Trump: Iran talks to begin Monday after attack plans canceled

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that negotiations with Iran are set to commence on Monday, following his decision to call off planned retaliatory strikes against the country. Trump indicated that Iran was aware of the impending attacks and did not wish to be targeted, leading to the de-escalation.

"What we are doing now is we are talking to them as part of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow (Monday) afternoon," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. He suggested that Iran and other Middle Eastern nations had requested the U.S. to hold back from the attacks.

Details regarding the specific attack plans that Trump stated were shelved remain unclear. However, CBS News had previously reported, citing unnamed sources, that the U.S. and Israel were preparing for extensive strikes targeting Iran's power plants and oil refineries. The conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which escalated earlier this year, has seen retaliatory actions, including Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in the region.

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They naturally do not want to be attacked. They knew the scope of the attack because they could see it was brewing.

Despite ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict, a final agreement has yet to be reached. The U.S. military conducted nightly attacks on Iran for 13 consecutive nights in July, marking a significant resurgence of hostilities since a ceasefire in April. Iran responded by targeting U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

In parallel developments, Iran announced it is close to finalizing an agreement with Oman regarding a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. This vital waterway, situated between Iran and Oman, is a critical global trade route, particularly for oil. While passage was free before the conflict, Iran's control and potential taxation of the strait remain a point of contention with the U.S.

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What we are doing now is that we are talking to them as part of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow (Monday) afternoon.