Chicago – May 19, 2026
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has postponed a planned major U.S. military attack on Iran for only a “limited period of time,” giving Tehran two to three days—possibly extending to early next week—to reach an acceptable peace deal that eliminates its nuclear ambitions. Trump told reporters at the White House he was “an hour away” from ordering the strike on Tuesday before Gulf allies including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE requested a pause to allow serious negotiations to continue.
“The clock is ticking” for Iran, Trump warned, emphasizing that the U.S. cannot permit Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. He instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Daniel Caine to remain prepared for a “full, large-scale assault” at a moment’s notice if no acceptable agreement is reached. The postponement comes as the fragile ceasefire between the U.S.-Israel coalition and Iran remains technically in place, with oil prices falling amid apparent diplomatic progress.
Trump expressed hope the delay would be “forever,” but made clear renewed hostilities could resume by Friday, Saturday, or Sunday if Iran fails to move quickly.
