US President Donald Trump (Photo: AFP)
As the US-Israeli war on Iran entered its 81st day on Tuesday, May 19, US President Donald Trump said that there was a “very good chance” of reaching a nuclear agreement with Tehran after Washington postponed a planned military attack.
Speaking during a healthcare affordability event at the White House, Trump said the United States would be “probably satisfied” with a deal that prevents Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
He said the planned strike was delayed following what he described as a “very positive development” in talks with Tehran.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the decision came after appeals from the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Trump said the Gulf leaders informed him that “serious negotiations” were underway and expressed confidence that a deal acceptable to the United States, the Middle East and beyond could be reached.
He added that the proposed agreement would importantly ensure “no nuclear weapons for Iran”.
Trump said he had instructed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Daniel Caine and the US military not to proceed with the planned attack scheduled for Tuesday.
However, he warned that American forces had also been directed to remain prepared for a “full, large-scale assault” against Iran at a moment’s notice if negotiations fail to produce an acceptable outcome.
In a separate statement, Trump said the United States had been preparing for a major military operation against Iran, but the decision had been postponed “for a short time or maybe forever”.
The remarks come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme and fears of wider instability across the Middle East.
Amid continuing regional tensions, Newsweek outlined five possible scenarios for a potential US-Israeli war on Iran.
The publication said the conflict could escalate through a renewed military campaign aimed at imposing a limited agreement on Tehran, while another possibility involved Iran backing down under severe economic pressure.
Other scenarios included a prolonged war of attrition, Gulf states openly entering the conflict, or a nominal ceasefire followed by continuing hostilities.
According to The New York Times, citing a US military official, Iran used the ceasefire period to reopen dozens of missile sites that had previously been bombed.
The report added that Tehran had modified its military tactics in preparation for a possible new round of confrontation.
The official also claimed Iran had stored large numbers of ballistic missiles inside caves and military facilities carved into granite mountains.
Fox News quoted Trump as saying that Iran wants the war to end soon, while insisting that Tehran “cannot possess a nuclear weapon”.
The White House deputy press secretary also reiterated that Iran must permanently abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Israeli aircraft launched a violent airstrike targeting a building in the al-Mushaqqa area of the Tyre district in southern Lebanon, according to the Palestinian Information Center.
The bombardment took place shortly after the Israeli military reportedly issued a forced displacement order for residents in the area.
US Senator Lindsey Graham said any future agreement between Washington and Tehran must receive congressional approval, similar to the process followed during former president Barack Obama’s administration for the JCPOA.
In a post on X, Graham said resolving the conflict through diplomacy while protecting US national security interests would be a major achievement.
He outlined what he described as Trump’s key conditions for any agreement, including no uranium enrichment by Iran, American control over Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, uninterrupted access through the Strait of Hormuz, an end to Iran’s ballistic missile programme and nuclear weapons efforts, and the termination of support for proxy groups across the region.
However, Graham said he remained highly sceptical that Tehran would agree to terms that would make any future deal significantly different from the JCPOA or durable over the long term, adding that “time will tell”.
According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Tehran submitted a revised 14-point proposal through Pakistani mediation after making amendments during ongoing negotiations.
An Iranian official quoted by Tasnim said the United States had agreed to waive sanctions on Iran during the negotiation period.
The report added that Washington proposed suspending sanctions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control until a final understanding is reached, while Iran insisted that the complete removal of sanctions must form part of any final agreement.
Iran’s air defence systems were activated on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Mehr News Agency, amid continuing tensions around the strategically vital waterway.
The developments come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme and growing fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
This post was last modified on May 19, 2026 10:38 am