US President Donald Trump has temporarily halted a planned military strike on Iran, expressing optimism that a breakthrough US Iran peace deal could be within reach. The decision came just hours before a scheduled Tuesday assault, following direct interventions from Gulf Arab allies. Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates urged the White House to pause military operations, citing major diplomatic progress during ongoing, high-stakes negotiations.
The current six-week ceasefire has remained fragile, with Iran previously threatening retailatory actions against neighboring Gulf states if the truce collapsed. While Trump has indefinitely extended the ceasefire to avoid further political liabilities at home, he warned that the US military remains fully prepared for a large-scale offensive if talks fail.
Diplomatic efforts are moving quickly, with Pakistan acting as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran. According to Iranian media, the United States has shown some flexibility by offering to temporarily waive specific oil sanctions while negotiations continue. However, significant hurdles remain. Washington is demanding that Iran operate only a single nuclear facility and transfer its highly enriched uranium stockpile to the US.
Meanwhile, Tehran continues to push for its own core demands, including the unfreezing of overseas financial assets, the complete removal of long-term economic sanctions, and reparations for war damages. Despite internal domestic pressures from the hardline Revolutionary Guards, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that engaging in diplomatic dialogue with the US is a matter of strategic defense rather than surrender.
A central point of global concern remains the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has mostly closed during the conflict, causing international oil prices to fluctuate wildly. The newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority recently announced it will monitor maritime activities, while the US Treasury has extended sanctions waivers on Russian oil shipments to help stabilize global energy markets.
