President Donald Trump gestures to reporters as he walks across the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Washington, on return from Beijing where he met with China's President Xi Jinping. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Trump said preparations for a possible attack had been completed before the decision was paused.
By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
President Trump said Tuesday that he was “an hour away” from deciding whether to launch a military strike against Iran before appeals from Gulf leaders led him to delay the operation in favor of continued negotiations.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said preparations for a possible attack had been completed before the decision was paused.
“We were all set to go … It would have been happening right now,” Trump said when asked how close he came to authorizing the strike.
In a Truth Social post, President Trump said the planned military operation had been scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed after requests from the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond,” President Trump wrote.
“This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!” he added.
Trump said he instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Daniel Caine, and the US military not to proceed with the strike while directing forces to remain prepared in case negotiations fail.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Gulf officials from some of the countries Trump referenced said they had not been aware of any imminent plan to attack Iran. Trump later addressed that point during his remarks Tuesday, saying, “I didn’t tell them.”
The president also described the war as “very popular” and said he did not have “enough time” to continue explaining the rationale behind it.
The measure passed 65-51. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was absent from the vote.
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