President Trump said Monday he has put a pause on military strikes against Iran to allow negotiations room to breathe, but made clear that restraint comes with an expiration date. If talks collapse, he signaled a return to what he called "very strong military action."
"We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don't work out, we will go back to very strong military action," Trump told Axios. When pressed on how long he would tolerate diplomatic maneuvering, his answer was blunt: "Not much time. Either it goes fast or not at all."
The current push centers on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and reviving broader nuclear negotiations. Oman is serving as the primary intermediary, with Qatar, Pakistan, and Egypt playing active roles alongside Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Trump said he ordered a halt to strikes on Friday after being lobbied by regional and international mediators. "All of the people that deal with Iran asked me: 'Don't fire,'" he said, adding that he believes Iran itself wants to reach an agreement. He framed the decision as low-risk: "Nothing gained, nothing lost." He noted that oil prices fell and stock markets rose following the pause.
The decision to hold fire came after Trump met with top military and national security officials who presented him with a new strike plan. In the days leading up to Friday, Trump had been trending toward resuming major military operations, but his stance began shifting Thursday evening before solidifying when he ordered the military to stand down.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi signaled progress on Monday, saying negotiations have made headway though no final agreement exists. He described discussions focused on establishing "practical, fair, and sustainable arrangements for maritime navigation" through one of the world's most critical shipping routes.
One proposal under consideration would allow Iran, Oman, and other regional players to collect fees for maritime security, environmental protection, and related services. Regional sources pointed to the Strait of Malacca, where Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore charge vessels for specific services, as a potential model. Another option involves funneling fees into a joint fund with oversight from the International Maritime Organization.
Trump is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. The president indicated he plans to emphasize his role in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, saying: "I am going to talk to Bibi about the fact that if I weren't president, Iran would have had nuclear weapons by now and Israel would have been destroyed."
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump is playing both sides of the negotiating table, which might work if Iran believes he actually means the military threat, but the clock he's set is so tight it could blow up fast."
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