President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the Department of War to hold off on strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing what he described as “very good and productive” negotiations over the past two days aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East.
“I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST,” Trump wrote early Monday on Truth Social.
He added that he had instructed the Department of War to “postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”
The announcement came hours after Iran threatened to hit Israel’s power grid and energy infrastructure supplying U.S. military bases across the Gulf region if Washington moved forward with strikes on Iran’s own power network.
Iranian state television flatly denied any negotiations were underway. The contradicting signals came as the United Arab Emirates reported Monday afternoon that its air defenses were actively attempting to intercept incoming Iranian fire.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had spoken by phone with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan ahead of Trump’s announcement. Turkey has served as an intermediary in past exchanges between Tehran and Washington.
Oil futures markets reacted immediately to Trump’s Truth Social post, with prices moving on the prospect of a potential pause in the conflict.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) knocked Trump on Iran earlier in the day, telling reporters the administration was “asking for trouble.” He also objected to Trump’s plan to deploy ICE agents to airports.
