Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Iran engaged in "productive" discussions over the weekend aimed at resolving their ongoing conflict, leading to a five-day delay in planned military strikes on Iran's power plants.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump's remarks came via a social media post where he expressed optimism about the talks, emphasizing their potential to achieve a "complete and total resolution" of hostilities in the Middle East. This development follows his earlier ultimatum threatening the obliteration of Iran's power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully opened within 48 hours.
In his statement on Truth Social, Trump highlighted the constructive nature of the conversations and announced his directive to the Department of War to postpone military action pending the success of ongoing negotiations. The delay is seen as a strategic move in light of concerns over the economic impact of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, particularly regarding oil prices and inflation.
The military campaign, "Operation Epic Fury," initiated on February 28 in collaboration with Israel, aimed to dismantle Iran's missile capabilities and prevent the development of nuclear weapons. The operation's first day resulted in the death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as his successor.
Iran's response to the U.S.-Israeli strikes has included closing the Strait of Hormuz and launching retaliatory attacks on energy facilities in the region, further exacerbating oil price volatility. With the U.S. midterm elections approaching, the Trump administration's decisions in this conflict carry significant weight for domestic political dynamics.