By Spy Uganda
President Trump on Monday said U.S. strikes on Iran energy infrastructure would halt for five days after “very good” and “productive” conversations with leaders in Tehran.
In a Monday morning Truth Social post, Trump wrote in all-caps that the U.S. and Iran “over the last two days” have had “conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.
“Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed and constructive conversations,” which he said would carry on “throughout the week,” the president has “instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period,” he wrote. Trump noted this was “subject” to the talks.
Iranian state media described the president’s announcement as Trump “backing down” while denying talks were taking place between the two sides.
The development comes as fuel prices remain volatile amid Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping lane.
Iran closed the waterway following the U.S. and Israel’s initial strikes last month. Trump has been attempting to form a coalition of U.S. allies to police the strait. But so far, allies have been resistant to join a formal coalition.
Trump’s announcement on Monday comes just two days after he issued an ultimatum to Iran, threatening to destroy the country’s power plants.
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday.
Iran responded by issuing a threat of its own, warning Trump that if he carried out the threat, Tehran would target U.S. energy and infrastructure in the Gulf states.
Oil prices spiked in response to Tehran’s threat, with the global benchmark Brent crude rising to 1.69 percent to $114.09 a barrel. U.S. crude increased 2 percent to $100.29.
Trump has offered mixed signals in recent days on the U.S. operation in Iran. The president said on Friday that the U.S. was “getting very close” to meeting its objectives in Iran as it considers “winding down” military efforts in the region.
