US President Donald Trump revealed his decision to postpone a military operation that was scheduled against Iranian targets on Tuesday, indicating that this temporary retreat came at the request of leaders of Gulf countries. Trump clarified that Washington still maintains a high state of combat readiness to carry out a large-scale attack if diplomatic efforts aimed at containing Tehran's nuclear ambitions fail.
Trump indicated via his 'Truth Social' platform that leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates contacted him to request a suspension of military action, expressing their belief that a real opportunity still exists to reach a political settlement. The US President stressed that any future agreement must be firm and definitively ensure that Iran is stripped of the ability to possess nuclear weapons.
On the diplomatic front, Tehran confirmed that it had submitted its response to a new American proposal aimed at ending the current state of tension and ending the war. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ismail Baqaei, stated that diplomatic channels with Washington remain open and operate regularly through the Pakistani mediator who conveys messages between the two parties.
In its current negotiations, the Iranian government insists on the necessity of fully lifting the economic sanctions imposed on it, in addition to demanding the release of all frozen financial assets abroad. Tehran also insists on including a clause for financial compensation for the damages inflicted on its infrastructure and economy as a result of recent military operations as a basic condition for a solution.
For its part, media sources reported that the continued massive American military buildup in the Gulf region reflects Washington's seriousness in using force if necessary. Observers believe that Trump faces time pressures, as he cannot keep forces on high alert for long periods without achieving tangible results, especially with internal political deadlines approaching.
Reports indicate that the US Department of Defense 'the Pentagon' requested an additional budget estimated at about $25 billion to cover the costs of military operations and deployments for only six weeks. This exorbitant economic cost increases pressure on the US administration to make a decisive decision, either to reach a quick agreement or to proceed with the military option to avoid financial drain.
Analysts warned that the failure of the negotiation path could push the US President towards 'crazy' and unprecedented options in dealing with the Iranian file. Among these proposed scenarios are imposing complete military control over the Strait of Hormuz to cut off the global energy lifeline, or resorting to the use of limited tactical nuclear strikes to disable fortified facilities.
The bank of potential targets in the event of a comprehensive confrontation also includes targeting vital energy infrastructure and desalination plants, which could lead to a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe in the region. Experts believe that these threats fall within Trump's 'maximum pressure' strategy to extract major concessions from the Iranian leadership at the last minute.
The dilemma of the nuclear program, specifically the fate of enriched uranium quantities, remains the most prominent sticking point in the ongoing negotiations between the two parties. While Washington demands strict guarantees and international inspection mechanisms that are not open to interpretation, Tehran seeks legal guarantees that prevent the United States from withdrawing from any future agreement, as happened previously.
Ultimately, Trump seeks to achieve a political breakthrough that allows him to declare a 'historic victory' to his voters without sliding into a long-term regional war that could drain his country's resources. However, the specter of military confrontation looms over the region as long as the two parties have not signed a document ending one of the most complex international crises in modern times.
The United States remains ready to launch a comprehensive and large-scale attack at any moment if an agreement is not reached that ensures Iran does not possess nuclear weapons.
شارك برأيك
Trump Postpones Military Strike Against Iran in Response to Gulf Mediation, Warns of Comprehensive Options