U.S. President Donald Trump, who ordered a hold on strikes against Iran, said on the 18th (local time) regarding cease-fire talks with Iran that he "would be satisfied if we can prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons."
According to Reuters and other outlets, Trump said at a White House event on lowering drug prices that "leaders of Middle East allies have been asking, 'Because they see the (Iran) talks as being on the verge of a deal, can't you delay the strikes for two to three days?'" He added, "If by doing so we can prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons, they can be satisfied and we can be satisfied."
Trump went on, "There were times in the past when I thought we were very close to an agreement, but it ultimately didn't happen," while adding, "This time is a little different. We are already prepared to take very significant measures. It's not what I wanted, but there is no choice because we cannot allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons."
The remarks are seen as a warning that large-scale bombing of Iran could become a reality if this negotiating opportunity is missed, while simultaneously pressuring Tehran to accept the U.S. demand for a 'ban on nuclear weapons.'
Earlier, Trump said on his social media Truth Social that Middle East allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) "said a deal with Iran is imminent" and asked him to hold off on military strikes. Accordingly, he said he ordered the U.S. military to postpone the resumption of strikes that had been scheduled for the 19th.