Trump hopes pause in attacks on Iran will lead to lasting peace

Moscow (ANTARA) – US President Donald Trump said he hoped the temporary halt to attacks on Iran, which he announced, could become a step towards lasting peace. ‘I paused it for now—hopefully forever, but it may only be temporary, because we are having important talks with Iran,’ Trump told reporters on Monday, 18 May. He also claimed a deal with Iran was near. According to him, Middle Eastern countries that urged him to delay the attack on Iran also believed the deal would be reached soon. Previously, Trump said he had cancelled a military strike on Iran scheduled for May 19 after requests from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ‘I was asked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and some other countries to delay it for two or three days because they think a deal is almost reached,’ he said. On 28 February, the United States and Israel launched strikes against targets in Iran that caused damage and killed civilians. The fighting was halted on 7 April after the US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire. However, negotiations in Islamabad during the ceasefire period ended without result, and Trump then extended the cessation of hostilities to give Iran time to present a ‘comprehensive proposal.’