File image.
United States President Donald Trump said late on August 1 that he called off a major military strike against Iran after receiving assurances from Tehran and other Middle Eastern nations that a framework had been reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and neutralize the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
However, Iranian state media and military sources swiftly rejected Trump’s claims, calling the assertion of a negotiated request a “lie” and denying that any agreement regarding the strategic waterway had been reached.
“The USA 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,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
“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,” Trump continued. “This would include the Immediate, complete, and total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”
Trump added that he agreed to halt the strikes “for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran… subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” claiming that Israel was also aligned with the decision.
“The country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE,” he concluded.
The diplomatic narrative unraveled rapidly the next day as Iranian semi-official news outlets pushed back against Trump’s account.
Citing Iranian military officials, Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported that the claim Tehran had asked the U.S. to hold off on military action “was nothing but a new lie,” adding that Iranian armed forces remain “on high alert and ready for any eventuality.”
Other Iranian media outlets framed the U.S. stance as a diplomatic retreat. Semi-official outlet Kayhan published commentary stating that Trump “backed away from his positions once again, after about a week of boasting and threats against Iran, claiming that an agreement was close.”
Mehr echoed that sentiment, writing that “Trump once again backed away from his hollow threats and presented his retreat to the world as a favor.”
The conflicting accounts come amid intense diplomatic maneuvering across the region. According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12 news citing two diplomats familiar with the matter, Trump paused the strikes after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi agreed to a compromise framework brokered by Qatar and the U.S.
Under the proposed arrangement, maritime traffic would enter the Persian Gulf using the Iranian-controlled side of the Strait of Hormuz and exit through Omani waters.
Channel 12 reported that Oman agreed to the arrangement provided the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) respects the terms—an assurance Qatari mediators were actively attempting to secure.
The report made no mention of transit fees for passing through the strait, which has served as a central sticking point in negotiations.
That reporting was subsequently contested by Tehran. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency quoted an unnamed member of the Iranian negotiating team who labeled the Israeli media report “false.”
The official added that “as long as the United States maintains its hostile actions, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed” to any vessel that does not directly coordinate with the IRGC.
The near-miss military operation follows reports that Washington has been considering an extensive wave of strikes targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure, including power grids, electricity plants, and petrochemical sites, aimed at cutting power across Tehran to force political concessions.
Concurrently, Iranian officials have drafted contingency plans to step up regional pressure on Washington. According to a report by The New York Times, Iranian officials have developed a step-by-step framework to escalate attacks across the region using aligned groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and armed factions in Iraq.
Fars also reported that Iranian military planners have identified key regional energy targets—including Israel’s Leviathan and Tamar offshore gas fields—for potential retaliatory strikes in the event of a U.S. attack.
The episode fits a recurring pattern since the outbreak of current hostilities, in which Trump has repeatedly threatened massive military action against Iran’s energy and infrastructure sectors, only to step back while citing mediator claims of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough.
The conflicting claims only deepen the mistrust between Washington and Tehran. The sudden pause could be a tactical maneuver by Trump to trick Iran and gain diplomatic leverage, all while keeping U.S. forces fully prepared to strike at any moment.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
