Donald Trump has ordered a five-day suspension of planned U.S. military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing what he described as “very good and productive” talks between Washington and Iran aimed at ending ongoing hostilities.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said both sides had engaged in “in-depth, detailed and constructive” discussions over the past two days focused on achieving a “complete and total resolution” of tensions in the Middle East. He added that further meetings are scheduled to continue throughout the week.
The temporary halt in military action, he noted, depends on the progress of the ongoing negotiations. In his statement, Trump said he had directed the Department of War to delay any strikes on Iranian energy facilities for five days while talks continue.
The move represents a significant shift from his earlier stance over the weekend, when he issued an ultimatum demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face immediate military action targeting its power infrastructure.
Tehran had responded by warning it would retaliate by targeting oil facilities and critical infrastructure across the Middle East if attacked.
Tensions escalated after major U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28 triggered Iranian counterattacks on ships and energy facilities across the Gulf region. Since then, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—a vital route for global energy supplies—has been severely disrupted, affecting exports of crude oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizers, and other commodities.
Earlier on Monday, Iran’s Defence Council warned that any assault on its coastal areas or islands would lead to the deployment of naval mines across the Gulf, potentially causing prolonged disruption similar to the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials in Tehran also indicated that passage through the waterway would be restricted to vessels from non-belligerent countries coordinating directly with Iran.
