Trump Delays New Strikes on Iran Following Gulf Request

President Donald Trump announced that he has canceled a planned strike on Iran that was set for Tuesday, following requests from leaders of Persian Gulf allies who urged for more time to explore diplomatic avenues.

In a social media update, Trump stated that the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates urged him “to postpone our scheduled military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, as serious negotiations are currently underway.”

The president has often threatened renewed military action against Iran but has yet to follow through. Tehran has not immediately confirmed any new discussions. Trump mentioned that the U.S. is ready to engage militarily if a satisfactory agreement is not achieved but did not specify a timeline.

This announcement highlights the complicated situation he faces with the conflict, where Tehran has adopted a rigid stance due to the lack of credible threats from the U.S. However, an escalation could lead to higher oil prices, a risk the White House has been hesitant to take on.

Following Trump’s comments, oil prices erased many of the day’s earlier gains. Treasury yields fell, and stock losses were reduced.

Earlier on Monday, both sides indicated they had rejected new proposals, deeming them inadequate for reaching a consensus.

According to reports, the White House stated that a proposal conveyed by Iran through Pakistani intermediaries on Sunday did not offer any significant advancements, lacking detailed commitments regarding the surrender of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and a halt on further enrichment, as reported by Axios, referencing a senior U.S. official and another informed individual.

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

With vital oil exports from the Persian Gulf nearly halted due to the conflict, Trump is pushing Iran to reach an agreement or face renewed military actions. Iran has vowed 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 proposed to lift sanctions on Iranian oil sales until a final agreement was secured, as part of a new draft proposal. A U.S. official, speaking under the condition of anonymity due to the matter’s sensitivity, stated that this claim was untrue but did not provide further details.

Tasnim reported that Iran considered Washington’s demands to be excessive, stating it would not end the conflict at the expense of its nuclear ambitions.

Rising oil prices have placed additional pressure on the Trump administration. On Monday, the Treasury Department announced it is extending a sanctions waiver for another 30 days to allow sales of Russian oil.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shared on X that the waiver will “provide the most vulnerable nations with temporary access to Russian oil currently stranded at sea.”

On his return from a summit in Beijing last week, Trump informed reporters that he discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping the possibility of lifting sanctions on Chinese companies that purchase Iranian crude oil. Prior to the conflict, about 90% of Iranian oil exports were sold to China.

The drone strike near the UAE nuclear facility highlighted the tenuous nature of the truce. The country’s defense ministry reported that the projectile was launched from the west of the UAE, adding that two additional drones were intercepted.

Emergency diesel generators were activated to provide power to unit 3 of the plant, as stated in a social media update from the International Atomic Energy Agency. It reported 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 numerous Iran-backed militias are stationed. It remains unclear if those drones were related to the attack on the UAE.

Iran has not publicly commented on the attacks.

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