US president Donald Trump says he will hold off on a threatened fresh round of strikes against Iran after “the perimeters of a deal [have] been agreed to” by Tehran and America’s Middle East allies.
However, Iran have accused the US of “psychological and cognitive warfare” and said that they remained prepared instead of being caught off guard.
Trump said he had cancelled the strikes “subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL”, and that Israel had agreed to support the move.
Earlier, Trump told a cabinet meeting that new strikes would take place as soon as this weekend, telling a cabinet meeting on Friday: “We will be hitting them very hard. At some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.’”
In a call with the White House, the Saudi crown prince, widely known as MBS, stressed the "necessity of prioritising dialogue to de-escalate tensions" in the Middle East.
Tehran had warned him against any further “aggression”, with Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi saying on Saturday that any such “adventurous action” by the US or Israel would be met with a “decisive and proportional response”.
Both countries have resumed direct strikes after a brief truce collapsed last month, with negotiations to secure a ceasefire failing to make significant progress.
Key Points
- Trump cancels attack on Iran and claims peace deal breakthrough
- Iran accuses US of 'psychological warfare'
- Israel agrees to join US push for Iran deal to end war, Trump says
- Saudi crown prince calls Trump to raise concerns about Iran conflict
- Iran implementing Supreme Leader's orders on Strait of Hormuz, lawmaker says
How Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
15:00 , Holly Evans
In 2018, Mohammad bin Salman was asked whether Saudi Arabia would ever develop a nuclear weapon.
“We do not want to develop a nuclear bomb. But without doubt, if Iran developed one we would follow suit as soon as possible,” he told CBS, in an interview that sparked alarm across the Middle East.
Eight years later, Saudi Arabia announced a historic deal with President Donald Trump to use American technology and expertise to develop a civilian nuclear programme.
Read the full analysis here:
How Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
Cost of living crisis places pressure on Trump to end war
14:00 , Holly Evans
As an April ceasefire in the war unravelled last month, benchmark Brent crude futures jumped 24 per cent and analysts polled by Reuters expect prices to rise further this year.
Trump has argued that his stated goal of keeping Iran from gaining nuclear weapons justifies higher fuel costs in the near term, but the economic pain has put political pressure on him to find a way to end the war.
Adding to the energy industry's concerns, Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen in recent days began threatening the Bab el-Mandeb, the strait at the other end of the Red Sea from the Suez Canal, another export route for Saudi crude.
Iran accuses US of 'psychological warfare'
13:52 , Holly Evans
Iran’s acting defence minister, Brigadier General Majid Ebn Al-Reza, said Tehran viewed recent US threats as “psychological and cognitive warfare” and remained prepared.
He added that they treated them seriously, adding that Iran would boost preparedness and deterrence rather than be caught off guard or remain passive.
He added that Tehran would use threats as a basis to increase its military readiness and enhance its military capabilities.
Iran have repeatedly said they will counter any “aggressive” action from the US.
John Healey warns supermarkets not to ‘rip off’ Britons as Iran war fuels cost of living crisis
13:00 , Holly Evans
Chancellor John Healey has said he will be “watching closely” to protect the public from price gouging at the petrol pump and in supermarkets as the war in Iran continues to hit prices.
Mr Healey conceded that “we can’t completely stop the squeeze” on families and businesses, amid prime minister Andy Burnham’s efforts to show he will focus on tackling the cost of living since taking office two weeks ago.
But he signalled he would be ready to intervene to protect consumers from unfair price rises at home.
Read the full article here:
John Healey warns supermarkets not to ‘rip off’ Britons
Israeli airstrikes continue despite Trump's ceasefire breakthrough announcement
12:13 , Holly Evans
Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza for a second straight day on Sunday, killing at least nine Palestinians, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a breakthrough in efforts to implement last year's Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said on Sunday that there was no deal to halt attacks on Gaza and that he saw a need for Israel, which already controls 70 per cent of the Strip, to take full control of it.
Cohen is a member of Prime Minister Netanyahu's security cabinet, a small circle of ministers that oversees security and diplomatic policy.
Palestinian health officials said Israeli warplanes carried out separate strikes across the enclave in the northern Gaza City, central city of Deir al-Balah, and the southern area of Khan Younis.
A man and his wife were killed and four people were wounded in an airstrike on an apartment in Deir al-Balah, while two more people, including a child, were killed in a strike on an apartment in Gaza City, medics said.
A father, mother, and their 9-year-old son were killed around dawn after a strike on a house in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Another person was killed near Jabalia in northern Gaza.
Saudis concerned about Iran retaliation
12:00 , Holly Evans
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto leader, spoke with Trump by phone Saturday and raised concerns about the US potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders' discussion.
The call happened before Trump's social media announcement.
The Saudis, according to the person briefed on the substance of the call but not authourised to comment publicly, are concerned that Tehran could respond with attacks on the energy infrastructure of the kingdom and other Gulf countries.
The crown prince sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he was weighing to take against Iran, the person said.
A White House official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and requested anonymity, confirmed the leaders spoke Saturday but did not offer any detail.
Iran has repeatedly attacked vessels attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz without its authorisation as part of its ongoing conflict with the US.
Inside Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, the secret nuclear site Trump has threatened to bomb
11:00 , Holly Evans
Donald Trump has issued threats to bomb a secretive under-construction Iranian nuclear site buried deep under a mountain.
The site, known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, or “Pickaxe Mountain,” lies on the south side of Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment site, which was bombed by the United States during Operation Midnight Hammer in 2025's 12-day war between Iran and Israel. But Pickaxe Mountain has remained untouched as Iran continues to dig at the site.
It remains unclear just what has been placed at Pickaxe Mountain, as the United Nations' nuclear watchdog has never gained access to the site.
Read the full article here:
What is Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain? The secret nuclear site Trump threatens to bomb
State department issues warnings for US citizens
10:00 , Holly Evans
The State Department issued new security alerts on Saturday urging US citizens in the region to prepare for the possibility of flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and other travel disruptions.
The warnings covered Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Iran sees every threat from adversaries as "real and credible", acting defence minister says
09:00 , Holly Evans
Tehran views every threat from its adversaries as "real and credible" even if made as part of psychological warfare, Iran's acting defence minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, said on Sunday according to state media.
"We will neither be caught off guard nor remain passive," he said, adding that Iran would use threats as a basis to increase its military readiness, strengthen deterrence and enhance its military capabilities.
Saudi crown prince tells Trump dialogue needed to de-escalate Middle East tensions
08:29 , Holly Evans
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed in a phone call with Donald Trump the "necessity of prioritizing dialogue to de-escalate tensions" in the Middle East, according to Saudi Arabia's state news agency.
Trump makes U-turn on Iran as fears of wider war and political pressure mount
08:01 , Shweta Sharma
US president Donald Trump appeared to make a U-turn on Iran after signalling he was ready to launch fresh military strikes, instead announcing a renewed push for a deal to end the conflict.
The shift came despite Trump's earlier warnings that the US was prepared to unleash unprecedented force following Iran's attack on a US base in Jordan.
The apparent U-turn comes as the war remains unpopular with many Americans, rattles global markets and threatens to become a major political issue ahead of November's US midterm elections.
The latest polls show Trump is now one of the most unpopular second-term US presidents at this stage of his presidency since polling began in the 1940s. The only president with a lower approval rating was Richard Nixon, who was just days away from resigning over the Watergate scandal.
He has the support of just 34 per cent of Americans in CNN’s latest poll.
Iran warned of 'decisive' response in calls with Middle East partners
07:45 , Shweta Sharma
Before Donald Trump announced a last-minute pause in strikes on Iran, Tehran warned of a “decisive and proportionate response” to Washington.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in a phone call with his Saudi counterpart that any "aggression" by the US and Israel or participation of regional countries in these actions will be met with a strong response, according to Araghchi’s Telegram account.
He held separate calls with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan as well as Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to posts on the Iranian foreign minister’s Telegram channel.
He warned that Iran would respond in kind to any “adventurous action” by the United States.
Three Palestinians killed in Gaza, report says
07:30 , Shweta Sharma
Three Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza, Al Jazeera Arabic reported.
The latest casualties were reported after an Israeli strike on the town of al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis, citing sources at the Nasser Medical Complex.
The latest deaths bring the total number of people killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza this morning to eight.
Earlier, two people were killed in central Deir al-Balah, while three others were killed and several more wounded in a strike on an apartment in northern Gaza City.
Saudi diplomacy may have influenced Trump's decision to hold off on Iran strikes, ex-US colonel says
07:15 , Shweta Sharma
Retired US Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton told CNN that Saudi Arabia and Iran both have strong reasons to avoid further escalation in the region, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz impacting much of their energy flows and exports.
“They’re economically at risk here,” he said.
“This is an area where the United States really is dependent, to a large degree on Saudi diplomacy, and that, I think, had a big impact on President Trump’s decision to forgo attacking Iran, at least for the near term,” he added.
He added that while Iran is also under growing economic and military pressure after months of conflict, any push for de-escalation could give Tehran time to regroup and ease the strain.
Trump’s decision to call off strikes on Iran came after it was that report that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader, spoke with Trump by phone and raised concerns about the US potentially escalating the conflict with Iran.
Iran implementing Supreme Leader's orders on Strait of Hormuz, lawmaker says
07:00 , Shweta Sharma
Iran's armed forces are carrying out Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's directives on managing the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, the spokesperson for parliament's national security committee said on Sunday.
Hassan Ghashghavi said Tehran opposes a proposed southern Omani shipping corridor through the strait, arguing it could be used to transport fuel for US and Israeli military aircraft as well as military equipment and weapons to US bases in the region.
He said Iran would have no ability to monitor or control vessels using the route, making the proposal incompatible with the country's national security.
Israel agrees to join US push for Iran deal to end war, Trump says
06:41 , Shweta Sharma
Israel has agreed to join the US in efforts to finalise an agreement with Iran that would bring an end to the war, Donald Trump said. Iran did not immediately comment on the announcement.
“The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he said.
Trump has ordered American forces to hold off on new strikes against Iran. His remarks marked a sharp shift from a day earlier, when he suggested the US was close to resuming heavy military strikes to force Tehran back to the negotiating table.
In a post on X Friday, Israeli far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir called the deal "unacceptable" and said the killings in Gaza must continue. "Israel must win," he said.
The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February, with Trump saying the campaign aimed to destroy Tehran's missile capabilities, prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and curb its support for allied armed groups.
Saudi crown prince calls Trump to raise concerns about Iran conflict
05:49 , Adam Withnall
Earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader, spoke with Trump by phone and raised concerns about the US potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders’ discussion.
The call happened before Trump's social media announcement that he was cancelling a major strike.
The Saudis, according to the person briefed on the substance of the call but not authorised to comment publicly, are concerned that Tehran could respond with attacks on the energy infrastructure of the kingdom and other Gulf countries.
The crown prince sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he was weighing to take against Iran, the person told the Associated Press.
A White House official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and requested anonymity, confirmed the leaders spoke Saturday but did not offer any detail.
Trump's post cancelling strikes on Iran in full
05:15 , Adam Withnall
Here’s the full text of what Trump posted on Truth Social:
“The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to. This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL. The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Trump cancels attack on Iran and claims peace deal breakthrough
04:55 , Adam Withnall
President Donald Trump claims that his Middle East allies have reached the parameters of a deal to end the Iran war and said that he would hold off on ordering new strikes in the five-month old conflict for now.
Trump added that the emerging deal “would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”
“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” Trump said.
He said that Israel has agreed to join the US in the commitment to try to complete the agreement with Iran that would bring about an end to the war.
Iran did not offer any immediate public reaction to Trump's announcement.
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least four and wound dozens more
03:00 , Alex Croft
Intense Israeli strikes Friday night and Saturday killed at least four people in central and northern Gaza and wounded dozens more, according to local health officials.
The strikes came after Hamas confirmed Friday that it will disarm in a potential breakthrough for ending the war in Gaza, though major obstacles remain.
Israel has not officially commented on the Hamas deal, which is part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced last October.
That agreement called for Hamas to disarm and hand over power to an independent Palestinian administration.
Israel was to withdraw and an International Stabilization Force was to be deployed.
In a post on X Friday, Israeli far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir called the deal "unacceptable" and said the killings in Gaza must continue. "Israel must win," he said.
Netanyahu confronted JD Vance over his criticism of Israel on US trip, says report
02:00 , Alex Croft
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu confronted US Vice President JD Vance over his criticism of Israel during a recent trip to America, according to a new report.
Netanyahu made his seventh state visit to the US this week to attend the funeral of his close friend Lindsey Graham and had meetings with US President Donald Trump, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vance.
The vice president has been the most vocal critic of Israel in the Trump administration and recently accused the country of “trying to kill your way out of solving every single national security problem”.
In a one-to-one meeting at Blair House in Washington on Tuesday, Netanyahu addressed his criticism in a “frank and candid conversation”, an Israeli official told Axios.
A US official confirmed the nature of the discussion saying: “The conversation was direct”.
'Iran will continue to pay', White House press secretary says
01:01 , Alex Croft
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed the US administration's frustration anew, stating that Tehran last month signed a memorandum of understanding with the US on a truce but then quickly "broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers."
"President Trump is not going to stand by and allow this terrorist behavior to occur," Ms Leavitt said in a statement on Friday evening.
"Iran will continue to pay until they come to the table in, what President Trump deems, a meaningful way."
'Bing. Bing. Bing, Bing Bing': Trump offers epic soundbite to recap US shooting down Iranian missiles
Sunday 2 August 2026 00:00 , Alex Croft
Read: Trump's 'roadmap' for peace in Gaza in full
Saturday 1 August 2026 23:00 , Alex Croft
Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” in Gaza has published a “roadmap” for implementing a “comprehensive peace process” between Israel and Hamas, nearly 10 months since both sides agreed to terms to stop the fighting.
The US president hailed the agreement as a “major milestone” in the peace process, saying the deal included the total disarmament of Hamas and other groups in Gaza as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.
Published in full on Friday, the roadmap says that Hamas and ‘other factions’ agree that “all civilian governance and security functions in Gaza shall be handed over” to a new technocratic body set up to run the enclave.
With that, the technocratic body will take over responsibility for handling “internal security incidents.”
Senior reporter James Reynolds reports:
Trump’s ‘roadmap’ for peace in Gaza published in full after Hamas says it will disarm
Tehran warns Trump of 'decisive and proportional' response to any escalation
Saturday 1 August 2026 22:11 , Alex Croft
We’ve just heard from Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who has warned the US against carrying out fresh any fresh strikes.
Any such aggression from the US or Israel will be met with a “decisive and proportional response”, Araghchi warned.
It is the latest in a series of threats and counter-threats which are beginning to become a hallmark of this war, ever since an initial ceasefire was agreed in mid-April.
In a separate phone calls with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, and Pakistan’s army commander Field Marshal Asim Munir, Araghchi also declared that any “adventurous action” by the US would be responded to.
UKMTO reports two tanker incidents off Oman
Saturday 1 August 2026 22:01 , Alex Croft
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday it had received reports of two maritime incidents off Oman, including one in which a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile.
In the first incident, a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile about 11 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Lima, damaging its engine room and leaving the vessel not under command, UKMTO said. There were no reported casualties nor environmental impact, it added.
Later, UKMTO said it had received a second report of an incident, 21 nautical miles northeast of Oman's Khasab. The master of a tanker reported seeing a large splash and an explosion in close proximity to the vessel, though no damage was reported.
Lima and Khasab are on Oman's Musandam Peninsula at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping chokepoint through which about a fifth of global oil consumption passes.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has faced heightened risks in recent weeks, with vessels reporting security incidents and some shipowners adopting additional precautions as Iran and the United States stepped up hostilities.
Israeli officials signal that peace road map does not align with their interests
Saturday 1 August 2026 20:00 , Holly Evans
Israel has not commented publicly on the road map towards peace that Trump has proposed but Israeli officials, speaking anonymously over the past two days, have signalled that the document does not align with the country's interests.
The officials also reiterated that Israel would not withdraw from the Yellow Line in Gaza, which divides Israeli-controlled territory in the east with the western part of the enclave.
In recent months, the military has built a massive earthen barrier roughly along the same line, developing what it described as a "security zone" adjacent to the berm, equipped with intelligence and technological assets.
Israel has also carried out controlled demolitions and clearing operations across much of the territory it controls. Palestinians who lived there have yet to return — and are unsure whether their homes are still standing.
