US President Donald Trump holds a press conference at the Presidential Complex during the 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 8, 2026. [Doğukan Keskinkılıç – Anadolu Agency]
US President Donald Trump has temporarily delayed a planned major military escalation against Iran following high-level diplomatic pressure from key Gulf allies, according to reports on Sunday.
The decision followed a pivotal phone call from Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who urged de-escalation and requested clarity on Washington’s “plan of action,” Axios reported.
The Wall Street Journal noted that Gulf countries have grown increasingly frustrated with the perceived lack of a clear US strategy as the war continues to subject their territories to frequent Iranian retaliatory strikes.
READ: Trump cancels planned strikes on Iran to allow for talks on peace deal
