In a late Saturday post on Truth Social, Trump stated that US forces were “locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran” at levels of strength “not seen since World War II.” He said Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had requested a hold on any attack because “the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.” The framework, as described by Trump, would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. He added that he had agreed to cancel the attack “subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” and that Israel joined him in this commitment (washingtonpost.com; axios.com; timesofisrael.com).
Reports indicated that the United States and Israel had been preparing potential operations targeting Iranian energy infrastructure and related sites, with possible action as soon as the weekend. Regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had urged de-escalation amid concerns that broader conflict could endanger Gulf energy facilities and shipping (jta.org; washingtonpost.com).
Israeli officials and media, including Channel 12, had earlier described the security establishment as preparing for a possible major US strike or related escalation, with the IDF raising defensive readiness. Assessments held that any significant US action against Iran risked Iranian retaliation against Israel, whether through direct missile attacks, activation of proxies such as Hezbollah, or other means. Officials stressed close defense and intelligence coordination with the United States while maintaining independent readiness (anews.com.tr; israelhayom.com; intellinews.com).
Even after Trump’s announcement, Israeli assessments emphasized continued caution. Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen stated that if Iran fires toward Israel, “we are prepared to attack it,” underscoring ongoing coordination with the US. The IDF has kept air defense systems and relevant units at elevated readiness levels, reflecting concerns that diplomatic progress could still be fragile or that Iran might attempt to create facts on the ground or exploit any pause (washingtonpost.com; israelhayom.com).
The situation fits a pattern of repeated cycles of heightened tension, military preparations, and last-minute diplomatic interventions in the ongoing Iran-related confrontations of 2025–2026. Previous episodes have seen Trump intervene to halt or scale back Israeli or joint operations in favor of talks, only for readiness levels to remain elevated due to mutual distrust and the risk of miscalculation.Iran has dismissed some US statements as psychological warfare and warned of decisive responses to any aggression. No immediate public confirmation of a finalized deal has emerged from Tehran, and Israeli leaders have not fully relaxed their posture. The coming days will test whether the reported parameters of an agreement can be turned into concrete steps on the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear issues, and de-escalation, or whether the high-alert status in Israel proves justified by further developments (washingtonpost.com; timesofisrael.com).
