Trump announces temporary 5-day halt on Iran strikes
US President Donald Trump has delayed potential military strikes against Iran, granting a five-day window amid what he described as “productive” discussions between the two nations. However, Iranian officials have firmly denied that any such negotiations are taking place.
Trump had previously warned that the United States could “hit and obliterate” Iran’s energy facilities if shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continued. On Monday, he announced that planned attacks on Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure would be postponed, citing what he characterised as positive diplomatic engagement over the past two days.
In a statement shared on his platform Truth Social, Trump said the conversations with Tehran had been “very good and productive” and suggested they could lead to a broader resolution of the ongoing conflict. He added that the delay in military action would depend on the progress of continued discussions throughout the week.
Iran, however, quickly dismissed these claims. According to the semi-official Mehr news agency, a source in Tehran stated there is “no dialogue” between Iran and Washington. The source accused Trump of making such remarks to influence global energy markets and gain time for potential military planning.
However, Iranian embassy in Kabul said, “Trump backs down from attacking energy infrastructures after Iran’s firm warning.” The Iranian official emphasized that Tehran does not consider itself responsible for initiating the conflict and insisted that calls for de-escalation should be directed at the United States. While acknowledging that regional actors have proposed efforts to ease tensions, Iran maintains it is not engaged in direct talks with the US.
The developments come amid escalating violence following a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive launched on February 28. The conflict has resulted in more than 1,300 deaths, including Iran’s Supreme Leader, and has triggered retaliatory strikes by Tehran targeting Israel and neighbouring countries hosting US military assets. The ongoing hostilities have also disrupted global markets and air travel, raising concerns about wider regional instability.
