Washington DC: The first hint of de-escalation in the US-Iran war after more than three weeks of conflict in West Asia came on Monday with Donald Trump announcing that both countries have been in talks over the past two days.
He also informed that the US has agreed to pause attacks on Iranian energy sites for five days following “very good and productive” discussions, without giving out much details.
“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 on his social media platform Truth Social in his signature all-caps style in the early hours of Monday (Washington DC time).
Describing the conversations as “in-depth, detailed, and constructive”, Trump said talks will continue throughout the week.
“Based on the tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have 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,” Trump wrote.
The potential thaw in the 23-day-old conflict comes a day after Trump threatened to “hit and obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
Iran promptly responded to that ultimatum, warning that any attack on its infrastructure would trigger further retaliation across the region. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said key facilities could be “irreversibly destroyed” if Tehran was targeted, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that energy sites in countries hosting US bases would become “lawful” targets.
Iran also doubled down on its threat to completely shut the Strait of Hormuz, until damaged Iranian power plants were rebuilt.