Story Content

On May 18, 2026, President Donald Trump announced in a press release a planned large-scale military action will be taking place against Iran on Tuesday. But Trump has decided not to proceed as scheduled. The leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates called for more time for diplomacy, leading to the following.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed he wanted Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and military leaders to call off the "operation" for now—or until negotiations reach a failure point—at which point Trump would keep troops "ready for a full, large-scale assault at a moment's notice." He expressed his hope for a deal that will satisfy the U.S. pertaining to nuclear weapons for Iran.

The development has taken place during escalating conflicts across the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz and general conflict. Respect for the input of the allies of the Gulf has been the highlight of Trump's tenure while also cautioning Iran that the military option is "very much alive." Markets had a mixed reaction with oil prices ebbing and flowing after the announcement of de-escalation. More developments about the talks will be announced in the next few days.