Tehran views every threat from its adversaries ⁠as “real and credible” even if made as ⁠part ​of psychological ⁠warfare, Iran’s acting ⁠defence minister, Majid ​Ibn al-Reza, ⁠said on ‌Sunday according to state media.

“We ‌will neither ‌be caught off guard ⁠nor remain passive,” he said, adding that Iran would use threats as a ‌basis to ​increase its military ‌readiness, ⁠strengthen deterrence and ⁠enhance its military capabilities.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed ⁠bin Salman stressed in a ⁠phone ​call ⁠with ⁠Donald ⁠Trump ‌the “necessity of prioritizing dialogue ‌to de-escalate ‌tensions” in the ⁠Middle East, according to Saudi Arabia’s state ‌news agency.

US president Donald Trump appeared to make a U-turn on Iran after signalling he was ready to launch fresh military strikes, instead announcing a renewed push for a deal to end the conflict.

The shift came despite Trump’s earlier warnings that the US was prepared to unleash unprecedented force following Iran’s attack on a US base in Jordan.

The apparent U-turn comes as the war remains unpopular with many Americans, rattles global markets and threatens to become a major political issue ahead of November’s US midterm elections.

The latest polls show Trump is now one of the most unpopular second-term US presidents at this stage of his presidency since polling began in the 1940s. The only president with a lower approval rating was Richard Nixon, who was just days away from resigning over the Watergate scandal.

He has the support of just 34 per cent of Americans in CNN’s latest poll.

Before Donald Trump announced a last-minute pause in strikes on Iran, Tehran warned of a “decisive and proportionate response” to Washington.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi ⁠said in a phone call ⁠with ​his ⁠Saudi counterpart that ⁠any “aggression” by ​the US ⁠and ‌Israel or participation of ‌regional countries ‌in these actions will ⁠be met with a strong response, according to Araghchi’s Telegram ​account.

He held separate calls with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan as well as Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to posts on the Iranian foreign minister’s Telegram channel.

He warned that Iran would respond in kind to any “adventurous action” by the United States.

Three Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza, Al Jazeera Arabic reported.

The latest casualties were reported after an Israeli strike on the town of al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis, citing sources at the Nasser Medical Complex.

The latest deaths bring the total number of people killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza this morning to eight.

Earlier, two people were killed in central Deir al-Balah, while three others were killed and several more wounded in a strike on an apartment in northern Gaza City.

Retired US Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton told CNN that Saudi Arabia and Iran both have strong reasons to avoid further escalation in the region, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz impacting much of their energy flows and exports.

“They’re economically at risk here,” he said.

“This is an area where the United States really is dependent, to a large degree on Saudi diplomacy, and that, I think, had a big impact on President Trump’s decision to forgo attacking Iran, at least for the near term,” he added.

He added that while Iran is also under growing economic and military pressure after months of conflict, any push for de-escalation could give Tehran time to regroup and ease the strain.

Trump’s decision to call off strikes on Iran came after it was that report that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader, spoke with Trump by phone and raised concerns about the US potentially escalating the conflict with Iran.

Iran’s armed forces are carrying out Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s directives on managing the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, the spokesperson for parliament’s national security committee said on Sunday.

Hassan Ghashghavi said Tehran opposes a proposed southern Omani shipping corridor through the strait, arguing it could be used to transport fuel for US and Israeli military aircraft as well as military equipment and weapons to US bases in the region.

He said Iran would have no ability to monitor or control vessels using the route, making the proposal incompatible with the country’s national security.

Israel has agreed to join the US in efforts to finalise an agreement with Iran that would bring an end to the war, Donald Trump said. Iran did not immediately comment on the announcement.

“The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he said.

Trump has ordered American forces to hold off on new strikes against Iran. His remarks marked a sharp shift from a day earlier, when he suggested the US was close to resuming heavy military strikes to force Tehran back to the negotiating table.

In a post on X Friday, Israeli far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir called the deal “unacceptable” and said the killings in Gaza must continue. “Israel must win,” he said.

The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February, with Trump saying the campaign aimed to destroy Tehran’s missile capabilities, prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and curb its support for allied armed groups.

Earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader, spoke with Trump by phone and raised concerns about the US potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders’ discussion.

The call happened before Trump’s social media announcement that he was cancelling a major strike.

The Saudis, according to the person briefed on the substance of the call but not authorised to comment publicly, are concerned that Tehran could respond with attacks on the energy infrastructure of the kingdom and other Gulf countries.

The crown prince sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he was weighing to take against Iran, the person told the Associated Press.

A White House official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and requested anonymity, confirmed the leaders spoke Saturday but did not offer any detail.

Here’s the full text of what Trump posted on Truth Social:

“The U.S.A. is 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. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to. This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL. The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”