Trump Reveals Positive Progress in Talks with Iran

Trump said Gulf Arab leaders told him they were near a deal to ensure Iran has no nuclear weapons. ‘This is a very positive development, but we will see whether it yields anything,’ Trump said during a White House event, according to AFP, on 19 May 2026.

US Delays Attack on Iran

Trump earlier announced that the United States was delaying an attack on Iran that had been planned for Tuesday. He said he had been urged by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; and the President of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to postpone the strike.

According to Al Jazeera, on Tuesday, Gulf leaders had engaged in serious negotiations. Trump said the negotiations would be acceptable to the United States.

‘That serious negotiations are ongoing, and that, in their view, as leaders and great allies, a deal will be made that will be very acceptable to the United States, and to all countries in the Middle East and around it,’ Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

‘This deal, most importantly, will involve NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!’ he added.

Trump said he had instructed his subordinates not to carry out a scheduled attack on Iran on Tuesday, but that they would remain prepared to act if necessary.

‘Based on my respect for the leaders named above, I have instructed the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and the United States military, that we will not carry out a scheduled attack on Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be ready to carry out a large-scale attack on Iran at any time if an acceptable deal is not reached,’ he said.