet said Iran’s armed forces remained on high alert.
Those reports represent the position of Iranian media outlets. They do not independently prove what private messages passed between Washington, Tehran and regional mediators.
Regional leaders pushed for diplomacy
Trump said Gulf countries also urged Washington to avoid another major attack. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were among the governments involved in efforts to reduce tensions, according to an Associated Press report.
The president spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before announcing his decision. Regional governments have warned that a wider conflict could threaten civilians, energy facilities and international shipping.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has also held discussions with regional leaders. Oman has continued its role as an important diplomatic channel between Iran and the United States.
Iran talks begin without a public deadline
Trump said new negotiations with Iran would take place on Monday, August 3. He did not identify the location, participants or a deadline for reaching an agreement.
The talks are expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway carries a major share of the world’s oil and gas shipments.
Reuters reported that Trump wants an agreement that limits Iran’s nuclear activities and restores shipping through the strait. Tehran has not publicly accepted Trump’s description of the proposed deal.
The lack of confirmed terms highlights the deep mistrust between both governments. Each side says it supports diplomacy while warning that military action remains possible.
Oil prices fall as markets watch the talks
Financial markets responded quickly to Trump’s decision. Oil prices dropped by more than four dollars per barrel on Monday as fears of an immediate escalation eased.
Brent crude fell to about 83 dollars per barrel during early trading, according to Reuters. Prices had risen sharply during the previous month because of attacks and shipping disruptions across the region.
A successful agreement could ease pressure on energy markets and reduce the risk of a wider conflict. A breakdown could quickly bring military threats back to the center of the crisis.
Major claims remain unverified
Trump’s decision has created a temporary opening for diplomacy, but several important questions remain unanswered.
The White House has not released operational details proving the size of the planned attack. Iran has also not confirmed that it pleaded with Washington to cancel the operation.
For now, Trump’s account and Iran’s response remain sharply different. The outcome of the negotiations may reveal whether the pause marks a real diplomatic shift or only a brief break in the confrontation.