WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has temporarily halted plans for a military strike against Iran, following a request from Gulf regional leaders amid ongoing diplomatic talks with Tehran.
The president made the surprise revelation via social media, stating that the attack, originally set for Tuesday, would be postponed. He explained that Iran had responded to a new US proposal aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
In his message on Truth Social, Trump said he was asked by the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to delay due to “serious negotiations” underway. He expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached, emphasizing that “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN” is a key part of the potential deal.
While the attack has been put on hold, Trump made it clear that the United States remains prepared to act. He instructed the military to stay ready for a full-scale operation at a moment’s notice if negotiations collapse and an acceptable agreement isn’t achieved.
Over the past days, Trump has issued increasingly stark warnings to Iran, especially after returning from a visit to China, where he met with President Xi Jinping. On Sunday, he warned that “the clock is ticking,” and threatened that if no peace deal is struck, Iran could face severe consequences.
Since late February, the US and Israel have been engaged in a tense stand-off with Iran, following a series of strikes by US and Israeli forces. Diplomatic efforts have largely stalled, with only one round of negotiations held in Pakistan amidst a fragile ceasefire in April.
Iran’s state news agency, Fars, reported that Washington presented a five-point plan, which included demands such as limiting Iran to only one nuclear site and transferring its enriched uranium stockpile to the US. The proposal also stressed that Iran would continue to oversee the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy passage that Iran has kept mostly closed since hostilities began.
On Monday, Iran’s newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) announced it would provide real-time updates on operations and developments in the Strait of Hormuz via social media platform X. Iran insists that reopening the Strait must be part of any agreement, viewing it as essential for regional stability.
