Trump Postpones New Attacks on Iran After Gulf Nations' Appeal -

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

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

While the president has frequently threatened renewed military action against Iran, he has yet to act on these threats. Tehran has not immediately acknowledged any new talks. Trump indicated that the U.S. is prepared to engage militarily if a satisfactory agreement is not reached, although he did not provide a specific timeline.

This announcement reflects the complex situation he faces with the conflict, where Tehran has maintained a tough position due to the absence of credible threats from the U.S. Nevertheless, an escalation could drive up oil prices, a risk the White House seems reluctant to embrace.

Following Trump’s remarks, oil prices reversed many of the day’s earlier gains. Treasury yields decreased, and losses in the stock market were lessened.

Earlier on Monday, both parties indicated that they had declined new proposals, considering them insufficient for achieving a consensus.

Reports suggest that the White House communicated that a proposal delivered by Iran through Pakistani intermediaries on Sunday did not present any substantial progress, lacking concrete commitments regarding the relinquishment of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and a cessation of further enrichment, according to Axios, citing a senior U.S. official and another informed source.

On the Iranian side, officials have stated that U.S. demands remain unacceptable. Tehran has held firm on several key positions, insisting on the return of its frozen assets and compensation for the war.

With crucial oil exports from the Persian Gulf nearly stalled because of the conflict, Trump is urging Iran to reach an agreement or face renewed military actions. Iran has promised to retaliate. Earlier on Monday, the UAE reported a drone strike near a significant nuclear power facility.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the U.S. had suggested lifting sanctions on Iranian oil sales until a final agreement was finalized, as part of a new draft proposal. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, asserted that this claim was false but did not elaborate further.

Tasnim reported that Iran considers Washington’s demands excessive, asserting that it would not end the conflict at the cost of its nuclear objectives.

Rising oil prices have added further 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 mentioned 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 discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping the potential of lifting sanctions on Chinese companies engaging in the purchase of Iranian crude oil. Before the conflict, approximately 90% of Iranian oil exports were directed to China.

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

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

Saudi Arabia reported intercepting and destroying three drones that entered its airspace from Iraq on Sunday, where a significant number of Iran-backed militias are located. It remains unclear whether those drones were connected to the attack on the UAE.

Iran has yet to publicly comment on the attacks.