Washington (Rajeev Sharma): A planned American military operation against Iran has been temporarily shelved after urgent diplomatic intervention by key West Asian allies, with US President Donald Trump suggesting that negotiations with Tehran may be nearing a crucial breakthrough.
Trump disclosed that Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed had appealed for a short delay, arguing that fresh diplomatic efforts were showing significant promise.
The US President said military preparations had been in advanced stages for a major strike expected this week, but Washington decided to pause after receiving assurances that a deal could be within reach.
Addressing reporters, Trump said Gulf leaders requested a brief window of two to three days to allow ongoing discussions to progress further, believing an agreement was close enough to justify holding back military action.
He said Washington would accept any arrangement that permanently blocks Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability.
Trump confirmed he had directed senior defence officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and top military commanders, to suspend immediate action while ensuring operational readiness remains intact if diplomacy fails.
He warned that the pause should not be mistaken for weakness, making it clear that the US military remains prepared to respond instantly if negotiations collapse.
Officials familiar with the matter said Trump held direct conversations with Gulf leaders before announcing the decision, with regional security concerns dominating those discussions.
The White House is expected to convene its national security leadership in the coming days to reassess options based on developments in the talks.
Calling the current diplomatic environment “encouraging,” Trump acknowledged that previous rounds of negotiations with Tehran had repeatedly stalled but said this phase appeared more constructive than past efforts.
The development comes after months of conflict following US-Israeli military operations launched earlier this year and the ceasefire reached in April that opened channels for formal negotiations.
Though uncertainty continues to surround the final outcome, the delay has injected cautious optimism into diplomatic circles that a wider confrontation in the region may still be avoided through a negotiated settlement.
