President Trump told reporters he was “an hour away” from ordering strikes on Iran last week but held back after Gulf partners asked him to give diplomacy more time. He said negotiators — reportedly working with Pakistani mediation — were making progress and that he would allow a short window for talks to continue, warning that if no deal is reached the U.S. could launch a “full, large-scale assault” “on a moment’s notice.” He also defended the war’s popularity, saying public support grows when he explains the threat he says Iran poses and that he does not have “enough time” to keep explaining the rationale.
Iran’s leadership responded defiantly. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed the idea of surrender, saying Iran will “either triumph or become martyrs,” and mocked claims about who sought negotiations. Other Iranian officials warned of stronger retaliation and threatened to “open new fronts” if the U.S. resumes attacks, while lawmakers and state media reiterated demands that any deal include an end to fighting on all fronts, U.S. troop withdrawals from neighboring areas, lifting of sanctions, removal of the maritime blockade and the release of Iranian assets.
Against this backdrop, Gulf states are taking different approaches. The United Arab Emirates has assumed a hard line, repeatedly condemning Iranian strikes and asserting its right to respond, while Oman has maintained its traditional mediator role and reportedly is working with Tehran on a mechanism for traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has publicly condemned attacks but pursued quiet diplomacy to prevent escalation. Qatar has urged more time for negotiations and backed mediation efforts. A senior UAE advisor criticized what he called a “confusion of roles” in the region, warning that a muddled stance can be more dangerous than taking none.
Military and maritime developments are intensifying. U.S. Central Command says American forces have redirected 88 commercial vessels and disabled several ships since beginning a blockade of Iranian ports, part of a broader pattern that, together with Iranian threats at the Strait of Hormuz, has severely disrupted shipping and helped push global energy prices higher. In response to the strait’s disruption, the UAE and Oman opened a new overland “logistics corridor” between Sharjah and the Omani port of Sohar to move consumer goods around the bottleneck, though oil and liquified natural gas still require sea transport.
NATO’s top military commander said he is “thinking” about what role the alliance could play to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open but stressed no formal planning has started and any involvement would depend on political decisions among member states. Several European nations, led by Britain and France, have sent or are preparing to send ships to the region, though officials at NATO have downplayed the prospect of a large alliance-led operation given internal divisions.
At sea, Israeli forces have continued to intercept activist vessels trying to reach Gaza. Authorities say dozens of boats from a flotilla that left Turkey were stopped in international waters; live feeds and organizers’ accounts show Israeli boarding operations and damaged equipment on several boats. Organizers say some vessels sustained shots and hundreds of activists were detained and are being transported to ports. Israeli authorities have not confirmed all of the activists’ claims, and it is unclear in some video evidence whether live rounds were used.
On the diplomatic and economic fronts, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent urged European partners to step up sanctions and enforcement to choke off financing streams that Washington says sustain terrorism and Iran’s military capabilities, singling out shell companies, shadow banking and other mechanisms. The U.S. has framed sanctions as “instruments of peace” designed to pressure Tehran to change behavior.
The humanitarian and regional toll of fighting continues to mount. Lebanon’s health ministry reported more than 3,000 deaths in Israeli attacks related to the fighting with Hezbollah, and officials warned of continued displacement and damage. In Iran, state-organized events — including a mass wedding for couples who pledged to fight if Iran is attacked — have underscored the government’s effort to mobilize domestic resolve.
For now, negotiators say talks will continue, and several Gulf states have urged patience to see whether a diplomatic outcome can be reached. U.S. and Iranian officials offer conflicting accounts about who initiated negotiations and what terms are on the table, leaving the region on edge as military, economic and political pressures all shift rapidly.