Trump says Gulf allies urged restraint on Iran, admits war hurt Republicans in midterms

US President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that several Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, had asked him to refrain from escalating military operations against Iran, even though he claimed the United States could destroy the country's critical infrastructure in just three days, in an interview with commentator and political analyst Stephen A. Smith.The interview was released against the backdrop of a sharp change in Trump's approach to Iran earlier Thursday.The president announced that the US no longer needed an agreement with Tehran and instructed Vice President JD Vance, who had been leading diplomatic efforts with Iran, to redirect his attention to investigating corruption in Democratic-controlled states and cities."We don't need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We've got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we've got their Strait!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.Trump says Gulf states asked him to hold back on IranSpeaking to Smith, Trump explained why the war was continuing despite his repeated declarations of American victory."I could end it immediately," he said."At the request of the nations that I'm looking to protect. We are doing it a little bit longer way, a little bit more civilly."Trump then identified the countries that had asked him to exercise restraint."Saudi Arabia has asked me to please just let it be the way it is…