Ultimately, the planned—whether real or simulated for leverage purposes—US strike on Iran scheduled for May 19, 2026, has been postponed. It is revealed that the US military informed US President Donald Trump that Iran's air defense systems have significantly increased and been crucially reinforced; therefore, in the event of a new strike by American forces on Iran, they would suffer heavy casualties.
However, a role must have also been played by the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese leadership, as well as the request by two leaders of Persian Gulf countries not to abandon peace efforts. In the meantime, Iran's generals warn that they will cut off the hands of the Americans if they strike Iran again.
Nevertheless, Iran submitted a new 14-point proposal to Pakistan, through which negotiations with the US are being conducted, and they insist on all their core points, although certain changes have occurred. The diplomatic deadlock remains, Iran insists on its proposals, the US threatens to flatten Iran, and the Iranians make it clear that they will cut off the hands of the Americans; so there is still no light ahead regarding the Iranian issue.
Al-Mayadeen: Trump received intelligence from the Pentagon and postponed the strike on Iran for May 19, 2026
The US Pentagon (US Department of War and the US military) warned American President Trump that Iran has significantly increased its capacity to detect and intercept fighter jets. According to Al-Mayadeen, citing Israeli media outlets, it was reported:
"The primary reason why Trump postponed his strikes on Iran was the warning from the US Department of War (Pentagon) regarding the significant reinforcement and upgrade of Iran's air defense." Senior Pentagon officials have warned Trump that Iran has significantly increased its ability to detect and intercept fighter aircraft and has reinforced its air defense networks, meaning the military could suffer significant personnel losses.
Trump: The US postpones the strike on Iran for May 19 at the request of allies
The United States postponed its scheduled strike on Iran for May 19, 2026, in order to achieve a peace agreement, Trump stated. "The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, asked me to postpone our scheduled military offensive," he wrote on the social network Truth Social.
According to the US President, the allies view the current negotiations between the parties as an opportunity to achieve an agreement acceptable to both Washington and all countries in the Middle East and beyond. Trump claims that one of the provisions will be the elimination of Tehran's nuclear weapons. At the same time, he ordered the military leadership to be prepared for an all-out strike in the event that an agreement could not be reached. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated earlier on Monday that the country was prepared for any conflict scenario.
It also stated that it had received comments and corrections to the draft agreement, which the United States nevertheless rejected. The Fars news agency reported that Washington had set five conditions for peace, but all conditions contradict Iranian demands. The head of the White House has repeatedly rejected peace proposals that included demands for a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, the lifting of sanctions, the unfreezing of assets, compensation for damages, and the recognition of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Mohsen Rezaei (former IRGC chief): The US will surrender and retreat, Iran cannot be defeated
Mohsen Rezaei, the former chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), criticized the inconsistent and cowardly approach of the Americans against Iran. Mohsen Rezaei emphasized that US President Trump "sets a deadline for a military strike and then cancels it himself, in the futile hope of forcing the Iranian nation and officials to surrender!" "The iron fist of the powerful armed forces and the great Iranian nation will force them to retreat and surrender," he added.
Mohsen Rezaei's comments came after Trump's announcement regarding the postponement of a scheduled large-scale military offensive against the Islamic Republic, which had been planned for Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Trump cited appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, who called for restraint to allow negotiations to continue. Despite this, he maintained American forces on high alert for a potential "complete, large-scale strike" if an "acceptable agreement" is not achieved, an agreement which he claimed means "Iran must not possess any nuclear weapon." For over 20 years, according to the fatwa of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Iran has clearly and officially stated that it neither seeks nor possesses nuclear weapons. However, Washington insists on a policy of pressure and intimidation, only to be repeatedly forced to retreat by Iran's resolve and strategic deterrence. 
As General Mohsen Rezaei emphasized, the era of American gunboat diplomacy is over. Iran stands unshakable, proving once again that resistance defeats arrogance, Mohsen Rezaei stated. In a previous post, Mohsen Rezaei stated that Trump went to Beijing "not from a position of strength, but under the heavy shadow of failure in the war with Iran."
He added that the desperate appeal of the US President to China highlights a shifting global reality: "When he turns to China's influence to contain a crisis that he himself created, this means that the emerging new world order is rapidly shaping rules that are no longer centered on the United States."
Iran has made it clear that it will not return to negotiations with Washington unless its legitimate demands are fully satisfied, including the complete lifting of the illegal blockade, the lifting of US sanctions, the definitive termination of all aggression on every front, and appropriate compensation for the damages caused.
Ali Abdollahi (Chief of Khatam al-Anbiya): If the US attacks us again we will cut off their hands
The commander of Iran's supreme operational command unit stated that any new act of aggression by the United States or its allies will be met with overwhelming force, as Iran stands stronger and more determined than ever to defend its sovereignty. In a statement, Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, emphasized that Iran and its battle-hardened armed forces are now more prepared and formidable than at any other moment in history, with fingers firmly on the trigger, ready to protect Iran. "We announce to America and its allies: Do not commit another strategic mistake or miscalculation," Commander Ali Abdollahi stated.
"They must know that any new aggression or incursion by the enemies into Iran will be met with a rapid, decisive, powerful, and extensive response." He reminded the world that the American-Zionist enemies have repeatedly tested the courage of the Iranian nation and the power of its potent armed forces and have always learned a harsh lesson. "We will defend the rights of the Iranian nation with all our strength and will cut off the hand of any aggressor," the commander concluded.
Iranian military leaders have stated that while Iran does not seek war and desires peace and stability in the region, it will not hesitate to deliver an overwhelming, proportionate response to any provocation or act of aggression against its people. They have repeatedly emphasized that the country's growing power serves exclusively as a deterrent against foreign threats and interventions.
Dania Thafer (Gulf International Forum): Gulf states do not want escalation with Iran
Gulf states "certainly do not desire escalation in the region," argues Dania Thafer, executive director of the Washington-based Gulf International Forum. "What they want is a solution to the crisis they face," Thafer stated, adding that Tehran's nuclear program "is not a priority" for the Gulf states, as is the case for Washington.
"The Gulf states are far more concerned about the immediate need to open the Strait of Hormuz and about the threat posed by Iran's conventional missiles," Thafer noted, pointing out that "I believe that de-escalation and achieving an agreement that can address the grievances of all sides would be the ideal situation for the Gulf states."
Henry Ensher (former US ambassador): "They are all terrible" - Very high risks if the US proceeds with a major strike on Iran
Trump's military options against Iran are "simply terrible," argued Henry Ensher, former US ambassador to Algeria. "If he proceeds with only a small strike, he will face criticism and it will have no effect on the Iranian regime. If he proceeds with a very large strike, the risks are immense, both in terms of American casualties and because it might still not pay off," Ensher stated. "So his military options are very poor." Ensher also added that Trump was likely hoping that the Gulf states would ask him to postpone a new strike against Iran, "because that is what he wanted to do from the beginning."
Foreign Policy: Trump's "greatest failure" is Iran – Disastrous war for the US
Iran could evolve into Donald Trump's greatest failure, a publication by Foreign Policy argues. According to the report, evidence is continuously mounting showing that this war is disastrous for Trump. "At this stage, it does not matter how it ends; its cost for Trump, for the United States, and for the entire global economy will continue for quite some time," the report states.
The publication notes that Trump, last week, on the sidelines of official ceremonies and meetings in Beijing, hoped to secure the assistance of Chinese President Xi Jinping to mediate and achieve an agreement between Washington and Tehran, but these efforts did not yield results. Foreign Policy adds that, although China—like many other countries—desires an end to the war and the tension, Iran's new leadership appears to accept the continuation of a dangerous game, from which the opposing side has repeatedly shown it wishes to withdraw.
Iran submitted a new 14-point proposal to the US through Pakistan to end the war
Iran has reportedly submitted its latest 14-point proposal through the Pakistani mediator for talks with the United States aimed at ending the illegal war of aggression by the US and Israel against the Islamic Republic. A source close to the Iranian negotiating team told the Tasnim news agency that Pakistan will "deliver Iran's new proposal to Washington."
The 14-point proposal focuses on the issue of negotiations and confidence-building measures from the American side. The Americans had recently sent a message in response to Iran's previous proposal, which was also presented in 14 points. "In accordance with recent messaging practice, Iran also submitted its proposal containing 14 points once again through the Pakistani mediator after making modifications." Iran argues that at this stage, negotiations will focus only on ending the war in the region and that other issues, including the nuclear program, may be discussed later.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani source told Reuters that it has shared a revised proposal from Iran with the United States to end the war in the region. The source warned that the US and Iran "do not have much time" to narrow their differences. The Pakistani source did not provide details about Iran's revised proposal but noted that the sides "continue to change their targets."
"We don't have much time..."
The spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that despite the rejection of the Islamic Republic's previous peace proposal by the American side, Iran received "a series of corrective points and observations" from the Pakistani mediator.
On April 8, forty days after the start of the US-Israel war, a temporary truce brokered by Pakistan went into effect between Iran and the US. Negotiations followed in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, but did not result in an agreement amid the maximalist US demands and persistence on irrational positions. Since then, Iran has demanded that the US lift the illegal blockade they have imposed on Iranian ships and ports to restart the diplomatic process. Iran says that as long as the blockade remains in force, it has no intention of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
In the past, Iran had presented a 14-point peace proposal that included
The 14 points of Iran's proposal
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Ensuring non-aggression,
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The withdrawal of US military forces from the periphery of Iran,
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The lifting of the naval blockade in the Persian Gulf,
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The release of Iran's frozen assets,
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The payment of compensation for the destructions caused,
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The lifting of sanctions against Iran,
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The termination of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon,
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A new mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz, etc., are some of the issues included in Iran's 14-point proposal.
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