United States President Donald Trump has announced that the US and Israel have agreed to halt new attacks on Iran, contingent on reaching a rapid deal to end the ongoing conflict. Trump stated on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries requested a pause in attacks because “the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.”

The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with fears of escalation after Washington and Tehran exchanged threats of renewed heavy attacks, including strikes on energy infrastructure.

Nournews, an outlet linked to Iran’s top security body, reported that US attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure could trigger Iranian retaliatory strikes on oilfields in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as gas fields in Qatar and Israel, warning that “All will be burned to ashes.”

From Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Abdelwahed reported that Iran’s diplomatic efforts are accompanied by a strongly worded statement from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accusing the US of violating the ceasefire by disregarding navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ross Harrison, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Al Jazeera it remains difficult to discern a clear US strategy in the conflict, noting that Trump has repeatedly signaled imminent escalation before pulling back.

Meanwhile, the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that US Patriot interceptor inventories have dropped significantly, from about 2,300 before the conflict to fewer than 827, raising concerns about the US's defensive capabilities.

The region remains on edge as the situation develops.

Sources