Trump says US could strike Iran as early as Sunday or reach a 'big, beautiful' deal

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States could launch another military strike on Iran as early as Sunday, or reach an agreement with Tehran, leaving both options open despite an existing ceasefire (Al Jazeera, Shafaq News).

“We’re thinking about doing it, and maybe tomorrow,” Trump told reporters when asked whether he was considering another attack on Iran. Asked whether a decision had been made, he said: “Do you really think I’m going to tell you if I’m going to do it?” (Arab Times).

Trump said Iran could still avert further US military action by agreeing to a deal, but questioned whether Tehran would honour one, describing a potential agreement as a “big, beautiful” deal (Arab Times, Shafaq News).

“I may have to finish it off, or maybe they’ll make a deal,” he said. “But I’m not sure. Either way, we win.” He said his objective was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, arguing that the earlier US operation involving B-2 bombers would not by itself guarantee a lasting outcome: “I’ve got to make it permanent. That’s the only reason I’m doing it.” (Arab Times).

The US-Israeli war on Iran, which began in February, remains unresolved despite a ceasefire and an agreement to finalise a peace deal (Al Jazeera).

Separately, Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya reported on Saturday, citing sources, that Iran had offered through Pakistan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted an informed source as denying that Tehran had submitted any new proposal to the Pakistani mediator, saying Iran rejected any arrangement linking reopening the strait to lifting the blockade and maintained its seven previously announced conditions (Shafaq News).

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian separately called for an end to the state of “neither war nor peace”, saying many Iranians were struggling to afford food (Shafaq News).