US President Donald Trump has claimed that a “decisive strike” on Iran was halted after appeals from what he described as “very good people in Pakistan,” whom he said had close ties with Tehran.
In an interview with a US television channel, Trump said the planned action against Iran was reconsidered after certain individuals intervened and urged Washington to pursue a negotiated solution instead of military escalation. He said those figures suggested they could help facilitate a deal between the two sides.
Read More: Trump says Pakistan advised against Iran strikes
Trump did not identify the individuals but described them as influential personalities with strong regional connections. He added that their request played a role in preventing the escalation at that time.
The US president also repeated criticism of Iran’s nuclear programme, saying previous negotiations had repeatedly failed to produce lasting results. He said that each time progress appeared to be made, developments on the ground undermined the agreements.
Separately, while speaking aboard Air Force One after returning from China, Trump said he had initially opposed a ceasefire but agreed to it following pressure from other countries. He described the truce as a gesture extended in part due to Pakistan’s involvement.
During his remarks, Trump once again praised Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling them “strong and capable personalities.”
US President Donald Trump reveals that Pakistan stopped him from delivering the final blow on Iran, saying that, “at the request of a very nice group of people from Pakistan who are very close to Iran, I didn’t go that final step.”
Courtesy: Fox News#DonaldTrump #Pakistan… pic.twitter.com/0Vu5asANzC
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) May 16, 2026
He also described his recent visit to China as successful, highlighting trade discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and calling the talks productive. According to Trump, discussions also included nuclear arms reduction and the Taiwan issue, although he reiterated that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged.
Trump added that he does not currently foresee a conflict over Taiwan and said there are no immediate plans to approve new arms transfers to the island.
Read More: US agreed to Iran ceasefire as favour to Pakistan, says Trump
The statements come amid heightened global tensions involving Iran, China, and regional security dynamics, with Washington continuing diplomatic and strategic engagements across multiple fronts.