Trump suggests a potential breakthrough in the Middle East.

According to US President Donald Trump, Washington and Tehran have started “very good and productive conversations” with the goal of resolving the Middle East’s rising conflict. In order to allow the negotiations to continue, Trump said he had issued an order to postpone any planned strikes on Iranian power facilities and energy infrastructure for five days.

Since the conflict entered its fourth week, the action is the first public indication of a potential de-escalation. Iranian state media responded to Trump’s most recent post by claiming that the US President “backed down” out of fear of possible retaliation from Iran.

In a statement released on his social media platform, Trump wrote: “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. Based on the tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of Defense to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”

The disclaimer stated that the halt is only temporary and totally contingent upon developments at the negotiation table.

Tehran did not disclose that serious negotiations were in fact taking place, nor did it show that it had accepted any agreements. The announcement was made just hours after Iran responded to an earlier American ultimatum with new and clear threats. Iranian officials issued a warning on Monday that if their country was attacked again, they would target power plants in the Gulf and place drifting naval mines. 

They published maps showing possible targets, including as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Israel’s two biggest power plants and facilities.

One accompanying graphic carried the stark headline: “Say goodbye to electricity.” 

The rhetoric followed a midnight deadline set by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the “obliteration” of its power infrastructure. 

Tehran showed no signs of cooperation. Rather, it has already imposed restrictions on tanker movement through the small strait, which is a chokepoint for around one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies. It has also launched retaliatory strikes on targets inside Israel as well as energy sites and US diplomatic missions throughout the Gulf.