US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran will begin on Monday, August 3, after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar urged Washington to call off planned strikes, saying they believed a deal could be reached.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that discussions would focus on the Strait of Hormuz as well as Iran’s nuclear programme.
“There’s a deal on Hormuz, and then there will be a deal on the nuclear, or you might call it the denuclearisation of Iran,” Trump said.
He claimed Iran had also asked Washington to suspend the planned military action, adding that the US was now engaging with Tehran through negotiations.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident involving a tanker near Oman after the vessel’s master heard an explosion in its vicinity while sailing in the Gulf.
According to UKMTO Advisory 103-26, issued on August 2, the incident occurred around 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman.
The tanker and its crew were reported safe, with no injuries or damage immediately confirmed. Authorities are investigating the incident.
UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity.
Trump said the military operation against Iran that he ultimately called off would have been the largest US attack since World War II.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he described the planned action as a “massive attack” and said it would have been “by far, the biggest attack since World War II.”
His comments came a day after he said on Truth Social that the US military was “locked and loaded” for an unprecedented campaign against Iran before he decided to suspend the operation.
Trump said the decision followed appeals from Iran and Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, to give diplomacy a chance.
He said the proposed agreement would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran’s nuclear programme.
