Trump Delays Iran Strikes as Gulf States Push for Diplomacy

US President Donald Trump has called off fresh strikes planned for Tuesday at the request of Gulf allies, as a peace deal appears “very close,” prompting critics to claim he is retreating from earlier vows to “destroy” Iran, Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reported for The Independent.

The Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab was destroyed by US missile strikes in February, killing 156 to 168 people, including over 120 elementary students, teachers, and parents. (Photo: Abbas Zakeri, Mehr News Agency)

“I've put it off for a little while, hopefully maybe forever, but possibly for a little while, because we've had very big discussions with Iran, and we'll see what they amount to. I was asked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and some others,” Trump said.

“If we could put it off for two or three days, a short period of time, because they think that they are getting very close to making a deal,” he added.

China and other countries have criticized Trump’s leadership, while observers argue Iran believes Trump’s social media threats hold less weight so long as Tehran maintains leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.

The president did not offer details about the planned attack but said he instructed the US military “to be prepared to go forward with a full, large-scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable deal is not reached.”

The remarks came after Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran continues to “pursue diplomacy with seriousness,” but that Iran “will not be subdued by contradictory behavior and threats from the opposing side.”