US President Donald Trump on Monday said the United States had been preparing to launch a military strike on Iran on Tuesday, but the operation has been paused following requests from key Gulf leaders as diplomatic talks continue.
Gulf Leaders Urged Delay in Military Action
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates appealed to Washington to hold back the planned attack to give negotiations with Tehran a chance.
Trump specifically named Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as leaders who requested the delay.
According to Trump, the leaders believed that ongoing negotiations could result in a deal acceptable to both the United States and countries across the Middle East.
Trump Warns US Ready for ‘Full, Large Scale Assault’
Despite pausing the operation, Trump warned that the US military remains ready to launch immediate action if talks fail.
He said he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Daniel Caine and the US military to stay prepared for a “full, large scale assault” on Iran at short notice if no acceptable agreement is reached.
Tensions Escalated After Netanyahu Call
The announcement came after days of escalating rhetoric between Washington and Tehran.
Following a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Truth Social.
“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” Trump wrote.
US and Iran Harden Positions Ahead of Talks
Meanwhile, both sides appeared to toughen their negotiating positions.
According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the United States is demanding that Tehran surrender 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, limit nuclear operations to a single facility, abandon demands for war compensation and accept continued restrictions on most frozen Iranian assets.
Iran, on the other hand, has reportedly insisted that sanctions be lifted, overseas assets released and military operations across the region halted before formal negotiations resume.
