President Trump reportedly halted a planned military strike against Iran after regional mediation efforts showed progress toward a potential agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Gulf nations offering sharply different recommendations on how Washington should proceed.

According to the report, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump shortly before the decision was announced, urging him to pursue diplomacy rather than military action. Saudi officials reportedly warned that strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure could trigger retaliatory attacks against oil and gas facilities across Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

The diplomatic push came as Qatar presented Iran with a proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes. Iranian officials reportedly expressed openness to discussing the proposal, although key issues—including transit fees opposed by the United States—remain unresolved.

Behind the scenes, Gulf governments have reportedly voiced frustration over what they see as an unclear U.S. strategy, while continuing to seek additional air defense systems and security guarantees amid fears of Iranian retaliation.

The report says the United Arab Emirates has taken a more hawkish position, encouraging the Trump administration to consider decisive military action against Iran, including securing control of the Strait of Hormuz and weighing possible ground operations. Saudi Arabia, by contrast, has consistently advocated for de-escalation and diplomatic engagement.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly spoke Saturday with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, warning that any U.S. or Israeli strike would prompt a powerful Iranian response and that Washington would bear the consequences.

The report also cited an Iranian diplomat as saying the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is considering preemptive military action even without an American strike if diplomatic efforts collapse.

Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, told the publication that Gulf states now appear to wield greater influence over President Trump than in the past, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s influence has diminished. He said countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar are prioritizing regional stability, recognizing that attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure would likely trigger retaliatory strikes against critical facilities throughout the Gulf.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)