Have 'put off' planned attack on Iran due to "big discussion" with Tehran: Trump
Washington DC, May 19
US President Donald Trump on Monday said that he has "put off" a planned attack on Iran for a short period amid "big discussions" with the country over the ongoing West Asia crisis.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and some other countries had requested the US to delay the action for a few days as they believed negotiations were close to yielding a deal.
"I put it (attack on Iran) off for a little while, hopefully maybe forever, but possibly for a little while because we've had very big discussions with Iran and we'll see what they amount to. I was asked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and some others if we could put it off for two or three days, a short period of time, because they think that they are getting very close to making a deal...It's a very positive development, but we'll see whether or not it amounts to anything," said President Trump.
Reflecting on his recent China visit and conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said, "President Xi was very complimentary of our military...We have the greatest military in the world. We're not going to let Iran have a nuclear weapon."
He further stated that multiple countries were directly engaging with US officials and Iran in an effort to resolve the situation diplomatically. "I was called by these three countries, plus others, and they're dealing directly with our people and right now, Iran. There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I will be very happy," said Trump.
Meanwhile, the United States Central Command on Monday said that it continues to strictly enforce the US blockade against Iranian ports.
"CENTCOM continues to strictly enforce the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports. U.S. forces have now redirected 85 commercial vessels to ensure full compliance," CENTCOM said in a post on X.
Earlier, President Trump turned down Iran's peace proposal to stop the ongoing West Asia crisis, saying that it falls short of expectations and does not represent any meaningful progress towards a deal, according to Axios, citing a senior US official and a source briefed on the matter.
The development comes at a sensitive moment, with Washington weighing both diplomatic and military options as tensions over Iran's nuclear programme continue to escalate. US officials say President Donald Trump is still seeking a negotiated settlement but is increasingly frustrated by Tehran's refusal to accept what Washington considers essential concessions.
Iran's latest counter-proposal was reportedly delivered on Sunday night through Pakistani mediators. According to a senior US official quoted by Axios, the revised text contains only limited changes compared to previous submissions.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Baat toh sahi hai, negotiations always better than bombs. But why is Trump suddenly listening to Saudi and Qatar? Maybe because he knows a full-scale war in West Asia will send oil prices through the roof and mess up global economy. India would suffer badly if that happens - we import most of our oil from that region.
I'm suspicious of this whole "big discussions" claim. Iran has been saying no for months, and suddenly they're about to make a deal? Sounds like Trump is just buying time to avoid another military quagmire before his next election. Our Indian diaspora in Gulf countries must be worried sick. 🤔
As an Indian, I hope this doesn't escalate. We have millions of workers in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar - any war would affect their jobs and safety. Plus, our Chabahar port project with Iran gives us strategic access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Trump needs to think beyond just bombing people. Diplomacy is always better.
The irony is strong here. Trump criticizes Iran but then uses exactly the same negotiating tactics - delay, threaten, then demand concessions. Meanwhile, US is still blockading Iranian ports and redirecting 85 ships? That's called piracy my friends. India should call for immediate de-escalation at UN.
Respectfully, this is all political theatre. Trump can't admit he backed down from strikes, so he's creating a narrative about successful negotiations. India's foreign policy should focus on maintaining good relations with both US and Iran independently. Don't get caught in their power games.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.