WASHINGTON/TEHRAN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he has agreed to hold off fresh attacks against Iran, even as the two sides continue to trade threats while offering conflicting accounts.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States "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 said.
"This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat," he added.
Trump also warned that his decision is "subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL."
Iran's military sources denied on Sunday Trump's claim that Tehran had asked Washington to call off its strikes, calling his remarks "a new lie," Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
The military sources also described Trump's words on Truth Social as a desperate attempt to pressure Gulf states, saying that Iran's armed forces remain at the highest level of readiness and are fully prepared.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned the United States against taking any "adventurous" actions, saying those responsible would bear the consequences, according to Mehr.
Any U.S. attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure would prompt retaliatory strikes on oil fields in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as gas facilities in Qatar and Israel, Nournews, a media outlet affiliated with Iran's top security body, reported Saturday, warning that "all will be burned to ashes."
The warnings came after U.S. media reported imminent military action.
The Wall Street Journal on Friday cited U.S. officials as saying that Trump "has ordered the military to launch a fresh attack on Iran that could begin as soon as this weekend and last a few days."
CBS News also reported that the United States and Israel are preparing for intense strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, which could begin during the weekend.
Anticipating a severe fallout, the U.S. embassies in some 10 Middle East countries issued security alerts urging American citizens to "consider departing" due to an "unforeseen escalation."
The Mehr report added that Araghchi made the remarks during separate phone conversations with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, during which they exchanged views on the latest regional developments.
In talks with Munir and Fidan, Araghchi said Iran was fully prepared to safeguard its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security, and would respond decisively to any act of aggression.
Araghchi later told his Saudi counterpart that any hostile U.S. or Israeli action, as well as any regional support for it, would draw a firm, proportionate response from Iran's armed forces.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Trump on Saturday and "expressed concern and asked for clarity" about the plan of action, a U.S. official told U.S. online news outlet Axios.
Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE, Türkiye, and other countries have also called on the United States and Iran to de-escalate tensions and avoid further conflict.
Pakistan said on Thursday that it was doing its "utmost" to bring the two sides back to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding so that "all irritants can be removed" in line with its spirit and the Pakistan-Qatar joint statement.
Qatari mediators held separate talks Saturday with Araghchi, U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and Omani officials in an effort to secure an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to Axios.
At a cabinet meeting on Friday at the Camp David retreat, Trump said he believed U.S. negotiators, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, could still reach a deal with Iran. ■
