Why the US Refused to Strike Iran: Who Influenced Trump?

US President Donald Trump announced that the military strike against Iran, which had been scheduled for May 19, has been postponed indefinitely.

The decision was driven by the intervention of several Middle Eastern heads of state. According to Trump, the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates made a special request to him. The Arab leaders urged the US president to await the outcome of the "serious negotiations" currently underway with Tehran.

The US President strictly warned that any new deal must completely prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He instructed the leadership of the Pentagon to temporarily hold off on the attack and allow more time. However, if diplomatic agreements fail, the American military forces must remain fully prepared to immediately launch a "large-scale operation" against Iran.

The temporary truce between the US and Iran had been in effect since April of this year. However, reciprocal strikes exchanged by the parties in early May escalated the situation once again. Tensions between the two countries reached a critical peak in February of this year, following a joint US-Israeli air operation against Iranian territory. In response, the Tehran government shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital route for global oil shipping.