Washington:US President Donald Trump revealed that the Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, asked him to refrain from escalating military action against Iran, despite his assertion that the United States could cripple the country's infrastructure in just three days.
According to Maan News Agency, Trump made these remarks during an interview at the White House with sports and political commentator Stephen E. Smith. In the interview, Trump acknowledged that the war with Iran contributed to the Republicans' loss in the midterm elections, mainly due to high fuel prices, but insisted that the decision to go to war was justified.
The interview coincided with a significant change in Trump's policy, as he announced that the United States no longer required an agreement with Iran. He instructed Vice President J.D. Vance to shift focus from diplomatic talks with Tehran to combating corruption in democratically governed countries.
Trump explained that the continuation of the war, despite his claims of victory, was at the request of the countries the US aims to protect. He stated that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states such as Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain preferred a waiting period. Although he expressed doubts about the decision, Trump agreed to their request.
In the interview, Trump detailed military targets excluded from American strikes, including most of Iran's bridges and energy infrastructure, while mentioning the destruction of one large bridge due to Iran's actions. He claimed the Iranian military and economy were significantly weakened but provided no new evidence.