US President Donald Trump has announced that he has suspended a military strike on Iran, following requests from Gulf leaders and the start of negotiations for a possible agreement on Iran's nuclear program.
In a public statement, Trump announced that the decision came after requests from 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.
Trump stressed that the eventual agreement must guarantee that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons, while warning that the US military remains on standby in case the negotiations fail.
"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 suspend our planned military strike on the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, as serious negotiations are now underway and, in their view, as great leaders and allies, an agreement will be reached that will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as to all countries in the Middle East and beyond ," Trump said.
“This deal will include, very importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN! Based on my respect for the aforementioned leaders, I have instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Daniel Caine, and the United States Military, that WE will not conduct the planned attack on Iran tomorrow, but I have also instructed them to be prepared to proceed with a full and large-scale attack on Iran, at a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable agreement is not reached ,” Trump said.