Trump says Gulf nations support continued blockade of Iran

US President Donald Trump has said that he plans to hold off fresh military strikes against Iran for the time being after appeals from ​countries in the region, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Trump, in a Reuters interview and a later appearance in the White House press briefing room, ‌said he plans to keep up a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz for now.

Talking to the media on Monday after his meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman at the White House, Trump described the talks as excellent, saying they focused on key Middle Eastern issues, including Iran.

He said all countries agreed that Iran should not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, stressing that there could be no compromise on the matter.

Trump added that the United States was fully prepared and capable of responding immediately to any developments in the Middle East, although he saw no likelihood of military action at present.

He also claimed that Israel and the wider Middle East were secure against threats from Iran.

According to Trump, positive progress was being made towards ending the conflict.

He reiterated that Washington would protect its interests under all circumstances, adding that if military action became necessary, its outcome would leave Americans and the rest of the world safer than before.