WASHINGTON/NEW YORK/ABU DHABI/JERUSALEM/DOHA – US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States may strike Iran again, claiming he was only an hour away from deciding on an attack before postponing it at the request of US allies in the Gulf.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said Iran's leaders were "begging" to make a deal, but warned that a new US attack could take place in the coming days if no agreement is reached.

He said the timeline could be Friday, the weekend or early next week, stressing that Washington "can't let them have a new nuclear weapon".

Trump said several Gulf allies had told him there was progress in negotiations brokered by Pakistan toward a peace deal so he would allow a "limited period of time" – two or three days, at least – for talks to continue.

New sanctions on Iran

Also on Tuesday, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated and blocked a prominent Iranian foreign currency exchange house and associated front companies, claiming they oversee hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions on behalf of sanctioned Iranian banks.

The action, part of the US Economic Fury campaign, targets more than 50 companies, individuals and vessels generating revenue for Tehran, the department said in a press release.

In addition, OFAC also blocked 19 vessels involved in Iranian petroleum and petrochemical shipments to foreign customers, "transactions that have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue".

UAE intercepts six drones from Iraq

Separately, the Defense Ministry of the United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems have detected six drones from Iraq over the past 48 hours.

It said in a statement that the drones, which attempted to target civilian and vital areas in the country, were neutralized "without any human casualties or impact on the safety of vital facilities".

It said the drones originating from Iraqi territory included those targeting the Barakah nuclear power plant in the Al Dhafra region on Sunday.

The UAE "reserves its full right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and national security in accordance with international laws and conventions", it said.

Preparations for possible strikes on Iran completed

Citing a US security official, Israel's Kan TV reported on Tuesday that the US and Israel have completed joint preparations for a possible resumption of military operations against Iran.

Trump is expected to make a decision "soon", the official said. "The United States and Israel are fully coordinated. Neither side will be surprised if a decision is made to resume the war," the official was quoted as saying.

According to the report, the Israeli military is also bolstering defensive measures amid concerns that Trump's remarks and growing public discussion of renewed fighting could prompt Iran to launch a preemptive attack.

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There was no immediate comment from the Israeli government on the possibility of renewed military action against Iran

Qatar says diplomatic push underway

At a weekly press briefing, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari said  Qatar has stepped up diplomatic efforts to support de-escalation and strengthen regional and international coordination amid continuing tensions in the region.

Qatar has held a series of meetings and initiatives aimed at easing tensions and boosting coordination with regional and international partners, according to the spokesperson.

Al-Ansari reaffirmed Qatar's support for diplomatic efforts and regional mediation, stressing the importance of preserving the ceasefire and pursuing peaceful solutions to the crisis.

Iran-linked oil tanker reportedly seized in Indian Ocean

In another development, the Trump administration seized an Iran-linked oil tanker in the Indian Ocean overnight, marking at least the third US seizure of a vessel tied to Iranian oil shipments, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing three US officials.

Ship-tracking data showed the vessel, known as the Skywave, sailed just west of Malaysia on Tuesday after transiting the Malacca Strait, according to the report.

The vessel was likely loaded with more than 1 million barrels of crude at Iran's Kharg Island in February, according to brokers and data from Lloyds List Intelligence. It was heading back to the Middle East when it was seized, said the report.

The oil tanker was sanctioned by the United States in March for transporting Iranian oil, said the WSJ report.