Trump postpones military strikes on Iranian power plants for five days

President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran appear to be moving toward a possible agreement after recent discussions between the two countries produced what he described as significant areas of agreement. His comments came after he directed the US military to delay planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy facilities for five days while negotiations continue.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said the United States and Iran had held productive talks over the past two days aimed at resolving tensions in the Middle East. He added that he ordered the Department of War to pause any planned military action against Iran’s energy infrastructure for five days while discussions proceed.

Speaking with reporters at an airport in Florida, Trump said Iranian officials are interested in reaching an agreement. He noted that US representatives have been meeting with a “respected” Iranian figure, though not with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Trump also stated that any deal would require Iran to surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium.

Trump said a successful agreement would lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for global energy supplies. He described a potential deal as an important step forward for both Iran and the broader region, while acknowledging there is no guarantee negotiations will succeed. Trump also claimed that Iran initiated contact for the talks.

Earlier in the day, Trump told Fox Business that Iranian leaders strongly want an agreement and suggested one could be reached within five days. He said his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were involved in negotiations as recently as Sunday night.

The possibility of a breakthrough has been welcomed across the Middle East and internationally. The ongoing conflict involving Iran has disrupted global energy markets, driving oil prices sharply higher and contributing to an energy crisis affecting multiple regions.

On Saturday, Trump had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. He warned that if the passage remained closed, the United States would destroy Iran’s power plants. The strait is a vital route through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments travel.

Financial markets reacted positively to news of the talks. Wall Street stocks rose early Monday, while oil prices dropped significantly after Trump confirmed that negotiations with Tehran had been productive. Oil prices had surged since February 28, when the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran.

Observers say the announcement could signal that Trump is seeking a way to end the conflict. The five-day pause may serve as a window for negotiations to determine whether a broader settlement can be reached.

Some analysts believe the move could provide the administration with a way to step back from the conflict while maintaining leverage. Others say the outcome will depend heavily on how Iran and Israel respond, and whether either country is willing to continue the war if US involvement decreases.

Reports from Tehran suggest Iranian officials may consider the offer despite the weeks of fighting. Iranian leaders have repeatedly said the war was forced on them and that they do not want it to continue. They have indicated that negotiations could move forward if there are guarantees against further attacks and if a lasting agreement can be reached.

Iran has not formally responded to Trump’s latest statements. However, the country’s Foreign Ministry said Trump’s decision to delay strikes appears intended to lower energy prices while giving Washington time to adjust its military plans. The ministry also said that regional governments have been working on initiatives aimed at reducing tensions, but argued that responsibility for the conflict rests with Washington.

Tehran also denied that direct talks between the United States and Iran have taken place.

Iran has warned that if the United States carries out any attack on its power plants, it would respond by fully shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have also threatened to strike energy facilities in Israel and in Gulf nations.

Iran’s effective blockade of the strait has already caused global oil prices to surge and created shortages of cooking gas in several Asian countries. The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said the crisis in the Middle East has become extremely serious, describing it as more severe than the energy shocks of the 1970s combined with the impact of the war in Ukraine.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Monday that if Washington proceeds with the threatened strikes, Iran would target power plants supplying electricity to US bases and other infrastructure connected to American economic or energy interests.

Iran’s Defence Council also warned that any attack on the country’s southern coastline or islands would lead to sea mines being deployed, potentially shutting down shipping routes throughout the Gulf.

Diplomatic sources say several countries across the Middle East have been actively working behind the scenes to reduce tensions. Even during the Eid holiday, officials from multiple governments reportedly communicated with embassies and the White House in an effort to prevent further escalation.

According to diplomats involved in those discussions, regional leaders have warned that continued escalation between the United States, Iran and Israel could have serious consequences for the entire region. They pointed in particular to the growing cycle of threats, including Trump’s warning about strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure and Iran’s vow to respond in kind.

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