Trump says "don’t fire" request from Iran intermediaries led him to halt strikes

President Donald Trump told Axios on Monday that he ordered a halt to planned American military strikes on Iran last Friday after intermediary nations involved in negotiations requested he hold off. The decision, he explained, was made to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts more time, though he warned that if those talks collapse, he will authorize a return to large-scale military action. The discussions, aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching a broader nuclear agreement, are being handled primarily by Oman with support from Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, and Trump’s own envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Trump noted that financial markets rose and oil prices fell following the pause, and he is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.