President Donald Trump announced the halt of the U.S. military strike on Iran after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged him to reconsider in a phone call, according to i24NEWS. Trump reportedly said Israel is also committed to the pause.
The i24NEWS report adds a new layer to the unfolding diplomatic drama: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally urged President Trump to halt the U.S. military strike on Iran during a phone call, and Trump reportedly said Israel is also committed to the pause. The report, published Sunday evening, attributes the halt directly to the Saudi request, marking the first time a specific Gulf leader has been named as the driving force behind the reversal.
Earlier Sunday, at 10:39 Jerusalem, Saudi state media confirmed that bin Salman and Trump discussed the need to calm the Middle East and prevent a wider confrontation. The Zioneer reported on Saturday, Jul 25, that Trump had delayed a planned U.S. strike overnight to allow for a final diplomatic opening. Then, at 17:29 Jerusalem, a flurry of reports emerged: The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump cancelled the strike after Tehran responded positively to a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; Channel 14 reported that the cancellation came at the last moment, with Israeli officials expressing surprise; and now i24NEWS adds the Saudi crown prince's direct intervention. The thread thus shows a rapid evolution—from a general diplomatic opening to specific mediation by Qatar, and now to direct Saudi pressure.
The Saudi role is consistent with broader Gulf efforts to shape U.S. policy. As The Zioneer reported on Sunday at 05:38 Jerusalem, commentator Hananel Aviv assessed that Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, had requested the delay, disputing Trump's claim that Iran initiated the pause. The bin Salman-Trump relationship remains a key factor in regional security, with the crown prince prioritizing Saudi stability and seeking to avoid a wider war.
What remains unclear is whether the halt is permanent or temporary. The i24NEWS report is still unconfirmed by other major outlets, and the Wall Street Journal noted that a final agreement on the Hormuz proposal remains uncertain. Iran has threatened a "significant" response to any attack, and Gulf states have expressed frustration with what they see as inconsistent U.S. policy. The coming hours will test whether the diplomatic window holds.
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