Donald Trump has announced a five-day postponement of planned strikes on Iranian power plants, extending a deadline previously issued to Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The U.S. president had earlier threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power infrastructure, while Iranian authorities warned they would “irreversibly destroy” critical infrastructure across the Middle East, including essential water systems, if attacked.
The conflict, now in its fourth week, has intensified diplomatic uncertainty despite claims by Trump that the United States and Iran have engaged in “good and productive conversations.” However, officials in Iran have firmly denied that any such discussions have taken place.
Speaking in Memphis, Trump said Tehran appeared willing to negotiate and that there was a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end hostilities.
“They want to settle, and there’s a very good chance of a deal,” he said, adding that Iran had “one more opportunity to end its threats” against the United States and its allies.
Trump also claimed that the two sides were discussing a framework of about 15 key points aimed at ending the war, with Iran abandoning nuclear weapons described as the top priorities in the negotiations. He said the decision to delay military action followed what he described as productive engagement with Iranian representatives.
Meanwhile, speculation continues to surround the leadership of Iran following the recent death of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei in an Israeli airstrike. His successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not appeared in public since assuming office two weeks ago, fuelling questions about his health and ability to lead the country.
Despite Trump’s assertions, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dismissed the claims of negotiations as false.
“No negotiations have been held with the U.S., and fake news is being used to manipulate financial and oil markets and to escape the quagmire in which the U.S. and Israel are trapped,” Ghalibaf said in a post on social media.
The conflicting statements from both sides have heightened uncertainty over the next phase of the conflict, as global observers watch closely to see whether diplomacy or further escalation will prevail.
