Darwin, 19 May: U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that a planned military strike against Iran has been temporarily suspended due to ongoing diplomatic discussions.
In a social media post on Monday, Trump said the attack, which had reportedly been scheduled for Tuesday (May 20), was postponed following requests from several Middle Eastern allied leaders.
However, he warned that the United States remains fully prepared to launch a major military operation against Iran if negotiations fail to produce an acceptable agreement.
Trump did not disclose specific details regarding the planned operation but said he had instructed the U.S. military to remain on standby for a “full-scale and major strike” at any moment should diplomatic efforts collapse.
Although Trump had not publicly confirmed any plan for military action on May 19, he had repeatedly issued warnings to Iran in recent weeks. In one of his recent remarks, he said, “Time is running out for Iran. If they do not make a quick decision, there may be nothing left for them.”
According to analysts, while tensions between Washington and Tehran have intensified once again, the door to a diplomatic resolution has not been completely closed. Regional allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, are reportedly playing an active role in efforts to reduce tensions.
Trump also stated that the decision to suspend the planned strike came after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Meanwhile, Trump has recently held discussions on the Iran situation with Benjamin Netanyahu and Xi Jinping, signaling that the issue has evolved into a major topic in global diplomacy beyond the Middle East.
Analysts warn that if no new agreement is reached, military tensions in the region could escalate once again. For now, however, diplomatic efforts remain ongoing, leaving room to avoid a broader conflict.
Source: NDTV