Trump says Gulf allies urged pause in Iran strikes

US President Donald Trump said he held off on more strikes on Iran at the request of Gulf allies, according to Al Jazeera. Trump said renewed US attacks on Iran were "highly unlikely" but that the US was "locked and loaded" should circumstances change, according to the BBC. He also said "Iran militarily is effectively over" and that the US was keeping the status quo "at the behest of countries that are their neighbours."

Iran's response

Senior Iranian officials believe the US is planning either further military strikes or an ever-tightening economic stranglehold that will push Tehran into retaliatory action, according to The Guardian. Mehdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the US, said on his Telegram channel that the Americans had proposed a timeframe of about two weeks after which Donald Trump would make a decision on military action. Mohammadi cast doubt on Trump's claim that the military option was off the table and claimed Washington was preparing for a limited strike while Iran was already preparing a response.

Mohammadi said if US sanctions continued, a comprehensive pre-emptive war would be needed "to increase the cost of sanctions for the enemy." He described the US response to Iran's latest proposals on reopening the Strait of Hormuz as "not only unsatisfactory but completely deceptive." He also disclosed that Iran had rejected a request from US Vice-President JD Vance for a direct meeting with its negotiators before giving a response to Tehran's conditions for lifting the siege on the strait.

Regional developments

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has targeted a US early warning radar in Bahrain in response to an attack on a telecommunications tower in Sirik, according to Al Jazeera. The IRGC said: "This serves as a serious warning to the aggressor enemy to cease its aerial provocations and oil smuggling in the Strait of Hormuz. Should these violations and acts of aggression recur, the IRGC Aerospace Force stands in full readiness to engage without limits."

Several international airlines have extended the suspension of flights to Saudi Arabia as Houthi missile and drone attacks continue to disrupt aviation across the kingdom, Al Jazeera reports. Indian carrier Akasa Air announced all flights to and from Riyadh and Jeddah would remain suspended until November 30. IndiGo extended its suspension of services to Riyadh and Dammam until November 30, while flights to Jeddah and Medina remain cancelled until November 21. Air India and Air India Express have suspended flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam until November 14. KLM has cancelled services to Riyadh and Dammam until November 27, while British Airways has postponed the resumption of its London-Riyadh route until January 11, 2027. Etihad Airways has suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam until November 19, while Oman's SalamAir has cancelled services to both cities until November 30.

Why it matters

The statements from Trump and Iranian officials show conflicting assessments of whether the US will launch further military strikes. Trump says renewed attacks are highly unlikely and that he paused strikes at Gulf allies' request, while Iranian officials believe the US is preparing for a limited strike within about two weeks. The disagreement affects regional stability, oil prices, and airline operations across the Gulf.

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Sources

• aljazeera.com: Iran war live: Trump says Gulf allies urged pause in Iran strikes | News | Al Jazeera
• theguardian.com: Trump planning new military assault or tighter sanctions, say Iranian officials | Iran | The Guardian
• bbc.com: US-Iran war: Trump says more US attacks on Iran 'highly unlikely'

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.