ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the US and Israel have agreed to hold off new attacks on Iran, subject to all parties being able to “rapidly make a DEAL,” after being allegedly asked by Tehran and other regional countries to stop the strikes. 

“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 on his Truth Social platform. 

The remarks come after the US president threatened to strike Iran “very hard” and reports that he was planning further attacks against vital infrastructure. 

He warned that the US 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,” he added.

A potential deal would include the “Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” Trump said, adding that Israel is in line with the commitment. 

On Monday, Trump said that there is a “good chance” a peace deal could be reached with Tehran, claiming that “very friendly” talks are ongoing despite Tehran denying negotiations are taking place. 

On June 17, Trump and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian digitally signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to bring the months-long conflict to an end. The accord granted the two sides a 60-day window to negotiate a final and permanent settlement.

The renewed hostilities kicked off only 21 days after the MoU was inked.

Washington’s rhetoric comes amid increased US frustration with Iranian attacks on commercial transit in the strategic waterway, with such strikes having served as the casus belli that triggered renewed US bombardment of Iran and the rupture of their bilateral memorandum of understanding.

The US has mainly targeted sites in southern Iran near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while Iran has launched attacks against regional countries hosting US military bases.