Washington, Mayb20:
US President Donald Trump has announced a temporary halt to planned military strikes on Iran following requests from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Trump said the decision was made to allow ongoing negotiations with Tehran to continue, as Gulf leaders believe a deal may be close.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan asked him to delay the military operation, which had been scheduled for Tuesday. Speaking later at the White House, Trump said the US had been preparing a “very major attack” but agreed to postpone it for “two or three days.”
Trump stressed that the objective of negotiations was to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. He said he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and military officials to remain prepared for action if talks fail.
According to Axios, Trump was also expected to meet his national security team to review military options and ongoing diplomatic efforts.
US President Donald Trump is facing growing challenges in dealing with Iran, as threats, sanctions and military pressure have failed to force Tehran to change its long-standing positions.
Despite claiming progress in negotiations, Trump recently paused planned strikes on Iran at the request of Gulf Arab allies while warning that the US military remained ready for a large-scale assault if talks collapsed.
Iran has refused to abandon its nuclear programme, ballistic missile development and regional alliances, while maintaining control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route.
The resulting tensions have disrupted energy markets and increased fuel prices in the US, hurting consumers and weakening Trump’s economic approval ratings ahead of midterm elections.
Analysts describe the situation as a stalemate, with both Washington and Tehran believing time favours them. While Trump insists he holds leverage, experts say Iran has not yet faced enough pressure to accept US demands.