Trump Cancels Iran Strike at Gulf Leaders’ Request; “Two or Three Days”
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on 18 May that he has cancelled the scheduled US military strike against Iran that had been planned for today. Trump said Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed had asked him to suspend the strike “for two or three days” to allow ongoing negotiations. CNBC quoted Trump: “We will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow.” A US official told Axios the three Gulf leaders warned they would “pay the price” if the strike went ahead, fearing Iranian retaliation against their energy and oil infrastructure.
Trump nevertheless instructed US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and the US military to remain prepared to launch a “full, large-scale assault” against Iran on short notice if negotiations fail. The Gulf leaders, Trump said, believe the US and Iran can reach a deal “very acceptable to the United States” that prevents Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The cancellation reverses what was described as the most imminent strike posture of the post-ceasefire period: yesterday’s Defence Minister Israel Katz statement that the IDF was “awaiting a green light from the United States”, and last week’s NYT reporting of intense renewal preparations. The three-day window is the operational variable; the Pakistani-mediated proposal handed to Washington yesterday is the diplomatic one.