Trump Delays Attacking Iran After Gulf States Warn Strongly Not to Strike During Hajj

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has postponed planned military action against Iran this week after being warned by Gulf allies and his own aides. According to Middle East Eye, Trump was told not to proceed with a war during the Hajj period.

Two senior Gulf officials said Trump was warned that attacking Iran during the Hajj period would cause a crisis in Gulf countries, as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims could be displaced.

The sources also stated that Trump was told attacking during the holy period, which leads up to the Islamic festival Eid al-Adha, would further damage Washington’s reputation in the Muslim world.

A senior US official, familiar with discussions inside the Trump administration, confirmed that the conversations occurred.

They said the US president was warned by his own officials that continuing the US-Israel war now would cause serious reputational damage to Trump.

The US had previously attacked Iran during the holy month of Ramadan. But doing so during the Hajj period would present significant logistical challenges for Saudi Arabia, which hosts around one million foreign pilgrims each year.