President Trump said he was asked by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar to call off the planned U.S. military strike on Iran, according to a report. The claim contradicts a Wall Street Journal report that the UAE urged the U.S. to attack.
President Trump said late Sunday night that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar each requested that he call off the planned U.S. military strike on Iran, directly contradicting a Wall Street Journal report that the UAE had urged Washington to attack. The claim, reported by Israeli media, adds Trump's own voice to the intensifying debate over which regional actors pushed for de-escalation.
The statement follows a series of conflicting reports. Sunday afternoon, the Wall Street Journal reported that Gulf states including the UAE were pressing for escalation, including ground operations. Separately, a senior Israeli official said Saudi Arabia and Qatar exerted "intense pressure" on Trump to cancel the strike. Later Sunday evening, The Zioneer reported that the UAE was furious with Trump's "unstable decisions" and was the only Gulf state to call for an attack. Trump's latest remark appears to reject that narrative, placing the UAE alongside Saudi Arabia and Qatar as requesting restraint.
The diplomatic maneuvering comes after Trump suspended a planned strike on Iran last week, citing regional requests for a diplomatic path. The Zioneer reported on June 11 that Qatar, Pakistan, and the UAE leaders convinced Trump to stand down by promising a diplomatic breakthrough. On August 2, we reported that Saudi pressure and missile shortages contributed to the delay. The pattern of last-minute reversals has continued.
The full picture of who requested what remains unclear, with Trump's account now the latest version. The conflicting claims from Gulf officials, Israeli sources, and the President himself have not been reconciled.
6 developments
- DevelopingSaudi Arabia confirms bin Salman, Trump push for Middle East calm, warn against wider war
- DevelopingNew details: Saudi pressure, missile stock shortage, and Qatari mediation led to delay of US strike on Iran
- StrongSaudi report: bin Salman spoke with Trump on Iran negotiations
- ConfirmedTrump claims Iran asked him to stop bombing, Pentagon denies any US warship hit
Source and signal
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