Trump announces new Iran talks to start Monday

Washington – The White House said President Joe Biden was urged by both Gulf partners and Tehran to postpone a set of U.S. airstrikes that had been slated for the coming weeks. In a briefing on Thursday, the president noted that officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as Iranian diplomats, conveyed concerns that immediate military action could destabilize the region further and asked the United States to explore diplomatic avenues before proceeding.

Following the president’s remarks, global oil markets reacted sharply, with Brent crude slipping below $80 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate falling a similar margin. Analysts linked the price decline to reduced expectations of an escalation that could disrupt supply routes in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. The administration indicated that the request for a delay would be weighed alongside ongoing intelligence assessments, while diplomatic channels remain open to de‑escalate tensions and prevent further economic fallout.