May 19, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel News
United States President Donald Trump has announced the suspension of a planned military strike against Iran following appeals from top Middle East leaders who assured Washington that serious diplomatic negotiations were ongoing over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
In a statement released on his social media platform on Tuesday, Trump disclosed that the military operation against Iran had been scheduled for “tomorrow” before it was halted after interventions from the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
According to Trump, the Gulf leaders informed the United States that fresh negotiations were actively taking place and expressed optimism that a diplomatic agreement acceptable to both the United States and Middle Eastern nations could soon be achieved.
“I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and the President of the United Arab Emirates to hold off on our planned military attack on Iran,” Trump stated.
He added that the proposed agreement would include a strict guarantee preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“This deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN,” the US president declared.
Trump further revealed that, out of respect for the Gulf leaders whom he described as “great leaders and allies,” he had directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Daniel Caine, and the US military to suspend the planned strike.
Despite the suspension, Trump stressed that American forces remained on full alert and ready to launch what he described as a “large-scale assault” should negotiations fail.
“We are prepared to respond immediately if an acceptable deal is not reached,” he warned.
The development comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and growing security concerns across the Middle East.
Trump also renewed his hardline stance against Iran, insisting that Tehran must completely abandon its nuclear ambitions and publicly acknowledge defeat if it hopes to avoid military confrontation.
The US president additionally lashed out at major American media organisations, accusing them of spreading what he described as “fake news” regarding developments involving Iran and the United States.
Meanwhile, fresh regional tensions emerged after Iran reportedly unveiled plans to introduce a new maritime passage system in the Strait of Hormuz that would require ships to pay fees before crossing the strategic waterway.
According to reports, Iranian officials stated that only countries and commercial vessels considered cooperative with Tehran would benefit from the arrangement, while Iran would collect fees for specialised maritime services.
The latest developments have intensified global concerns over stability in the Middle East, as world powers closely monitor ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
