U.S. President Donald Trump says he has called off a planned military strike on Iran that had been scheduled for Tuesday, citing “serious negotiations” and requests from key Middle East allies to give diplomacy more time. The development adds fresh uncertainty to a fragile ceasefire that Trump has repeatedly warned could collapse if Tehran does not reach a deal with Washington.
Trump made the announcement Monday in a social media post, saying leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates urged him to pause the planned attack while negotiations continue.
The president did not provide operational details about the proposed strike. He said, though, that he had instructed the U.S. military “to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”
The planned May 19 strike had not been publicly disclosed before Trump’s post. His statement followed days of escalating warnings toward Tehran.
Over the weekend, Trump warned, “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them.”
The president has spent weeks threatening to end the ceasefire reached in mid-April if Iran does not agree to terms. His demands have shifted during that period, while the temporary pause in fighting has remained under strain.
Trump has also spoken in recent days with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chinese President Xi Jinping about the Iran war, underscoring the wider international stakes tied to any renewed U.S. military action.
Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Tehran, then stepped back from immediate action.
