Donald Trump has announced he is holding back US military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, saying he has entered into negotiations with Tehran aimed at bringing a full end to hostilities in the Middle East.
The US President posted the announcement on Truth Social, saying the pause in military action had been ordered following what he described as “good and productive conversations” with Iran. Trump said he had instructed the US military to stand down from planned strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure while talks continued, with the five-day window conditional on the progress of ongoing negotiations.
The announcement marks a significant shift in tone from Trump, who earlier this week had issued a 48-hour ultimatum threatening to “obliterate” Iranian power infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully reopened. The apparent move toward diplomacy will be closely watched by allied governments, including the UK, which has been navigating the conflict while seeking to avoid being drawn into direct military confrontation.
The nature and format of the discussions between Washington and Tehran have not been disclosed, nor has it been confirmed who is representing Iran at the negotiating table — a question that has complicated diplomatic efforts given the uncertain status of the country’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who is reported to be incapacitated following injuries sustained in an airstrike.
Whether the five-day pause will hold and lead to a broader settlement remains to be seen. The announcement came after weeks of escalating strikes, significant loss of life, and severe disruption to global energy supplies driven by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices had risen sharply during the conflict, with economic consequences being felt across allied nations including the United Kingdom.
Further details on the talks and their progress are expected to emerge in the coming days.
