US forces were three hours from striking Iran as Qatar, UAE and Pakistan pressed Trump to hold fire

The three leaders intervened after Trump warned that the United States would strike Iran “very hard tonight.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

President Donald Trump canceled planned military strikes against Iran on Thursday as leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan urged him to pursue negotiations rather than further military operations against Iran.

The mediation effort was led by Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Pakistani defense chief Asim Munir, Politico reported.

The three leaders intervened after Trump warned that the United States would strike Iran “very hard tonight” and target key elements of the country’s oil infrastructure.

The regional leaders told Trump that a preliminary understanding with Tehran was within reach, helping persuade him to suspend the planned military action.

Later Thursday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had called off what would have been a third consecutive night of US strikes against Iran.

“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” President Trump wrote.

He also stated that “Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others.”

President Trump added: “The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized—Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly.”

NBC News reported that US forces were roughly three hours away from launching the operation when Trump halted the mission.

The report said military preparations were in their final stages, with naval forces having already prepared munitions and adjusted air operation plans.

Kharg Island, despite earlier threats by Trump to seize and control Iran’s oil industry there, was not included on the final target list, according to the report.

The cancellation followed two days of US retaliatory strikes against Iranian military and radar facilities after Tehran downed an American Apache helicopter.

Iran later launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting US assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.

The Trump administration has repeatedly alternated between threatening military action and pausing operations to allow negotiations to proceed.