U.S. President Donald Trump said the Iranian nuclear file will be examined in a second phase of negotiations to avoid a military strike.
This development signals a critical pivot in Middle East tensions, as the U.S. weighs the effectiveness of diplomatic pressure against the risk of direct military engagement with Tehran.
Trump said that negotiations will take longer than previously anticipated. He said the current window is Iran's "last chance" before the U.S. might resort to a strike [1, 2].
The president said that a planned strike was halted following specific requests from three Gulf states [2]. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar asked Washington to stop the operation to allow for a final diplomatic opportunity to resolve the nuclear issue [2].
While the U.S. administration has maintained a hard line on nuclear proliferation, the intervention by these regional partners suggests a coordinated effort to prevent a wider escalation in the region. Trump said the second phase of the process will determine whether a peaceful resolution is possible or if military action remains the only viable path [1, 2].
Washington has not specified the exact timeline for this second phase, but the president said the window for diplomacy is closing. The shift toward a delayed strike emphasizes the influence of Gulf allies on U.S. security decisions in the region [2].
“This represents Iran's "last chance" before the U.S. might resort to a strike.”
The decision to halt a planned military operation based on requests from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar demonstrates the significant leverage these regional allies hold over U.S. foreign policy. By granting a 'last chance' for diplomacy, the U.S. is testing whether regional pressure can force Iranian concessions on its nuclear program without triggering a full-scale war.
