U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a May 18 Truth Social post that he had called off a planned May 19 military attack on Iran following requests from Qatari, Saudi and Emirati leaders, who reportedly informed Trump that negotiations on a deal that includes "NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN" were progressing. However, Trump instructed military leaders to remain prepared for a "full, large-scale assault" if negotiations fail.

The announcement came hours after U.S. media reported the United States had rejected the latest Iranian counteroffer, sparking speculation that the war might resume. The period following the April 8 U.S.-Iran ceasefire has been characterized by sporadic shipping attacks and minor violations across the Gulf Arab states, and Israel continues to advocate for a return to escalation to degrade Iranian capabilities further. Within the region, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates maintain hawkish positions on Iran, though Saudi Arabia expresses skepticism about continued hostilities, given the potential for significant damage to its industrial base and energy infrastructure. While American energy costs remain high, they have not reached a critical threshold that would compel Washington to grant Iran substantial concessions, such as significant sanctions relief, to ensure the normalization of the Strait of Hormuz.