Trump says Gulf States backed diplomatic path with Iran

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he canceled plans for a major military strike on Iran after appeals from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran, saying he preferred diplomacy over conflict.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said he decided to halt the operation following requests from countries in the region, adding that the planned attack would have been the largest against Iran since World War II.

“I don’t want to kill people. My preference is to reach an agreement,” Trump said, adding that several U.S. allies in the Middle East also favor a diplomatic solution rather than military action.

The US president said negotiations with Iran were scheduled to begin later in the day and that contacts were taking place under an agreed negotiating framework.

Trump also said an agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz was already in place and expressed confidence that a deal on Iran’s nuclear program could also be reached.

He warned, however, that if the negotiations fail, tensions in the region could escalate further.