U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a planned strike on Iran for Tuesday (May 19) has been put on hold at the request of Gulf nations, citing crucial ongoing discussions.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates had urged him to halt the operation.

"I am told a deal will be made that will be highly acceptable to the US," Trump wrote, adding, "No nuclear weapons for Iran."

However, Trump issued a stern warning, stating that the US remains prepared to launch a full-scale and massive attack on Iran at a moment's notice should an acceptable agreement fail to materialize.

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian military commander cautioned the US against making further strategic errors and miscalculations.

Rising Domestic Opposition
Trump's latest announcement comes amid declining popularity and polling data that suggests the conflict is becoming increasingly unpopular at home.

According to a New York Times/Sienna poll released on Monday, approximately 64% of voters believe that entering a war with Iran was a mistake, the BBC reported.

The current conflict escalated on February 28 when Israeli and US forces launched massive airstrikes against Iran. In response, Tehran fired drones and missiles at Israeli and US targets across various Gulf countries.

Gulf Security Concerns
A major driving factor behind the current pause is the fear among Gulf Arab states regarding how Iran might retaliate following any subsequent US strikes.

The BBC noted that Iran possesses a significant arsenal of drones and missiles. There are concerns that Tehran could resume full-scale attacks on neighboring states, targeting airports, petrochemical facilities, and critical desalination plants that supply drinking water—a particularly vulnerable sector as summer temperatures begin to soar across the Gulf region.

"This Time is a Little Different"
Speaking to reporters later about the ongoing talks, Trump called the situation a very positive development, though he remained cautious about the ultimate outcome.

"There have been times when we thought we were very close to making a deal and it didn't happen," Trump said. "But this time is a little different. We'll see if it leads to anything."