Trump Says He Delayed Iran Strike After Gulf Allies Urged Talks

U.S. military leaders to delay airstrikes on Iran that he said were scheduled for the following day. The president said the decision followed 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.

Trump stated that the three leaders cited improving negotiations and told him a deal acceptable to the United States and other Middle East countries could be reached.

Trump emphasized that any agreement must ensure Iran has no nuclear weapons. U.S. forces remain prepared to launch a large-scale assault if an acceptable deal is not reached. U.S. officials viewed it as insufficient. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters that nuclear enrichment is a right that already exists and that talks continue through Pakistani mediation.

the United Arab Emirates reported that air defenses intercepted three drones, one of which struck an electrical generator outside the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. Saudi Arabia said three drones entered its airspace from Iraq and were destroyed.

The IAEA expressed grave concern over the incidents and called for maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities. Pakistan condemned the attacks on the UAE plant and said any targeting of nuclear sites violates international law.

Iran announced the creation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The new agency said passage without coordination would be considered illegal. Iran also launched a Bitcoin-backed insurance service for ships transiting the Strait, which Bloomberg reported could generate more than $10 billion in revenue.

A White House official said the United States would not allow Iran to impose tolls or normalize control over the international waterway. Pakistan has deployed aircraft, drones, and air defense systems to Saudi Arabia under a mutual aid agreement, Reuters reported.