Kathmandu— President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that negotiations with Iran would commence on Monday afternoon following requests from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar to halt planned military strikes against Iran. The talks are expected to cover both security in the Strait of Hormuz and denuclearization efforts.

Regional Leaders Request De-Escalation

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud spoke with Trump on Saturday, expressing concern over proposed military action against Iran. According to a U.S. official cited by Axios, the Saudi leader asked for clarity regarding the plan of action and urged de-escalation.

Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, and other nations have also called for both the United States and Iran to avoid further conflict and ease tensions.

Iran's Role in Negotiations

Trump stated that Iran had requested the U.S. to pull back from planned strikes, indicating a willingness to engage in talks. The president emphasized that negotiations would take place regarding security issues in the Strait of Hormuz and potential denuclearization efforts.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.