Bakhtiari nomads, carrying conventional gown, maintain their weapons throughout a pro-government gathering close to the residence the place former Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proven on a banner, was killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Might 18, 2026.
Vahid Salemi/AP
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Vahid Salemi/AP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump stated he’s holding off on a army strike on Iran deliberate for Tuesday as a result of “severe negotiations” are underway to finish the battle.
“There appears to be an excellent probability that they will work one thing out. If we are able to try this with out bombing the hell out of them, I would be very joyful,” Trump stated on the White Home on Monday night, after first making the announcement in a social media put up.
Trump stated he had deliberate “a really main assault” however put it off — “for a short time, hopefully, perhaps perpetually.” He stated America’s allies within the Gulf requested him to attend for 2 to a few days as a result of they really feel they’re near a take care of Iran.
Trump has been threatening for weeks that the ceasefire reached in mid-April might finish if Iran didn’t make a deal, with shifting parameters for putting such an settlement. Over the weekend he warned, “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, they usually higher get transferring, FAST, or there will not be something left of them.”
The president has repeatedly set deadlines for Tehran after which backed off. However he is additionally beforehand indicated he would maintain off on army motion to permit talks to proceed — solely to show round and launch strikes. That is what occurred on the battle’s outset, when he ordered strikes in late February shortly after indicating he would let talks play out.
Trump stated the present pause for negotiations was a “very constructive improvement,” whereas acknowledging there have been occasions prior to now when a deal appeared shut however nothing got here of it. “However it is a little bit totally different,” he stated.
Trump credit Gulf allies
The president, who had not beforehand disclosed that he was planning a strike for Tuesday, didn’t provide particulars concerning the deliberate assault however stated in his social media put up he had instructed the U.S. army “to be ready to go ahead with a full, massive scale assault of Iran, on a second’s discover, within the occasion that a suitable Deal is just not reached.”
Trump stated he was calling off the assault on the request of allies within the Center East, together with the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Iran and allied Shiite militias in Iraq have launched drone assaults focusing on the Gulf Arab states within the battle. The United Arab Emirates has lately accused Iran of launching drone and missile assaults regardless of the ceasefire. On Sunday, a drone strike sparked a fireplace on the sting of the UAE’s sole nuclear energy plant in what authorities referred to as an “unprovoked terrorist assault” whereas not assigning blame.
Trump in current days has additionally spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chinese language President Xi Jinping concerning the Iran battle.
Oil costs affected
Trump’s put up rapidly brought about a fall within the worth of oil, which had been rising on the prospect of a protracted standoff that will maintain the Strait of Hormuz successfully closed.
Minutes earlier than the president’s announcement, petroleum futures had been buying and selling at $108.83 a barrel. His phrase about negotiations nearly immediately shaved greater than $2 off the value, nevertheless it crept up once more and ended on Monday at $107.25 a barrel.
Shortly after Trump’s put up, Iranian state TV referred to as it a “retreat” primarily based on “worry” in its broadcast ticker and on its X account.
It reported earlier that protection methods had been activated late Monday on Qeshm Island within the Strait of Hormuz. It added the scenario was “beneath management” there, the biggest Iranian island within the Persian Gulf, house to about 150,000 individuals and a water desalination plant.
Main sticking factors stay
Iran has successfully closed the Strait of Hormuz, a significant waterway for the cargo of oil, fuel, fertilizer and different petroleum merchandise. The U.S. is blockading Iranian ports and has redirected 85 business vessels from mid-April by way of Monday, U.S. Central Command stated in a social media put up.
Earlier Monday, Turkey’s Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan stated the speedy concern of the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran was holding the Strait of Hormuz open, however Iran’s nuclear program remained a central concern.
Talking throughout a joint information convention together with his German counterpart in Berlin, Fidan stated a lot of Iran’s enriched uranium that would doubtlessly be used for a nuclear weapon was buried beneath collapsed tunnels following assaults in June that the U.S. launched with Israel. The U.S. has stated it’s intently monitoring any actions across the stockpile.
“At current, there is not a scenario that poses an actual menace,” Fidan stated. “However for this to proceed, the events should attain and conclude a nuclear negotiation amongst themselves.”
The Turkish minister stated he believes Iran is just not opposed in precept to complying with nuclear circumstances, however added: “the query is what can be given in return, in what order, and beneath what circumstances.”
With talks at a standstill final week, Iran’s international minister stated Friday {that a} lack of belief was the largest obstacle to negotiations.
Iran, which says its nuclear program is for peaceable functions, was stated to have included some nuclear concessions in its newest proposal to finish the battle. However Trump dismissed the proposal as “rubbish.”
