Iran-US war: Trump calls off strikes at allies' request amid 'serious negotiations'
Quick Look
Donald Trump called off planned strikes on Iran at the request of Gulf allies, citing 'serious negotiations.' Iran stated it would respond with 'full strength' to any attack, while global markets reacted turbulently to Trump's earlier 'clock is ticking' warning.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A fragile ceasefire is in place after six weeks of war that followed US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Talks mediated by Pakistan have stalled, and US president Donald Trump has stated the ceasefire is 'on life support'. The conflict has disrupted global oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and impacted travel to the UAE.
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Iran-US war latest: Trump calls off fresh strikes at request of Gulf allies
Iran said it would respond with ‘full strength’ to any attack and that it is ‘fully prepared for every scenario’
US president Donald Trump has called off fresh strikes planned for Tuesday at the request of Gulf allies to allow for “serious negotiations.”
Trumps announcement came after his threat that the “clock was ticking” for Iran to strike a deal or fighting would renew after a fragile ceasefire.
The president did not offer details about the planned attack but said but he instructed the US military “to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”
Iran threatened on Monday it would respond with “full strength” to any attack.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran is continuing to “pursue diplomacy with seriousness," but that the Islamic Republic "will not be subdued by contradictory behavior and threats from the opposing side.”
“We are fully prepared for every scenario,” he said, warning that, “in the event of any reckless action we will respond with full strength, and I assure you that our armed forces will definitely have new 'surprises' for the enemy.”
Recap: Trump tells Iran 'the clock is ticking' to end the war
Donald Trump has warned Tehran that the “clock is ticking” and threatened consequences if its leaders do not act quickly.
"For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!," the US president wrote in a Truth Social post.
Trump warned that if Tehran failed to reach a peace agreement with the US, it would face "a very bad time”.
"If they don’t, they’re going to have a bad time. A very bad time. They had better make a deal," Trump told French media. He also shared an AI-generated graphic of him and a US Navy admiral in front of stormy waters, and the line: "It was calm before the storm."
Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 20:30
Trump has called off military action as 'serious negotiations' are underway
Donald Trump said he is holding off on a military strike on Iran planned for Tuesday because “serious negotiations” are underway.
Trump’s announcement in a social media post Monday came as he had threatened the clock was ticking for Iran to strike a deal or fighting would renew after a fragile ceasefire.
The president did not offer details about the planned attack but said but he instructed the US military “to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”
Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 20:18
US has shown flexibility on Iran maintaining limited nuclear activities, source says
The United States has shown flexibility on allowing Iran to maintain limited peaceful nuclear activities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Monday.
The source said that on the issue of Iran’s frozen assets, however, Washington has so far only agreed to free one quarter of those assets according to a phased timetable. Iran wants the U.S. to reconsider both positions, the source said.
In its new proposal, the source said, Iran has again focused on securing an end to the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and lifting maritime sanctions.
The more contentious issues around Iran's nuclear programme and uranium enrichment, which remain the most difficult parts of the negotiations, have been deferred to later rounds of talks.
Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 20:15
Trump says he has called off planned strike
Trump says he's called off Iran strike planned for Tuesday at request of Gulf allies to allow for serious negotiations.
Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 20:13
Recap: Iran would respond with 'full strength' to any attack
Iran has said it would would respond with “full strength” to any attack, after Donald Trump warned “there won’t be anything left of them” if they fail to make a deal to end the war.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran is continuing to “pursue diplomacy with seriousness," but that the Islamic Republic "will not be subdued by contradictory behavior and threats from the opposing side.”
“We are fully prepared for every scenario,” he said, warning that, “in the event of any reckless action we will respond with full strength, and I assure you that our armed forces will definitely have new 'surprises' for the enemy.”
Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 20:00
Watch: Trump dismisses concerns about financial impact of Iran war on Americans
Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 19:45
Newly created government agency in Iran launches an X account
The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) , which is a newly created government agency in Iran has launched an X account.
It is in charge of vetting and taxing ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Since the war began, Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz which normally carries massive amounts of global oil traffic daily.
"Navigation within the introduced boundaries of the Strait of Hormuz, which were previously determined by the Armed Forces and authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is contingent upon full coordination with these entities, and passage without permission will be considered illegal," the PGSA said in a post on X.
Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 19:30
Trump’s ‘clock is ticking’ Iran warning sends oil prices soaring and global markets tumbling
Global markets experienced a turbulent start to the week, with Asian stocks largely retreating and oil prices surging, following a stark warning from Donald Trump to Tehran that "the clock is ticking" amid stalled negotiations over a permanent end to the conflict.
U.S. futures also saw declines, falling more than 0.6%.
The rise in oil prices was directly linked to Trump’s social media post, which declared: "the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them."
Read more here:
Trump’s Iran warning sends oil prices soaring and global markets tumbling
Asian stocks are mostly lower and oil prices have jumped after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran that the “clock is ticking” as talks over a permanent end to the war stall
Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 19:15
Recap: Pakistan hands US revised Iranian proposal for ending war
Peace mediator Pakistan has shared with the United States a revised proposal from Iran to end the war in the Middle East, a Pakistani source said on Monday, warning that the sides “don't have much time” to narrow their differences.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei later confirmed that Tehran's views had been “conveyed to the American side through Pakistan” but gave no details.
A fragile ceasefire is in place after six weeks of war that followed US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, but talks mediated by Pakistan have stalled and US president Donald Trump has said the ceasefire is “on life support”.
The Pakistani source gave no details of the revised proposal. Asked if it would take time to close gaps, the source said the sides “keep changing their goalposts” and added: “We don't have much time.”
Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 19:00
Is it safe to travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi? Latest UAE travel advice after nuclear plant struck in Iran-US war
After a reported drone strike near a nuclear power station in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), many holidaymakers still have concerns over travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The temporary closure of Middle Eastern airspace in March grounded flights and severely disrupted travel to the UAE after a series of strikes across the country.
Flights from the UAE to the UK are gradually resuming, meaning that Britons now have more commercial options to leave the country.
Read more here:
Is it safe to travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi? Latest advice after nuclear plant struck
The Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to the UAE
Rebecca Whittaker18 May 2026 18:45
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Negotiations will continue, with potential for a temporary agreement or further escalation.
Likely · Within weeks
Oil prices will remain volatile, reacting to any shifts in negotiation progress or perceived threats.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What are the specific terms of the 'serious negotiations' underway?
- What are the 'surprises' Iran's armed forces have for the enemy?
- What is the exact nature of the 'acceptable Deal' the US is seeking?
- Will the US reconsider its position on Iran's frozen assets?
