United States President Donald Trump has said he will “hold off” on a planned military strike against Iran for now, following diplomatic intervention from Gulf leaders, while still ordering the US military to remain on high alert for a possible assault.
Trump made the comments on Monday night, May 18, via his Truth Social platform, where he said the decision followed requests from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Gulf Leaders Push For Delay In Strike
According to Trump, the leaders of the Gulf states appealed for a short delay in order to allow ongoing negotiations with Iran to continue.
He said the discussions around a possible agreement had become more “serious” and could potentially lead to a diplomatic breakthrough.
“This deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN,” Trump wrote.
The US President added that while he was willing to pause the planned military action, the situation remained uncertain and subject to Iran’s response.
Military Told To Remain On Standby
Despite the temporary pause, Trump instructed senior US military officials to remain fully prepared for a “full, large scale assault” if negotiations fail.
He said the United States would act “on a moment’s notice” if Iran does not reach an acceptable agreement.
Trump also hinted that the US had already reviewed potential strike options before the decision to delay the operation.
Tensions Remain High Over Nuclear Deal
The US President reiterated his long-standing position that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, warning that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails.
He noted that while there had been progress in discussions, previous negotiations had also come close without producing a final deal.
“I was asked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and others to hold off for a short period because they believe a deal may be close,” Trump said.
Uncertainty Over Next Steps
Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran over nuclear enrichment and regional security concerns.
While diplomatic channels remain open, both sides continue to disagree on key conditions of any potential agreement.
Analysts say the situation remains fluid, with the next round of talks expected to determine whether the standoff moves toward diplomacy or renewed military escalation.