The US Department of War has been ordered to temporarily suspend plans for military strikes on Iranian energy facilities, President Donald Trump announced on Monday following what he claimed were negotiations with Tehran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the two sides had had “very good and productive conversations” over the past two days regarding a “complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.”
He stated that based on the “tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed and constructive conversations,” he has ordered 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.”
On Saturday, Trump had vowed to “obliterate” Iran’s power facilities unless Tehran restored navigation in the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane within 48 hours.
Iran has kept the waterway mostly closed to shipping since the US and Israel launched their unprovoked attack on the country late last month. The disruption, combined with strikes on oil and gas infrastructure across the Gulf, has caused a spike in global energy prices.
If Tehran fails to reopen the Strait, Trump has threatened to hit various Iranian power plants, “starting with the biggest one first,” apparently referring to the gas-powered Damavand plant, located southeast of Tehran.
US envoy to the UN, Mike Waltz, has also refused to rule out potential strikes on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant – the largest nuclear facility in the region. Last week, a projectile struck an area just several hundred meters from the site, after which the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called for “maximum restraint” to prevent a nuclear accident.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry, however, has said in a statement to Mehr News that there is currently no dialogue between Tehran and Washington, adding that Trump’s remarks are an effort to “reduce energy prices and gain time to implement his military plans.”
“Iran maintains its position rejecting any type of negotiation before achieving its war objectives,” the ministry said, quoted by Sabereen news agency.
The Iranian Embassy in Afghanistan also claimed that Trump had “backed down” after Iran’s “firm warning” that it would retaliate against strikes on its energy infrastructure by attacking power plants across West Asia.
Following Trump’s announcement, the price for Brent crude, which had been steadily rising due to the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, fell by about 13% to around $96 a barrel. May WTI futures fell by about 10% to $88 per barrel, while futures for June came down to $101.