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UNITED States President Donald Trump has postponed a planned new military strike against Iran following urgent appeals from Gulf Arab leaders seeking to salvage ongoing peace negotiations aimed at ending the escalating Middle East conflict.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the decision to delay the operation scheduled for Tuesday came after direct requests from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who believe a diplomatic breakthrough remains possible.
According to Trump, Gulf leaders urged Washington to hold back military action after seeing what he described as a realistic opportunity for a peace agreement capable of ending months of hostilities across the region.
The postponement also followed renewed warnings from Tehran that Iran would retaliate forcefully if the United States and Israel ended the fragile ceasefire currently entering its sixth week.
Trump had earlier extended the truce indefinitely without announcing a final deadline, amid growing concern within his administration that the prolonged conflict was becoming a political liability ahead of key US elections.
The US president had reportedly prepared a fresh military offensive after Tehran rejected earlier peace conditions proposed by Washington.
“Negotiations now underway have the potential to produce an agreement that is very acceptable to the United States,” AFP cited Trump saying, while reiterating Washington’s uncompromising position on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“No nuclear weapons for Iran,” he declared.
Despite delaying immediate military action, Trump confirmed he had instructed US forces to remain fully prepared for a large-scale assault should negotiations collapse or fail to deliver terms acceptable to Washington.
Speaking later at a White House event, Trump described the latest developments in the peace talks as “very positive” after Arab allies reportedly signalled that a deal preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons was now within reach.
“There’s a very good chance they can work this out. If we can do it without bombing them, I’ll be very happy,” he added.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have intensified sharply since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched large-scale air strikes targeting Iranian military and strategic facilities.
Iran later retaliated with waves of drones and missile attacks directed at Israeli targets and American interests across the Gulf region.
A ceasefire brokered in April to create space for negotiations has largely held despite intermittent exchanges of fire and continued military threats from both sides.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to maintain control over the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.
Fears that Tehran could shut the waterway in response to US or Israeli military action have already triggered spikes in global oil prices and renewed concern across international energy markets.
Washington has simultaneously intensified pressure on Tehran by tightening sanctions targeting Iranian ports and trade activities.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that documents had continued to be exchanged between Tehran and Washington through Pakistani mediation channels, adding that Iran had clearly communicated all of its “concerns” regarding the negotiations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meanwhile insisted that engaging in talks with Washington should not be interpreted as surrender, stressing that Tehran would continue defending its national dignity and sovereign rights.
Trump’s announcement also comes amid worsening domestic political pressure in the United States, where public support for the war effort appears to be weakening significantly.
Recent polling showed a majority of American voters disapprove of the decision to wage war against Iran.
A New York Times/Siena survey found that 64 per cent of voters believe the conflict with Iran was a mistake, while only 37 per cent approved of Trump’s overall performance as president.
The deteriorating public mood is increasingly viewed as a growing challenge for the Republican Party ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, with voter dissatisfaction rising over the handling of the war, the economy and immigration issues. - May 19, 2026
Donald Trump, Iran, United States, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Middle East Conflict, Nuclear Talks, Strait of Hormuz, Ceasefire, US Politics, Sanctions
