QATAR, SAUDI ARABIA, AND UAE INTERVENE DIRECTLY WITH TRUMP TO DELAY MILITARY STRIKE ON IRAN, CITING PROGRESS IN BACK-CHANNEL TALKS

THE LEADERS OF QATAR, SAUDI ARABIA, AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES EACH CONTACTED TRUMP PERSONALLY BY PHONE ON MONDAY TO REQUEST THAT HE HOLD OFF ON A PLANNED MILITARY STRIKE AGAINST IRAN FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS, ACCORDING TO THREE OFFICIALS FAMILIAR WITH THE CALLS CITED BY THE WASHINGTON POST; THE GULF LEADERS ARGUED THAT IRANIAN NEGOTIATORS WERE CLOSE TO PRESENTING A SUBSTANTIVELY REVISED PROPOSAL AND THAT STRIKING BEFORE THE OFFER WAS RECEIVED WOULD COLLAPSE THE DIPLOMATIC TRACK ENTIRELY; TRUMP AGREED TO THE DELAY, AND THE WHITE HOUSE CONFIRMED THE POSTPONEMENT IN A BRIEF STATEMENT WITHOUT NAMING THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED; THE REVISED IRANIAN PROPOSAL WAS EXPECTED TO BE DELIVERED THROUGH PAKISTANI MEDIATORS BY TUESDAY MORNING; IRAN HAS NOT PUBLICLY COMMENTED ON THE BACK-CHANNEL CONTACTS.