President Trump delays strikes on Iran power plants for five days amid conflicting reports.

President Donald Trump abruptly shifted course on Monday by announcing a five-day postponement of military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure.

“Toggle Play Trump speaks after announcing delay on Iran attacks President Donald Trump has spoken to reporters after announcing the US was postponing attacks targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure for five days”

Al Jazeera

He cited what he described as 'very good and productive conversations' with Tehran aimed at achieving a 'complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.'

Al Jazeera

The decision came just hours before the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum Trump had issued on Sunday.

Trump had warned that if Iran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the US would 'target and destroy their electricity production facilities.'

Trump's announcement on Truth Social, written entirely in capital letters, stated he had instructed the Department of War to postpone the strikes 'subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.'

He claimed there were 'major points of agreement' between the US and Iran after talks proceeded late into the evening on Sunday with two senior US envoys.

Iran immediately rejected Trump's claims about direct negotiations, with the Foreign Ministry issuing a statement to state-run newspaper IRAN declaring that 'there are no talks between Tehran and Washington.'

The ministry dismissed Trump's remarks as 'part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time to implement his military plans.'

Anadolu Agency

Iranian state media sources uniformly denied any communication, with Fars News Agency quoting an unnamed source stating there is 'no direct contact with America, nor through intermediaries.'

Mehr news agency echoed the Foreign Ministry's position, reinforcing the denial of any negotiations.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also posted on social media denying any negotiations with the US, contradicting Trump's assertion.

The Iranian Defense Council emphasized that the five-day delay does not signal de-escalation, stating 'We will continue to respond and defend the country with full force.'

They warned that the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its pre-war status as long as the 'psychological war' continues.

The announcement triggered immediate relief in global financial markets, with Brent crude oil tumbling 13% to $96 a barrel after having climbed to $114 earlier in the day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged over 1,000 points, jumping 1,076 points, or 2.4%, to 46,654.

The S&P 500 added 138 points, or 2.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 2.4% as investors welcomed the potential de-escalation.

Market analysts described the stock market as a 'coiled spring' ready to burst upward once the war concludes.

Fox Business' Charles Payne noted that 'the stock market sort of wants to exhale, it wants this to be over with.'

Experts warned that the energy crisis stemming from the war is already worse than the global oil shocks of the 1970s.

The International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol stated that the world has lost 11 million barrels of oil per day, compared to about 5 million barrels daily during each of the two major oil crises in 1973 and 1979.

The conflict, now in its fourth week and entering its 24th day, has resulted in significant casualties with more than 2,000 people reported killed so far.

Most casualties have been in Iran and Lebanon, with thousands more displaced as Israeli and American airstrikes continue despite diplomatic overtures.

Associated Press News

Iranian officials had previously warned that any attack on Iran's power plants would trigger a broad retaliatory campaign against energy and water infrastructure across the Gulf region.

This would include countries hosting US military bases, Iranian officials emphasized.

The Islamic Republic's Defense Council stated that 'non-belligerent' countries could only transit through the Strait of Hormuz through coordination with Iran.

They warned that any attack on Iran's coasts or islands would trigger mine-laying across Gulf sea lanes that could effectively block maritime traffic beyond the narrow strait.

Despite Trump's claims of progress, the war shows no clear sign of de-escalation on the ground.

The gap between a 48-hour ultimatum on Sunday and a five-day delay on Monday has become a defining feature of the current phase where 'threats, deterrence and political signalling are shaping the trajectory of the war.'

International reactions to the potential de-escalation were mixed, with European Union top diplomat Kaya Kallas calling Trump's decision to postpone US military attacks 'a very welcome development.'

“Bitcoin price surged to $71,000 on Monday, rebounding from weekend lows near $67,000, as markets reacted to a sudden shift in geopolitical risk after Donald Trump announced a pause on planned U”

Bitcoin Magazine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed gratitude that Trump had postponed the strikes, stating he had called Trump on Sunday to express his concerns about the planned attacks.

Bitcoin Magazine

Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan warned that the US-Israeli war on Iran risks plunging Asian economies into turmoil.

He declared that 'the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is, in a sense, an Asian crisis' and that the conflict has 'taken the entire global economy hostage.'

Diplomatic efforts continued through multiple channels, with reports indicating that Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan had met White House envoy Steve Witkoff.

These countries had also separately met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a reporter for Axios.

Oman and Turkey had been working constantly as 'respected' intermediaries in both Tehran and Washington.

China's special envoy to the Middle East Zhai Jun urged all parties involved, particularly the US and Israel, to halt military operations.

He stated 'the one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it' and warned that ongoing military action would contribute to a 'vicious cycle' of conflict.