Washington, May 20: President Donald Trump announced that the United States was just one hour away from launching military action against Iran. However, he decided to postpone the operation at the request of regional allies. Trump emphasized that his administration is committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
During a tour of the construction site for the new White House ballroom and security complex, Trump spoke to reporters. He mentioned that Gulf allies requested a bit more time for dialogue and diplomacy.
“I was just one hour away from making a decision today. We were fully prepared. Boats and ships were ready and fully armed,” Trump stated.
He revealed that regional leaders had called him, expressing their belief that Iran was showing “reasonableness” in negotiations. Trump recounted that he asked them if they could grant an extension of two to three days, as they felt Iran was now communicating more effectively.
He clarified that this extension would not be prolonged. “I’m saying two or three days, maybe until Friday, Saturday, or the beginning of next week. Very limited time. Because we cannot allow them to have nuclear weapons,” he asserted.
Trump reiterated that if Iran were to develop nuclear capabilities, it would pose a significant threat to the Middle East. He warned that if Iran obtained nuclear weapons, they would likely target Israel first, followed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and Qatar, leading to catastrophic consequences. “I am confident they would use it,” he added.
In his remarks, Trump claimed that Iran’s military strength has significantly weakened, stating that, according to their estimates, 82% of Iran’s missiles are destroyed. He noted that their navy and air force are nearly incapacitated.
He also mentioned that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him that China is not supplying weapons to Iran. “President Xi promised me they are not sending any weapons to Iran. That’s very good news. I trust him,” Trump said.
Furthermore, he highlighted that countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain are collaborating with the U.S. on negotiations related to Iran. “We are all working together. Israel has been a very good partner,” he concluded.
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