Trump: ‘We Planned the Largest Attack Since World War II’

President Donald Trump announced overnight, between Sunday and Monday, that talks between Washington and Tehran are expected to begin today, addressing both the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program. The announcement came after he revealed that the United States had called off, for the second time, a large-scale military attack against Iran.<\/p>

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “There is a deal on Hormuz, and there will be a deal on the nuclear issue. We are speaking with them now, and the talks will begin tomorrow.” According to Trump, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar asked him to halt the planned strike.<\/p>

The American president later disclosed additional details about the canceled military plan. Trump said the United States had prepared an attack on Iran that would have been the largest “since World War II,” but said Iran approached the U.S. seeking to advance a deal. He also noted that a possible peace agreement “would save many lives.”<\/p>

The diplomatic developments had an immediate impact on energy markets as well. Oil prices fell by more than 6% after Trump announced the cancellation of planned strikes against infrastructure in Iran and hinted at progress in talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Following the announcement, the price of a barrel of Brent crude dropped by more than five dollars, to $82.41, according to Bloomberg and Reuters data.<\/p>

Despite the market optimism, the situation on the ground remains tense. Kpler reported that vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to slow following reports of attacks on tankers. According to the company’s data, only 18 vessels crossed the strait on Sunday, compared with 27 on Saturday.<\/p>

At the same time, two tankers carrying Saudi oil completed their passage through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait over the weekend, despite Houthi threats to shipping routes in the region.<\/p>

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency, UKMTO, reported a security incident about 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. According to the report, the captain of a tanker reported an explosion near the vessel, though no damage was caused to the ship or its crew.<\/p>

Iran, however, moved quickly to temper expectations about progress in the talks. Earlier, officials in Tehran said that negotiations being conducted through Oman were not connected to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that continued traffic through the strait depends, from their perspective, on whether the United States violates existing understandings and agreements.<\/p>