Shortly after US President Donald Trump claimed that the US and Iran have held “productive talks” on ending the conflict in the Middle East, Iranian state-run news agency Fars said that there was no direct or indirect communication with the United States or through intermediaries.
Citing an unnamed source, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated news agency said that Trump backed down after hearing that Iran would target power plants in West Asia.
“After the Islamic Republic threatened that in the event of any US attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure, it would target the energy infrastructure of the entire region, Trump backed down and said he had ordered the postponement of the attack,” Fars quoted an unnamed security official as saying.
The Iranian response came minutes after Trump announced on social media that he has postponed the attacks on Iranian power plants after “productive” talks with Tehran on ending the conflict.
“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 Truth Social.
The US President said that the talks would continue throughout the week and as a result of that, strikes on power plants will remain postponed for five days.
“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 WAR 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. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,” he added.
The development came as Trump’s 48-hour deadline for Iran to completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping route was coming to an end on Monday.
Trump had threatened to attack Iranian power plants if the shipping route was not reopened.
In response, Iran had said that it will target energy infrastructure in the entire region if its power plants are targeted.