Donald Trump said he paused plans for a potential military strike against Iran after direct appeals from Gulf leaders, injecting fresh uncertainty into a conflict that has already killed thousands and rattled global energy markets.
The president disclosed the decision in a Truth Social post after days of speculation over whether the United States would escalate its military campaign against Tehran following renewed hostilities tied to the collapsing ceasefire between Iran, the U.S. and Israel.
Trump said leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates urged him to give negotiations more time rather than proceed with another strike.
"'In that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond. This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!'" Trump wrote.
The statement marked another abrupt shift in the administration's messaging on Iran. Only days earlier, Trump had strongly hinted that Tehran should expect a forceful response if ongoing negotiations failed. Yet even as he publicly stepped back from immediate military action, the president emphasized that the threat of force remained active if diplomacy collapsed again.
The White House has not released operational details about the reported strike plans or clarified what targets were under consideration. Administration officials also have not confirmed how close the U.S. military came to launching another attack.
Trump's reversal came after weeks of unstable diplomacy following the outbreak of war on Feb. 28, when coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian facilities. Fighting continued despite a short-lived ceasefire announced by Trump earlier this year, which ultimately broke down amid disagreements over Tehran's response to proposed conditions for ending the conflict.
The administration has framed the pressure campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities. Trump reiterated in recent comments that any future agreement must permanently block Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The latest pause reflects the increasingly delicate position facing Gulf states caught between Washington, Tehran and regional security fears. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have all sought to avoid a wider regional war that could threaten oil infrastructure, shipping lanes and domestic stability.
The conflict has already intensified concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy corridors. Markets have reacted nervously to every escalation, with investors closely monitoring whether fighting could disrupt oil exports from the Gulf region.
Trump's decision immediately triggered polarized reactions online, highlighting growing divisions inside both political parties over the administration's handling of the war.
One X user wrote: "'Hasn't Trump already declared victory several times? He should declare a final victory, bring all of our troops home from the Middle East, and keep his promise to put America first.'"
Others argued the president's shifting posture projected weakness.
"'Completely moronic just costing the American taxpayer more and more money for everything because of this uncertainty. Finish the damn job you started,'" another user posted.
A third critic warned: "'With the level of weakness President Trump is showing in the face of the murderous Islamic regime of Iran, he will eventually be forced to back down and make concessions to get a deal worse than Obama's. The murderous regime is playing President Trump to buy time.'"
Humanitarian concerns have also grown sharply as the war drags on. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 3,186 people have been killed since fighting began, including 1,394 civilians and at least 210 children. The group said another 1,153 military personnel had died, while hundreds of additional fatalities remain unidentified.
