President Donald Trump revealed during a White House interview on Thursday with commentator Stephen E. Smith that Saudi Arabia, along with Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, explicitly requested he exercise restraint and avoid expanding military attacks on Iran at this time. This disclosure came despite Trump’s repeated assertions that Washington possesses the capacity to dismantle Iran’s critical infrastructure within a three-day window should it choose to pursue broader hostilities.
The President framed the decision to pause further escalation as a direct response to regional allies seeking protection. He stated, “I can end it now. And based on the request of the countries we are trying to protect, we will hold off a little bit and be a little more gentle.” While acknowledging he was not entirely convinced of the wisdom in waiting, noting that the US had already largely neutralized Iranian capabilities, he confirmed he would comply with the requests from these Gulf nations who preferred to allow more time before moving to a new phase of conflict.
When asked if he would have expanded the military offensive absent these appeals, Trump answered affirmatively. He also noted that Israel is among the nations the US aims to protect, though he did not specify whether Tel Aviv had formally requested a delay in additional strikes. The comments mark a significant shift from earlier diplomatic overtures; just hours prior, Trump declared via Truth Social that the US no longer needed a deal with Tehran, stating, “That era is over,” while highlighting US control over Iranian funds and the strategic Hormuz Strait.
Trump outlined potential future targets that remain untouched, including most Iranian bridges and energy production facilities. He threatened that the US could destroy Iran’s energy capacity, bridges, and production output in a single day each, totaling three days to fully cripple the nation. He also left open the possibility of striking the Mount Makoo nuclear site if evidence of ongoing activities were found, reiterating claims that Iran is nearing nuclear weapons capability without providing new evidence to support these assessments.
The interview touched upon domestic political repercussions, with Trump admitting the war contributed to Republican losses in the midterm elections due to rising fuel prices, yet maintaining that initiating the conflict was the correct decision. The remarks occur amidst an ongoing US-Israeli campaign against Iran that began on February 28, resulting in thousands of casualties and reciprocal attacks by Tehran on Israeli and US positions across the region. Diplomatic efforts remain stalled amid disputes over freedom of navigation in the Hormuz Strait, a vital artery for global energy supplies.
