On May 18, Trump posted: "Emir Tamim of Qatar, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and President Mohammed bin Zayed of the UAE have all requested that I delay our planned military strike against the Islamic Republic of Iran scheduled for tomorrow."
…….
In deference to the leaders of these nations, I have instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Daniel Kane, and the U.S. military forces: we will cancel the originally scheduled offensive action against Iran tomorrow. However, I have further ordered that if a satisfactory agreement cannot ultimately be reached, U.S. forces must remain on high alert and ready at all times to launch a full-scale, massive military assault against Iran without delay.
Thank you all for your attention to this matter!
— President Donald J. Trump
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are traditional allies of the United States in the Gulf region. Out of their own security and economic interests, they have clearly communicated to the U.S. their firm stance against being drawn into war. They fully understand Trump’s underlying intentions, and at the last moment offered him a graceful way out, allowing him to step down from the ledge with dignity.
Although Trump announced the cancellation of the planned offensive, he immediately emphasized: “If a satisfactory agreement cannot be achieved, U.S. forces must remain perpetually ready to launch a comprehensive, large-scale attack at any moment.” This perfectly reflects his consistent negotiating style—holding a knife in one hand while demanding you come to the table.
The latest draft submitted by Iran through Pakistan was deemed by the White House merely a “symbolic adjustment” lacking substantive concessions. Trump explicitly stated, “No concessions will be considered toward Tehran,” and warned Iran, “The clock is ticking.”
Currently, U.S. forces remain on high alert, with over 50,000 American troops, two aircraft carriers, and numerous fighter jets and destroyers maintaining maximum readiness in the Persian Gulf. The Pentagon has even already developed a detailed operational plan for a surprise strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
To sum up, Trump’s decision represents a temporary compromise born out of complex power dynamics. The pragmatic warnings from Gulf allies have effectively paused the flames of war—but this is only the final window for diplomatic resolution. Given the deep core differences between the U.S. and Iran over nuclear issues, coupled with the continued high-pressure deterrence posture of U.S. forces, the fragile, uneasy stalemate of “neither war nor peace” in the Middle East is unlikely to be truly broken in the short term.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865564747005952/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.