American President Donald Trump announced on Monday in the White House that he would not launch a new wave of attacks against Iran.Image: keystone
The American president is once again relying on a diplomatic solution. But Tehran does not seem interested in making concessions. Is there a way out of this dilemma?
May 20, 2026, 1:09 p.mMay 20, 2026, 1:09 p.m
New about-face in the Iran war: Donald Trump has canceled a new attack with which he wanted to persuade the regime in Tehran to return to the negotiating table. Four questions about the latest developments.
What did Trump decide?
Actually everything was already prepared. On Tuesday, the American President wanted to meet his most important security advisors in the Situation Room and give the order for a new attack against Iran. With this new attack, Donald Trump would have signaled to the regime in Tehran that he has lost patience.
At least that’s what the American president said on Monday. But at the last minute – allegedly – Iran’s Arab neighbors intervened. With reference to “the serious negotiations” that are now taking place, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates asked for the new wave of attacks to be postponed. Because a peaceful agreement with Iran would be a “very positive development,” Trump agreed. He said he wanted to give diplomacy another chance in the next “two or three days.” Trump also pointed out that Chinese President Xi Jinping had allegedly assured him that he would not provide Tehran with any new weapons.
Is this story true?
Trump has repeatedly hinted in recent days that he could end the ceasefire with Iran – which began in early April – at any time. He spoke about how dissatisfied he was with Tehran’s offers to negotiate and that he wanted to increase pressure on the regime. And apparently a meeting with his security advisers in the White House was scheduled for Tuesday. Diplomats from the Arab region, however, told the Wall Street Journal that they had no knowledge of an imminent American attack against Iran.
What is true, however, is that talks about a peaceful settlement to the war are still ongoing, mediated by Pakistan. The Gulf states are also involved in these negotiations. Iran’s neighbors have a great interest in a peace solution – also because the economic damage of the war is already very great and could increase if it continues.
How is Iran reacting to Trump’s latest feint?
A representative of the regime in Tehran commented on the American president’s announcement with a mocking statement. Trump believes his maneuvers can intimidate the Iranian government, a senior military adviser said. But the opposite is true.
There seems to be a belief in Tehran that Trump has no interest in resuming hostilities for political reasons. When the American president makes threats, he does so only so that he does not appear to be a weakling in the eyes of the domestic public. Therefore, Iran is in a better negotiating position than Washington – and does not have to make any comprehensive concessions. Instead, Tehran is demanding a withdrawal of American troops from Iran’s neighboring countries and payment of reparations for war damage.
In Tehran people reacted mockingly to Trump’s announcement.Image: keystone
What happens next?
Trump says the most important goal of the Iran war is to prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb. On this point he would not allow himself to be negotiated. “That’s why we’re fighting so hard,” said the American president on Tuesday. Tehran, in turn, asserts that it has no interest in building a nuclear weapon. In the last round of negotiations, however, the Iranian government refrained from giving up already enriched uranium that could be used for a nuclear weapon.
The second sticking point in the negotiations concerns the Strait of Hormuz. The passage, which is important for the global economy, is still blocked, to the great annoyance of energy producers and consumers. Even the threatening gestures of the American President do not change that.
Trump, in turn, says he doesn’t care whether the American people support the Iran war or not. He said again on Tuesday that he had no other choice. That’s probably only half the truth. The president’s approval ratings have plummeted since hostilities began in the Middle East – also because he promised in the 2024 election campaign not to start a new war. (aargauerzeitung.ch)
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