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[Anchor]

President Trump has announced that he has called off the massive airstrikes against Iran that had been anticipated for the weekend. He explained that Middle Eastern nations requested a postponement of the attack, stating that an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz issue was nearly reached. Various interpretations are emerging regarding the backdrop of President Trump's sudden reversal.

Reporter Gwak Sang-eun has the details.

[Reporter]

At 10:00 PM Eastern Time on Saturday, President Trump posted a message on social media.

He stated that although preparations had been made for a massive airstrike on Iran at a level "not seen since World War II," he was calling it off for now.

He explained that he received requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern nations asking to hold off on the attack because a framework for an agreement had been established.

He stated that the agreement includes the immediate and complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.

This announcement came as tensions reached a peak following consecutive reports that the United States and Israel were preparing large-scale airstrikes targeting Iran's energy facilities this weekend.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President (July 31): We are going to hit Iran very hard. Eventually, they are going to say, 'We can't take it anymore.']

Israeli media reported that Iran's foreign minister agreed to a compromise for opening the Strait of Hormuz, which involves using Iranian-controlled waters when entering the Persian Gulf and Omani waters when exiting.

However, in Iran, military officials—including through a statement by the acting defense minister—pushed back, reacting with accusations that it was "Trump's lie" and a "threat intended to foment conflict."

The U.S. online media outlet Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman placed a direct phone call to President Trump, asking for restraint by warning that Iranian retaliatory attacks would strike energy facilities in the Gulf region.

Additionally, the possibility has been raised that concerns over economic fallout—such as the depletion of U.S. military missile stockpiles and rising international oil prices, which have been heavily covered by U.S. media recently—may have also influenced Trump's change in attitude.

(Video edited by Lee Seung-yeol, Design by Park Tae-young)