Trump cancels Iran strikes subject to deal being made 'rapidly'

Donald Trump says he has cancelled strikes against Iran, provided a deal is struck "rapidly" with the country.
In a post on Truth Social, the US president said he had been asked by Iran and other countries in the Middle East to "hold off" on any attack as the "perimeters" of a deal had been agreed.
Trump's comments came after reports that the US and Israel may have been planning new, intense strikes on Iran.
It is not the first time that Trump has issued apocalyptic warnings, only to subsequently insist that diplomacy was being given a chance.
Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency denied that Tehran had asked the US to hold off on further military action, saying Trump's claims were "nothing but a new lie".
Iran's acting Defence Minister Majid Ibn al-Reza said Tehran viewed every threat from its adversaries as "real and credible" even if it formed part of psychological warfare.
"We will neither be caught off guard nor remain passive," he added.
The raised tones followed reports in the US media that the US and Israel were planning what would be one of the harshest bombing campaigns to date against energy infrastructure targets in Iran.
In his post on Saturday, Trump said the US was "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".
He said cancelling the attack would be "for the future benefit of the world and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran".
A day later, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman had a call with Trump, aimed at reducing regional tensions, the kingdom's official SPA press agency reported.
"His Royal Highness emphasised the necessity of prioritising dialogue to reduce tensions and the importance of exerting all possible efforts to achieve a truce that paves the way for diplomatic solutions."