US President Donald Trump says he is pausing planned military strikes against Iran that had been scheduled for Tuesday, after requests from Gulf leaders to keep diplomatic efforts under way. Multiple outlets report that Trump made the announcement on social media, saying leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia asked Washington to “hold off” the operation. The stated rationale is to allow time for ongoing negotiations with Tehran over a potential deal.
Trump also says the pause does not mean the threat is withdrawn. He instructs US military leaders to remain prepared to proceed with a “full, large scale assault” on short notice if an “acceptable” agreement is not reached. Sources also say Trump frames a key element of the desired deal as preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The reports place the announcement amid a fragile ceasefire and ongoing exchanges between the US and Iran, including Iran’s response to a new US proposal aimed at ending the war. While the timing of any strike is delayed, the administration signals that military readiness continues while negotiations continue.
