President Trump announced Monday that he was postponing a military attack on Iran scheduled for the following day, citing requests from regional leaders to allow diplomatic talks to continue. The decision came as the White House had grown increasingly skeptical of Iran's latest peace proposal, received Sunday, with officials suggesting military action was imminent.
Trump claimed he made the call at the urging of the Emir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and the President of the United Arab Emirates. In a post on Truth Social, he said these leaders had told him serious negotiations were underway and that "a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America."
The President instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine to put the operation on hold while keeping forces ready to launch what Trump described as "a full, large scale assault" if talks collapse. He characterized any eventual agreement as one that would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Trump has a pattern of extending strike deadlines and postponing attacks on Iran multiple times since the current conflict began. A senior U.S. official told reporters Monday morning that if Iran did not change course, the United States would have to continue diplomatic efforts "through bombs," signaling how close the administration viewed military action.
The White House had expected Trump to convene his top national security team in the Situation Room on Tuesday to review military options, according to two U.S. officials. The delay marks another pivot in an administration that has repeatedly threatened escalation while pursuing off-ramps.
Trump has made numerous claims about progress toward a nuclear deal with Iran throughout the conflict, though no recent breakthroughs have materialized. His latest announcement keeps the door open for either negotiated settlement or rapid military deployment depending on how talks unfold in the coming days.
Author James Rodriguez: "This is the Trump playbook in action: maximum pressure rhetoric followed by a dramatic pause that positions him as the deal maker. Whether this actually produces negotiations or just delays the inevitable remains to be seen."
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