Iran-US war latest: Trump calls off fresh strikes as Gulf allies say peace deal is close
Iran-US war latest: Trump calls off fresh strikes as Gulf allies say peace deal is close
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Trump warned if a deal is not reached the US military is ‘ prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran’

Trump warned if a deal is not reached the US military is ‘ prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran’

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Close popoverTrump says he decided to postpone a "major attack" on Iran in coming days

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US president Donald Trump has called off fresh strikes planned for Tuesday at the request of Gulf allies, as a peace deal gets “very close”.

“I've put it off for a little while, hopefully maybe forever, but possibly for a little while, because we've had very big discussions with Iran, and we'll see what they amount to. I was asked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and some others,” he said in a post on Truth Social.

“If we could put it off for two or three days, a short period of time, because they think that they are getting very close to making a deal,” Trump added.

The president did not offer details about the planned attack but said but he instructed the US military “to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”

It comes after Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran is continuing to “pursue diplomacy with seriousness," but that the Islamic Republic "will not be subdued by contradictory behavior and threats from the opposing side.”

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Pictured: Iranian military educates people about how to use a gun

An Iranian military member educates people about how to use a gun at a booth in Hafte-Tir Square, in TehranAn Iranian military member educates people about how to use a gun at a booth in Hafte-Tir Square, in Tehran (Reuters)An Iranian military member educates women about how to use a gunAn Iranian military member educates women about how to use a gun (Reuters)Rebecca Whittaker19 May 2026 02:00

Trump attacks 'fake news media' for Iran war coverage

US president Donald Trump has attacked “members of the Fake News Media” in a post on his Truth Social platform.

He hit out at media organisations in the US for their coverage of the war in Iran.

The post said: "If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting 'I surrender, I surrender' while wildly waving the representative White Flag, and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary 'Documents of Surrender,' and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent USA, The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), Corrupt and now Irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a Masterful and Brilliant Victory over The United States of America, it wasn't even close.

"The Dumacrats and Media have totally lost their way. They have gone absolutely CRAZY!!!"

Rebecca Whittaker19 May 2026 01:00

US extend sanctions waiver on Russian seaborne oil

The US Treasury decided to extend its sanctions waiver on Russian seaborne oil, which lapsed on Saturday, after several countries asked for more time to buy Russian oil, Reuters has reported.

The ‌waiver will last another 30 days and the US hopes it will ease oil supply shortages and high prices due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Rebecca Whittaker19 May 2026 00:00

Trump says 'good chance' of Iran nuclear deal

President Donald Trump said there was a very good chance the US could reach an agreement with Iran to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, hours after saying he had postponed a planned military attack to allow negotiations to continue.

Trump ​said ⁠leaders from key ‌US allies in the Middle East had asked him to delay ‌a planned military attack ‌on Iran scheduled for Tuesday to allow negotiations with Tehran to continue, while warning ⁠the US remained prepared to launch a large-scale assault if no agreement is reached.

"There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If ‌we can do that ​without bombing the hell ‌out of them, I ⁠would be very happy," ⁠Trump told reporters gathered for a drug price ‌announcement ​on Monday.

Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 23:36

Watch: Trump claims ‘most’ Iranians have same first name

Trump claims ‘most’ Iranians have same first nameRebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 23:30

Trump tells reporters the US has made 'progress' in Iran

Donald Trump has said he thinks the US has made a lot of “progress” during the Iran war.

Responding to a reporter questioning if a peace deal will come into fruition, Trump insisted “lots come into fruition”.

He said: "We've taken a country that was going to have a nuclear weapon, and we've virtually destroyed its military. They have no navy, they have no air force, they've been every, they've been virtually destroyed militarily. That's a lot. That's a big.. we could leave right now. Would take them 25 years to rebuild.

“At the last thing they're thinking about, I think, is nuclear. Now they have to put it down in writing. But when you say nothing, we've.. we've totally destroyed...we've totally destroyed their military. We've destroyed their leadership, as you know, their leaders are gone. Their leaders are gone at the first level, the second level. We're dealing with half of the third level, and I think we've made a lot of progress."

Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 23:24

Watch: Trump says he decided to postpone a "major attack" on Iran in coming days

Trump says he decided to postpone a "major attack" on Iran in coming daysRebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 23:19

Recap: Trump has called off military action as 'serious negotiations' are underway

Donald Trump said he is holding off on a military strike on Iran planned for Tuesday because “serious negotiations” are underway.

Trump’s announcement in a social media post Monday came as he had threatened the clock was ticking for Iran to strike a deal or fighting would renew after a fragile ceasefire.

The president did not offer details about the planned attack but said but he instructed the US military “to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”

Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 23:00

Trump says he has put off an attack for a 'little while' as Gulf allies say peace deal is close

Donald Trump has said he has “put off” an attack on Iran for “a little while” in a post on Truth Social, as Gulf allies say peace deal is close.

It comes after he said he is holding off on a military strike on Iran planned for Tuesday because “serious negotiations” are underway.

He said in a post on Truth Social: "Well, other countries have come to me, and they've said we were getting ready to do a very major attack tomorrow. I've put it off for a little while, hopefully maybe forever, but possibly for a little while, because we've had very big discussions with Iran, and we'll see what they amount to. I was asked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and some others.

“If we could put it off for two or three days, a short period of time, because they think that they are getting very close to making a deal, and if we can do that, where there's no nuclear weapon going into the hands of Iran, I think, and if they're satisfied, we will be probably satisfied also."

"We've had periods of time where we had, we thought, pretty much getting close to making a deal, and didn't work out. But this is a little bit different now. We're already going tomorrow, very big, and not something I wanted to do, but we have no choice, because we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon."

Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 22:47

‘Are you people crazy?’: Trump blasts Iran for sending peace proposal with ‘no relationship to the deal we made’

Donald Trump has accused Iran of derailing efforts to end the war by sending a peace proposal with “no relationship” to the deal being discussed between the two countries.

The US president said Tehran was “dying to sign a deal” even as both sides appeared to have reached an impasse on key issues, including the abandonment of Iran’s nuclear programme.

“They scream all the time,” he told Fortune ahead of his trip to China last week. “I can tell you one thing – they’re dying to sign [a deal]. But they make a deal, and then they send you a paper that has no relationship to the deal you made. I say, ‘Are you people crazy?’”

Read more here:

Trump blasts Iran for sending peace offer with ‘no relationship to the deal we made’

Washington and Tehran again ramped up fiery rhetoric as talks reached an impasseRebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 22:45Newer1 / 5Older

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