Trump postpones planned military strike on Iran after Gulf requests

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump’s decision to call off a planned military strike on Iran came after leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar jointly warned that they would bear the brunt of any retaliation, according to new reports.

Israeli journalist Barak Ravid revealed that in conversations over the past 24 hours, the leaders of the three Gulf nations conveyed a unified message to President Trump, urging him to give negotiations a chance. Their primary concern was that a US attack on Iran would result in devastating retaliatory strikes on their own critical oil and energy infrastructure. According to the report, Trump acknowledged this risk and communicated the Gulf states’ position to his pro-attack advisors.

Publicly, President Trump confirmed the strike was paused to allow for “serious negotiations,” stating that a deal to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons was possible. However, he issued a stern warning that he has ordered the US military to remain prepared for a full-scale attack on short notice should diplomacy fail. Trump also criticized the media, claiming they would portray even a complete Iranian surrender as a victory for Tehran.

Amid the high-stakes diplomatic maneuvering, in which Pakistani channels are actively relaying messages between Washington and Tehran, Iran has fortified its defenses. Iranian forces have activated air defense systems on Kish and Qeshm islands after detecting small drones in the area. The Iranian president has adopted a defiant tone, stating that while dialogue is an option, it does not equate to surrender and that Tehran will staunchly defend its national interests.