Iqbal Jakati
The move marks a shift from Washington’s earlier hardline stance, after Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum warning Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald J Trump has ordered a five-day halt to planned military strikes on Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure following what he described as “very good and productive” talks with Tehran, signalling a potential diplomatic opening in the ongoing conflict.
In a statement on Monday, March 23, Trump said the United States and Iran had held “in-depth, detailed and constructive conversations” over the past two days aimed at achieving a “complete and total resolution” of hostilities in the Middle East.
He added that he had instructed the US military to postpone “any and all” strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, with further decisions dependent on the outcome of ongoing discussions expected to continue throughout the week.
The move marks a shift from Washington’s earlier hardline stance, after Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum warning Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a vital global oil transit route — or face direct attacks on its energy facilities.
Iran had earlier warned it would retaliate by targeting Israeli power plants and US-linked infrastructure across the Gulf if its own energy network was attacked, raising fears of a broader regional escalation.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central flashpoint in the conflict, with disruptions threatening global energy supplies and shipping routes, as tensions between the US, Israel and Iran continue to reverberate across the region.
More details to follow.
