Trump Calls Off Planned Strike on Iran at Gulf Allies’ Request

President Donald Trump announced he has called off a planned Tuesday strike on Iran following appeals from key Gulf leaders, including the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who urged him to allow more time for ongoing negotiations.

In a Truth Social post made about an hour before the discussion, Trump indicated that these regional partners highlighted serious diplomatic efforts underway. While prepared to act, with military movements potentially already in motion for the following day, the president opted to extend one more opportunity for a diplomatic resolution.

Victoria Coates, former deputy national security advisor, analyzed the development as a strategic move leveraging time in the U.S.’s favor. She noted economic pressures affecting American households but emphasized that these pale in comparison to Iran’s severe crisis. According to Coates, Iran has lost between one and three million jobs, its rial currency has plummeted from around 30,000 to the dollar a decade ago to approximately 2 million to the dollar, and the country faces widespread internet outages amid systemic economic collapse.

“I think our Gulf partners and allies are right to say let’s see if we can get there,” Coates said. “If we can’t we’ll be with you and support you but if we can let’s get rid of that nuclear program.”

Coates highlighted how Iran’s aggressive actions, such as launching drones toward targets in the UAE and other neighbors, have backfired. Rather than building alliances, these moves have united regional states more closely with the United States, isolating Iran as the “pariah of the region” through its own decisions. She suggested this alignment could strengthen U.S. global energy dominance alongside major producers like the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Addressing broader international dynamics, Coates criticized NATO for failing to seize an early opportunity in the conflict. Instead of committing to European security, focusing on Ukraine, and bolstering defenses against Russia, the alliance opted for complaints and Zoom calls, she said. A challenging NATO summit is anticipated next month in Turkey, where President Trump is expected to seek explanations for the lack of support on what many view as a shared threat.

Trump is reportedly scheduled to meet with his national security team the following day to review military options. Coates, drawing on her experience, described the process: the president seeks a full range of realistic assessments, including risks to American personnel and assets, potential civilian casualties, Iranian responses, and pathways to a decisive outcome. She praised the candid input expected from figures like Secretary Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Caine, noting Trump’s preference for methodical, non-emotional analysis over messaging.

Coates and the discussion underscored that President Trump is not bluffing and stands ready to take necessary action if Iran does not pursue a reasonable deal. The choice, they stressed, ultimately rests with Tehran.