Trump pauses planned strikes on Iran

President Donald Trump said on May 18 that he halted a planned U.S. military strike on Iran that he said had been scheduled for Tuesday after direct appeals from Gulf leaders. Trump named Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the leaders who urged him to wait. (politico.com) He said the request came because “serious negotiations” were underway and because those leaders believed a deal was close. (cnbc.com) Trump also said he told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Cain to stay ready for a “full, large scale assault” if an acceptable agreement is not reached. ### Which strikes did Trump say he paused? Trump wrote on Truth Social that the United States would “NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow,” describing the operation as a planned military strike that had been set for May 19. At a White House event later on May 18, he said, “we were getting ready to do a very major attack tomorrow,” adding that he had put it off “for a little while, hopefully maybe forever.” CNBC and Politico both reported that Trump presented the pause as temporary, not a cancellation. Politico reported that Trump said he would meet his national security team again on Tuesday to discuss Iran further. (politico.com) ### Why did Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervene? Trump said the three Gulf leaders asked him to hold off because they believed diplomacy had a chance. In his post, he said they told him “serious negotiations are now taking place” and that, in their view, “a Deal will be made” that would be acceptable to the United States and the region. (cnbc.com) At the White House later that day, Trump gave a more specific timeline. He said the leaders had asked for “two or three days, a short period of time,” because they thought negotiators were “getting very close to making a deal.” (politico.com) ### What did Trump say the deal would have to include? Trump said any acceptable agreement would include “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN.” Times of Israel reported that he framed the postponed strike as contingent on whether such a deal could be reached, while CNBC reported that he said the military remained prepared to move “on a moment’s notice” if it was not. (politico.com) Bloomberg reported that Trump described the pause as giving diplomacy more time rather than settling the dispute. He said the United States had been having “very big discussions with Iran” and would see “what they amount to.” (cnbc.com) ### What has Iran said while the pause holds? Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on May 15 that Tehran had “no trust” in the United States and would negotiate only if Washington was serious. Reuters, as carried by Al Arabiya, reported that Araghchi said “contradictory messages” from the United States had raised doubts in Tehran about American intentions. (timesofisrael.com) Araghchi also said Pakistani-mediated talks were in “difficulty,” not finished, and that Iran was trying to preserve the ceasefire while remaining prepared to resume fighting if needed. (bloomberg.com) He said the unresolved issues included Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its control of the Strait of Hormuz. ### What happens next? Tuesday, May 19, is the date Trump had identified for the now-delayed strike and also the day Politico said he was scheduled to meet his national security team again. Hegseth and Cain remain under instructions to be ready if no acceptable deal emerges. (english.alarabiya.net) Trump has said the pause could last only “two or three days,” placing immediate focus on whether Gulf-backed diplomacy produces terms Washington and Tehran will both accept. (politico.com)