President Donald Trump said peace talks with Iran will take place on Monday after calling off what he described as World War II-level strikes.
“Obviously they don’t want to be attacked. They knew the extent of the attack because they saw it forming,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. “Now what we’re doing is we’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon.”
Trump said a deal will be reached with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz and an agreement to denuclearise Tehran will follow. He said Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar had asked him to call off the strikes.
"When the allies ask to call it off, you’ve got to sort of say, well let's see," he said.
"The reason they asked is they think there's a deal, there's a deal on Hormuz and there will be a deal on the nuclear – or you might call it the denuclearisation of Iran, I call it the denuclearisation of Iran."
His comments followed a Truth Social post on Saturday in which Trump wrote that the US military was “locked and loaded” for what he cast as an unprecedented campaign against Iran.
Read MoreInside Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, the secret nuclear site Trump has threatened to bomb
Trump threatens more strikes on Iran, and other developments in the Middle East
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Joe Rogan says Trump has ‘no clear way’ to end Iran war
Key Points
- Here’s what Trump said about Iran aboard Air Force One
- 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
Blast near tanker off Oman coast
05:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said there has been an explosion in close proximity to a tanker off the coast of Oman.
The UKMTO yesterday said the incident took place about 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. The ship and its crew were safe, the UKMTO added.
Minister says Israel closely coordinating with US
05:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsrael's energy minister Eli Cohen said there was close security and intelligence coordination between Israel and the US on everything happening in the region.
But he added: "With or without an agreement, and regardless of any external commitments, if Iran attempts to renew its nuclear program or advance its ballistic missile industries, we will be there. We will take action, and we will strike.
"US president Donald Trump and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday in Washington, with an Israeli official saying they had explored all possible paths to curb Iran's nuclear program, including diplomacy, economic pressure and force. Tehran denies it is seeking a nuclear weapon
Iranian minister calls Saudi and Pakistani officials
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi held phone calls with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir to discuss diplomatic efforts, Iran's state media reported.
Local media reported earlier that negotiations between Tehran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz were in their final stages, citing Iran's Araqchi.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said negotiations were focused on agreeing on a new route through the strait, adding that it had "no link to the Strait of Hormuz being opened or closed. That is a separate discussion."
Oil slumps to $82 a barrel
04:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices skidded and stocks wobbled this morning as hopes of peace in the Middle East grew.
Brent crude futures sank more than 6 per cent to $82.41 after US president Donald Trump said talks with Iran will happen today. He had earlier called off an imminent attack on Iran to reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resolve the impasse over Tehran's nuclear capabilities.
Trump says Gulf leaders' input weighed heavily in decision to hold off strikes
04:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump said he decided to hold off on ordering American forces to carry out new strikes against Iran at the urging of Gulf allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump added that a plan was in place for US forces to carry out "the biggest attack since World War II".
But he decided to scrap the plan and give diplomacy more time to play out after hearing from key Gulf leaders — including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — as well as at the request of unnamed Iranian officials.
"I said to the crown prince, 'What would you rather do? Would you rather us do this or not?"' Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew back to Washington. "They said we would much prefer a deal as opposed to an attack, because you don't know where these attacks lead."
Trump declines to provide deadline for negotiations with Iran
04:00 , Brendan RasciusWhile speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, President Trump declined to provide a deadline for negotiations with Iran.
"We'll just see how it is. We're ready to go any time we want. Would I rather make a deal? I'm not looking to kill people,” Trump said. “We don't want that."
Iranian president says MOU will remain 'center of gravity'
03:35 , Brendan RasciusOn Sunday, before President Trump announced negotiations would take place on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the June memorandum of understanding would be the focal point of Iran’s foreign policy.
“I believe this memorandum will be the center of gravity of our foreign relations in the future,” Pezeshkian wrote on X on Sunday, according to a translation. “We must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed. The security of the country, the region, and our allies will be enhanced by this memorandum.”
Pete Hegseth says US military remains 'ready to go'
03:10 , Brendan RasciusDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military remains primed for action against Iran after President Trump called off this weekend’s planned attacks.
Writing on X on Sunday night, Hegseth said the Pentagon “was ready to go — and remains ready — at levels not seen since World War 2.”
Fact.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) August 2, 2026
The @DeptofWar was ready to go — and remains ready — at levels not seen since World War 2.
Locked and loaded. https://t.co/RzibCDfn05
Trump says Middle East allies have reached outline of deal to end Iran war
03:00 , Alex CroftHere’s what Trump said about Iran aboard Air Force One
02:44 , Brendan RasciusOn Sunday, President Donald Trump said that peace talks with Iran would take place on Monday after calling off planned strikes this weekend.
On upcoming negotiations: “What we’re doing is we’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon.”
On why he called off the attacks: “I was asked to by Saudi Arabia, by UAE, and by Qatar, and by Iran…We were all set to go, but when the allies ask to call it off, you gotta sort of say ‘well let’s see.’ And the reason they asked [to call it off] is they think there's a deal. There's a deal on Hormuz and then there will be a deal on the nuclear — or you might call it the denuclearization of Iran…So, we’re holding it. We’ll just see.”
On whether or not he was prepared to hit energy targets: “I don’t want to say that; I can't say that. It was going to be a massive attack. It was going to be an attack that would have been by far the biggest attack since World War II. But they’ve asked us not to do it.”
A high-stakes test for Trump’s Gaza ceasefire board as Hamas disarmament looms
01:30 , Holly EvansCarrying out this week's agreement for Gaza on the disarmament of the Palestinian group Hamas, Israel’s withdrawal and the transition to a civilian body to run the war-ravaged region will be a major test for the international body established by U.S. President Donald Trump to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza.
The agreement announced by Trump late Thursday could pave the way for ending the latest Israel-Hamas war that broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, and which has seen continued violence despite a ceasefire last October. Few places in the Palestinian territory of over 2 million people have been left unscathed, and the United Nations, World Bank and European Union estimate that reconstruction will cost $70 billion.
Hamas officials said the group has agreed to the disarmament agreement. Israel has not commented.
Read the full article here:
A high-stakes test for Trump’s Gaza ceasefire board as Hamas disarmament looms
What has Trump said about the potential deal?
Monday 3 August 2026 00:00 , Holly EvansDonald Trump says he will order American forces to hold off on new strikes against Iran, claiming Mideast allies have reached the parameters of a deal to end the 5-month old war.
The emerging deal "would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat," Trump wrote in a Saturday evening social media post.
"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.
Indian companies profited with weapons sale to Israel amid ongoing Gaza genocide, Amnesty report says
Sunday 2 August 2026 23:00 , Holly EvansIndia has sold over 2500 shipments of weapons to Israel since the 7 October Hamas attacks despite risks that they could end up being used in genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Amnesty International said in a new report.
India has become one of the strongest allies of Israel under prime minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, marking a significant shift in its foreign policy as the South Asian nation has historically supported the establishment of a Palestinian state.
India did not establish full diplomatic ties with Israel until 1992 and Mr Modi in 2017 became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel.
Read the full article here:
India profited by supplying arms to Israel despite risk of use in Gaza, Amnesty says
Inside Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, the secret nuclear site Trump has threatened to bomb
Sunday 2 August 2026 22:00 , Holly EvansDonald 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
Palestinians in Gaza hope Hamas will disarm but fear Israeli forces won't withdraw
Sunday 2 August 2026 21:00 , Holly EvansFor Palestinians in Gaza, President Donald Trump's announcement that Hamas had agreed to disarm was a small sign of hope that Israel's attacks might end, allowing them to rebuild their lives and what remains of their homes.
But it also clashed with the reality on the ground, where Israeli strikes have continued since Trump first touted the deal late Thursday in Washington, and where few steps have been taken to advance a broader ceasefire agreement that went into effect in October.
Most of Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians are still displaced or live in tent camps, where poor conditions and overcrowding have led to rodent infestations and outbreaks of infectious diseases such as chickenpox.
Read the full article here:
Palestinians in Gaza hope Hamas will disarm but fear Israeli forces won't withdraw
Saudis concerned about Iran retaliation
Sunday 2 August 2026 20:00 , Holly EvansSaudi 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 the Saudi press agency.
The Saudis, according to a person briefed on the substance of the call but not authorized to comment publicly, are concerned that Tehran could respond with attacks on the energy infrastructure of the kingdom and other Gulf countries.
The call happened before Trump's social media announcement, the person said.The crown prince sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he was weighing to take against Iran, the person said.
Iran-Oman negotiations over Strait of Hormuz in final stages, says Tehran
Sunday 2 August 2026 18:29 , Alex CroftNegotiations between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz are in their “final stages”, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, according to official news agency IRNA.
His comments come after the US said it had called off an attack on Iran to give room for diplomacy.
Finding a deal between Oman and Iran to allow the resumption of traffic through the strait has been frustrating peace efforts for more than a month.
In a memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June, Iran and the US agreed to extend an April truce for 60 days to allow more time for a deal to be found.
Latest proposal would bring sides back to negotiating table
Sunday 2 August 2026 18:00 , Holly EvansA regional official says the proposal announced by Trump over the weekend calls for the US and Iran to return to negotiations and continue working out many of the issues that have stymied prior progress on the deal.
The official, who is involved in the mediation efforts, said the proposal calls for reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and halting attacks across the region, including by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on the Arab Gulf countries and Jordan.
The US, in exchange, will end its naval blockade on Iran and allow Tehran to export its oil as stated in the tentative ceasefire deal, he said.
No deal has been reached yet, but mediation efforts are underway, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to the media.
Trump’s Iran war is becoming a political disaster, new poll shows
Sunday 2 August 2026 17:00 , Holly EvansA new AP-NORC poll suggests Americans are growing increasingly skeptical of the war with Iran, with about two-thirds saying the conflict has not been worth fighting and support for President Donald Trump's handling of the war slipping.
The survey, conducted July 23-27, found just 28% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of Iran, down from 34% last month. Support also dipped among Republicans, with 61% approving, compared with 71% in June, though the poll's margin of error means the decline is modest.
Read the full article here:
Trump’s Iran war is becoming a political disaster, new poll shows
Watch: Trump says Middle East allies have reached outline of deal to end Iran war
Sunday 2 August 2026 16:00 , Holly EvansHow Trump’s Saudi deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East
Sunday 2 August 2026 15:00 , Holly EvansIn 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 14:00 , Holly EvansAs 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'
Sunday 2 August 2026 13:52 , Holly EvansIran’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
Sunday 2 August 2026 13:00 , Holly EvansChancellor 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 12:13 , Holly EvansIsraeli 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 12:00 , Holly EvansSaudi 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 11:00 , Holly EvansDonald 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 10:00 , Holly EvansThe 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 09:00 , Holly EvansTehran 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 08:29 , Holly EvansSaudi 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 08:01 , Shweta SharmaUS 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 07:45 , Shweta SharmaBefore 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 07:30 , Shweta SharmaThree 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 07:15 , Shweta SharmaRetired 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 07:00 , Shweta SharmaIran'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
Sunday 2 August 2026 06:41 , Shweta SharmaIsrael 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 05:49 , Adam WithnallEarlier, 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 05:15 , Adam WithnallHere’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
Sunday 2 August 2026 04:55 , Adam WithnallPresident 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 03:00 , Alex CroftIntense 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 02:00 , Alex CroftIsraeli 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
Sunday 2 August 2026 01:01 , Alex CroftWhite 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 CroftRead: Trump's 'roadmap' for peace in Gaza in full
Saturday 1 August 2026 23:00 , Alex CroftDonald 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 CroftWe’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 CroftThe 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 EvansIsrael 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.
