In a significant development during the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that both sides have held talks over the past two days. He added that the United States has agreed to pause attacks on Iranian energy sites for five days.
Describing the discussions as positive, Trump said the talks were “very good and productive.” Without sharing many details, he noted that both sides discussed the possibility of a complete resolution to hostilities in the Middle East. In a post on Truth Social, he said the conversations focused on finding a way to end the conflict entirely.
Trump also described the discussions as in depth and constructive, adding that dialogue between the two countries will continue through the week.
The US President stated that based on the tone of these talks, he has directed the Department of War to hold off on any strikes targeting Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. He said this pause would depend on how the ongoing discussions progress.
This decision comes as a surprise, as both countries had shown little indication of easing tensions in recent weeks. However, Trump had signaled on Friday that he was open to engaging in talks with Tehran.
Speaking earlier, Trump remarked that much of Iran’s leadership had been weakened during the conflict, making communication difficult. He said the United States was interested in holding talks, but finding the right counterparts had been a challenge.
Meanwhile, a Bloomberg report published before Trump’s announcement indicated that Iranian officials were unwilling to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil trade route.
Reacting to Trump’s decision, the Iranian Embassy in Afghanistan described the move as a retreat. The embassy said the United States stepped back after Iran warned that any attack on its energy infrastructure would be met with strikes on energy facilities across the region.
