Donald Trump He claimed to have been within an hour of authorizing another strike against Iran before deciding to postpone it. The US president stated that American forces remained ready to act if no agreement was reached quickly with Tehran.
Tensions remain high between Washington and Tehran, as negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program and the end of the conflict remain fragile. Donald Trump insists he wants to give diplomacy a chance, while maintaining the threat of military action in the short term.
A diplomatic window of a few days
The American president mentioned a limited timeframe, speaking of “two or three days”...or even a possible decision by the end of this week or the beginning of next. He maintains that the United States' top priority remains preventing Iran from acquiring a new nuclear weapon. The day before, Donald Trump had already indicated that he had suspended a planned attack against Iran after the transmission of a new Iranian proposal to Washington. He explained that he had asked the US military to remain ready to launch a large-scale operation if no acceptable agreement was reached.
Gulf countries are pushing for restraint
Donald Trump also indicated that several Middle Eastern allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, had asked him to postpone the attack. According to him, these partners believe that an agreement with Iran could still be reached very soon. This postponement, however, does not signify a complete de-escalation. The American president is maintaining a policy of maximum pressure: discussions are continuing, but the threat of a strike remains clearly on display.
Iran's nuclear program at the heart of the standoff
The main sticking point remains the Iranian nuclear program. Washington is seeking guarantees preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapons capability, while Iran maintains it is pursuing a program with civilian applications. Discussions are also covering other sensitive issues, including the lifting of certain sanctions, the fate of Iranian assets frozen abroad, and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for global energy transport.
A crisis that weighs on the regional balance
The threat of a US strike comes amid an already volatile situation in the Middle East. Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, drone attacks in the region, and tensions surrounding Gulf energy facilities are fueling fears of an escalation of the conflict. Oil markets are also reacting to each announcement. The possibility of a military escalation had driven prices up, before the announcement of a postponement of the attack caused a temporary decline.
