President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he was “an hour away” from striking Iran when Middle East allies asked him to stop.
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Trump was speaking to press at the White House ballroom construction site when he started taking questions. He was asked about the reversed decision on Monday to stop a strike in Iran after several countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates that said they needed more time while “serious negotiations are now taking place.”
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He signaled the conflict was not over, although the military operation was postponed.
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“We may have to give them another big hit,” Trump said.
Q: How close were you to striking Iran yesterday?
TRUMP: I was an hour away pic.twitter.com/LbsR6X5nWe
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 19, 2026
