Trump says US halted planned attack on Iran after requests from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE leaders

US President Donald Trump said on Monday (May 18) that he has ordered a pause on a planned US military attack against Iran after appeals from key Middle Eastern leaders who said negotiations were underway and a diplomatic agreement could still be reached.

In a lengthy statement posted on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the planned strike had been scheduled for “tomorrow” but would now be postponed while talks continue.

Gulf leaders urged Trump to delay attack

Trump said the request came from the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote.

According to Trump, the Gulf leaders argued that “serious negotiations are now taking place” and believed a diplomatic resolution remained possible.

Trump says any deal must block Iranian nuclear weapons

Trump said the proposed agreement being discussed would require Iran to permanently abandon any nuclear weapons ambitions.

“This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!” Trump stated.

He added that the potential agreement could become “very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond.”

The statement comes amid escalating tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and growing fears of a wider regional war.

US military ordered to remain ready

Despite pausing the strike, Trump stressed that the US military remains prepared to launch a major assault if negotiations collapse.

“Based on my respect for the above mentioned Leaders, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow,” Trump said.

However, he warned: “We will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them 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.”

Diplomatic pressure intensifies across Middle East

The announcement signals growing diplomatic involvement from Gulf allies attempting to prevent direct military conflict between the United States and Iran.

Regional leaders have reportedly intensified mediation efforts amid fears that a large-scale conflict could destabilize oil markets, threaten shipping lanes and trigger broader violence across the Middle East.

The reference to ongoing negotiations suggests behind-the-scenes diplomatic discussions may now be underway involving Washington, Tehran and regional intermediaries.

US-Iran negotiations remain deadlocked as war drags on

Efforts to reach a deal to end the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran remain stalled after both Washington and Tehran rejected fresh diplomatic proposals, deepening uncertainty across the Middle East and global energy markets.

The latest breakdown in talks came as Trump warned Iran that “the clock is ticking” and threatened renewed military strikes if negotiations fail.

Iran rejects US terms as “excessive”

At the same time, Iranian officials reportedly rejected a separate US-backed proposal that included temporary sanctions relief tied to oil exports.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Iran viewed US demands as unacceptable and refused to halt the war “at the expense of its nuclear program.”

Tehran has also reportedly insisted on:

The return of frozen Iranian assets

Financial compensation linked to the war

Guarantees protecting its nuclear activities

Trump escalates pressure on Tehran

Trump intensified pressure on Iran with a sharp warning posted on Truth Social.

“Tehran better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them,” Trump wrote.

The statement marked some of Trump’s strongest rhetoric toward Iran since returning from a recent diplomatic trip to China.

Despite the threats, Trump has repeatedly delayed or paused direct military action in recent weeks while continuing to push for negotiations.

The president has also reportedly discussed the conflict with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Oil markets react to conflicting signals

Global oil prices swung sharply as conflicting reports emerged about the status of negotiations.

Brent Crude Oil initially fell after reports suggesting possible sanctions relief for Iran, before rebounding when it became clear negotiations remained stalled.

Brent crude later traded around $111 per barrel.

The war and disruptions in the Persian Gulf have already pushed gasoline prices higher globally and intensified concerns over energy supplies.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a major focus because a significant portion of global oil exports passes through the narrow shipping route.

Drone attack targets UAE nuclear facility

Regional tensions escalated further after drones targeted infrastructure near a nuclear facility in the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE Defense Ministry said one drone struck near the Barakah nuclear power plant while two additional projectiles were intercepted.

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed emergency diesel generators were activated at the facility’s Unit 3 but said there was “no radiological impact.”

Senior UAE official Anwar Gargash condemned the incident.

“The terrorist attack on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant… represents a dangerous escalation and a dark chapter that violates all international laws and norms,” Gargash wrote on X.

Iran has not publicly commented on the attacks.

Saudi Arabia intercepts drones

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed three drones entering its airspace from Iraq, where multiple Iran-backed militias operate.

Saudi officials did not confirm whether the drones were connected to the UAE incident.

The attacks have heightened fears that the conflict could increasingly spill across the Gulf region.