Trump says Gulf allies requested a final diplomatic effort as Washington pushes Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and negotiate a comprehensive nuclear agreement.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran has one final opportunity to reach a diplomatic agreement with Washington before facing what he described as severe military action, escalating tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme and regional security.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said his administration had postponed planned air strikes after direct appeals from Persian Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. According to the president, the regional partners urged Washington to give diplomacy one last opportunity before resorting to military force.
Trump said the proposed negotiations would follow a two-stage framework. The first phase requires Iran to immediately and unconditionally reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international commercial shipping, a critical global energy corridor that carries a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
The second phase would focus on the complete denuclearisation of Iran, building on commitments outlined in a joint memorandum signed in June. Trump said the objective is to secure a lasting diplomatic settlement while preventing further instability in the Middle East.
The president also rejected suggestions that domestic political considerations were influencing the timing of his decision. He said the temporary suspension of military action was intended to avoid widespread casualties and provide a final opportunity for diplomacy.
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