Trump Pauses Strikes on Iran to Pursue Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump announced in an Axios interview that he has decided to suspend military strikes against Iran to allow diplomatic negotiations another chance. This statement came a day before his scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. Trump emphasized that if diplomacy fails, he could order a resumption and expansion of military actions, stating, "We are having very deep talks with Iran. If they don't succeed, we will return to very strong military action." When asked about the timeframe for diplomacy, Trump replied, "Not much time. Either it moves quickly or not at all."

Trump explained that the pause in strikes, initiated on Friday, was at the request of mediating countries, who urged him not to escalate. He expressed his belief that Iran is interested in reaching an agreement, saying, "We haven't gained or lost anything." Ahead of the meeting, Netanyahu described the situation as "complex times." Trump reiterated that without his presidency, Iran would already possess nuclear weapons and Israel would be destroyed.

Regarding Turkey, Trump did not rule out completing the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets despite U.S. State Department warnings to Congress that Turkey cannot receive them while operating the Russian S-400 air defense system, and despite Netanyahu's opposition. Trump stated, "Turkey was a good ally; no one tells us what to sell or not sell."

The announcement coincides with a third consecutive day of ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, amid ongoing talks mediated by Qatar and Oman. These mediators have reportedly made progress in bridging gaps between Washington and Tehran to renew a June ceasefire agreement. A key sticking point remains control over shipping lanes in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, with Iran insisting on managing ship movements and charging fees, a claim rejected by the U.S. and Oman. The strait remains effectively closed due to Iranian threats, and the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports continues despite the ceasefire.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai described recent talks with Oman as "positive" but maintained that the ceasefire memorandum is currently invalid and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Iranian ground forces commander Ali Jahanshahi warned of steadfast defense against any aggression.

Netanyahu's flight to Washington was conducted under unusual secrecy, with no prior disclosure of departure or arrival times. Upon departure, Netanyahu stated he would primarily discuss Iran with Trump during "complex times." The meeting is set to focus heavily on the Iranian issue.