Trump pauses new Iran strikes as regional leaders push for diplomacy
The U.S. President has announced a temporary halt to fresh military operations against Iran, citing requests from Gulf neighbors, while maintaining a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
By Larissa Bell ·
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he intends to pause new military strikes against Iran for the time being. This decision follows direct appeals from several neighboring nations, most notably Qatar, whose prime minister held discussions with the President at the White House.
In a Reuters interview and a subsequent address in the White House press briefing room, Trump stated that the United States will continue to enforce a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. He described the U.S. military as fully prepared with advanced equipment, suggesting that while the force is ready, there is currently no immediate need to deploy it.
The President explained that his decision was made at the request of regional neighbors. He specifically named Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait as countries that preferred the U.S. avoid launching new attacks. These discussions took place after a U.S. midterm election, during which efforts to end the conflict have intensified.
Trump has been leading this conflict alongside Israel since February 28. As the war enters its ninth month, he has suggested that major warfare is unlikely to resume soon, though he remains hesitant to accept the current Iranian truce proposal. Senior officials from both the U.S. and the Gulf have expressed skepticism about the likelihood of an immediate agreement.
Hostilities have continued despite diplomatic talks. Iranian state media reported that U.S. forces struck Qeshm island overnight. Additionally, Iran has attacked tankers in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz this month, while its allies in Yemen have targeted Saudi Arabia. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that U.S. strikes focused on radar systems, missile bases, and mine-laying infrastructure.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who also serves as foreign minister, met with Trump after visiting Tehran last week. Al-Thani described the talks with both Trump and Vice President JD Vance as positive. He posted on X that he was grateful for the discussions aimed at reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region.
Iranian officials have reacted to the diplomatic moves with mixed signals. Mohsen Rezaei, the head of the Iranian security council, criticized the U.S. on social media, urging them to stop manufacturing fake news about imaginary talks. He stated that it was time for the U.S. to surrender to the seven conditions Iran has repeatedly outlined.
The Iranian proposal calls for an end to the U.S. blockade of its ports, the lifting of some sanctions, and a halt to bombing. In exchange, Tehran would stop its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with further talks planned on its nuclear program. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected this plan on Sunday, calling the conditions outrageous and unrealistic. Conversely, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei defended the proposal on Monday as the most reasonable offer available.
Domestic political pressure is growing in the United States. Senior Republicans, including Vice President Vance, have attributed their party's losses in last week's elections to the ongoing Iran war. Despite this, Rubio does not believe a diplomatic breakthrough is imminent. Anwar Gargash, a senior official in the United Arab Emirates, echoed this sentiment, warning that a comprehensive political settlement remains difficult and that the region may face a long period of uncertainty.
Vice President Vance, who led negotiations for a brief truce in June, is scheduled to meet with Al-Thani. Qatar has served as a primary mediator since the war began, facilitating communication between the warring sides. Meanwhile, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday that he had informed Trump of Ankara's desire to avoid a new escalation. Erdogan emphasized that while diplomacy is possible, the region is seeing a negative shift, and Turkey is working hard to prevent it.
Regarding the recent military actions, a provincial official in Iran told the Fars news agency that Sunday night's strikes on Qeshm island did not affect vital infrastructure or services. The U.S. has not yet commented on these reports. Maritime figures indicate that attacks on tankers have reached their highest rate since the war began. A state television reporter noted that eleven tankers have been disabled in the past ten days.
