With hours to spare before his final ultimatum US President Donald Trump backtracked on his threat on bombing Iran’s power network.
Trump on Monday said he has ordered a five-day postponement of all strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing “very good and productive” talks with Tehran over the past two days.
Iranian media reported Monday the Tehran government has denied peace negotiations ‘were taking place’ with the US.
It remain unclear how Trump came to make the threat if there were “productive talks underway”.
On Sunday Trump said that the result of an ultimatum he issued to Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz will be “very good,” predicting that it would lead to Iran’s “total decimation” if Tehran did not comply.
“You’re gonna find out soon. It’s gonna be very good,” Trump told Israel’s Channel 13.
He warned on Saturday that if Iran does not reopen the waterway within 48 hours, the US will “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants, starting with the largest facilities first.
Fast-forward to Monday and Trump backed down as markets reacted negatively to the upcoming deadline. Trump had previously earned the nickname Taco Trump (Trump always chickens out) earned during his fruquents threats and backdowns during the tariff wars in 2025.
Many world leaders were also very cautious about supporting Trump’s threat.
“I am pleased to report that the United States of America and the country of 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 said on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday.
He added that based on the “tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, witch [sic] will continue throughout the week,” he has instructed the Department of Defence to postpone all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period.
The pause is subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions, he added.
However, early responses from several social media sources suggest that there are no ongoing discussions underway currently.
Sources inside the Iranian Foreign Ministry said immediately after Trump’s accouncement that there were no negotiations currently underway with the US.
“We reject Trump’s claim about negotiations, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will not accept any form of talks until its objectives in the war are achieved. Trump’s remarks represent a retreat from his previous threats, but Iran’s positions have not changed. It is also emphasised regarding the Strait of Hormuz that this passage will remain closed to aggressors.”
The source said Trump’s about turn was part of his attempts to lower energy prices and buy time to implement his military plan.
This comes as regional escalation has continued to flare since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on February 28, killing so far over 1 340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation. – AA