Washington, May 19 (V7N) — The United States has temporarily suspended a planned military strike on Iran following requests from key Middle Eastern allies, according to US President Donald Trump.

Speaking on Monday (May 18), Trump said the operation had been postponed for two to three days after appeals from leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The US president stated that discussions are currently underway regarding a possible agreement involving Iran, and expressed hope that a diplomatic resolution could permanently cancel the planned military action.

“Out of respect for the leaders of these countries, I have instructed the Secretary of War, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the United States military not to carry out the planned attack tomorrow,” Trump said.

According to Trump, Gulf leaders informed Washington that “important discussions” are ongoing and that a possible agreement acceptable to the United States, Middle Eastern nations and the broader international community may soon emerge.

However, Trump also warned that if negotiations fail to produce an acceptable outcome, the United States military has been instructed to remain prepared for a full-scale strike at any time.

Earlier, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that the most important condition of any agreement would be ensuring that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons.

The latest development comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a broader conflict in the Middle East.

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