The United States and 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 in a post on Truth Social.
"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,” he added.
Trump’s remarks came after Iran threatened to attack Israel’s power plants and facilities supplying US bases in the Gulf region if Washington targets Iran’s energy network, the Reuters news agency reported.
The report said Iranian actions had effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route that carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
More than 2,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which the United States and Israel started on February 28, Reuters reported, adding that the war has disrupted markets, driven up fuel costs, stoked global inflation concerns and strained Western alliances.
Trump said last Thursday he had instructed Israel not to carry out further attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, as Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on key facilities sent global energy prices higher and escalated the regional crisis.
US President Donald Trump. Photo: The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Source: Reuters, IAR, PAP