U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the decision to refrain from striking Iran was made independently and that there was no external pressure on him. In response to reporters' questions, Trump emphasized that neither representatives of Arab countries nor Israel attempted to influence his position. According to him, the final choice was made by himself.
The American president also noted that the actions of the Iranian authorities had a significant impact on his decision. In particular, this concerns the cancellation of more than 800 death sentences by hanging, which, according to Trump, were planned to be carried out on January 15. He described this step by Tehran as an important factor in assessing the situation.
At the same time, the AFP agency previously reported a different version of events. According to the agency's source, the authorities of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman allegedly negotiated with Washington and convinced Trump to refrain from a military strike on Iran. This was reported to AFP by an unnamed high-ranking Saudi official.
Moreover, Iranian representatives stated that the American side informed Tehran that an attack on the country was not planned. Thus, different interpretations have formed around the US decision: officially, Trump insists on the independence of his choice, while sources in the region speak of the significant role of diplomatic contacts and behind-the-scenes negotiations.