WASHINGTON, 19 May 2026 – US President Donald Trump has paused a planned military strike on Iran after Gulf leaders urged Washington to allow more time for diplomacy, saying there is now a “very good chance” of reaching an agreement to limit Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Trump said the United States had been prepared to launch an attack but held back after leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates appealed for a delay, arguing that a deal could still be reached. The pause gives negotiators a narrow window to test whether a diplomatic settlement is possible after weeks of heightened tension across the Gulf.
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