Trump Postpones New Strikes on Iran at Gulf Request

President Donald Trump has announced the cancellation of a planned strike on Iran that was set for Tuesday, following appeals from leaders of Persian Gulf allies who requested additional time to pursue diplomatic options.

In an update posted on social media, Trump shared that the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates urged him “to delay our scheduled military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, as serious negotiations are currently in progress.”

While the president has frequently threatened renewed military action against Iran, he has yet to act on those threats. Tehran has not confirmed any new discussions as of now. Trump indicated that the U.S. is prepared to engage militarily if a satisfactory agreement is not reached, although he did not specify a timeline for such actions.

This announcement underscores the complex situation he is navigating regarding the conflict, as Tehran has maintained a hardline stance, partly due to the absence of credible threats from the U.S. An escalation could result in increased oil prices, a risk the White House has cautiously avoided.

Following Trump’s statements, oil prices retreated from earlier gains during the day. Treasury yields decreased, and stock market losses were mitigated.

Earlier on Monday, both sides indicated that they had dismissed new proposals, finding them insufficient to achieve consensus.

Reports indicate that the White House communicated a proposal relayed by Iran through Pakistani intermediaries on Sunday did not include significant progress, lacking detailed commitments related to the surrender of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and a cessation of further enrichment, as reported by Axios, citing a senior U.S. official and another informed source.

On the Iranian side, officials have expressed that U.S. demands remain intolerable. Tehran has maintained its core positions, insisting on the return of its frozen assets and compensation for the war.

As crucial oil exports from the Persian Gulf are nearly at a standstill due to the conflict, Trump is urging Iran to reach an agreement or face renewed military actions. Iran has vowed to retaliate. Earlier on Monday, the UAE reported a drone strike near a major nuclear power facility.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the U.S. had proposed lifting sanctions on Iranian oil sales until a final agreement was reached, as part of a new draft proposal. A U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation, stated that this claim was false but did not provide further specifics.

Tasnim reported that Iran views Washington’s demands as unreasonable, asserting it would not end the conflict at the expense of its nuclear ambitions.

Rising oil prices have intensified pressure on the Trump administration. On Monday, the Treasury Department announced an extension of a sanctions waiver for another 30 days to facilitate sales of Russian oil.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shared on X that the waiver will “provide the most vulnerable nations with temporary access to Russian oil currently stranded at sea.”

Upon his return from a summit in Beijing last week, Trump informed reporters that he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the potential lifting of sanctions on Chinese companies that purchase Iranian crude oil. Before the conflict, approximately 90% of Iranian oil exports were sold to China.

The drone strike near the UAE nuclear facility underscored the fragile nature of the truce. The country’s defense ministry reported that the projectile was launched from the west of the UAE, adding that two additional drones were intercepted.

Emergency diesel generators were activated to provide power to unit 3 of the plant, as noted in a social media update from the International Atomic Energy Agency. It reported no radiological impact, according to Abu Dhabi’s media office.

Saudi Arabia confirmed the interception and destruction of three drones that entered its airspace from Iraq on Sunday, where numerous Iran-backed militias are based. It remains uncertain whether those drones were connected to the attack on the UAE.

Iran has not publicly commented on the attacks.

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