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Trump delays, readies attack
On Monday, May 18, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had postponed an attack on Iran that was planned for tomorrow, after a request from Gulf leaders, while later clarifying on Truth Social that the United States is ready to launch a "comprehensive and wide-ranging attack on Iran at any moment" if no acceptable agreement is reached.
DW said Trump ordered the military to be ready to carry out such an attack at any moment if no acceptable deal is reached, and he added that the expected agreement should guarantee that Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon.
DW also reported that Iran said it responded to a new American proposal via Pakistan aimed at ending the war, with a Pakistani source confirming the delivery of the new Iranian proposal.
In the same DW account, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said fiber-optic Internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz could be subjected to a permit system, writing: "all fiber-optic cables passing through this waterway will be subjected to a permit system."
DW further linked the diplomatic standoff to markets, saying oil prices fell after reports that Washington was suspending sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, with Brent crude futures dipping to around $107 per barrel.
Negotiations stall, threats rise
The escalation narrative in سكاي نيوز عربية centered on Trump’s Truth Social warning that "for Iran, time is running out," and it said Iran rejected the latest American proposals because they did not include tangible concessions.
سكاي نيوز عربية reported that Iranian media said Tehran presented five conditions to build trust before resuming negotiations with Washington, and it added that Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met in Tehran with Iranian President Masoud Beshkian.
In the same account, Axios and Fox News reported a telephone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about developments in the confrontation with Iran, while China called for stopping the war and resuming the diplomatic track.
The الشرق الأوسط account said Trump warned of severe consequences if Iran’s leaders do not move quickly, and it quoted his Truth Social message that "time is running out for Iran" and it must act quickly or nothing will be left of it.
The الشرق الأوسط report also said Axios, citing American officials, expected Trump to hold a Situation Room meeting the day after tomorrow with senior national security advisers to discuss options for military action against Iran.
Five conditions and next steps
Al-Jazeera Net described a framework in which Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ali Bahraini, outlined five items the United States must commit to and implement immediately before moving forward with negotiations within a 60-day period on remaining contentious issues.
Al-Jazeera Net said the first item was the release of Iranian frozen assets, noting that the United States agreed to release Iranian assets valued at about $12 billion under the initial agreement, while Bahraini denied that any escrow arrangement had been agreed.
Al-Jazeera Net also said the second item was lifting sanctions on Iran, and it cited the U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions relief until August 21 allowing Tehran to sell oil and related products and receive payments for them.
For the third item, Al-Jazeera Net said Iran sought an immediate commitment to a ceasefire in Lebanon and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon, and it added that Bahraini said progress could not be achieved until a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon was reached.
Al-Jazeera Net further stated that the fifth item was management of the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran demanding respect for its sovereignty and exclusive participation with Oman in managing the energy corridor to global markets.
